Last Updated on August 2024
Eager to head to the jungle for some orangutan spotting? Chances are, you’re planning a trip to the picturesque riverside village of Bukit Lawang in North Sumatra for your jungle adventure.
This popular jungle trekking location sits on the border of the famous Gunung Leuser National Park,just a few hours’ drive from Medan City.
There are several options to get you from Medan to Bukit Lawang, whether you’re on a budget with a bit of time to spare or have a little more to spend to get there in comfort.
This blog will give you straightforward, up-to-date steps on how to get to Bukit Lawang from Medan City or Kualanamu Airport in Medan.
So, let’s get you on the road!
Cover photo credit to Sumatra Orangutan Explore, one of our top recommended Ethical Trekking Companies in Bukit Lawang.
Contents
How Long Does it Take to get to Bukit Lawang from Medan?
The trip from Medan to Bukit Lawang (or Bukit Lawang to Medan) can take anywhere from 3-5 hours, depending on your mode of transportation, the weather and road conditions, and traffic, of course.
If you’re travelling directly from Kualanamu airport, this will add up to an hour to your travel time.
The fastest way to reach Bukit Lawang from Medan is by private car. On a good day, this should take around 3-4 hours.
A shared taxi/tourist bus will generally take a little longer as there are likely to be a few stops.
The local bus is the most time-consuming (but very authentic) way to get to Bukit Lawang. There will be multiple stops along the way. You’re probably looking at 4-5 hours travel time.
How to Get to Bukit Lawang from Medan City
Catch a Local Bus from Medan to Bukit Lawang
Cost: 30,000 – 50,000 IDR
Travel Time: 4 to 5 hours
Comfort Level: Low comfort. No air conditioning, bumpy ride, lots of stops, can be very crowded, uncomfortable seats. Smoking is usually permitted.
Local buses from central Medan City to Bukit Lawang leave from the Pinang Baris Bus Station (Terminal Pinang Baris), which is around 8 km away from the very centre of the city.
You COULD catch a bus directly from the terminal, but we highly recommend heading to Mawar Bakery, just one km up the road.
Unfortunately, at the terminal, there are often touts or rip-off artists making life a little difficult for tourists by extorting extra money or being overly pushy.
This can generally be avoided by catching the bus just outside Mawar Bakery and Cake Shop on Jalan Pinang Baris.
This is a common pickup area where most locals and tourists catch the bus to Bukit Lawang from Medan City.
Look for one of the red mini-buses with a sign saying Bukit Lawang in the front windscreen.
Buses usually depart every 20-30 minutes, but this Is Indonesia, so don’t count on the schedule being overly reliable! Just show up, and you shouldn’t have to wait too long for the next ride.
The earliest bus departs at 6:30, and the last bus SHOULD be around 6 pm. But again, bear in mind that these times can vary; some days the last bus might leave at 4:30, so always have a backup plan if you’re hoping to go later in the day!
The cost of the journey should be around 30,000. Sometimes, you may be charged a bit more, depending on your luck and bargaining skills. The maximum you should fork out is 50,000 IDR
One of the common scams at the bus station, and potentially at the Bakery pickup site too, is people claiming to be the fare collectors for the bus.
They’ll tell you you must pay them immediately and will try to charge you 100,000. Then, they’ll pay the driver half, and keep the rest.
Pay your bus fare ONLY to the driver, and only once you arrive in Bukit Lawang.
You’ll be dropped at the bus terminal in Gotong Royong, just a 5-minute drive or 15 minute walk from Bukit Lawang.
If you have booked a guesthouse, they may have arranged to pick you up. Otherwise, jump on a becak (motorcycle taxi) and have them take you to Bukit Lawang for around 10,000 IDR.
Take a Shared Taxi/Tourist Bus to Bukit Lawang from Medan
Cost: Around 200,000 IDR per person
Travel Time: About 4 hours on a good day
Comfort Level: Average, depending on your luck! You may end up being crammed in with other passengers, or score a van with few people in it. Some have a/c, but not all.
Several companies offer a “tourist bus” between Medan and Bukit Lawang (and other popular destinations). The two main ones are called CV. Happy Track Tour Transportation and PT. Bagus Wisata Holidays.
This is essentially a minivan that carries up to 7 passengers, charging them per person for the journey.
The potential downside of the shared taxi is that they usually decide to wait around until enough people want to share the taxi to make it worth their while.
If you’re a solo traveller and nobody else wants to go in the same direction as you on that day, you could be in for a long wait or asked to pay extra.
In some cases in low season, this company doesn’t even operate, so make sure you have a backup option!
We’ve spoken to many guests who have mixed reviews of this option. Some had no problem and experienced a relatively smooth journey using the shared cars: others have been forced to wait for extended periods, pressured to pay more, or simply been taken to or dropped off at the wrong locations.
If you’re interested in the shared car option, the best bet would be to ask your guesthouse/accommodation in Bukit Lawang to book a seat for you.
If you are considering using a shared taxi to get from Bukit Lawang to the airport for a flight, it pays to leave yourself a lot of extra time. If you’re on a tight deadline, a private car is the much better, more reliable option.
Hire a Private Car and Driver from Medan to Bukit Lawang
Cost: Around 700,000 IDR
Travel Time: About 3 hours on a good day
Comfort Level: Good. Most private cars have comfy seats and air-conditioning. The road can get a little bumpy, but overall, this is the best way to travel.
If you have the budget for it, hiring a private car/driver to get to Bukit Lawang from Medan is the best choice.
You’ll be able to go at your own pace, stopping on the way wherever you like. You won’t have to deal with smoke-filled, crowded vehicles, and it’s definitely the fastest way to arrive at your destination.
Your guesthouse in Bukit Lawang can recommend a driver for you, or we have several fantastic, reliable, English-speaking drivers that we can recommend if you shoot us an email to: exploringsumatra@gmail.com
How to Get to Bukit Lawang from Medan Airport (Kualanamu Airport to Bukit Lawang)
Catching a Local Bus from Kualanamu Airport to Bukit Lawang
Cost: Total journey around 100,000 IDR
Travel Time: 5-ish hours
Comfort Level: Local buses likely to be low comfort. The first bus journey is more comfortable. You might get a/c and have a pleasant ride. The second, smaller minibus can be more crowded with no a/c. Smoking onboard is common.
DIRECT BUS
In 2023, there were promising rumours of a regular bus going directly from Kualanamu Airport to Bukit Lawang.
Unfortunately, this was short lived and no such route exists today. The only way to go from the airport to Bukit Lawang is via Binjai – instructions below!
LOCAL BUS TO BINJAI – BUKIT LAWANG
Here’s how to make your way from Medan Airport to Bukit Lawang if the direct bus isn’t operating.
You’ll need to head to the city of Binjai, which is just outside of Medan, then switch to another bus to continue to Bukit Lawang.
Exit the main airport building and continue straight ahead into the train terminal opposite. Follow the signs to exit that building to the left, where the buses depart from.
Look for the ALS (Antar Lintas Sumatera) bus with the sign “Binjai.” These depart every 45 minutes or so.
The cost of the first bus will be around 50,000 IDR, and it will take you about 2 hours to reach Binjai (depending on traffic).
There is some information about the airport buses on the official Kualanamu page here, but we’re not sure how up-to-date it is!
When you reach Binjai’s central bus station, you’ll need to take a becak (motorised taxi) to the Tanah Lapang terminal about 2 km away. It should cost you around 10,000-15,000 IDR for the becak ride.
Tanah Lapan is where the Bukit Lawang buses depart from. Look for the L300 or PS bus to Bukit Lawang. It should cost 30,000 per person, and take around 3 hours.
Beware of groups of touts hanging around this area trying to scam tourists for more money. They may ask for fares of up to 100,000 IDR for the minibus, but you should pay no more than 30,000 IDR (and pay only to the driver once you arrive at Bukit Lawang).
You also have the option of getting off the bus at the Binjai Supermall and catching the smaller orange Bukit Lawang bus from there.
Sometimes, the last buses leave as late as 7:30. But to be on the safe side, aim to be in Binjai before 4:30 pm to avoid being stranded.
When you exit your bus at Bukit Lawang, you can walk 15 minutes to the village entrance or take a becak (motorcycle taxi) – unless you have arranged pickup with your accommodation. It should cost 10,000 IDR.
Travel by Train to Binjai then Bus from Binjai to Bukit Lawang
Cost: Around 150,000 per person
Travel Time: 4-5 hours
Comfort Level: The train journey should be quite comfy. Trains are clean, on-time, and seldom crowded. The Binjai to Bukit Lawang bus may be a little more uncomfortable. Be prepared for no a/c, a crowded bus, and potentially people smoking on board.
We haven’t tried this route ourselves yet, but we’ve been informed that it’s pretty straightforward to catch a train from Medan airport to Medan City, then switch to another train to get to Binjai (where you can catch the Binjai-Bukit Lawang bus as above).
There is an excellent train service (Railink Airport Train) that departs from Kualanamu airport and heads into Medan City. This is a great option as you can avoid the frequent traffic jams on the motorways into the city. It takes between 35-55 minutes).
It costs 100,000 IDR per person unless you book online at least a week in advance, in which case it’s 70,000 IDR per person.
Find the schedule and book your tickets here at the Railink website here: https://www.railink.co.id/schedule
The train station (Stasiun Kereta Api) is just a one-minute walk from the arrivals hall on Level 1, so very handy. Simply exit the airport and cross the road into the building opposite.
There’s an excellent blog detailing how to purchase tickets and showing the journey by train from Kualanamu Airport to Medan here.
Once you’re in Medan, you’ll need to switch to a different train to go to Binjai.
Unfortunately, there’s very little information on this stage of the journey online. But if you’re feeling adventurous, you’ll only need to ask the staff at the station and they’ll be happy to give you the right information.
Take a Shared Taxi/Tourist Bus from Kualanamu Airport to Bukit Lawang
Cost: Around 210,000 IDR per person
Travel Time: Around 4-5 hours
Comfort Level: Average, depending on your luck! You may end up being crammed in with other passengers or score a car with few people in it. Some cars have a/c but not all.
Between 8 am and 4 pm, shared taxis operate from a stand at the airport. This can be a comfier option than the bus and is cheaper than hiring a private car, but the downside is that you may face a long wait time for enough people to join the car for it to leave.
If there are no other passengers, you may end up paying more for your trip.
If this option interests you, enquire at the airport once you exit the main building. Alternatively, ask your guesthouse in Bukit Lawang to help you book.
Check the section further up the page (Take a Shared Taxi/Tourist Bus to Bukit Lawang from Medan) for information on the companies offering this shared taxi service.
Hire a Private Car and Driver from Medan Airport to Bukit Lawang
Cost: Around 700,000 IDR
Travel Time: Around 4 hours on a good day
Comfort Level: Good. Most private cars have comfy seats and air-conditioning. The road can get a little bumpy, but overall, this is the best way to travel
If you have the budget for it, hiring a private car/driver to get to Bukit Lawang from Medan Airport is the best choice.
You’ll be able to go at your own pace, stopping on the way wherever you like. You won’t have to deal with smoke-filled, crowded vehicles, and it’s definitely the fastest way to arrive at your destination.
Your guesthouse in Bukit Lawang can recommend a driver for you, or we have several fantastic, reliable, English-speaking drivers that we can recommend if you shoot us an email to: exploringsumatra@gmail.com
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Want More Info on Visiting Bukit Lawang? Check Out These Blogs:
This Post Has 4 Comments
Hi, I’m glad I’ve found and read your blog. Just now we are getting ready for our trip in North Sumatra in a couple of days. I’m not very experienced traveler and it will be our first visit in Asia. On the top of it. I’m going to travel with my son and we are travelling on the budget. All information from your blog or even YouTube videos is so crucial for me. Specially transport. 😳I’m a bit nervous about this part. We are definitely going to to Lake Toba and I took your recommendation to stay in Reggae Guest House. I’m excited about this part. My son more about Jungle tracking. Guys you are doing a very good job. Thanks a lot.
Hi Martina! Thanks so much for your comment – we are so glad you’ve found our blog helpful for your planning. It can certainly be daunting travelling to Sumatra, where it’s a bit more difficult to find info and plan everything out! So excited you’ll be staying at Reggae! It’s such a beautiful spot. Feel free to reach out to us via email if you need driver recs or anything else at all. We’d be happy to help: exploringsumatra@gmail.com
Will most hotels and guest houses orangish transport to the next destination?
So sorry for the late reply – only just saw this comment! Yes, the majority of guesthouses or hotels will be able to help you organise transport – whether it’s giving advice on buses or shared taxis or booking a private car.