Note: itinerary is indicative only, variations are possible due to weather and traffic conditions and the characteristics of the group (e.g., we can make the trek longer or shorter according to your physical condition).

6am: Your driver will meet you at your hotel/other point in Medan, and you will drive to Bukit Lawang.

9am: Arrive in Bukit Lawang. You may join with other guests on the trek staying locally, there won't be more than six people in your group, and we won't delay them for you, so if you arrive later, you will trek on your own.

9:15am (approximate): Walk to the entrance to the national park, near the Ecolodge guesthouse.

9:30am (approximate): Enter into the national park, trek through the jungle, keeping an eye out for wildlife including of course orangutans.

10:30am - Stop for variety of tropical fruit (depending on the season), such as pineapple, passion fruit, bananas, rambutan and tangerines.

11am - Continue walking

Noon: break for lunch. Typically fried rice, which we bring from the village.

12:30pm: continue trekking, watching for orangutans and other wildlife.

3pm: board the jungle raft down the Bohorok river back to the village - around 1 hour (option: walk back instead). We exit the river next to Wisma Sibayak guesthouse.

4pm: end of trek

5pm: drive back to Medan

8pm: arrive at your Medan hotel

What to bring

You need to bring a small backpack containing swimsuit (if you are returning by rafting), mosquito repellent, sun block, and camera.

You also need to bring at least one large (1.5l) bottle of water, for each person, this you can buy locally for around $0.50.

Jungle clothing choices are flexible. You can wear either long or short clothing, longer clothing will keep the sun and mosquitoes away, but it needs to be lightweight as the weather is hot (around 30C) and humidity is near 100%.

Footwear is quite important - never wear new shoes on a trip, please 'break them in', by wearing them first for a week or two, so that they don't cause blisters. You can be sure that your shoes will get wet in the jungle. For this reason avoid 'Gore-Tex' waterproof shoes, as these are designed to keep water out, which means that once they get wet (which they will), they will never dry get dry. Lightweight walking shoes or walking sandals (not flip-flops) are a good choice. Boots might be too hot for our conditions. If you are wearing sandals, please ensure that they are not slippery between your feet and the shoe when wet, as you can expect to walk through streams, etc., in them and they will get wet, and if they are slippery it makes it impossible to walk up any hill.

Orangutans and other wildlife are susceptible to human illnesses. Please do not feed them or touch them.

Restrictions

The trip requires an average to above average level of fitness. Paths can be steep and/or slippery. Our assistants will try to help you if you need a hand, but you are responsible for your own personal safety and your fitness to travel.

Children of any age are permitted, but please consider if your own child will be happy to spend several hours in the jungle. You will normally trek as part of a private group, so we can normally provide assistance with children, however we remind you that responsibility for their safety is with you as parents/guardians.

Extras

You have a choice for your return down the river to go by our jungle raft, or by walking.

We can drive you back any part of Medan, including the airport, if your flight is later than 8pm.

Upgrades to drive onwards to Lake Toba (you will spend the night on the shoreside and reach Samosir island in the morning), or Berastagi are available.

Included

Packed lunch, national park entrance fee, drive to and from a Medan hotel, guide(s) and their assistant(s).

Excluded

Drinking water, breakfast, dinner, your personal items.