20 February 2026
Arrival and Pick-Up
Today we will pick up guests who booked a four-day tour with our travel at Kualanamu Airport. Our guests are a couple from Germany.
We will pick them up using a car, with a four-hour drive from Bukit Lawang to Kualanamu Airport. Their flight lands at 2 p.m.
In the international arrivals hall, we will wait to hold a sign with their names and greet them with a warm welcome.
After arriving in Bukit Lawang, we will head to the hotel we have prepared for them to rest and get ready before starting the orangutan trekking the following day
Into the Jungle: Two Days and One Night Trekking
We will begin trekking at 7:30 a.m. after breakfast. The walk takes about 30 minutes to reach the entrance of Gunung Leuser National Park.
Entering the park, we are greeted by giant trees and a lush forest canopy. We also hear the loud calls of animals echoing in the distance.
We follow narrow trails with roots at every step. Along the way, we encounter several species of monkeys and peacocks, and we take a break to enjoy some fruit.
After three hours of searching for orangutans, we still haven’t found them. We then head to fruiting trees often visited by wildlife, including orangutans.
Meeting Ratna, Female Orangutan
During lunch in the forest, we hear sounds coming from a tree not far from us. We immediately move toward the source and see an orangutan. It seems the orangutan deliberately came to the place where we were eating.
It was Ratna, a female orangutan. Ratna is a semi-wild orangutan who was once cared for at the Bohorok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center, established in the 1970s here in Bukit Lawang.
Semi-wild orangutans are generally more accustomed to humans, unlike wild orangutans who tend to avoid human encounters.
Ratna has even snatched a visitor’s bag when they failed to keep their distance. The ideal distance is 10 meters when observing orangutans in the wild, a rule set by the national park authorities.
Orangutans do not attack humans; they are simply curious about the things we carry.
There is no time limit when observing orangutans and other wildlife in the national park. Visitors are free to watch their behavior as long as they follow the guidelines: keep a safe distance, avoid using camera flash, and remain quiet when encountering animals.
Spending the Night in the Jungle
By around 4 p.m., we reached the semi-permanent campsite prepared for our overnight stay. Nestled deep in the rainforest and close to a small, crystal-clear river, the location felt both secluded and magical.
Our tent was built from bamboo with a simple plastic roof. Inside, we found mattresses, mosquito nets, blankets, and pillows—basic yet comfortable essentials for a night in the wilderness. The rustic setup added to the authenticity of the jungle experience.
As evening descended, the sounds of the forest grew louder. Cicadas sang in chorus, frogs croaked by the river, and the rustling of leaves hinted at nocturnal creatures beginning their nightly routines. Sitting together by the campfire, we shared stories and enjoyed a simple dinner prepared by our guides.
The night in the jungle was unlike any other. Surrounded by towering trees and the symphony of nature, sleep came with a sense of adventure and peace. It was a reminder of how small we are compared to the vastness of the rainforest, and how precious this ecosystem truly is.
Journey Back to the Hotel and the End of Orangutan Trekking
From the tent, we will continue our journey back to the hotel, which will take approximately five hours, following a different trail from the one we took on the first day. During the journey, there is still a possibility of encountering wildlife, including orangutans
Traditional Rafting Back to Bukit Lawang
By midday, we make our way back toward Bukit Lawang. But instead of retracing our steps, the adventure takes a thrilling turn. Local guides prepare traditional rafting using large inner tubes tied together.
We climb aboard and begin floating down the Bohorok River. The ride is exhilarating—sometimes calm and peaceful, sometimes fast and splashy as the current picks up. The riverbanks offer stunning views of the jungle, and laughter fills the air as the raft bounces over small rapids.
After about an hour, we arrive back at Bukit Lawang, wet but smiling, with memories of the jungle trek still fresh in our minds.
See our other tours at www.visitsumatranorangutan.com