It’s not all about trekking here…..
In and around Bukit Lawang there is a lot you can do on your own/under your own steam…you don’t have to have a packed itinerary so don’t forget to factor in some time for simply chilling out, relaxing and soaking up the jungle atmosphere. You can explore the local area….walk to the bat cave and onto the Landak river….take a becak ride into the village of Gotong Royong, have a look round the market…walk back into Bukit Lawang along the irrigation channels ….
We have put together a select number of our favourite unique half and day trips that can take you beyond the ordinary and help you explore the real Sumatra and we are also working on a few new and exciting options (bird watching, photography, night walk…..)
Please note that prices may differ depending on if you are based in Bukit Lawang or at our Ecolodge. Please contact us for further information.
If you are a solo traveller, a family or a group we can work out a deal.
As ever….please do not hesitate to fire away with any questions at all.
🍃Conservation volunteer 🍃
Jungle Border Patrol
If you want to make an active contribution to our conservation work but don’t have a lot of time, you can join our community rangers for a day and patrol around our Ecolodge /rewilding site and along the adjoining national park borders. Although we have been running our conservation projects for many years this is the first time we have felt it was the right time to offer a volunteer experience . We really want to share our experience with visitors in a genuine manner.
We have a remote regeneration/rewilding site which is 30 minutes outside Bukit Lawang, in between the villages on Tualang Gepang and Bukit Kencur…and right on the border of Gunung Leuser National Park…this is an extremely important and key position in terms of conservation monitoring. It used to be 5 hectares of palm oil plantation which we chopped down and have now regenerated it by letting the felled palm oil biodegrade back into the land and planting a mixture of fruit trees (lots of Durian). We let the borders of our land go wild….and by rewilding we have created corridors that connect the wildlife with the national park rainforest. We monitor and survey the wildlife with camera traps and have discovered incredible levels of biodiversity…the birdlife is particularly eye opening and suprising…(for security reasons we can’t reveal the camera trap locations or findings). We often take guests trekking in this remote area which affords a degree of protection to the wildlife from any would be poaching/hunting….but we need to specifically monitor the borders and that is where YOU come in.
We are inviting visitors to join us as a conservation volunteer on a patrol along the borders of our land and the national park rainforest. You would join our rangers from the local community for a day to monitor the area and check for any signs of human encroachment (e.g. snare traps)…and of course you will be looking for any signs of wildlife such as wild pig trails, otter scat, bird nests etc etc.
COST 1,000,000 IDR per person (min 2 people)
includes: guide, community ranger, fruit snack, lunch, transport.
🍃Conservation volunteer 🍃
Community library assistant.
For almost ten years we have run a Nature Club for the kids in the village of Tualang Gepang focussing on environmental and nature education. Over that time we built up a great collection of books which we kept in boxes in our store shed in the village and had a book exchange once a week. We are super excited to have finally saved up enough money to buy a small plot of land and have created a purpose built library which is open to the whole community. To be honest its more than a library…its a flexible learning space and community hub…….
We would really welcome visitors to come and help us out in the library which could involve tasks such as cataloguing books, creating educational displays, organising resources etc. You may also have the opportunity to join in a Nature Club session, chat with library visitors or read with the kids BUT please note that we do not allow any photography involving the kids or get visitors to ‘teach english’. We are really into skill and knowledge sharing so if you think that you have something to contribute to the community please drop us an email and lets have a chat.
COST …..to be discussed :-)
this could include lunch, coffee, transport etc …get in touch to discuss if you are interested 😃..let’s chat.
🌿1 day River walk and
wild swimming 🌿
My all time favourite activity is walking through jungle rivers (sungai) and Sungai Kerapoh is right at the bottom of our rewilding site and runs along the border of the national park. We would love you to join us on a gentle meander along this beautiful river…listening out for the shriek of blue kingfishers…the distant hoot of Siamang gibbons…..maybe even the rumbling long call of an adult male orangutan.
This is a great activity for all the family as the river is mostly not very deep…..but….we do take you to an incredible spot where you can jump in from the rocks and experience some wild swimming and then enjoy a picnic lunch.
COST 450,000 idr per person (min 2 people);
includes guide/local assistant, transport, lunch/snack.
🌿Indonesian Cooking class🌿
On this half day (plus) class you will travel to the local village with your guide and learn to cook some classic Indonesian dishes at a local home..probably with the mum or wife of one of our staff members. There is also an option to do this class with Ogan….our trek chef from Tualang Gepang…at our Ecolodge….everyone who does the treks LOVES his food so this is a really popular option.
The dishes you will learn to cook will all be fresh and you will be taught the different spice mixes for each. They can be adapted to your own tastes and you can vary the ingredients when you get back home and impress your friends with some delicious and exciting food. The most popular dish and often requested recipe is the famous Green Hill Rendang. Other could be Pumpkin curry, nasi goreng (fried rice), mie goreng (fried noodles), tempe sambal (spicy tomato sauce), gado-gado (spicy peanut sauce). After you have finished cooking you will then have lunch....which will be the dishes you have just helped to cook!
COST: 600,000 IDR per person (min 2 people) solo traveller = contact us for price.
includes: guide, teacher, ingredients, transport, lunch.
🌿Learn how to make traditional
natural medicine 🌿
Take a walk through our rewilding site and along the riverbanks with our community guide and natural medicine specialist to collect roots, leaves, herbs etc and then head back to our Ecolodge to prepare what you have collected and make it into your own herbal remedy which you can take home.
This is a privileged chance to spend time with the local community and learn about traditional knowledge that has been passed down through generations.🌱🍃
COST 1,000,000 idr per person (min 2 people)
includes transport, guide, medicine specialists, lunch.
🛺 1/2 day Village tour by becak 🛺
On this half day cultural discovery trip you will travel by becak (motorbike+side car) through the beautiful rice paddi fields and explore the villages surrounding Bukit Lawang where you will be able to see (and maybe even take part in) traditional activities which have not changed for many, many years.
Along the way you will see small scale farming for a wide variety of produce such as cacao (chocolate), rubber, banana and maize. You will also be able to observe the making of traditional foods such as the fudge like red palm sugar and the production of tofu. See villagers weaving bamboo walls for local houses and palm tree leaves for roof thatching.
At the end of your trip you will take a rest and have a refreshing drink of freshly harvested coconut milk. Throughout the trip your guide you will teach you about the everyday life of village people and will translate any questions you have for the villagers.
COST: 500,000 IDR per person (min 2 people) solo traveller = 600,000 IDR Includes: guide, transport, donation to each place visited.