FAQs Archive - Page 3 of 3 - Sumatra Ecotravel

Q: Is there a difference in prices and standards of EcoTravel treks compared to other tour operators or guides in Bukit Lawang? Most of the others include the national park permit? Why is it excluded by you?

We adhere to the official 2024/2025 price list for jungle trekking in Gunung Leuser National Park issued by the Indonesia Tourist Guides Association. On top, we always invest 1 Euro of each booking in our challenging initiatives “Keep The Jungle Green”, “Panting Trees For The Future” and “School Education Program”. Along with our exceptionally delicious food we provide double tents, sleeping bags, pillows, mattresses, mosquito nets, safety jackets and helmets for children. These features make trekking safer and more comfortable for EcoTravel guests. But our team has to use official camp sites and the usual "jungle toilets" in the national park. As opposed to some others our team follows the official rules of the national park office and pays the required entrance permit to the national park for each guest. For reasons of transparency we list the national park permit separately from our trekking fees. By adding both figures they sum up to the official standard charge per person. Before you start trekking, your permit is handed out to you. But please note that some tour operators or guides do not follow the rules of the national park, do not pay permits for their guests, neither do they register them. Each traveller in Bukit Lawang is supposed to hold a permit before they start trekking (DIN A6 format, 4-colour, with registration number!).

Q: Are we expected to tip staff on our tours, e.g. after trekking or after a transfer?

Tips are neither expected by EcoTravel team members nor by drivers or staff at our accommodation partners. Everybody who works with EcoTravel is well paid. But of course if you feel that you have received a very good service, you are welcome to give a small tip from 50.000 up to 100.000 IDR. Each of our team members will be happy about this! Please give the tip directly to the staff member you want to reward for his/her service.

Q: How many people will be taking part in the package we are booking?

Currently our maximum group size for jungle treks is up to 7 persons ( Jungle Explorer , Observation I and Observation II ) and 8 persons ( Jungle View Hike , Welcome To The Jungle Trek and Orangutan Trek ). Especially in low season you may sometimes be on your own. The maximum group size for tours around Bukit Lawang and for transportation is 8 persons.

Q: What time do the tours start and finish in Medan?

We can pick you up from your Medan hotel and take you back to your hotel any time from 07:00 am to 07:00 pm. If you would like to book a pickup service with our EcoTravel team from Medan airport to the jungle, please note that your flight should arrive before 15:00 pm. For your transfer from Bukit Lawang back to Medan airport your flight departure should be after 13:00 pm. EcoTravel-tours are group tours, so there will be other EcoTravel guests joining you if their arrival/departure is at the same time. Currently our maximum group size for tours and transfers is up to 8 people but especially in low season you may sometimes be on your own. Please remember it’s a 4 hour drive from Kuala Namu Airport (KNO) in Medan to Bukit Lawang so the later you arrive the later you will get to Bukit Lawang. And if your jungle trek starts the next day you will have to get up early.

Q: What about the standard of accommodation in Bukit Lawang? Do they have air condition and hot shower?

Bukit Lawang is a jungle village and so you shouldn't expect a Bali standard! But our choice of guest houses is the best option to stay there with clean rooms, good standard and reliable service. Apart from EcoTravel Cottages and The Hangout@ EcoTravel, which offer a “western” bathroom and hot shower, most other guesthouses have cold running water. If you wish to have your room cleaned please tell reception because it's not common to clean rooms every day – except in our EcoTravel Cottages and The Hangout@ EcoTravel with daily room cleaning service. A few accommodation now also advertise air-con. This could make your stay in a guesthouse in the village more comfortabler, as it can get very hot there. However, accommodation such as our EcoTravel Cottages and The Hangout@ EcoTravel, which are located directly on the river overlooking the rainforest, are not only lucky enough to have a beautiful view and river access, but also a permanent cool breeze. Quite good standard can also be expected from our partners Hotel Deli River in Medan, Tabo Cottages (Lake Toba), Nachelle Homestay (Berastagi) and Freddies Santa Sumur Tiga (Pulau Weh).

Q: Which are the risks awaiting us in Bukit Lawang? And how to avoid them?

There are a couple of things to be aware of: a good mosquito/insect repellent should be applied at least twice a day (in the morning and in the evening) to your clothes and your body (ears, wrists, ankles). Sensitive western stomachs may be rather upset by Indonesian „street food“: it is prepared in the morning and stays on display for hours so it is often contaminated with bacteria. Instead, restaurant food is usually prepared freshly and comes at a reasonable price. Switch off your mobile phone or tablet pc during thunder storms as there are no lightning conductors in the jungle. To avoid being bitten or to even catch rabies, we recommend strongly not to touch any animals around the village, especially pets. Furthermore, don’t drink local alcohol. Apart from local 'gin', 'whisky', 'vodka' and 'arak' which are all available in and around Bukit Lawang. Extreme caution is advised because cheap, adulterated local alcohol has already caused serious health problems and even some deaths. You are also quite likely to be offered marijuana in Bukit Lawang. It is illegal and can get you in big trouble with the police if you are caught.

Q: Is there really no opportunity to change money in Bukit Lawang?

There is no ATM machine in Bukit Lawang. However, there is now an ATM machine in the nearby village of Gotong Royong. Unfortunately, the machine does not always work, so travellers should not rely on it. As an exclusive service to our guests we also change Euros and offer credit card payment (Visa & Mastercard / 3% charge) in our EcoTravel office in Bukit Lawang, if required. Unfortunately, if you fail to pay your final cash payment to the tour operator team after arrival, it is not possible to start your tour. Note: The maximum amount you get from ATM machines in Sumatra is 2.5 Mio IDR so you have to make several transactions to get a higher amount! Due to frequent problems with ATM machines we recommend to take 2 -3 different credit cards with you.

Q: How much money would you recommend for extras?

Although it is difficult to recommend a fixed sum of money we can give a few guidelines: after your arrival in Bukit Lawang you have to pay a tourist tax (7.500 IDR / person). If you would like to take part in a jungle trek, you have to pay for entrance permits to the national park and a tax for using cameras before starting your trek (150.000 IDR/ person/ weekdays & 225.000 IDR/ person/ Sundays or red days). For keeping extra luggage in a locker room during overnight treks there is a small fee at around 30.000 IDR at most of the guesthouses. At our EcoTravel Cottages and at The Hangout@ EcoTravel, storing luggage is free for our guests. If you require a local porter for carrying your luggage from taxi/bus stop to your chosen guesthouse, their fees range from 50.000 -150.000 IDR (per person / one way). Yet again, if you are staying at our EcoTravel Cottages or at The Hangout@ EcoTravel, you enjoy free local porter services upon arrival/departure! Meals in Bukit Lawang are available at approximately 70.000 IDR per person, including soft drinks or water. One small bottle of beer is around 40.000 IDR. Unfortunately Bukit Lawang is a bit more expensive than other places in Sumatra.