How to Get to Bukit Lawang Ecotourism From Kualanamu International Airport, North Sumatra, Indonesia

How to Get to Kualanamu International Airport, North Sumatra, Indonesia, From Other Airports, and Private Transport for the Trips Throughout Sumatra

To get to Bukit Lawang, where SUMECO (Sumatra Ecoproject) and Bukit Lawang Ecotourism are based, you have to get into North Sumatra, one of the ten provinces situated on Sumatra Island, as Bukit Lawang is located in North Sumatra, about 3 hours from Medan and 4 hours from Kualanamu International Airport (KNO). Traffic will be the main issue here, but mostly it’s normal as long as there are no accidents or landslides. According to Google, the distance to Bukit Lawang from Kualanamu International Airport is 2 hours, 59 minutes (130.4 kilometers), but we must be honest, the road condition is not like you expected.

How to Get to Kualanamu International Airport (KNO), North Sumatra, Indonesia.

There are many airports (Kuala Lumpur – Malaysia, Jakarta – Indonesia, Changi – Singapore, Bangkok / Krung Thep Maha Nakhon – Thailand, etc) with direct flights to Kualanamu International Airport, which is located in Medan – Deli Serdang, North Sumatra, Indonesia.

Sumatra – North Sumatra – Kualanamu International Airport (KNO) – Bukit Lawang.

Almost every major Indonesian city (big cities) has direct flights to Kualanamu International Airport. Medan is the third largest city in Indonesia. All cities in Sumatra, Java, Bali, and Kalimantan (Borneo) have direct flights to Kualanamu International Airport. Without or without our company, feel free to contact us for more information through WhatsApp.

Warning: Overcharging tourists for the public bus price in Binjai or at Pinang Baris at Medan bus station is common. Street thugs will push you onto the buses and demand money. At Pinang Baris (unsafe), it has been known that tourists have been charged up to IDR 300,000 per person. This is why you are suggested to take the public bus named P.S (Pembangunan Semesta) to get to Bukit Lawang from Binjai after the airport shuttle bus named A.L.S (Antar Lintas Sumatera) drops you off in Binjai. In Binjai, generally, they will ask for IDR 50,000. The fact is, you only pay the driver at the end of the journey. Just stand your ground and be careful, or you can call the police at this number +62617869000 or me at +6282166316641. When traveling by bus in Indonesia, please refrain from flaunting expensive items and keep track of all your belongings, including any luggage and bags.

Tips on How to Get to Bukit Lawang Ecotourism or SUMECO by Public Bus.

If you are in KNO – Kualanamu Internation Airport, make sure you have min 100,000 IDR in your pocket. Prepare a bottle of water, then get to the information center in KNO – Kualanamu Internation Airport, and ask the officers to show you which bus to get you to Binjai city which is located 60 km from Bukit Lawang Ecotourism.
The bus company that is operating trips between Kualanamu International Airport and Binjai is named A.L.S (Antar Lintas Sumatera). There has to be a sign reading “Binjai” on the front of the bus, and the bus driver must declare his direction from the beginning. Please be aware, there will be always people who stress you to use their private taxis, you can ignore them by saying, “maaf tidak, terima kasih”; sorry no, thanks.
If you got the bus, sit and relax, ignore all the unnecessary things, and focus on the jungle and the wildlife you dream to see.
Make sure you have 50,000 IDR in your pocket, the trip from KNO – Kualanamu International Airport costs 40,000 IDR.
After you arrive in Binjai city, you will be dropped off in front of Binjai Super Mall. It’s the last stop of that airport shuttle bus.
Cross the street and make sure you are standing up exactly in front of Binjai Super Mall. The smaller public bus name P.S (Pembangunan Semesta) with round trips from Medan to Bukit Lawang and Bukit Lawang to Medan, will be exactly passing in front of you. Click the Google map link, I suggest you are standing at this point to wait for the bus. [Google Map Link]
After you got the bus named P.S (Pembangunan Semesta) with orange color, make sure again you have 40,000 IDR in your pocket, this is why preparing the Indonesian Rupiah is important since the beginning. Once again the driver must declare from the beginning that they’re heading to Bukit Lawang.
Sit and relax on the bus, wearing a mask is better, and please be aware, there will be always irresponsible people at Bukit Lawang bus station that will force you to sign up the trekking with them. You must contact us before arriving in Bukit Lawang (if you stay with us), or you must contact the staff of your hotel or tour company to wait for you before you arrive at Bukit Lawang bus station which is located at the traditional market in Bukit Lawang.

Tips on How to Get to Bukit Lawang Lawang Ecotourism by Private Car.

Just text us on WhatsApp, email via the contact form, or easily use our online chat at the lower right corner of this website, to inform us of your flight information before your departure, and our comfort car and driver will be waiting for you 30 mins before your arrival time.
You can stop thousand times by telling our driver if you need to stop at ATMs, toilets, shops, restaurants, etc.

Trips All Over Sumatra.

We also provide private cars for trips throughout Sumatra, including Toba Lake, Karo Land, Berastagi, Aceh, West Sumatra, and all Sumatra national parks. We can discuss this by WhatsApp or email. Using our company’s service is the same as making a donation to SUMECO (Sumatra Ecoproject).

Sumatra is a large island in Indonesia with an extensive road network. The condition of roads can vary depending on various factors such as location, weather conditions, maintenance, and ongoing construction.

In general, major highways and roads connecting major cities in Sumatra are well-maintained, but some rural or less-traveled roads may be in poorer condition. It’s essential to consider that during the rainy season, some roads in Sumatra, particularly in more remote or mountainous areas, may experience temporary closures or reduced accessibility due to landslides or flooding.

If you are planning to travel to Sumatra, it’s recommended to check with local authorities, travel agencies, or online resources for the most up-to-date information on road conditions and any advisories or closures that may be in place. Additionally, it’s always a good idea to exercise caution while driving, follow traffic regulations, and be prepared for potential challenges on the road.

Our Private Car

Our Private Car With Private Driver 24h /7 Service

ALS (Antar Lintas Sumatra) Bus

Kualanamu International Airport Shuttle Bus to Binjai

PS (Pembangunan Semesta) Bus

Public Bus From Medan or Binjai to Bukit Lawang

Tips for Long-Distance Travel (Land and Sea) in Indonesia by Bus, Private Car, Taxi, and Ship

What to do, What to avoid, and what to be aware of

Indonesia, the world’s biggest archipelago to constitute a continuous state, is made up of 30 smaller archipelagoes and five major islands, for a total of around 18,110 islands and islets, of which 6,000 are inhabited. According to Wikipedia, Indonesia has 1,340 recognized ethnic groups. Different regions, tribes, and characteristics are the main reasons to understand and consider when traveling in Indonesia, particularly to Bukit Lawang, and other tourism places in North Sumatra.

true size of countries in map

Traveling by bus and ship is vastly different from traveling by private taxi or private rented car, where you are truly the boss. Indonesia is a sizable nation. Indonesia is an archipelago that stretches 1,760 kilometers (1,094 miles) from north to south and 5,120 kilometers (3,181 miles) from east to west. Apart from air travel, it really takes time. Here I would like to share with you some tips for traveling by public bus and ship.

Be sure, you bring enough cash.

It’s very important that you bring enough cash in the Indonesian Rupiah, and avoid carrying too much money except you know how to keep it safe. Always ask the price and repeat again, twice is enough.

You know the seat is yours.

Be sure “the seat is yours” will be underestimated case, but it’s still very important to travel by bus, so you stand your rights to defend your seat. Nobody can claim your seat or space if your ticket shows your rights over the seat.

Find a credible and trusted travel company.

You should research the reputation of the company in relation to the location before purchasing a bus or ship ticket. The time of departure, destination, ticket costs, and accessibility of passenger seats are all pieces of information that must be explored from the beginning.

Write down important numbers, such as plate number, contact number, and local police station.

The Indonesian Consumers Agency recommends passengers of public transportation, such as buses, trains, and ships, to write down any important phone numbers or complaint services. If there are any complications while traveling, call the number.

Be helpful to other people, especially elders (Indonesian culture).

This is a key to game-changing psychologically to win the hearts of people around you. Even potential criminals changed their minds after witnessing your kindness, such as by assisting elders.