Batu Katak orangutan trek
The quiet side of Gunung Leuser. Fewer trekkers, fully wild orangutans, limestone caves and waterfalls you'll have to yourselves.
A wilder alternative to Bukit Lawang
Batu Katak is a farming village of rubber gardens and rice fields, half an hour from Bukit Lawang but a world away from its busy trails. Very few trekkers come here, which means the forest is quieter and the orangutans you find are truly wild.
Because they've never been habituated to people, Batu Katak orangutans are harder to find. Our Batu Katak guides, Rusli and Sedar, track them the old way: reading broken branches, half-eaten fruit and fresh nests. When you do find one, you'll often be the only people there.
The landscape is different too: limestone outcrops, a hidden water cave you wade into, waterfalls, the Berkail River, and in the right season the giant corpse flower or a Rafflesia in bloom.
2-day / 1-night Batu Katak trek
Day 1 · Into the primary forest
Leave the village through plantations and into the rainforest. 6–7 hours of tracking wildlife, learning medicinal plants and jungle signs. Camp beside the Berkail River.
Day 2 · Gibbons and a waterfall
Wake up to siamang gibbons calling. Explore a nearby waterfall or another route for wildlife, then tube down the river back to the village.
3-day / 2-night Batu Katak trek
Day 1 · First camp
Enter the forest and walk to the first riverside camp.
Day 2 · Silent tracking
Move quietly deeper into the interior looking for orangutans, Thomas leaf monkeys and hornbills. On to a more remote second camp.
Day 3 · The water cave
Wade into a hidden cave of limestone chambers. If it's flowering, visit the Amorphophallus titanum. Lunch, then float home on the river.
4-day / 3-night Batu Katak trek
Three nights at three different riverside camps. Day one into the forest and the Berkail River camp; day two tracking for orangutans, gibbons and hornbills on the way to a remote second camp; day three exploring the water caves and, in season, the giant corpse flower; and on day four a swim at a secret waterfall before tubing back to the village.
5 to 10-day Batu Katak expedition
A flexible route built around what you want to see and the season: remote water caves, secret waterfalls, primary forest zones and, with luck, a Rafflesia in bloom. It can start elsewhere and finish in Batu Katak, or loop from the village deep into the Leuser interior and back. Guides adapt camps to the conditions and your pace.
Want to finish in Bukit Lawang instead? Look at our 5-day Batu Katak to Bukit Lawang expedition or the 4-day combo trek.
Included on every Batu Katak trek
- English-speaking expert guide, assistant and jungle chef
- All permits and national park fees
- All meals during the trek
- Camping gear: canopy, roll mat, pillow, mosquito net, blanket
- Traditional tube rafting
Honest expectations
Batu Katak is hot, humid and steep in places, and leeches are likely after rain. Orangutans here are wild, so sightings are not guaranteed. What you get in return is a forest with almost nobody else in it.
What Batu Katak trekkers say
Escape To Sumatra is rated Excellent on Google (30 reviews) and Tripadvisor. A few words from recent guests:
“Can't recommend the Batu Katak jungle trekking with these guys enough.”
“Be prepared though – this is a real jungle adventure!”
“The jungle is mysterious and you climb the hill not knowing what you will see.”
Batu Katak trek FAQ
Where is Batu Katak?
Batu Katak is a small village in Langkat, North Sumatra, on the eastern edge of Gunung Leuser National Park. It's about 30–45 minutes by road from Bukit Lawang and around 4 to 4.5 hours from Kualanamu Airport in Medan.
Are there orangutans in Batu Katak?
Yes, and they are fully wild rather than semi-wild. That makes them shyer and harder to find than in Bukit Lawang, so sightings aren't as frequent. People who choose Batu Katak usually value the quiet forest, caves and waterfalls as much as the orangutans.
What does 'Batu Katak' mean?
It translates as 'frog stone' in Indonesian. Locals will happily tell you their own stories about the name when you visit.
When can I see the corpse flower?
The giant Amorphophallus titanum blooms irregularly and only for a few days. Your guide will know if one is flowering near the trail and, on the 3 and 4-day treks, will take you to it if the timing works.
Trek the quiet side of Leuser
Tell us your dates and how many of you are coming. Rama or one of the team will reply on WhatsApp, usually the same day, and help you pick the right trek.