Travel Tips & Visa

A few practical tips to help you prepare for your trip to Indonesia and your jungle trek in Bukit Lawang. Rules for visas and entry can change at short notice, so please always check the official sources before you travel.

Visa and entry

Travelers from many countries can get a Visa on Arrival for tourism. It allows a stay of 30 days and can be extended once for another 30 days. It is available at major international airports, including Kualanamu Airport in Medan.

• Apply online in advance: you can also get the visa as an e-VOA before your trip. This saves time at the airport. Only use the official website of the Indonesian immigration office: evisa.imigrasi.go.id.
• Arrival card: all travelers need to fill in the All Indonesia arrival card online before arrival. It combines immigration, customs and health details: allindonesia.imigrasi.go.id.
• Passport: your passport should be valid for at least 6 months from your arrival date.
• Longer stays: if you want to stay longer than 60 days, you need a different visa. Please check with an Indonesian embassy or the official immigration website.

Whether you can get a visa on arrival, and what it costs, depends on your nationality. Please check the current rules for your country before you travel.

Money and cash

The currency in Indonesia is the Indonesian Rupiah (IDR). Around Bukit Lawang, cash is what counts.

• Withdraw enough cash in Medan before you travel to Bukit Lawang. There are plenty of ATMs and money changers in Medan.
• In Bukit Lawang, you can usually only get cash at hotels, and they charge a fee.
• ATMs often only give out a limited amount per withdrawal, so you may need several withdrawals.
• Bring two different bank cards, in case one of them doesn't work.
• Tours with Jos are paid in cash. See how to pay.

Health and safety

• Travel insurance: take out travel insurance with good medical cover before your trip. Medical care in rural Sumatra is basic, and it can be far to the next good hospital.
• See your doctor before you travel: ask about recommended vaccinations and whether you need malaria prevention for your trip.
• Protect yourself from mosquitoes: use insect repellent during the day and wear long sleeves and long trousers around sunset, when mosquitoes are most active.
• Bring a small first-aid kit with your personal medication. See the packing list.
• Drink enough: it is hot and humid, and you sweat a lot while trekking.
• Tell Jos about health conditions before your trek, for example allergies, high blood pressure or a pregnancy, so he can plan the right tour for you. See also do I have to be fit for the tour?
• Follow your guide: the jungle has steep trails, rivers and wild animals. Always follow your guide's instructions and the rules in the jungle.

Emergency numbers in Indonesia

Weather

Sumatra has a tropical climate: it is warm and humid all year round, with temperatures usually between about 23 and 33 °C in the lowlands. There is a drier season and a rainy season, but in the rainforest it can rain at any time of the year. Rain showers are often heavy but don't last very long.

Trekking is possible all year. Just be prepared for both sun and rain. See the packing list and what happens if the weather is bad.

Phone and internet

A local prepaid SIM card is the easiest way to stay connected. You can buy one at the airport or in phone shops. You need your passport, and the staff usually register the card for you. If you stay in Indonesia for less than 90 days, a tourist SIM card works in your own phone, as long as it is not locked to your home network. Deep in the jungle you will often have no signal at all.

Good to know about Sumatra

• Sumatra is the largest island that lies entirely within Indonesia. Medan is the capital of the province of North Sumatra.
• Sumatra is home to many different ethnic groups and languages, for example the Batak in the highlands of North Sumatra.
• Most people on Sumatra are Muslim, and there are also large Christian communities. In villages and at religious sites, dress respectfully and cover your shoulders and knees.
• People are friendly and helpful. A smile and a little patience go a long way.