Indonesia - The Rough Guide to Southeast Asia on a Budget - page 221

ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
By bus Bukit Lawang's bus terminal is about 1km from
the Bohorok Visitor Centre (Rp5000 by motorized becak).
The only buses are to Medan's Pinang Baris Terminal (every
20min 5.30am-3.30pm daily; 4hr). Large buses charge
Rp40,000, while minibuses charge just Rp20,000.
By private minibus or car You may book a seat in a
tourist car or minibus at numerous travel o ces around
town, among them Tobali (set near the parking area
T 0813 7018 9501). These depart in the morning for
Medan (4hr; Rp100,000), Berastagi (5hr; Rp135,000) and
Danau Toba (7hr; Rp200,000). Some charter trips to Danau
Toba take in scenic spots along the way, such as Sipisopiso
waterfall at the north end of the lake. For Tangkahan (3hr),
you can go by ojek (Rp200,000) or 4WD (Rp500,000).
Compare prices and don't be afraid to bargain.

ones upstairs (Rp100,000). The attached Valley Café is also
popular, featuring regular acoustic sing-alongs. Ask owner
Obiwan or any of the friendly resident gu ides about the
“jungle-style surfing” out back. Rp60,000
Jungle Inn T 0813 7016 0173. Situated near the river
crossing to the rehab centre, this is the most organized
and well-maintained spot in Bukit Lawang, and also
offers some of the best nightlife. A wide selection of
rooms, all with private bathrooms - from great-value
standard doubles, complete with balconies, to a gigantic
honeymoo n suite with a four-poster bed (Rp450,000).
Rp50,000
Rain Forest T 0813 6207 0656, E nora_in2003
@mailyahoo.com. This cheap little guesthouse overlooking
the Bohorok has some ultra-basic rooms consisting of a
mattress on the floor, a mosquito net, flimsy rattan walls
and shared bathrooms) as well as quite comfortable and
clean doubles (Rp100,000). Fantastic me als (and co oking
lessons for Rp100,000) prepared by Nora. Rp40,000

INFORMATION
Tourist information and permits The permit o ce
is part of the excellent Bohorok Visitor Centre (daily
7.30am-3pm), packed with information about the park.
You can get a permit (Rp20,000/day plus Rp50,000-
150,000 camera fee) to watch the feeding sessions at
the orang-utan centre from the PHPA Permit O ce (daily
7am-4pm), which overlooks the square to the east, by the
visitor centre. Separate trekking permits (Rp20,000/day;
Rp25,000/two days; Rp30,000/three days) are available
from the IGA (Indonesian Guide Association) O ce,
though this is always included in the trekking fee with
organized hikes.

DIRECTORY
Internet There are a few computers at Harmony Net, near
the parking area in town (Rp4000/hr).
Money The nearest ATM accepts only Mastercard and is
11km away in Bohorok village (Rp50,000 return by ojek);
better to bring su cient cash for your stay. There are
exchange facilities, though rates are lower than in Medan.

4

BERASTAGI
Lying 1330m above sea level, 70km
southwest of Medan and 25km due north
of the shores of Danau Toba, BERASTAGI
is a cold and scruffy hill station in the
centre of the Karo Highlands. It was
founded by the Dutch in the 1920s as
a retreat from the sweltering heat of
Medan, and has been popular with
tourists ever since. he town is set
among rolling farmland bookended by
two huge but climbable volcanoes ,
Gunung Sibayak and dangerously active
Gunung Sinabung (see p.227), and
provides a perfect base for trekking . It's
little more than a one-street town, with
most accommodation running north of
the bus station on Jalan Veteran.

ACCOMMODATION AND EATING
The best accommodation in Bukit Lawang is clustered along
the Bohorok's north shore, opposite to the feeding centre.
The best places to eat are the restaurants attached to each
guesthouse, and most have live music on Sat nights.
Garden Inn and Restaurant T 0813 9600 0571 (Ujai),
W bukitlawang-garden-inn.com. Simple rooms and
bungalows (Rp150,000) by the river, with an attached,
cosy restaurant serving standard dishes and surrounded
by gardens. It has a small library, friendly staff, a French-
speaking owner and a pair of hammocks that are great
for relaxing in with a cold beer. Rp100,000
Green Hill Café and Guest House T 0813 7034 9124
or T 0823 7061 6357, W greenhill-bukitlawang.com. In a
fantastic location overlooking the water, offering a range
of rooms from simple dorms to treetop bungalows with
balconies, hammocks and even jungle bathrooms with
sit-down toilets (Rp150,000-250,000). Cheaper rooms
come with a shared squat toilet and mandi. Attached c afé
downstairs with live acoustic music at night. Rp60,000
★

WHAT TO SEE AND DO
Aside from the volcanoes, Berastagi has
a handful of attractions; there are lively
fresh produce markets behind the bus
station and across from the war
memorial, and a Sunday market

Indra Inn T 0813 9737 5818, W indravalleyinn.com.
Small, laidback place right on the river with cheap, simple
rooms with private balconies and hammocks, the nicest