How to Get Here

Location:

  • Simolap is approximately 4 hours from Medan, 5 hours from Berastagi, 7 hours from Lake Toba and 1.5 hours from Bukit Lawang.

  • We are located on the edge of Gunung Leuser National Park (about a 5 minute walk from the National Park border) in a remote community next to a small river and a natural hot springs.

Transportation Options:

There are a few options for getting to Simolap, via public transport, motorbike (for solo travellers or couples coming from Bukit Lawang) or private car.

 

  • This trip will take 5 - 6 hours.

    From Medan airport, take the train or the ALS bus to Binaji.

    Change at Binjai and take a tuk tuk to Marike ('Ma-ree-ke' is how it is pronounced) bus station.

    Catch the bus to Merike from there (they leave approximately every 30 minutes depending on how full they are - there is no set schedule so we recommend getting there earlier in the day with plenty of time to spare)

    We will meet you at the bus stop at Merike and pick you up on a motorbike to take you the rest of the way (approximately 35 minutes by motorbike).

    Note: The tuk tuk/bus providers may charge an additional cost if you are carrying a large amount of baggage.

  • This trip will take between 4-5 hours depending on traffic.

    We can arrange to pick you up from the airport or your hotel in a private car (that seats up to 5 people) from Medan city and bring you to Simolap with al your luggage.

    The driver can stop at an ATM or other stores if required on the way from the city to Simolap. They will also stop at a recommended food stop so you can try some delicious Sumatran food on the way.

    Note: Depending on the road conditions, we may have to arrange for a motorbike transfer for the last section of the journey however this will be arranged with the driver by our guides who will meet you.

  • This trip will take 1.5 - 2 hours

    If you are arriving from Bukit Lawang, we can arrange for a private car to come and collect you and bring you to Simolap.

    We are happy to arrange the pick up with your guesthouse so that it takes the stress out of your travels as well.

    Note: Depending on the road conditions, we may have to arrange for a motorbike transfer for the last section of the journey however this will be arranged with the driver by our guides who will meet you.

  • This trip will take approximately 1.5 hours

    If you are a single traveller or a couple travelling from Bukit Lawang (and you do not have much luggage), we can arrange for a member of our team to collect you from Bukit Lawang and bring you to Simolap.

    Note: If you are carrying too much luggage to fit on one motorbike, we may have to hire additional motorcycles to bring your bags.

  • This trip will take approximately 5 hours to Berastagi, or 7 hours to Lake Toba depending on traffic.

    We can arrange to pick you up from the airport or your hotel in a private car (that seats up to 5 people) from Berastagi or Lake Toba and bring you to Simolap with all your luggage.

    The driver can stop at an ATM or other stores if required on the way from the city to Simolap. They will also stop at a recommended food stop so you can try some delicious Sumatran food on the way.

    Note: Depending on the road conditions, we may have to arrange for a motorbike transfer for the last section of the journey however this will be arranged with the driver by our guides who will meet you.

Getting to Medan - FAQ:

  • The most popular airports to transit through on your way to Medan are Singapore, Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur.

  • We suggest arriving into Medan in the morning or at the latest before 3pm as it takes some time to get to Simolap and it is better not to be arriving after dark. Similarly, we suggest booking any flights out of Medan airport in the afternoon to give sufficient time to arrive.

  • We live in a remote area, so the roads can be quite rough and sometimes are affected by mud and rain - don’t worry though, we work closely with our drivers who are very experienced driving to and from Simolap.

  • There may be some periods where the road is not suitable for a car. If this occurs, our team will come and collect you on a motorbike and bring you to our guesthouse.