How to get to Ketambe
Travelling from Medan or Berastagi
Medan is a chaotic city and most travellers tend to pass through as quickly as possible. It is however, considered one of the great food meccas of Asia and worth spending a couple of days exploring restaurants, warungs and street stalls throughout Medan if you're a foodie. It also has a number of historic temples to visit and several large shopping malls if you need to pick up supplies before coming to Ketambe. 3 and 4 star hotels are relatively inexpensive and there are cheaper backpacker accommodation options too. Feel free to ask for recommendations within your budget.
While you are in Medan you should take cash out from an ATM to cover all your costs while in Aceh. Since 2020 only Sharia banks and ATMs are allowed to operate in Aceh and it's no longer possible to use international bank cards in local ATMs. Throughout Aceh most businesses prefer cash and the majority do not have card payment facilities, so it's best to take more than needed and avoid getting caught out.
Update: there are now some ATM's that accept foreign VISA and mastercards. It's still advised to take cash in rupiah if you have the option.
Kualanamu airport to Medan city
If you arrive at Medan's Kualanamu airport before 8am, it’s possible to travel to Ketambe via public transport in the same day (depending on traffic!). Take the ALS shuttle bus to Simpang Pos OR the Damri (big blue bus) to Carrefour shopping centre. Each costs 40.000rp per person. Tell the driver where you would like to get off and they will tell you when it’s your stop. From there, you need to take a becak (motorbike with passenger side cart) to “Loket BTN” for the public bus or to “Komplek Citra Garden” across the road from the share taxi office. Becak drivers like to haggle, but you shouldn’t pay more than 15-30.000rp for this short 1-3km trip.
Note: as of August 2024 the BTN minibus station has moved to a new address.
Bus to Ketambe
The BTN mini-buses leave when full in the morning, with the last one leaving before lunch time. If you miss that, they also have an overnight bus leaving at 10pm and 11pm - but it will not be a comfortable night’s sleep. A ticket to Kutacane will cost 80-100.000rp and the trip takes 8-10 hours.
When you arrive in Kutacane you will need to take the labi-labi (pickup truck with a roof) to Ketambe. Generally the sight of a foreigner in Kutacane will have people shouting ‘Ketambe!?” at you, and they will show you where the labi-labi is. The hour journey from here to Ketambe costs around 25.000rp per person. The last one leaves at 5pm, and there aren’t any decent places to stay in Kutacane, so it’s best to allow plenty of time.
Travelling to Ketambe by bus is not for the faint of heart. With 4 changeovers the journey will take anywhere from 10-20 hours and cost around 150.000rp for one person. You'll also need to know a little Indonesian to discuss prices. If you're travelling in a group or have luggage I would definitely recommend taking a share taxi or private car. But for the adventurous solo traveller it can still be a thrilling challenge!
Share taxi to Ketambe
A share taxi is a more comfortable option and can take you direct to Ketambe. CK Travel Wisata is across the road from Komplek Citra Garden and is the only company that goes direct to Kutacane. They also only leave in the mornings about 10 or 11am, and then again at 10pm. It can be challenging to get to their office from the airport (follow steps above to get to Carrefour via Damri bus, then becak to CK Travel Wisata on Jalan Jamin Ginting). Otherwise we can arrange airport pickup and travel all the way to Ketambe village for 350.000rp per person if arranged prior to arrival.
Private car to Ketambe
Private taxis can be booked through us direct to Ketambe. This is the fastest way to get there and for groups of 3 or more the best option. The driver can pick you up from your accommodation in Medan or directly from the airport. A private car one way to Ketambe carrying up to 5 passengers will cost 1.3-1.6 million rupiah, depending on pick up location and time.
Travelling from Banda Aceh
From Banda Aceh to Ketambe is a 2 day journey by bus. It’s possible to take a direct 17 hour bus that passes through Takengon and Belangkejeren before Ketambe and then on to Kutacane. Most buses will stop in Takengon overnight. Up in the mountains and a little cooler, Takengon has a gorgeous lake and excellent coffee, so not a bad place to spend a night or two. Bus trips the full distance will cost around 350.000rp per person
Susi Air fly one route Banda Aceh to Kutacane, on Tuesdays and Fridays. You can book tickets through Traveloka website. They cost around 550.000rp per seat and have very limited luggage allowance, so be prepared to pay extra at the airport. Flights are often cancelled due to bad weather. If you don't have the time to wait a few days for the next flight you may need to take a 15 hours taxi ride instead.
Where to Stay in Ketambe
There are 6 different guesthouses currently open in Ketambe, and one more 2km away within the national park. They are Pondok Wisata, Thousand Hills, Friendship, Sadar Wisata, Pak Mus, Wisma Cinta Alam and Gurah Guesthouse. Each has individual rooms or bungalows ranging in price from 150.000rp to 500.000rp per night. Gurah Guesthouse is a few km past the village.
Each guesthouse will have a restaurant or provide set meals, and each will have guides attached that they would prefer you trek with. If you have not pre-booked a guide before arriving, expect to be offered packages from the accomodation.
For accommodation within the village, we recommend Pondok Wisata and Thousand Hills guesthouses. We have also just opened one brand new room in our own ecolodge just outside of Ketambe. Get in touch for more information and to book a room before and after your trek.
Meeting with your trekking guide
If you arrive to Ketambe with enough time to spare, it’s always nice to meet and chat with your guide before you’re out the door and on your way. It also gives you a chance to ask any extra questions you might have. When booking a trek make sure to let us know where you will be staying so we can meet you the evening before, if time allows.
Meeting with your guide
On the morning of your trek, after breakfast and packed for adventure, you can store your remaining luggage with us where we'll keep it in a locked room in our home.
There is no ATM in Ketambe, so to avoid a day trip to Kutacane and back it’s a good idea to bring enough rupiah with you. Paying before the trip is preferred so we can buy food and supplies. If you decide to extend your trip, add a night trek or want to give a tip, this can be paid for at the end of the trek.
You can reach us via email sumatrajungle@gmail.com or through Jenna's whatsapp +61413568750