Kualanamu International Airport is an airport in IATA Deli Serdang, serving Medan and North Sumatra. Here are some key things to know about Kualanamu International Airport:
Location:
The airport is located 37 kilometers from Medan, depending on whether you take the toll or the normal road which mostly you’ll get jammed.
History:
The airport was opened in 2013 and replaced Polonia, Medan’s old airport, which was too small to serve 7.5 million passengers annually.
Facilities:
The airport has several restaurants, ATMs, shops, and lounges.
Travel Tips:
The airport offers free Wi-Fi and several options for transportation to Medan, especially Binjai, the closest city to Bukit Lawang. The transport options include a train, private car, public bus, Grab/Gojek, and taxi.
Having cash in Indonesian currency ready is crucial if you want to get to Bukit Lawang from the airport by public transportation. ALS and PS buses are both orange-colored.
Here are the ways you can get to Bukit Lawang from Kualanamu International Airport:
By Bus:
Take the ALS bus to Binjai. Then, take the PS bus to the Bukit Lawang bus station. This journey will take around 5 hours and cost approximately 90,000 IDR.
By Private Car:
This is the fastest and most comfortable option to get to Bukit Lawang. This journey will take around 4 hours and cost 700,000 IDR per car for a maximum of 4 people and luggage.
By Tourist Bus:
This is a shared car with 6 seats, as you will join with other tourists, the bus starts at 9am every day. The journey to Bukit Lawang bus station will take approximately 4-5 hours and cost 220,000 IDR per person.
Warning:
Overcharging tourists for the public bus price in Binjai or at Pinang Baris at Medan bus station is common. Street thugs will push you onto the buses and demand money. At Pinang Baris (unsafe), it has been known that tourists have been charged up to IDR 300,000 per person. This is why you are suggested to take the public bus named P.S (Pembangunan Semesta) to get to Bukit Lawang from Binjai after the airport shuttle bus named A.L.S (Antar Lintas Sumatera) drops you off in Binjai. In Binjai, generally, they will ask for IDR 50,000. The fact is, you only pay the driver at the end of the journey. Just stand your ground and be careful, or you can call the police at +62617869000 or me at +6282166316641. When traveling by bus in Indonesia, please refrain from flaunting expensive items and keep track of all your belongings, including any luggage and bags.
Advice for Traveling by Public Bus to Bukit Lawang From Kualanamu International Airport (KNO).
Make sure you have at least 100,000 IDR in your pocket if you are at Kualanamu International Airport (KNO). To reach Binjai city, which is 60 kilometers from Bukit Lawang, get a bottle of water, then go to the information center at KNO, Kualanamu International Airport. Ask the officers there to show you which bus to take.
A.L.S (Antar Lintas Sumatera) is the bus operator that runs routes between Kualanamu International Airport and Binjai. The bus driver must indicate his heading right away, and there must be a sign on the front that says “Binjai.” Be advised that there will always be individuals pressuring you to take a private taxi. You can tell them to stop by stating, “maaf tidak, terima kasih,” which means “sorry, no, thank you.”
After you got the bus, sit and relax, ignore all the unnecessary things, watch your luggage and focus on the jungle and the wildlife you dream to see.
It costs 40,000 IDR to get from KNO to Kualanamu International Airport, so make sure you have 50,000 IDR in your pocket.
You will be dropped off in front of Binjai Super Mall once you get to Binjai City. This is Binjai City’s final stop for the airport shuttle bus. Remember that you still haven’t reached Bukit Lawang; take one more bus.
Make sure you are precisely standing in front of Binjai Super Mall as you cross the street. Please wait for the smaller public bus, known as P.S. (Pembangunan Semesta), to pass in front of you. It runs round trips from Medan to Bukit Lawang and from Bukit Lawang to Medan. I advise you to wait for the bus by standing at this location while you click the Google map link. [Google map link]
After you board the orange-colored P.S (Pembangunan Semesta) bus, make sure you have 40,000 IDR in your pocket; this is why preparing the Indonesian Rupiah is critical from the start. Once again, the driver must state from the start that they are going to Bukit Lawang.
Sit back and relax on the bus; wearing a mask is recommended, and please be warned that there will always be irresponsible persons at the Bukit Lawang bus station who will compel you to sign up for the jungle trekking with them. You must call us before arriving in Bukit Lawang (if you are staying with us), or you must contact the staff of your hotel or tour company to arrange for you to be met at the Bukit Lawang bus station, which is located in the Bukit Lawang’s traditional market.
