Orang Utan Island (Bukit Merah)

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Bukit Merah

Orang Utan Island, located within the Bukit Merah Laketown Resort in Perak, Malaysia, is a unique eco-tourism and conservation center dedicated to the endangered Bornean orangutans. Unlike a typical zoo, the island offers a free-roaming habitat where orangutans live in a natural environment, and visitors observe them from an enclosed boardwalk.

Orang Utan Island: This beautiful lake and island form part of the Bukit Merah Resort. Leafy island sanctuary for endangered orang utans, with guided tours via an enclosed walkway.

Orangutan Island (officially known as Bukit Merah Orangutan Island) makes for an easy and accessible day trip, a place where humans are in the cages and orangutans swing freely around their own little island retreat.

Total Time Needed: About 2–3 hours (including boat transfer, sanctuary visit, and return).
Best For: Families, nature lovers, wildlife enthusiasts, and travelers who want a meaningful experience.

Orang Utan Island Trip – From Start to End

1️⃣ Arrival at Bukit Merah Laketown Resort

Your journey begins when you arrive at Bukit Merah Laketown Resort, located in Perak. This is the only gateway to Orang Utan Island.

Park your car or arrive by bus/taxi.
Head to the ticketing counter inside the resort area.
Purchase your Orang Utan Island package, which includes the boat ride + entry to the island sanctuary.

2️⃣ Boarding the Boat

After getting your ticket, make your way to the Bukit Merah Jetty.

Boats depart according to the fixed schedule (e.g., 09:45 AM, 11:15 AM, etc.).
The ride takes about 10 minutes across Bukit Merah Lake.
Enjoy the scenery – it’s peaceful, with views of the lake and surrounding greenery.

3️⃣ Arrival at Orang Utan Island

The boat docks at the island’s small jetty. A staff member will guide your group to the entrance of the sanctuary.

4️⃣ Guided Walk Through the Viewing Gallery

This is the highlight of the trip.

Visitors walk through a covered boardwalk tunnel (safe and enclosed).
Orangutans live outside in the natural forest habitat, free to roam.
A guide explains orangutan behavior, their diet, conservation efforts, and the island’s research projects.
You’ll see orangutans of different ages – from playful young ones to older adults.

⌛ Duration: About 60–75 minutes.

5️⃣ Learning & Interaction

The experience is educational, not like a zoo.
Visitors observe without disturbing the orangutans.
There are also small exhibits with information about orangutan conservation in Malaysia and Borneo.
Photography is allowed (without flash).

6️⃣ Returning to Bukit Merah Jetty

After completing the guided walk through the orangutan sanctuary, the tour wraps up at the island exit point near the jetty. Visitors are usually given a little time to ask final questions to the guide or take last photos of the scenic surroundings before boarding the boat.

The boat takes you back to Bukit Merah Laketown Resort.
Each session ends with the group returning on the scheduled boat (e.g., 11:00 AM, 12:30 PM, etc.).

7️⃣ End of Trip – What’s Next?

Once back at the resort or the city, you can:

Explore Bukit Merah Laketown Waterpark (great for families).
Visit the Eco Park or enjoy lakeside activities.
Continue your journey to Taiping, Ipoh, or Penang, all within driving distance.

📍 Location

Bukit Merah Laketown Resort, Perak, Malaysia
Travel Time: About 1 hour from Penang, 1.5 hours from Ipoh, and 3.5 hours from Kuala Lumpur by car.
Address: Jeti Pulau Orang Utan Bukit Merah, Jalan Bukit Merah, 34400 Semanggol, Perak, Malaysia
Phone: +60 19-578 3015

🚤 How to Get There

Drive or take a bus/train to Bukit Merah Laketown Resort.
From the jetty, take a 10-minute boat ride across the lake to Orang Utan Island.

Getting to Orangutan Island from Penang ⛤

The journey to the orangutans is a two-step process from Penang: first you need to get to Bukit Merah Resort and from there it’s a short ferry ride across the lake to Orangutan Island.

The most straightforward way to get to Bukit Merah Resort from Penang Island or George Town is to drive. Expect the journey to take 1.5 hours however, in peak times (such as a Friday or weekend afternoons) the journey can take 2.5 hours when the busy traffic on Penang Island inches towards the bridge.

🎟️ Entry & Tickets

Entry ticket price for Orang Utan Island (Bukit Merah) starts from RM20 for Children and RM 30 for Adults.

Entry is usually bundled with a boat ride from the resort.
Ticket prices (approximate, may vary):
- Adults: RM 30 – RM 40
- Children: RM 20 – RM 25
- Family packages available.

(Tip: Check Bukit Merah Laketown Resort website or counters for updated rates.)

Orang Utan Island Boat Schedule 🗓

Departure from Jetty	Return from Island
09:45 AM	11:00 AM
11:15 AM	12:30 PM
12:45 PM	02:00 PM
02:15 PM	03:30 PM
03:30 PM	04:45 PM

✅ Each trip includes a guided visit inside the orangutan sanctuary (approx. 60–75 minutes).
✅ Tickets must be purchased at the Bukit Merah Laketown Resort ticket counter.
✅ Boats leave on time, so arrive 15–20 minutes earlier to avoid missing your slot.

The boat trip to the island 🛥

A boat leaves the jetty at Bukit Merah for Orangutan Island at set times throughout the day and takes about ten minutes. You can check times and pre-book your boat via WhatsApp (+60 19-578 3015).

⏰ Best Time to Visit

Open daily (check resort schedule).
Mornings are best – orangutans are more active, and the weather is cooler.

🧭 Things to Do Around Orang Utan Island

Bukit Merah Laketown Resort: Enjoy the water park, eco-park, and recreational activities.
Taiping (30 min drive): Visit Taiping Zoo, Lake Gardens, and Bukit Larut.
Penang (1 hour drive): Extend your trip with food and heritage exploration.

🐒 What to Expect

Conservation Experience: The island is not a zoo; it’s a rehabilitation, research, and conservation center.
Viewing Gallery: Visitors walk inside a covered boardwalk tunnel, while orangutans roam freely outside in the forest.
Close Encounters: You can see orangutans climbing trees, playing, or being cared for by staff.
Education: Informative guides explain orangutan behavior, conservation, and research projects.
Photography: Allowed, but flash is prohibited.

✅ Travel Tips

Book tickets early on weekends/public holidays.
Wear light clothing, a hat, and sunscreen – Perak is hot and humid.
Bring a water bottle and insect repellent.
Respect wildlife – do not feed or disturb orangutans.
Combine your trip with nearby destinations (Ipoh, Penang, or Taiping) for a richer itinerary.

🌍 Why Visit?

Orang Utan Island is one of the few places in the world where you can see orangutans in a semi-wild environment up close, while also supporting important conservation work. It’s an educational, family-friendly, and unforgettable wildlife experience in Malaysia.

Orang Utan Island is a must see destination. The boat trip is idyllic and the tour of the island really informative and uplifting.
Orangutan Island is the world’s best rehabilitation and conservation center for Orangutans. Located in the heart of Bukit Merah.
The Bukit Merah Orang Utan Island is one of a kind in Peninsular Malaysia and the world’s unique eco-tourism destination.
Visit Bukit Merah Orang Utan Island Foundation to explore more about orang utan.

Where is Orangutan Island? ➡

As the name suggests, Orangutan Island is an island that sits in the middle of Bukit Merah Lake (the oldest man-made lake in Malaysia), a thirty minute drive north of Taiping on Peninsular Malaysia. Click here for location.

Here are some lesser-known and interesting facts about Orang Utan Island (Bukit Merah, Perak) that many visitors don’t realize:

🐒 Lesser-Known Facts about Orang Utan Island

It’s the Only Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre in Peninsular Malaysia: Most orangutan sanctuaries are in Sabah and Sarawak (Borneo), but Bukit Merah is the only one in Peninsular Malaysia.
Reverse Zoo Concept – Unlike traditional zoos, humans walk in a caged boardwalk tunnel, while orangutans roam freely outside in their natural forest environment.
Home to Around 15–20 Orangutans – The population is small and closely monitored for conservation and research purposes. Some are rescued, while others are born on the island.
Research & Breeding Centre – Orang Utan Island is not just for tourism – it’s an internationally recognized research facility, working with universities and conservationists worldwide.
Long-Term Conservation Project – Established in 2000, it was designed to study orangutan behavior and prepare some of them for potential release back into the wild.
Human DNA Similarity – Guides emphasize that orangutans share about 97% of their DNA with humans, which makes observing them up close feel strikingly familiar.
Orangutan “Kindergarten” – Young orangutans that lose their mothers or need extra care are raised in a special nursery area before being integrated with the others.
Bukit Merah Lake is Man-Made – The journey to Orang Utan Island is across Bukit Merah Lake, which is one of the largest man-made lakes in Malaysia, built for irrigation purposes.
Not Just for Tourism Revenue – Entrance fees directly help fund orangutan care, food, medical treatment, and research, making every visit part of the conservation effort.