Banyak Islands Diving Snorkeling Fishing Beaches
Coral Reef and Atmosphere in Sumatra at Pulau Weh Sabang Pulo Aceh
Banda Aceh Singkil Sea Turtle Conservation Pulau Banyak Kuala Baru
Wild Life Protected Forest Iboih Teupin Reudeup Layeu Gapang Balek
Gunung Sumur Tiga East Coast Pulau Rubiah Rondo Lhoknga Lampuuk BPKS
Management Board of Sabang Free Trade Zone and Free Port Aceh
Culture and the Peoples Bukit Lawang Nias Sinabang Lasikin Sibigo Banda Aceh Weh Island Aceh Island
Tongging Lake Toba Meulaboh Tangkahan Calang Blangpidie Samosir Island Simeulue Singkil Kedah Blangkejeren Dragon Boat Festival
Debus Nanga-nanga Nandong Pulau Banyak Turtle Festival Sumatra Eco Lodge Pak Mus Guest House The Point Jungle Tribe Steffen Sea Sport
Tien's Place
Fly to Singkil from Medan and Banda Aceh...more
details
Ferry from Singkil to Pulau Banyak and Simeulue. Now also
Singkil – Nias. New schedule!
See
TRANSPORTATION under SINGKIL or PULAU
BANYAK.
IT IS THE FASTEST LAND ROUTE TO BOTH NIAS AND SIMEULUE.
YEL
Sponsor of Tangkahan &
Bukit Lawang
Sumatra Savages
Sponsor of Tongging YPB
Sponsor of Pulau Banyak Sponsors for Pulau Weh, Pulo Aceh, Lhoknga & Lampuuk, Kuala Baru, Singkil and Simeulue needed.Pulau Weh and Pulo Aceh:
Diving photos by courtesy of
Rubiah Tirta Divers,
Lumba Lumba Diving Centre, and Aaron Callander and their
friends. Most photos on land by Mahmud Bangkaru. Banda Aceh:
Photos by Mahmud Bangkaru, Nispu Syahputra, Aceh Adventure, and
Aceh Explorer. Lampuuk and
Lhoknga: Photos by Dave Kilpatrick, Luke Swainson, Yudi
Andika, and Mahmud Bangkaru. Tangkahan:
Photos by Mahmud Bangkaru and Ian Singleton. Bukit Lawang:
Photos by Abdul Halim, Mrs. Sita, Perry van Duinhoven, Mahmud
Bangkaru, Charlotte, Peter Jaeggi, and Saraswati. Pulau Banyak:
Photos by Mahmud Bangkaru, Maggie Muurmans, Ben Tapley, Müffel
Gaberthüel, Jennifer Cord, Peter Biver, Lukmanul Hakim, Bangkaru
Patrol Staff. Tongging: Photos by Halim, Dickson Palawi, Adam
Nainggolan, and Mahmud Bangkaru. Simeulue: Photos by Akil
Rozha, PODSI Simeulue and Mahmud Bangkaru. Singkil and Kuala
Baru: Photos by Mahmud Bangkaru, Müffel Gabertüel,
Joko Guntoro,
bazandbev@yahoo.com,Senne Vliegen.
Text and maps by Mahmud Bangkaru.
WELCOME TO SUMATRA ECO-TOURISM WEB PORTAL
AMAZING DIVE IN PULAU WEH
SUMECO DESTINATIONS
DESTINATIONS > PULAU BANYAK
Pulau Banyak or Banyak Islands is like a dream come through; uninhabited coral
islands, fantastic beaches, snorkeling, turtles, surfing, pristine
jungles and such a laid-back atmosphere that you will forget time.
Pulau Banyak consists of 30-40 islands. The locals say 99, but they
count big islands several times...read
more
DESTINATIONS > PULAU WEH
Pulau Weh is one of the best
snorkeling and diving destinations
in Southeast Asia. Pulau Weh is still the Pulau Weh (or Weh Island
or Sabang) that we remember; the coral reefs, the scenery, the
atmosphere and its friendly people...read
more
DESTINATIONS > PULO ACEH
If you want to see something before tourism develops and if you are
adventurous and used to primitive conditions, then Pulo Aceh
is the perfect place. STRONGLY RECOMMENDED! It is close to
Pulau Weh, but still so different. It doesn't have the diving
and snorkeling Pulau Weh has, but the beaches are
breathtaking. Lots of forest is still standing and the scenery
is very beautiful...read
more
DESTINATIONS > BANDA ACEH
This friendly and pleasant historical town was for almost 800
years called Kutaraja, until the name in 1962 was changed to
Banda Aceh. Here traders from all over the known world met. From
here Islam spread to Malaysia, southern Thailand and southern
Philippines. In the 17th century Banda Aceh was the center of a
strong trading and military power fighting Melaka and Portugal for
dominance over the Melaka Straights...read
more
DESTINATIONS > LHOKNGA
and LAMPUUK There are many nice beaches in Lhoknga and Lampuuk,
actually one very long beach with many names, which have long been a
popular weekend destination for the people of Banda Aceh. It is only
17 km from Banda Aceh and is easy to reach. Surfers having been
coming here since the 1990s. Although the number of surfers has
slowly been growing the place is far from crowded and the atmosphere
is very cozy and social. The number of repeat visitors is high...read
more
DESTINATIONS > TANGKAHAN Tangkahan is sometimes mentioned as the hidden paradise in
Sumatra.
It is definitely hidden and for many a paradise. It is the perfect
place to get off the beaten track, but still have access to nice
food and comfortable bungalows.
Tangkahan is an interesting place in many ways. Interesting for what
it has to offer and an interesting background. The elephants, the
jungle, and the clean rivers are obvious attractions...read
more
DESTINATIONS >
BUKIT LAWANG
Bukit Lawang is one of the most popular destinations in
Sumatra. It is a convenient first stop for travels in Sumatra
with lots of activities, great nature, tourist adapted food,
convenient accommodation, and friendly people. Here one can get
adjusted to Sumatra before onward travels. Bukit Lawang and its many
restaurants and accommodation are nicely located along the clear and
clean Bohorok River on the outskirts of the huge national park,
Gunung Leuser...read
more
DESTINATIONS > TONGGING
Tongging
is a perfect place to relax. It is located in the far northern end
of Lake Toba in a dramatic setting. The climate is perfect here,
900m above sea level, the landscape is fascinating, and the culture
unique. Lake Toba is a perfect destination for kayaking...read
more
DESTINATIONS > LAKE TOBA
The world famous crater lake of Danau (Lake) Toba is the
third biggest tourist destination of Indonesia. The island in the
huge lake, Pulau Samosir, attracts many tourists. Lake Toba
is the largest lake in Southeast Asia, once created by an enormous
eruption less than 100.000 years ago. The eruption was approximately
8.000 times more powerful than the eruption of Mount St. Helen in
1981...read
more
DESTINATIONS > SIMEULUE
"Simeulue Ate Fulawan", or in Indonesian "Simeulue Berhati
Emas", describes the openness and friendliness towards visitors
in Simeulue. Simeulue has a lot to offer; beaches, islands, caves,
forest, wild life, surfing, diving and even two lakes and a
waterfall. There are traditions and culture; performances such as
Debus, Nandong and Nanga-nanga...read
more
DESTINATIONS > SINGKIL For most visitors Singkil is just a transit place on the way to
Pulau Banyak. The first impression one gets when entering Singkil is
not the best, partly due to the Nias Earthquake in early 2005. Many
buildings were destroyed and parts of Singkil just disappeared into
the ocean. First time that happened was in 1935. Singkil was then
located on the other side of the river...read
more
DESTINATIONS > KUALA
BARU
Kuala Baru is different from most places and it is well worth a
visit. It is isolated, traditional and beautiful. Kuala Baru is
located on a narrow strip of land between a huge beach at the ocean
and the swamps with its black mysterious water. The only ways to
reach Kuala Baru is by river canoes from Singkil, by boat in through
a river mouth nearby, or walking for 25 hours from Kedai Trumon in
the north...read
more
FACTS ABOUT ACEH
The province of ACEH (NAD) covers 60.000 sq.km and is
populated by 4.200.000 inhabitants., divided on several ethnic
groups: The Acehnese in Northern and western coastal areas,
Melayu Tamiang in the eastern coastal area, the Gayo in the
central highlands, the Alas in the southeastern highlands, the
Pesisir in the south western coastal area and a few minor
groups on Pulau Simeulue and Pulau Banyak...read
more
HISTORY
Indonesia was linked to the mainland Asia during the
Pleistocene period approximately four million years ago. The
first people (the Java Man) arrived during this period. The
Archipelago was formed approximately 3.000-500 BC when the ice
age ended and sea levels raised. The proto Malays (Caucasoid
Malays) with a Neolithic culture arrived to Indonesia during
this period. It was the first of two big waves of
immigration...read more
THE ETHNIC GROUP KARO The Karo Regency covers an area of more than 2.000
square kilometers (or 3% of North Sumatra) on an average
altitude of 700-1.400 m above sea level. Average temperature
is 16-27 degrees Celsius, and average rainfall 1.000-4.000
mm per year. The active volcanoes Gunung Sibayak (2.000m)
and Gunung Sinabung (2.400m) are visible from most points in
the Karo regency...read more
CLIMATE & WILDLIFE
The northern part of Sumatra, i.e. the provinces of
Aceh (Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam) and North Sumatra (Sumatera
Utara) lies just above the equator. To the east is the Malacca
Straits and in the west the Indian Ocean. There are both
active and dormant volcanoes...read
more
LEUSER NATIONAL PARK Taman
Nasional Gunung Leuser (TNGL), or normally called just "Leuser",
covers app. 1.094.692 Hectares. The main part of the park is in the
province of Aceh, but the park stretches into North Sumatra in the
regencies of Langkat, Karo and Dairi. Leuser is the last place on
earth where elephants, rhinos, tigers, clouded leopards, and
orangutans are found within one area. Leuser has two major river
systems, two major volcanoes and three lakes...read
more
ORANGUTAN Orangutans
are the largest tree living creature on earth. They also
have the longest inter-birth interval of any land living
animal, producing a single infant only once every 8 or 9
years. A female maybe only get a chance to raise 4 or 5
babies in her lifetime. Today there are only app. 6.600 wild
Sumatran orangutans (Pongo abelii) left. These 6.600 are
fragmented into at least 10 smaller sub-populations, all of
them in the provinces of Aceh and North Sumatra...read
more
PREPARATIONS
Most things are cheaper to buy in Indonesia, but there are also
things that are hard to find. If you shop in Indonesia, do it in a
big town in order to find everything you need...read
more
IMMIGRATION & CUSTOMS
The following information is only for your orientation. Check with
the nearest Indonesian consulate as rules can change. A visa is
required for most nationals to entry Indonesia. Either apply for a
Tourist Visa for 60 days at the Indonesian embassy in your country
or get one on the border (Visa on Arrival) for 30 days. The
cost of the 30-day (only) tourist visa is US$25. The fee must be
paid in cash on arrival at the airport...read
more
SITE MAP AND UPDATES Sumatra Eco Tourism web portal is updated regularly so please visit
us often to see the last additions from us. Check out the web portal
structures and the list of
updated pages...read
more