Thedry season, and probably best diving, is from April to October. Getting there The jumping off point for trips to Pulau Weh is Banda Aceh, which can be reached by air from Medan on Sumatra. It is also now possible to fly to Banda Aceh from Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. From Penang in Malaysia, there is also a ferry to Medan. Fromthe middle of Pulau Weh, it takes about one hour by car or motorbike to get there, and you'll drive by a few small villages and towns along the way. Just be sure to cover up since Pulau Weh is a Muslim Island! Save The tip of Kilometer Zero which I spotted from the dive! Volcano Hot Springs Thecheapest way to get from Singapore to Pulau Weh costs only Rp5296253, and the quickest way takes just 8¾ hours. Find the travel option that best suits you. Travel from Singapore to Indonesia is: Restricted. There are 2 ways to get from Singapore to Pulau Weh by plane or ferry. Thereare 4 ways to get from Medan to Pulau Weh by plane, ferry, bus, car ferry or car Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2rio's travel planner. Recommended Fly, ferry Fly from Kuala Namu (KNO) to Banda Aceh (BTJ) Take the ferry from Banda Aceh to Balohan Sabang 5h 13m Ferryto Weh Island Schedules: There are two types of ferries leave to Sabang, Pulau Weh. The two types of ferries namely Fast Ferry and Regular Ferry. Fast Ferry transfer from Ulee Lheue to Balohan port, Weh Island, is about 45 minutes and the regular ferry is about 1 hour 45 minutes transfer. Fast Ferry Ticket Fares: Executive Class: IDR 85.000 DivingPulau Weh and dive sites. There are more than 20 good dive locations located around Pulau Weh, accessible by boat though some you can get to by swimming a few hundred meters from shore. The visibility is almost always in good weather between 10 - 30m. I enjoyed every single dive on this beautiful island and wanted to stay there longer. Divingcost about $25 per dive, including gear depending on dive center, dive site and how many dives you do. Best season for Diving Pulau Weh May to September it is dry season, comfortable temperature, rare rainfalls, cleaner water and better visibility for diving and snorkeling. The Marine Life around Pulau Weh Fromthe port, the journey continues to Pulau Weh. There are two alternative modes of transportation to get to the island, ie by ferry (slow journey) or fast boat. There are three hours of ferry cruises that can be used, ie morning at 8, noon at 11, and afternoon at 4 with a fairly cheap price (Rp 25.000) with travel for approximately 2 hours. Toget to Pulau Weh (Sabang), just 45 minutes by fast ferry from Banda Aceh, capital city of Aceh as the main getaway to Pulau Weh. From Banda Aceh by boat at Ulee Lheu either by Fast Ferry or Car Ferry. It will take only maximum an hour boat ride with the fast Ferry and about 2 hours by Car Ferry. . Gettingto Pulau Weh From Banda Aceh From Banda Aceh you will need to travel 40 kilometers to get to the Ulue-lue port. From here you can catch the ferry to Pulau Weh. The fast ferry leaves two times a day at 09.30am and 4 pm. It takes around 1 hour and costs Rp 80,000 for an economy class ticket. The regular ticket is a bit more expensive. Themost common travel from Jakarta to Pulau Weh is From Sukarno Hatta International Airport to Kuala Namu International Airport in Deli Serdang, North Sumatra, transit in Kuala Namu International Airport, then continue to Sultan Iskandar Muda International Airport in Banda Aceh, Province NAD. From Sultan Iskandar Muda International Airport, get a taxi that can be directly go to Ulue Lee Harbour. Howto Get to Pulau Weh (Iboih) Pulau Weh is a little island off the very top tip of Sumatra, a 1 to 2.5 hour ferry ride away from Banda Aceh, depending on if you choose to travel by fast or slow ferry. Once you disembark, your main destination options are the beach villages of Iboih or Gapang - backpackers head to Iboih, glampackers to Gapang. Situatedat the convergence of the Indian and Pacific oceans, Pulau Weh is a beautiful untouched island, well known for its ecosystem, the coral reefs around Weh are home to a great diversity of fish species, like sea turtles, sharks, rays, dolphins and pelagic staff. With more than 20 diving spots, is one of the best diving site in Indonesia. Gettingthere: There are a couple of ferries per day between Banda Aceh and Pulau Weh. At present this includes a departure at 9am from Ulee Lheue (Banda Aceh) and 8am from Balohan (Pulau Weh). The fast ferries take just 45 minutes and cost around Rp80,000 (in 2018). Whenyou arrive in Balohan, the harbour on Pulau Weh, you will find many cars and minibuses waiting. The cost per vehicle is around Rp 180.00 to Rp 200.00 to Iboih beach. This can be shared so bringing the price per person to around RP 60.00. There are also motorbike taxis available with negotiable prices. The journey takes around 40 minutes. VTUtf7. Located off the coast from Banda Aceh, the northernmost tip of Sumatra lies Pulau Weh. It is sometimes referred to as Sabang, by locals, the name of the primary town and port. Pulau Weh is a large, sprawling island of volcanoes, beaches and palm trees with friendly village dogs and wild pigs running around in the undergrowth all surrounded by fantastic marine life. The main attractions here are the laid back undeveloped island life, accessible snorkelling and amazing diving. The region of Aceh only opened up to tourism in around 2005, prior to the Boxing Day Tsunami the area was unstable with political and religious problems culminating in civil war. A truce agreement has since been made and tourism in the area is still in the early stages, which, for those hunting for quiet, back to basic cheap accommodation, you’re in the right place. We heard there are plans to develop an old army base into an airport. Who knows what impact it will ultimately have. Primarily, I anticipate a bigger market opening up for diving weekenders from Malaysia and Singapore. It may well take several years for this to become a reality, if at all but it’s likely to lead to development on a larger scale. Where to Stay on Pulau WehThings to do in Pulau WehWhat to Eat & DrinkGetting thereWhere to go next? Where to Stay on Pulau Weh The main backpacker area is located in the village of Iboih pronounced, ee-bow, around a forty minute drive from the port in Sabang. It’s pretty well represented with plenty of accommodation options with ATM’s and slow WIFI. The choice is only likely to be severely limited on Fridays and Saturdays when families and groups from Medan and northern Sumatra arrive for weekends. Iboih is a string of bungalows perched over the ocean and in the rocks above it, all linked by a small, rocky path with occasional steps – it’s not suitable for wheelie suitcases. Make sure you bring a torch to get around after dark! Treetop Guesthouse and Bungalows and Pele’s Place are good options perhaps more-so Treetop. Another option is Gapang, where diving holidays are catered for with accommodation linked to the dive shops as well as some independent choices. For more Pulau Weh accommodation, click here! Things to do in Pulau Weh Diving The main draw for most is the diving. The tsunami damaged the shallower reefs but deeper the conditions are very good, with huge fan corals, good tropical fish stocks, a lot of moray eels and the potential to see some of the ocean’s biggest and best – Whale sharks, mola-molas sunfish and manta rays. You’ll have to be incredibly lucky to see any, but they are around. There are dive shops in Iboih and a couple more in the neighbouring village, Gapang. Some are local and some are foreign-owned. We always prefer to support local businesses but it ultimately depends on comfort, equipment and ease of communication. There can easily be communication issues with the Indonesian divemasters and health and safety may not seem to be their priority –you should be very aware of your own capabilities and comfort level in these environments as Pulau Weh is home to some incredibly strong currents. Diving is very good value, from €17-25 per tank. Courses can be taken here too, but there are far better places in South East Asia for conditions and ease of communication to complete them. A tiny island called Pulau Biawak just off the coast of Pulau Weh Snorkelling You can snorkel pretty much anywhere in front of the village, with lots of fish to see. You can either swim, kayak or get a boat across the channel to the Sea Garden, which is a popular snorkelling spot. Be respectful towards the locals and don’t wear swimwear in the village and near the mosque. Be respectful in snorkelling near this area too. Biking the island Motorbike hire is easily arranged with almost every accommodation offering to rent for around 100’000 Rupiah per day. You can head out to the volcano, beaches and generally glide around palm tree-lined roads which are new and recently laid by NGO’s in the aftermath of the tsunami avoiding the monkeys lying in the road. What to Eat & Drink Eating in Weh is generally a little more than the mainland due to island costs and the majority of customers being foreigners. There’s plenty of choice in Iboih, several restaurants appeal to western tourists offering introductory Indonesian flavours, a few specialities and ubiquitous Indonesian nasi or mie goreng. Dee-Dees make their own bread and have good salads as well as Indonesian dishes like mie aceh and ikan semur. There’s also a great communal homestyle restaurant scene with sociable meals of curries and vegetables. Stop in at Oongs or Mamas in the afternoon to check out what’s on the family menu that night – 25-30’000 per person, including rice for a buffet-style feast. Ask around some of the long-term residents and dive shops about the doughnut lady, who sells near the mosque. At 2’000 rupiah a sugar-coated pop it’s a very tasty and economical breakfast – pre-order the night before if you want a lot. Nightlife is non-existent, it’s a staunch Muslim area and alcohol is theoretically illegal although some of the guesthouses have a few expensive beers in the fridge for tourists. Ask around – Oohlala is a good place to start, Oongs often have beers available, although it’s more expensive than the dinner. Getting there The ferry runs from Uleh-Leh port and fast and slow options are available. Boats are supposed to leave around 8 am, 11 am 2 pm and 4 pm depending on the day of the week and whether it’s a fast or slow boat but often run late and occasionally, early! Prices vary from 25,000-75,000. Both boats are comfortable and take around forty-five minutes or two hours. A forty minute shared taxi will drop you in Gapang or Iboih from Sabang for around 40’000 but you may need to taxi from the airport to Uleh- Leh should take around thirty minutes and cost around 100’000 for the whole vehicle. There is apparently a bus service that runs from the airport to the town, thought to be timed around the inbound flights, although in my experience it did not arrive. If the bus does turn up, it will be on the right-hand side, as you exit the terminal. Taxi drivers will obviously tell you it’s already left, which may be the case but if you have time, it might be worth waiting and a lot cheaper as a solo traveller. Where to go next? Once you leave the island you’re in Banda Aceh, the state capital. From here you can head south to Medan which connects with all the well-visited Sumatran highlights, Lake Toba, Berastagi, Bukittingi and Bukit Lawang. Read more about Sumatra here. Pulau Weh is Southeast Asia off the beaten path. We’re on island time on Pulau Weh. Life is just more peaceful, more relaxed, everything is more slow-paced. You spend more time admiring the beautiful nature that surrounds the island – the lush greenery, the gorgeous turquoise blue waters, and the beautiful underwater world. Pulau Weh is small island, also known as Pulau Sabang, that is just a 1-hour express ferry ride from Banda Aceh, off Sumatra. So getting to Pulau Weh is easily accessible from the main land. Surrounding the island is the beautiful Andaman Sea, with its 50 shades of blue and incredible underwater life. For such a small island, there is plenty of things to do on Pulau Weh. From exploring the beautiful nature to eating the freshest of seafood – you will be kept busy while at Sabang. And the best part is that Pulau Weh is incredibly affordable, which means you can stay longer and enjoy more of its natural beauty. Table of Contents15 Incredible Things to Do on Pulau WehExplore the Island on a BecakDiscover the Beautiful Underwater WorldFreedive to at least 16 metersGo Beach HoppingEat Your Way Around the IslandGo Jungle HikingDive into a WaterfallExplore an Active VolcanoEnjoy Some Delicious Italian PastaDo Yoga while Listening to the Gentle Sound of WavesHop on a Local Fishing Boat and head out FishingWatch an Incredible SunsetEat Fresh SeafoodChill Out, Relax, Take it EasySoak In the ViewsDiscover More of Pulau Weh + AcehLoved this Post? Pin it, it’s more fun! Explore the Island on a Becak Of course you can hire a car with driver to explore the island…but why not try something different? Becak which is like a tuk tuk’ is a great way to get around and soak in the sights and sounds of Pulah Weh. Our Becak driver was Mr Deni, and he was so proud of his island home. It was a great way to explore Pulau Weh and to hear insight into the everyday life and history of the island. To book Mr Deni, it’s best to WhatsApp him – +6285270881964. Do keep your Google Translate handy as his English is limited. Since the Becak is open air and slightly slower than a car, it is easier to capture the sights as your drive around the island. This means you can easily stop to hop off and take photos. Because the island is relatively slow-paced, the traffic is not wild so it’s actually quite fun to ride on the Becak. It’s around Rp300,000-Rp350,000 ~U$22 ~A$28 for the full day. Discover the Beautiful Underwater World No trip to Pulau Weh is complete without going snorkeling or diving – Pulau Weh is a diver’s mecca. The underwater world around Pulau Weh is quite fascinating with an active marine life…and there are SO MANY dive sites to explore. And the best part is that the sites are not overcrowded with tourists so you can snorkel and dive in peace. Diving Pulau Weh is definitely a great way to see this world, but it is very important to note that it is best to ensure you go with a reputable company on the island. It is worth paying that bit extra to ensure safety is of the highest standard. In fact, we spoke to a couple who went diving with a no-name diving company at Pulau Weh and their boat capsized. Thankfully they are safe, but still things could have gone worse. So in speaking to expats from the island, there are 3 companies that they recommend to do your diving with and these include Bubble Addict, Lumba Lumba Diving Centre and Monster Divers. If diving is not your thing, then definitely head out snorkelling. It is possible rent equipment on the island for around Rp30,000-Rp40,000 ~U$2 ~A$3 per day for snorkel & fin. There are plenty of spots that offer snorkelling for beginners such as Gapang Beach, Iboih and Rubiah Island. If you’re planning a visit to the island of Pulau Weh… You should also consider visiting Banda Aceh & Lhoknga. Freedive to at least 16 meters If you love being underwater, freediving is another exciting activity. Visit Freedive Weh at Gapang Beach where you could learn how to dive the depths of the ocean all in one breath. In the beginners class, you’ll get a chance to learn how to freedive to about 16m. Source Go Beach Hopping All around the island there are many beaches to explore and spend some time swimming and/or snorkeling. There are several places all around the island which boast white sandy beaches with turquoise blue waters. Plus many also are home to some fantastic swimming, snorkelling and diving activities. Long Beach in the northern part of the island Iboih Beach and Gapang Beach are the most popular on the island, with numerous accommodation, restaurants, and diving centres being located here. You could also head to the other side of the island to Samur Tiga, which is a lot quieter and swimming is much more peaceful without a lot of boats moving around the area. It is great for swimming and not too bad for snorkeling, mainly to see fish. Iboih Beach at Pulau Weh Gapang Beach at Pulau Weh Side note As Pulau Weh is a bit more conservative, please keep in mind that some beaches don’t allow bikinis, so I do recommend bringing along a wet shirt and a scarf as you travel around the island. Eat Your Way Around the Island In between the exploring and adventure around Pulau Weh, there’s nothing better than delicious local food or a home-made pizza or a fresh coconut to go with a fantastic view. With a couple of trips to Pulau Weh already under our belt, you can read more about our favorite spots to eat in Pulau Weh. Go Jungle Hiking While there is a beautiful underwater world to explore while at Pulau Weh, there is also a lush jungle with gorgeous flora and fauna, and wildlife. While driving around the island, you can’t help but see how green the place is. And there are several hikes you can do around the island to explore the lush jungle. One that I recommend is the hike through the jungle to the waterfall, which I recommend in my next point. Dive into a Waterfall Our becak driver Mr Deni told us about the waterfall. Then at our accommodation, we spoke to Freddie who also told us that the waterfall was a must-do. So of course, when two locals tell us this, it was on our list of things to do in Pulau Weh. We arrived to the entry point to the waterfall via becak. Hopped off and started walking. The walk took about 20-30 minutes in total and it was a short trek through the jungle. The path in general is clearly marked, with a few spots where you do have to cross the river and climb on a few rocks. After the walk through the jungle, we reached the waterfall and couldn’t wait to hop into the fresh water. It was so refreshing and such a wonderful experience to cool down after the trek in the jungle. We were by ourselves so it made it all the more fun. Explore an Active Volcano As you enter the volcanic region, you can smell the Sulphur…that’s when you know you are close. It’s quite fascinating to think that you are in the crater of a volcano. It’s lush green everywhere, with a small number of local farms and houses settling into the area. When you arrive to the entry point to the volcano, it’s a short 100m to the first location point. We didn’t spend too long here because the fumes became quite strong, but it was still interesting to be see the geothermal activity here. No pouring red lava to see, but rather the geothermal activity was the action here, which is hot Sulphur rising from the ground. I had never seen something like this before so it was very interesting for me, although next time I recommend bringing a mask along. All along the ground are small holes blowing through the Sulphur, while there were white and yellowish rocks all around the place. Enjoy Some Delicious Italian Pasta It might sound quite odd that I am suggesting to eat Italian pasta at Pulau Weh of all places. But we found a beachfront hidden gem that serves house-made Italian pasta made using traditional recipes from the region of Emilian. Head further north of Iboih, about a 10 minute drive, to Bixio Cafe for some delicious pasta with beach front views. Ohh and the beach where it’s located is one of our favorites! Check out Bixio Cafe for some of the best pasta and beautiful beachside views. Do Yoga while Listening to the Gentle Sound of Waves The Flying Elephant Yoga is the only yoga studio on Pulau Weh and is located in Gapang Beach. With a wide range of classes that suit every level, it’s the perfect way to get your yoga fix amidst an amazingly beautiful beach backdrop. Imagine listening to the gentle waves of the ocean whilst practicing your yoga poses. There are classes daily in the evenings around sunset time from 615pm – 715pm, which suits all levels. Or if you prefer a more personalized class, it is possible to arrange a customized private practice. Some of the classes are donation based. Hop on a Local Fishing Boat and head out Fishing Our local fishing guide, Syaful With an active marine life, there are some great fishing opportunities as well. There is a very active and wild tuna population, so you may even get to catch a tuna or two. We hoped on a small local fishing boat and head out to see the action. We had 2 small fishing rods to test out luck at fishing and wow did we get a lot of bites. Many of them were too small, so we did catch and release. But our fishermen did manage to catch a tuna as well which was a cool experience. We went out fishing in the late afternoon, which was a much better weather for it as it was not too hot. We then got to sit out on the boat to watch the beautiful sunset which was such a magical experience. Watch an Incredible Sunset Sunset from the water I am an avid sunset hunter. Wherever I travel, I always try to find the best place to witness the sunset. In Southeast Asia, I have to say the best sunsets that I have ever seen have been in Phuket and in Indonesia….in particular Lhoknga off Banda Aceh and now Pulau Weh. There are a few areas on the main island to watch the sunset, but the absolute best way to see the magical sunset is from a boat on the water. If you can’t get on a boat, then head out to Kilometre Zero which offers gorgeous views and a wonderful sunset. Ready to plan to travel around Southeast Asia? Here’s the ultimate Southeast Asia bucket list to help get you planning. Eat Fresh Seafood Oh man the seafood here is fresh and oh-so-delicious. And for me the best way to enjoy is BBQ’d and then eaten with steamed rice, stir fried veggies, and the local dipping sauce. Many restaurants receive the seafood fresh in the morning and you can sometimes even choose the fish you want to have BBQ’d. Tuna is definitely a popular choice and is best shared between 3-4 people. Also squid and octopus is another popular choice, with Pulau Weh’s speciality being the Sate Gurita, which is octopus satay grilled and served with a local sauce. There are many places around the island which serves great seafood and for Pulah Weh’s local Sate Gurita, which is Octopus Satay, check out the Sate Gurita stall near Pantai Paradiso which opens in the evenings. You can also learn more about places to in eat in Pulau Weh through my guide. Chill Out, Relax, Take it Easy Being on island time means also giving yourself the opportunity to chill out. As we stayed at Samur Tiga at Freddie’s, our bungalow had a balcony with amazing views of the palm trees, beach, and ocean. It was the perfect spot to hang out – plus the balcony also had a hammock which was just perfect. We also found several beaches with hammocks and beach chairs to relax on. Grab yourself a fresh coconut and just relaxxxxx. Soak In the Views Driving around the island, there are views, views, and more views to soak in. As Pulau Weh is relatively hilly, there are great vantage points around the island to capture incredible views. Discover More of Pulau Weh + Aceh Loved this Post? Pin it, it’s more fun! I'm Soraya, travel & food blogger and sunshine chaser at Hello Raya. You know that travel bug? I have been well and truly nipped, infinite is my online nook to share my lifelong experiences of travel & food in hopes to inspire you to explore our beautiful world. Pulau Weh is a hilly volcanic island, sitting peacefully at the top of northern Sumatra. It’s just a short boat ride from Banda Aceh. The island is a true paradise, both above and below sea level. The most popular villages on Pulau Weh have a laid-back backpackers vibe. It’s a perfect paradise to relax and have a good time away from it all. Pulau weh is volcanic, the hills are lush green, the views are breathtaking, the beaches are sugary white and the sea is crystal clear. Bring your flip-flops, sunblock, a good book and prepare to snooze in a hammock by the sea if you’re not spending all of your time underwater. Do note that Pulau Weh is no party island. There is no nightclub and alcohol is difficult to get by as it is strictly forbidden in the Aceh area of Sumatra. Getting to Pulau Weh From Banda Aceh From Banda Aceh you will need to travel 40 kilometers to get to the Ulue-lue port. From here you can catch the ferry to Pulau Weh. The fast ferry leaves two times a day at and 4 pm. It takes around 1 hour and costs Rp 80,000 for an economy class ticket. The regular ticket is a bit more expensive. Alternatively you can also take the slow ferry. This leaves at 8 am and 2 pm and takes 2,5 hours. It costs Rp 25,000. All boats arrive at Balohan Port. From here, you can take a motorbike taxi or a Becak to your destination on the island. Flying to Sabang Sabang is the main city of Pulau Weh. It has its own airport these days making it very easy to access the island. Garuda Indonesia and Wings Air both operate flights to the airport from Medan. You can get connecting flights to Sabang from most parts of Indonesia. Island Destinations Sabang is the main city of Pulau Weh, but there is not much to see here. Most travelers head towards one of the backpacker villages around the coast. The most popular tourist destinations are Iboih, Gapang and Sumur Tiga. Iboih Iboih beach is the most popular place among backpackers, located on the west side of the island. This is the place where I stayed at a few years ago. In those days, I didn’t dare to drive a motorbike yet, so I didn’t see as much of Pulau Weh as I could have but I absolutely loved hanging around in this sleepy village, gazing over the azure blue and exploring the marine life. Iboih has got lots of guesthouses and charming oceanfront restaurants. Gapang Gapang is a smaller and quieter place to stay on the island and it is home to a beautiful beach. From here, you can walk to Balek Gunung where you can see flying foxes, visit waterfalls and do jungle trekkings. At Gapang beach there are, apart from some simple beach huts, also more luxurious bungalows to stay at, with air-conditioning and a hot shower, and you can even opt to stay in one of the resorts if you want to splurge. Sumur Tiga This unspoiled tropical beach is located on the east coast of Pulau Weh, just a 15-minute drive from Balohan Port. The ambiance is quiet and peaceful and the beach of Sumur Tiga is the best place to watch the enchanting sunrise in the early hours of the morning. Where to Stay On Pulau Weh There’s a lot of choice for accommodation on Pulau Weh. Most of the accommodation is targeted at backpackers. The hotels range from simple huts by the beach through to mid-range bungalows and small time resorts. Regardless of what you choose you can almost guarantee a beautiful view. If you’re on a budget it’s easy to find something suitable to your needs when you arrive as most backpackers huts don’t advertise online. For mid-range accommodation I’d recommend the eco-friendly Treetop Guesthouse. Another nice option for this budget range is Freddies Santai Sumurtiga and Pulau Weh Resort, both come highly recommended and offer bungalows by the beach. At the top end you have the dive resorts which offer diving facilities and luxury bungalows. Lumba Lumba Diving is a popular diving school in Gapang and Iboih Diving Center is a highly-rated dive school in Iboih. Both offer packages with on site accommodation in nice bungalows. Things to do On Pulau Weh Pulau Weh will steal the hearts of those travelers who appreciate nature. It’s the kind of place where you can get away from the crowds and the party scene. The island offers beautiful beaches, crystal clear waters, untouched nature and some of the best marine life in all of Indonesia. Here are some great things to do on Pulau Weh; Enjoy the Beaches The obvious thing to do when you arrive on Pulau Weh is to just lie back and enjoy the beach! The island is the perfect place to soak up the tropical ambiance. Just lie around in a hammock, sip a young coconut, swim a little and relax. I promise after a few days you will continue your travels rejuvenated! Diving and Snorkeling Most travellers come to Pulau Weh for the underwater life it is truly amazing! In fact, Pulau Weh was the first place I snorkelled in Indonesia. I was stunned by the diversity of the wildlife. You can see whale sharks, manta rays, turtles, barracuda, stingrays, dolphins and much more. The ocean at Iboih is home to the Rubiah Island Sea Garden. You will start at the southern end and the current takes you gently to the northern end. You can go snorkelling just right off of shore and you can also hire a boat to go on a snorkeling trip, bringing you to the best spots. If you are a dive addict you will not be disappointed. Diving is affordable compared to most places in Indonesia. There are 20 dive spots to choose from and they are suitable for a range of levels. Some spots have very strong drift dives and deep decompression dives, only suitable for experienced divers. Explore the island by motorbike. If you have driving a motorbike before, don’t miss out on renting one here so you can go explore. The island has three well-paved main roads, making it easy to find your way. It takes around 2 hours to get from one side to the other. On the way, you will be treated to empty winding roads, amazing views, and raw untouched landscape. If you take a ride around the island I recommend stopping to take a photo at the Kilometer Zero Indonesia Monument. This is the most western tip of the country where Indonesia begins. It’s also worth checking out Jaboi Volcano Crater wander through the volcanic landscape of yellow rocks. A motorbike should cost Rp 100,000 a day. Jungle trek to Gunung Keris Gunung Keris is the highest peak on Pulau Weh Island. On a trek through the nature reserve you’ll see lots of birds and butterflies. It’s a nice trek and you get some good views of the island on the hike. If you want a half day adventure then get your hiking shoes on and go! Eating Options Don’t expect any high-end cuisine on Pulau Weh. Most guesthouses and cafés located in the popular tourist villages serve simple Indonesian and western food. The best dishes are normally the local ones. The locals know how to make a good Nasi Goreng but when it comes to pizza, I’m not sure 🙂 Final Thoughts Pulau Weh is one of the highlights of Aceh. I’d definitely recommend visiting Pulau Weh if you have the chance. You’re sure to enjoy the diving, the beaches and the laid back lifestyle. Just make sure to book your return ticket otherwise you might stay for too long. Have you ever visited Pulau Weh? What did you think of the island. Share your thoughts in the comments below. Located at the tip of Sumatra Island, Pulau Weh is a beautiful island that offers breathtaking sceneries and unique experiences. To get there, you can choose from several transportation options depending on your budget and preferences. In this article, we will explore the different ways to get to Pulau Weh and provide some useful tips to make your journey more enjoyable. By Air The easiest and fastest way to get to Pulau Weh is by air. The island has a small airport, the Sultan Iskandar Muda International Airport, that serves flights from major cities in Indonesia such as Jakarta, Medan, and Banda Aceh. If you are coming from abroad, you can transit in Kuala Lumpur or Singapore before taking a connecting flight to Banda Aceh. Once you arrive at the airport, you can take a taxi or a private car to the Ulee Lheue port, which is about 20 minutes away. From there, you can catch a ferry to Balohan port in Pulau Weh. The ferry ride takes about 45 minutes and costs around IDR 25,000 per person. By Sea If you prefer a more adventurous journey, you can take a ferry from Banda Aceh to Pulau Weh. The ferry departs from Ulee Lheue port and takes about 2 hours to reach Balohan port. The ferry operates several times a day and costs around IDR 20,000 per person. You can also take a ferry from other cities in Sumatra such as Medan and Singkil to Pulau Weh. However, these routes are less frequent and may take longer to reach the island. By Land If you want to experience the beauty of Sumatra Island and have more time, you can take a land route to Pulau Weh. There are several options available depending on your starting point. If you are coming from Medan, you can take a bus to Banda Aceh, which takes around 10 hours. Once you arrive in Banda Aceh, you can take a taxi or a private car to Ulee Lheue port and catch a ferry to Pulau Weh. If you are coming from Bukit Lawang, you can take a bus to Medan and then follow the same route to Banda Aceh. Alternatively, you can take a bus to Kutacane and then take another bus to Banda Aceh. Tips for Traveling to Pulau Weh Here are some tips to make your journey to Pulau Weh more enjoyable Book your accommodation in advance, especially during peak season. Bring enough cash as there are limited ATMs on the island. Bring sunscreen, mosquito repellent, and other essentials as the island can get hot and humid. Respect the local culture and dress modestly when visiting mosques and other religious sites. Try the local cuisine, such as mie aceh and nasi goreng, which are delicious and affordable. Conclusion Pulau Weh is a hidden gem that offers a unique blend of natural beauty and cultural heritage. Whether you choose to travel by air, sea, or land, the journey to Pulau Weh is an adventure in itself. By following these tips, you can make the most of your trip and create unforgettable memories.

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