"Aceh, the neglected beautiful part of Sumatra" Top 5 Page for this destination Aceh Special Region by Bonobo2005

Aceh Special Region Travel Guide: 354 reviews and 922 photos

boys at the mosk in Banda Aceh - Aceh Special Region

Note Jan.2005:
Due to the Tsunami most likely some of my Coastal tips are useless by now.

Note Jan.2003: Since the Indonesian army has intensified its actions against the independance movement GAM in 2003, foreign travellers were not allowed in many parts of Aceh nor was it considered safe due to spontaneous outbreaks of shootings. Check before you go!

Aceh is a region that is - outside Pulau Weh - hardly visited by tourists, although it's one of the unspoiled highlights of Sumatra!

I followed the central route via Kutacane and Takengon to Banda Aceh. Spent some nights along the unspoilt East Coast. Finally I made my way to the diving and snorkelling paradise Pulau Weh.

You can travel the tight roads though Central Aceh by local buses (or your own motorbike!) that crosses the jungle of Gunung Leuser NP and the very scenic Gayo Highlands.

Everywhere I came local people were happy to meet the foreigner, to help me, or even to invite me without any purpose of making business.

Aceh is an amazing and rewarding, though sometimes a little wild destination for flexible travellers !!

Pros and Cons

Pros:Honest, helpful, hospitable and friendly people, unspoiled, wild natural beauty, not touristic at all and of course: COFFEE!
Cons:Abundance of military presence, sometimes unrest and incidents, logging in Gunung Leuser NP
In a nutshell:Aceh is much more than travelwarnings only !

Last visit to Aceh Special Region: Aug 2002
Intro Updated Jan 17, 2005
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Reviews (22)

we had to pick up a complete household... - Aceh Special Region

Very good transportation system in Aceh! Transportation (1)

The transportation system in Aceh is very good albeit slow the more remoter you go. Big and medium sized buses bring... more travel advice

Pak Abdul Karim and Pak Mus, my good fellows! - Aceh Special Region

Gunung Kemiri: descending in one day... Off The Beaten Path (10)

Soon the weather got worse and, on my request, we decided to go down all the way from the summit to Gumpang Village the... more travel advice

Gunung Leuser looms in the distance... - Aceh Special Region

Gunung Kemiri: to the summit Off The Beaten Path (10)

In the early morning of day 4 finally the sky cleared up and it stopped raining, and we walked the last 30 minutes up to... more travel advice

making our way through the lush landscapes - Aceh Special Region

Gunung Kemiri: no trails anymore Off The Beaten Path (10)

Sometimes we could see the summit, but we still had a long way to go. There was no trail and it became more difficult... more travel advice

Things to Do (3)
See All Takengon: the monster of Lake Laut Tawar
Hotels (2)
See All Fantastic location on the East Coast

Travelogues (1)

Written Jun 7, 2003

1 photo

map & itinerary

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Comments (25)

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Fleaartist Sep 8, 2008 at 5:36 AM

Great tips, great page about Aceh...I've been in Java only, I got to go back in Indonesia, I really wish to visit Sumatra... Thank you for your stories!!!
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meiyergani Aug 15, 2007 at 4:18 AM

It was a fantastic journey, traveling safely in a conflict situation. now everything are alright, the transporation, the safety, but the checkpoint was still going on in the night Regards from Bogor
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pPamela Dec 30, 2006 at 12:41 PM

How exciting to read this article!Stayed with Pak Mus/ family for 8 days in Nov. Trekked with him to hot springs. 8 children now. Met Joel in mid Nov. Bungalows destroyed,restaurant rebuilt now Further back from beach now. For contact no. email me here.
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chrisvandenbroucke Jan 6, 2005 at 1:44 PM

Hi, Hope this place will not be totally destroyed now. Must be scary when you've been there
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blint Dec 2, 2004 at 5:17 PM

i heard nessie liked to travel!:-)
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RoyJava Aug 31, 2004 at 10:56 AM

Dangerous trip well ended, and the Islamics are so nice... thanks for sharing, my dad has been born here... greetzzz RoyJava
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marcoparco Jun 21, 2004 at 12:44 PM

Amazingly well constructed page! The trek sounds likie a great adventure!!!! cheers
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herzog63 May 16, 2004 at 11:40 PM

I'd like to see that Lake Monster with my own eyes!!
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Bwana_Brown May 8, 2004 at 4:25 PM

An absolutely fantastic page! What amazing adventures you had here. Yes, it really is a shame what corruption is doing to the rain forests - how does one stop it?
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lichinga Feb 24, 2004 at 5:21 AM

Wonderful report: I'm wordless!