Aceh Special Region Things to Do Tips by Bonobo2005 Top 5 Page for this destination

Takengon: the monster of Lake Laut Tawar

Takengon is a very pleasant town in the Gayo Highlands, that is best known for coffee and the huge Lake Laut Tawar

At about 1200m Tagengon has a pleasant highland climate. You can visit some interesting caves here and the lake can be explored, but according to locals it's unsafe because of a Monster apparently living inside. They showed me even a picture to prove it...really!

Reaching Takengon from Southern Aceh via Blankejaeren through Central Aceh was already half of the fun as the road goes straight through the Gunung Leuser NP and later up and down the mountains of the Gayo Highlands. Gorgeous ride!

Go trekking in Gunung Leuser NP

From Ketambe / Gurah, in the middle of Gunung Leuser NP, are several attractive hiking options, although the continuing noise of illegal chainsaws is extremely annoying.

For trekking with the single goal of spotting wildlife I think this area is not the best, because the logging have scared the animals off and you probably have to penetrate the rainforest for many many days to have a chance of spotting a tiger.

However it's still very likely to spot a few Urang Utans and other types of monkeys, along with colourful birds.

The forest around Katembe / Gurah is very beautiful, not crowded (unlike around Bukit Lawang) and has some great falls and hot springs. If you want to do more streneous hiking, you could choose a multi day trek to a nearby summit!

Guides and porters are numerous...

Banda Aceh: Meshid Raya Baiturrahman

This 19th century Great Mosque is the only "must see" in capital city Banda Aceh, but what an incredible one!.

The whole area in and around the Mosque is full of life and is the religious heart of Aceh. Non-Muslims are not allowed to enter, as I found out after I tried, and of course I respected that.

A new Minaret has been erected that you can visit for a trip to the top by elevator, which gives great views of the Mosque, the city and even over the ocean!