Not Only Sabang, Here are 7 Places You Can Visit in Aceh

When talking about the Aceh province, two things cling: Aceh as the “Serambi Mekah” or “Porch of Mecca,” and Sabang as the westernmost point of Indonesia. The province is home to many tourism potentials, for Aceh has various tourist destinations. From holy and spiritual destinations to nature destinations where you can visit the majestic mountains or the sea.

That means Aceh tourism is not limited to Sabang. Here are seven cities and regencies in Aceh that you can visit, TRAC-style!

1. Sabang City, a story from the western end

Sabang City is located on Weh Island, a small island northwest of Sumatra Island. To reach the city, you must cross from Ulee Lheue Port, Banda Aceh, to the Balohan Port or fly to the island. Besides the 0-kilometer monument, Sabang is home to many fascinating marine destinations, such as Iboih Beach, Anoi Itam Beach, and Sumur Tiga Beach. If you like diving, Rubiah Island and Sirui Hydrothermal are definitely the ones you don’t want to miss.

2. A journey to the past in Banda Aceh

Banda Aceh, the capital of Aceh province, has a heavy nuance of Islamic culture. The Baiturrahman Grand Mosque and the Tsunami Museum are two of the most iconic destinations in Banda Aceh. Both places reflect the city’s resilience, both in the past and present. In memoriam of the 2004 Aceh tsunami tragedy, you can also visit the Monumen Kapal di Atas Rumah (Boat Above the House Monument) and the Monumen PLTD Agung (Floating PLTD Monument), which has been transformed into a museum. If you’re hungry, then you’re up for a treat. Special dishes like Sate Matang and Ayam Pramugari should be the two to top your list.

3. Relaxing at the Takengon highlands in Central Aceh

Central Aceh is famous for the Takengon area, which is also the administrative center of this regency. Get your jacket and scarf ready because the temperature at 1,200 meters above sea level can truly be bone-chilling. Besides the highlands, you can enjoy the beautiful Danau Air Laut Tawar (Freshwater Sea Lake) here. This lake is so vast that it even has a so-called “beach”, such as Mene Beach with a unique pier, picture-perfect!

4. Mesmerizing beauty of Banyak Island in Aceh Singkil

As the name implies (re: “banyak” means “many” in Bahasa Indonesia), this group of islands has many islands, in which dozens of them you can visit. Imagine the common sight of blue sky and white sand meeting the bluish-green seawater. Perfect! Various activities you can do there include swimming, snorkeling, surfing, island hopping, and enjoying the beautiful sunrises and sunsets from the beach. Its beauty has made it seem to be the up-and-coming tourism icon in Aceh.

5. Greeting the nature at the Gunung Leuser National Park, Gayo Lues

This National Park overspreads across 10 cities/regencies in 2 provinces and is known for its biodiversity. The Kedah area, located in Penosan Sepakat Village, Blangjerang District, Gayo Lues Regency, is one of the entry points for exploring the National Park for trekking and climbing. Although the National Park is a part of the Aceh province, most visitors usually start the trip from Medan City, North Sumatra.

6. A stretch of mangrove from the coastline of Langsa

Compared to other cities or regencies in Aceh, it’s safe to say that Langsa City is an underrated one, especially since this city is relatively young and is just getting started. Even so, its charm is not inferior to other places with more development experience. Langsa Mangrove Forest is one of the main destinations here. From Tower Mangrove Forest park Langsa, you can enjoy the view of the stretch of mangroves meeting the waters of the Malacca Strait. The tower itself was just inaugurated by the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy in April 2022.

7. Disaster-themed Tourism Village in Gampong Nusa, Aceh Besar

With a historical background related to the 2004 tsunami disaster, Gampong Nusa or Nisa Tourism Village became the first village to be developed as an educational disaster-themed tourism village. Enhance your experience by making Kue Timphan Asoe Kaya in a cooking class organized by the local community, as well as tasting special dishes such as Keumamah, Sawi Laot (mustard greens), Kuah Beulangong, and Udeung Tumeh, which you should order a before arrival.

In addition to the seven places above, almost all parts of Aceh offer tourist destinations worth visiting. For your convenience, while touring the “Porch of Mecca,” you may want to rent a car from a safe and reliable car rental company like TRAC. TRAC will always be ready at your expense when in Aceh. So, visit TRAC’s nearest branch office to get the best offer or contact the Customer Assistance Center at 1500009. You can also email rco.nasional@trac.astra.co.id.

Download the TRACtoGo application from the Google Playstore and the Apple App Store to make the reservation process easier from the comfort of your fingertip. With the TRACtoGo application, you can get the best deals and offers for a better TRAC rental experience.