Banda Aceh Tsunami Legacy Tour

Monday 1st June – Jakarta, Indonesia

• Group A members: Arrive at your convenience into Jakarta – the current capital city of Indonesia connected globally with flights
• Self transfer to our hotel in the Pantai Indah Kupak Area, which not only has a bustling nightlife, but is close enough to the airport to help us avoid the legend that is Jakarta traffic
• Pre-tour meeting will be held at the lobby of our hotel at 6:00pm to discuss the tour itinerary and to meet your fellow group members
• We head out for dinner and drinks to embrace the relative liberalism before the storm
• Overnight in Jakarta

Tuesday 2nd June – Jakarta – Banda Aceh

Morning

• Breakfast at hotel and begin our transfer to the airport for our 8:45am flight to Banda Aceh – a place profoundly different from Jakarta. Known as the cradle of Islam in Southeast Asia and the only province in Indonesia granted autonomy to enforce Sharia law. Aceh is defined by its conservatism, history, and trauma.
• 11:30am arrival in Banda Aceh where we shall be met by our local driver.
• Group B members: arrival at own leisure into Banda Aceh with YPT arranging airport transfer to hotel to meet the group.

Afternoon

• On the way to our hotel we will stop at Siron Tsunami Mass Grave –  where 46,000 unidentified bodies were laid to rest after the 2004 Tsunami disaster – a place that really sets the scene for what the people of the region went through.
• Stop for local lunch of Mi Goreng or the like at a local restaurant
• Check into our hotel to freshen up before having a few hours to either wind down, or head out for an independent explore of the city.
• In the early evening we will meet our local guide before heading out for dinner at a local restaurant. The must try dish of the area is Mie Aceh (Aceh Noodles), a flavourful and spicy noodle dish with toppings such as beef, chicken, or seafood as the popular options
• Overnight in Banda Aceh

Wednesday 3rd June – Banda Aceh

Morning

• Breakfast at the hotel
• We’ll first start by visiting the massive PLTD Apung barge – a former electric generator barge. This 2,600 ton vessel was swept several kilometres during the tsunami, crashing into two homes and killing those inside. The barge has since been renovated and turned into a museum and memorial to those who died during the event.
• We then head to the Aceh Tsunami Museum. Its entrance is designed to simulate the terrifying experience of a tsunami. When you walk in, you pass through a dark, narrow hallway with water cascading down the walls and the sound of rushing water all around. This immersive effect was created to give visitors a glimpse into the chaos and fear experienced during the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and is somewhat intense.

Afternoon

• We’ll have a quick stop for lunch at a local restaurant before continuing on to the rest of the tour.
• We’ll then head to Baiturrahim Mosque – a 17th century mosque that somehow survived the tsunami when everything around it was destroyed. This makes it much more than a building and rather is very much a contemporary focal point for the people of Banda Aceh
• Following this you will get a chance to meet Mr Adi – a local legend and tsunami survivor. He’ll share what it was like to live through that day, the chaos that followed, and how the city slowly rebuilt itself.
• We’ll take a moment to stop at the iconic Landmark Pantai Ulei Lheuu – here we’ll get a classic YPT group photo
• As the day fades, we’ll be immersed in the spectacular sunset on Ulei Lheuu, if weather permits we’ll catch an amazing sunset.
• Head out for dinner and another culinary dive into Acehnese dishes, with us getting the option to try Sapi (beef curry) or Ayam Tangkap (fried chicken with curry leaves) among other choices.
• Overnight in Banda Aceh

Thursday 4th June – Banda Aceh – Sabang

Morning

• Breakfast at the hotel and board a boat to Sabang on Weh Island Indonesia’s northernmost outpost, where the atmosphere shifts but the conservatism still lingers.
• Once we arrive in Sabang, we’ll pass a few landmarks like the well known “I Love Sabang” sign (where will stop for a photo), as we drift into a slightly more relaxed tourism rather than Sharia type vibe.

Afternoon

• Check into our resort on the beach in Sabang. As a more tourism specific resort and indeed area, so things will be a bit more chill here.
• A moment to relax on Sumur Tiga Beach – long white sands, turquoise water, and zero crowds. This beach is as unspoiled as it gets in Southeast Asia.
• Then onto Kilometre Zero the most northern point and the literal start of Indonesia and where the archipelago officially begins. And you can say you stood at the northern most point of the fourth most populous nation! Achievement unlocked.
• The day’s highlight will be having the chance to snorkel the vibrant coral reefs off Pantai Iboih. The coral reefs here are shallow, accessible, and teeming with life. Spot clownfish, parrotfish, and possibly even sea turtles. Snorkel gear is easy to rent (extra charge) or just sip a coconut and watch the day end.
• We wrap up the day with a well-earned island style dinner, grilled fish, sambal, and whatever drinks they have on offer.
• Overnight by the beach, with the waves crashing in.

Friday 5th June – Sabang – Banda Aceh

Morning

• Beachside breakfast on Weh Island
• We return to Banda Aceh via speedboat, again enjoying the stunning views of the Andaman Sea.
• Arrival at Ulee Lheue and visit to the Kubah Gurah – this 80 ton concrete mosque dome was the only part of the mosque left standing after the 2004 tsunami. Locals now call it the “Rescue Dome,” because dozens of villagers climbed inside and were miraculously saved from the waves. Equal parts eerie and awe-inspiring, another testament to survival in Banda Aceh.

Afternoon

• Lunch on Lampuuk Beach and then we’ll visit the Rahmatullah Mosque at Lampuuk. Built in the 17th century another mosque again largely undamaged by the tsunami. As such it is again afforded particular importance in contemporary local culture.
• We visit Gunongan Palace – a small, curious structure said to have been built by Sultan Iskandar Muda for his homesick Malay queen. While it’s often described as a symbolic mountain, some say it may have been part of a royal garden or bathing complex. Whatever its true origin, it serves as an interesting look into Aceh’s royal past.
• Visit to the Museum Aceh, where you can explore artifacts, traditional costumes, and relics that tell the story of Aceh’s history and culture.
• A quick chance to relax and recharge at the hotel before we head out for a last night of Achenese cuisine and culture.
• We again head to a great beachside dining establishment where we will feast and who knows raise a glass of something on last night.
• Overnight in Banda Aceh

Saturday 6th June – Banda Aceh – Jakarta

Morning

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• We’ll pay a visit to the legendary boat on the rooftop. When the tsunami hit, this humble fishing boat was hurled through the air and crashed onto the roof of a two-storey home. The residents, plus 59 others in the neighbourhood, climbed onto the beached vessel and survived. It’s since been preserved as an unofficial monument to luck, timing, and sheer resilience.

Afternoon

• Farewell lunch in Banda Aceh
• Group B members: tour concludes. YPT can further assist with hotels, onward travel or tour extensions throughout Indonesia.
• Group A members: transit to the airport and depart on our flight back to Jakarta at 2:05pm arriving at 5:00pm.
• Upon arrival in Jakarta, we’ll be transferred to our hotel in the Pantai Indah Kupak Area.
• Tonight we will take a dinner a little more upscale as well as have a few well earned drinks and we reflect on our time in Banda Aceh.
• Overnight in Jakarta.

Sunday 7th June – Jakarta

• Breakfast at hotel
• Tour concludes. Whether you’re catching an international flight in Indonesia. YPT can help with your onward arrangements