Banda Aceh Tsunami Legacy Tour

Monday 31st May – Jakarta, Indonesia

• Group A members: Arrive at your convenience into Jakarta – the capital city of Indonesia. Jakarta is one of Southeast Asia’s major hubs and is well connected by direct flights from Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Sydney, and many other international gateways.
• 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 1st June – Jakarta – Banda Aceh

Morning

• It’ll be an early start with us transferring 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 guide.
• Group B members: arrive at your own leisure into Banda Aceh and meet the group at 11:30am at the airport. Our first stop is only 10 minutes away.

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. The must-try dish of the area is Mie Aceh (Aceh Noodles), a flavorful and spicy noodle dish with toppings such as beef, chicken, or seafood as the popular options.
• Overnight in Banda Aceh.

Wednesday 2nd June – Banda Aceh

Morning

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• We’ll first start by visiting the massive PLTD Apung barge, a former electric generator. 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.
• 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

• Quick stop for lunch at a local restaurant before continuing 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, and if the 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 3rd June – Banda Aceh – Sabang

Morning

• Breakfast at the hotel before we board our boat to Sabang Island, Indonesia’s northernmost outpost.
• Once we arrive in Sabang, we’ll pass a few landmarks like the well-known “I Love Sabang” sign, as we drift into a slightly more relaxed tourism rather than a Sharia-type vibe.
• We will visit Anai Itam, a historic Japanese fort built during World War II and used as a strategic military outpost and weapons storage site. Today, we can still see a cannon from that era. Perched atop a hill, the fort has spectacular panoramic views of the surrounding coastline.

Afternoon

• Check into our resort on the beach in Sabang.
• 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. You can say you stood at the northernmost 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 Gapang Beach. 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 an island-style dinner, grilled fish, sambal, and whatever drinks they have on offer.
• Overnight in Sabang.

Friday 4th June – Sabang – Banda Aceh

Morning

• Beachside breakfast in our resort before we return to Banda Aceh via speedboat.
• Upon arrival, we will visit one of the seven tsunami evacuation buildings constructed as part of the region’s disaster preparedness efforts. This particular one was built with the support of the Japanese government and serves as an emergency evacuation.
• 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

• Lunch on Lampuuk Beach, where you will also get the chance to swim.
• We’ll visit the Rahmatullah Mosque. Built in the 17th century, another mosque again largely undamaged by the tsunami. As such, it is afforded particular importance in contemporary local culture.
• We will visit 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.
• A quick chance to relax and recharge at the hotel before we head out for a last night of Achenese cuisine.
• 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 5th June – Banda Aceh – Jakarta

Morning

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• We start our last day in Aceh visiting 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 the Museum Aceh, where you can explore artifacts, traditional costumes, and relics that tell the story of Aceh’s history and culture.

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: transfer 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 have dinner a little more upscale, as well as have a few well-earned drinks.
• Overnight in Jakarta.

Sunday 6th June – Jakarta

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