Sabang (Indonesia)

As on 2022, there are no commercial flights to Sabang's tiny Maimun Saleh Airport (SBG  ^IATA). The nearest airport is on the mainland at Banda Aceh.

• Fast Ferry named "Express Bahari" (~1 hour, Rp 100,000) leave at 10:00 and 16:00 from Banda Aceh (Ulee Lheue pier) and 08:30 and 16:00 from Sabang Pulau Weh. Motorcycles and cars are not allowed on the fast ferry but bicycles can be shipped for Rp 50,000 (as of May 2023).
• Slow Ferry (~2½ hr, Rp 18,000 economy, Rp 26,000 business, Rp 32,000 executive) Leaves Banda Aceh at 14:00 and from Pulau Weh at 08:00. Sometimes there are two trips/day.

Return tickets are cheaper. See the diving websites of Rubiah Divers and/or Lumba Lumba for up to date information in regards to getting to and from Medan to Banda Aceh and from Banda Aceh to Pulau Weh.

The shops in the village of Iboih have an abundance of snorkeling equipment available for rent. For as little as Rp 30,000, you can spend the day drifting around the shore and exploring off the beaches. There are numerous reef fish close to shore. Local Indonesian people come here by the busload to don wet-suits and bright orange flotation vests to drift in the current and observe the sea-life.

If you are a strong swimmer, you can make your way across the channel to Rubiah island (and avoid the exorbitant Rp 150,000 per person fee charged by the local pirates, um, boatmen). The island has some nice snorkeling and there are places to eat and sleep as well. The "Sea Garden" off of Rubiah is a particularly good dive spot and provides a chance to see moray eels and turtles. Your hotel may be able to provide a boat and captain for as little as Rp 150,000 for half a day.

If you are a strong swimmer and can catch the right tide, you can jump in the channel at the boat pier and drift all the way to the Yulia hotel pier on the outgoing tide. Note that this will take you into deep water were there are fewer fish visible, so try to keep closer to shore.

Pulau Weh offers some of the finest diving in Indonesia, yet it is still very much undeveloped. It's still considered a secret among the diving community and Pulau Weh's reefs are genuinely untouched and offer something for every level of experience.

Single dives start at €25, and become cheaper the more you do. The island has around 20 dive sites which are way less busy than elsewhere in Indonesia, with spectacular aquatic life. The bottom topography ranges from large boulders on sandy slopes and deep volcanic pinnacles to craggy wall sections and coral gardens.

The house reef at Gapang Beach boasts a wide range of macro life including rare critters like Frog Fish, Star Gazers and Gurnards. Large pelagics like Mantas, Whale Sharks and Mola Mola also come to feed when the season is right.

• Rubiah Tirta Divers. Dive school based in Iboih, with a lot of restaurants and accommodations nearby. Has a big boat (under repair in early 2013) and two smaller boats, nice staff and many knowledgeable instructors and leaders. The place has a very collegiate atmosphere with lots of divers hanging out after their excursions. Local coconut artist Andy Coco works here as an instructor. 
• Lumba Lumba Diving Centre (Lumba Lumba Diving Centre & Beach Resort). Popular western-owned dive operator in Gapang beach. Provides premium accommodations (for divers only). If you want something else than diving and hanging around with them 24/7, or tend to be more price-conscious, consider the other options. 
• SCUBA Weh. A new shop, just opened by a local diver (Salim) with fifteen years experience, offering courses and more personalized dives at about the same price as the other shops. He usually does two dives in the morning and one in the afternoon, depending on weather conditions. Because Salim keeps the number of divers limited to four, it's a good choice if you're diving with one or two friends as you can pick your own dive spots. 
• The Padé Dive Resort, diving_sabang@thepade.com. The Pade Dive Resort is on Lhong Angen Beach on the very quiet westcoast of Pulau Weh. Here some of the islands' best divesites such as Batee Meuduro, Pantee Peunateung and The Canyon can be found. Well maintained rental equipment and NITROX is available for divetrips to all of Pulau Weh's divesites on the four boats. The housereef, which is also ideal for snorkeling, is easily accessible from the beach. The rooms are equipped with A/C, hot water shower, satellite TV and WiFi is available throughout the resort. Visa and Mastercard are accepted. 

Your guest house can direct you to local fishermen and charter services. The fishing in the area is excellent, especially tuna. Some of the local restaurants will BBQ your catch if you give them enough notice.

• Mountain bike and bicycle tours in Sabang. Aceh Adventure organizes cycle tours on the island. 
• Nothing Weh island is an excellent place to do absolutely nothing. Find a hammock and while away the day listening to your audio player or reading a book.

Backpacker style beach huts with hammocks on the balconies from Rp 50,000 per night (long stay) up to Rp 150,000 (short stay) depending on the location and features of the bungalow (and your negotiating ability). Shared bathrooms (squat toilets) are the norm, but more and more bungalows with private western toilets are being built (~Rp 150,000), but many of these require a water bucket to flush.

Walk east along the road from the village and you'll find the newer, more expensive upmarket bungalows with air-conditioning (starting around Rp 300,000). Walk west past the village and up along the path into the jungle to find the budget accommodations. If you are hauling a lot of gear and traveling with a group (or have met some folks on the bus ride), a good strategy is to leave all the bags with one colleague while the rest check out the guest houses. From the village you find the following in this order:

Erick's Green House. A higher standard very close to the sandy beach. Erick speaks good English, is very together and in a fountain of information. As many of the rooms are attached to one building, there is a community feel to this place. Limited Wi-Fi available. Rp 60,000-100,000. 

Fatimah's bungalows. Rp 50,000. . There are a few right along the shore, but Fatimah has quite a selection of bungalows from which to choose.

Mamamia. Rp 50,000.  has accommodations that feel like you're living with an Aceh family; very home-like atmosphere.

Olala. started with two bungalows right on the water, but has since built a few more. If you're lucky enough to get one of the original shacks, you can watch the fish from the hammock on the balcony. Rp 100,000. 

Oong (Norma's place). Norma is the default location for return visitors. Expect a communal atmosphere with home cooked meals. Norma is an institution! Rp 50,000-100,000. 

Iboih Inn. More up-market, Iboih Inn offers a range of bungalows from cheaper smaller one with no views to huge air-conditioned places, right by the sea. This is the closest you get to luxury in Iboih. They also have their own dive shop. Rp 100,000-370,000. 

Yulia's Bungalows and Restaurant. At the very end of the path sits Yulia's. This place seems more professionally run (less of a family atmosphere). The views from the bungalows, their spacious positioning, the creative concrete walkways, and immediate access to one of the better snorkeling spots, more than make up for the long walk. As a bonus, the shared bathrooms have clean western toilets and showers. Exceptionally good internet access in the dining area. Rp 90,000-150,000. 

🌍 Treetop accommodation Pulau Weh, Bungalows & Guesthouse, Iboih beach (Iboih village), ☏ +62 852 1773 7797, info@treetopguesthouseiboih.com. Five minutes' walk from Iboih village in a quiet location. With only the sounds of nature and the occasional fishing boat passing by, it is very peaceful. The construction is eco friendly with very little disruption to the natural environment. Close to the sea there is footpath, stretching along the coast, where you can enjoy a leisurely walk. Bungalows and guesthouses with hot water dispenser for tea and coffee and small fridge. AC, hammock, big terrace, fire alarm, parking area, snorkeling, diving, coral reef. Rp 250,000-1,200,000. 

Although not much of a tourist destination in itself, there are a few guest houses (losman) on the harbor side of downtown and "resorts" on the seaward side of town. There are a few in the residential areas of town, too. If you want to splurge, you can stay at the sedate Sabang Hill Hotel (starting at Rp 400,000). Although dated and rather tired looking, it's quite possibly the quietest accommodations on the island. It's worth visiting if only for the beautiful view.

There isn't much accommodation available right on Gapang beach. This means that the prices are higher, and it is somewhat more exclusive. There is a largish upscale resort close to the entrance to the beach, which offers some of the best accommodation on Gapang (glass windows, hot showers, A/C). Don't be scared away though, you can always haggle and the beach has more attractions for non-divers than Iboih.

Also known as Teupin Redeup. A secluded beach just before the forest reserve three km northeast from Iboih. Seulako View Cafe & Bungalows has three bungalows and 3 rooms above a friendly seafront restaurant. Divers at Steffen Sea Sports can book one of the dive centre's new, colourful rooms.

The newest accommodations with higher standard are to find on the east coast of Pulau Weh Island.

Fredies Santai Sumur Tiga with nice bungalows (with fan) in traditional Style and Restaurant with good food and drinks.

Casa Nemo also with nice bungalows (with fan) in traditional style, hot and cold water shower (and bath), drinking water tank in the room, good views from the hammock and seats on the veranda. Diving available.

Rasa Seni Hotel Resort Anoi Itam, the newest and most comfortable accommodation on Pulau Weh, with air conditioning, hot and cold water shower and studios also with bathtub and mini bar. Restaurant with international food and Asian specialties. Very good dive spots in front of the Resort in Anoi Itam Bay