Singkil is a town in the southwest of Aceh province on the island of Sumatra. It is the capital of the Aceh Singkil regency, which also includes the Banyak Islands.

Get in

By plane

Singkil is served by the small Syekh Hamzah Fansyuri Airport. There are only flights from Medan, operated by Wings Air (a subsidiary of Lion Air) and Susi Air.

By car

It is also possible to take a ten-hour 4WD drive on other days, by arrangement (thus cost varies).

By long-distance taxi

• CV. Sumatra Tour and Travel operates a shuttle from Medan and Kualanamu Intl Airport to Singkil (140,000rp - 190,000 rp) and also can arrange a taxi from other locations. Contact Mr. Satiman ( phone /text/ WA :+6282294107162, e-mail: sberutu@gmail.com). He speaks English too. You also can go by Private Car Charter is 900.000rp for up 4 Peoples.

Sleep

Budget

• Losmen Mona Lisa. Rooms cost rp 20,000 or rp 30,000. Don't expect much luxury but the owner is charming, his daughter (when there) can speak English and the coffee is quite good. Rp 20,000/night. 

Go next

Banyak Islands

Sea travels in this area are quite an adventure. Don't even plan to go there if you have less than 4 days available.

Banyak Island (local name Pulau Banyak) is the obvious destination from Singkil.

• Ferry leaves every Tuesday at 10 o'clock. It is the only dependable transportation available. Cost 27,000.
• Wooden boats are available, but it is quite an adventure. Boats leave only when the weather, the tide, the waves and the captain's mood are OK. If they tell you the boat leaves at 10 am, be there at 9 and bring a good book as it may leave at 1 pm... or not at all. The travel costs rp 50,000.
• A much easier way is to charter a speedboat. But they will charge an outrageous rp 1,000,000 (shared among all passengers, maximum 4) to go to Balai Island and 1,500,000 to Haloban.