banyak islands, indonesia
White sand, palm trees and wooden huts
what to expect
Banyak is the Indonesian word for many, and in fact, the archipelago comprises almost one hundred islands. We couldn't have possibly toured them all: we set our base in Sikandang and visited some of the nearer islands on day excursions. So let's start from there. Sikandang exactly resembles what would come to anyone's mind when thinking of a tropical island: a white strip of sand skirting a palm forest, surrounded by the clearest sea. No one stably lives here except the manager of the only touristic facility and his family and dogs, so it's pretty rare to bump into anyone at the beach. Add to this, superb corals, perfect for snorkeling, and you'll probably believe to have found paradise. However, there are a few things to consider before getting too excited. First, the island is infested by mosquitoes, which go unnoticed during the day but are pretty irritating from dusk to dawn. Secondly, the accommodation is extremely basic: a few wooden huts, shared squat toilets and no sink or shower, just a tap in the wall. The food too is not fancy and can be a little repetitive, due to the scarce availability of anything other than fish or coconut. That being said, Sikandang is a splendid place for anyone easygoing seeking tranquil days on the beach, beautiful snorkeling spots, friendly atmosphere, and laid-back evenings to the sound of acoustic guitar.
Ninety-eight islands and islets packed in only 25km radius, the Banyak archipelago is a tiny corner of paradise on earth. White sand, palm trees, crystal clear water, colorful corals and wondrous swirls of fish: these remote islands have everything one could wish for, except for comfort. But, perhaps, it is better this way.
how to get there
Reaching the Banyak archipelago is a rather long and tiring journey, but that's the deal if you're looking for unspoiled tropical islands. First, you'll need to fly to Medan, northern Sumatra. From there you'll have to charter a car, either private or shared, to reach the port of Singkil, on the other side of the island. You can contact Oscar at +62 81397340157 for a reliable service. After a ten-hour drive, with extremely bumpy sections and persistent buzzing, you should be able to catch a ferryboat from Singkil to the archipelago's main island. You should, because that depends on the weather and on the somewhat unspecified time of departure in the morning. The voyage will last approximately four hours, and at least one more will be required to reach one of the smaller islands by private boat. Overall, the transport from Medan to Banyak archipelago and return will cost around 2.200.000 Rp for a couple.
Ninety-eight islands and islets packed in only 25km radius, the Banyak archipelago is a tiny corner of paradise on earth. White sand, palm trees, crystal clear water, colorful corals and wondrous swirls of fish: these remote islands have everything one could wish for, except for comfort. But, perhaps, it is better this way.
what to expect
Banyak is the Indonesian word for many, and in fact, the archipelago comprises almost one hundred islands. We couldn't have possibly toured them all: we set our base in Sikandang and visited some of the nearer islands on day excursions. So let's start from there. Sikandang exactly resembles what would come to anyone's mind when thinking of a tropical island: a white strip of sand skirting a palm forest, surrounded by the clearest sea. No one stably lives here except the manager of the only touristic facility and his family and dogs, so it's pretty rare to bump into anyone at the beach. Add to this, superb corals, perfect for snorkeling, and you'll probably believe to have found paradise. However, there are a few things to consider before getting too excited. First, the island is infested by mosquitoes, which go unnoticed during the day but are pretty irritating from dusk to dawn. Secondly, the accommodation is extremely basic: a few wooden huts, shared squat toilets and no sink or shower, just a tap in the wall. The food too is not fancy and can be a little repetitive, due to the scarce availability of anything other than fish or coconut. That being said, Sikandang is a splendid place for anyone easygoing seeking tranquil days on the beach, beautiful snorkeling spots, friendly atmosphere, and laid-back evenings to the sound of acoustic guitar.
how to get there
Reaching the Banyak archipelago is a rather long and tiring journey, but that's the deal if you're looking for unspoiled tropical islands. First, you'll need to fly to Medan, northern Sumatra. From there you'll have to charter a car, either private or shared, to reach the port of Singkil, on the other side of the island. You can contact Oscar at +62 81397340157 for a reliable service. After a ten-hour drive, with extremely bumpy sections and persistent buzzing, you should be able to catch a ferryboat from Singkil to the archipelago's main island. You should, because that depends on the weather and on the somewhat unspecified time of departure in the morning. The voyage will last approximately four hours, and at least one more will be required to reach one of the smaller islands by private boat. Overall, the transport from Medan to Banyak archipelago and return will cost around 2.200.000 Rp for a couple.