Indonesia's Banyak Islands (also collectively known as Pulau Banyak) constitute a paradise archipelago in the northwest of Sumatra.

If you've ever dreamed of living the life of Robinson Crusoe, owning your own remote tropical island with a rudimentary cottage and unlimited clear blue waters, then this is your chance!

The Banyak Islands offer incredibly affordable prices and possess the best white sandy beaches in Sumatra. We spent a week at Palambak Island Resort and it felt like a slice of heaven on earth.

This travel blog will explain how to reach the Banyak Islands, where to stay, and everything you need to know before departing!

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Where Are the Banyak Islands?

The Banyak Islands are located off the west coast of Aceh in the North Sumatra Province of Indonesia.

As of 2024, the population is approximately 8,000, with the majority residing in the main town on Pulau Balai.

Of the remaining 99 outer islands in Pulau Banyak, most are uninhabited, with only a sparse distribution of basic cottage dwellings.

How to Get to the Banyak Islands

Reaching the Banyak Islands in Indonesia requires some time and effort. Here's a comprehensive two-part explanation.

First Step: Travel to Singkil

The nearest international airport is in Medan, across the water from Sumatra. Medan Airport (KNO) has flights from Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, and other locations daily, with one-way tickets starting at $40. You can purchase flights to Medan on Skyscanner.

Medan is a conservative city with not many tourists but is safe and offers some hotel options. We stayed at MB Apartments, which included breakfast, and we also used Grab and GoJek apps to order some convenient takeout (Pizza Hut and Indonesian cuisine).

After arriving in Medan, it takes 8-10 hours by car to reach the port city of Singkil. The cost is around 900,000 Indonesian rupiahs (about $65) per vehicle. A private driver can be arranged by your hotel on the Banyak Islands or you can use a recommended driver mentioned later in this article.

(Tip 1: If you want to see some breathtaking scenery during the long drive from Medan to Singkil, make a stop at the Lembiru Falls near the midway point. This is a magnificent twin waterfall just 30 minutes off the main road.)

(Tip 2: If you need to spend the night in Singkil, consider MB Camp Singkil. Operated by the same group as Palambak Island Resort, it is currently the only decent accommodation in Singkil. They also own MB Apartments in Medan.)

Second Step: Take a Boat to the Banyak Islands

You can see the location of the Banyak Islands in the western waters of Sumatra on the map below.

Upon arriving at the Singkil port, there are three main ways to reach the Banyak Islands: wooden boats, ferries, or speedboats. We took a ferry.

Every day, a public boat called Kapal Kayu Besar (Big Wooden Boat) heads to Pulau Banyak, or there are three weekly public ferries (Thursday, Friday, and Monday).

These are two cheap but slow options, taking four hours. The price is 50,000 Indonesian rupiahs (about $3) per person.

Here is the ferry schedule, but it may change, so it's best to double-check with your hotel before departing.

Banyak Islands Map and Location in Indonesian Sumatra
The map shows the location of the Banyak Islands in the Indonesian island of Sumatra (©Wikimedia)

If you travel to the Banyak Islands by wooden boat or public ferry, they will drop you off at Pulau Balai, a worn-out and noisy gateway town with nothing much besides supplies.

From Balai, you'll need to take a second boat (a small wooden motorboat) to the island where you're staying, such as Tailana or Palambak. This journey takes about an hour and costs an additional 200,000 Indonesian rupiahs (about $14). As long as you notify them beforehand, the schedule is quite flexible.

The third main option from Singkil is to rent a speedboat directly to Pulau Balai or Palambak Island, which takes just 1.5 hours. The cost per boat is 1,500,000 Indonesian rupiahs to Balai and 1,700,000 Indonesian rupiahs to Palambak.

Basically, speedboats are the fastest and most flexible way to get to the Banyak Islands, but they are also the most expensive. If you share a speedboat with other travelers, you can split the cost.

Alternative Route: Nias Island to the Banyak Islands

If you happen to be visiting Nias Island and also want to see the Banyak Islands, there are two weekly round-trip ferries from Gunung Sitoli (Nias Island) to Singkil (Sumatra), with a voyage time of nine hours.

Here is the ferry schedule. It usually departs from Nias Island at 10 AM and arrives in Singkil at 7 PM, so you can stay at MB Camp Singkil for the night and take a boat to Pulau Banyak the next day.

Choosing this route instead of driving from Medan to Singkil may not save much time (if any), but it can be a good option if you want to visit both Nias Island and the Banyak Islands on the same trip.

Sightseeing in the Banyak Islands

Accommodation options in the Banyak Islands are increasing, featuring rudimentary facilities but stunning scenery. The gateway town of Pulau Balai also has local homestays, but they are worn-out and noisy, lacking the famous tropical charm of the Banyak Islands.

Here is a list of the main accommodation facilities in the Banyak Islands:

• Palambak Island (MB Palambak Island Resort or Palambak Dream) - The best cottages and one of the largest islands in the Banyak Islands. This was our favorite Banyak Island, where we spent most of our time.

• Tailana Island (Paradise Island Tailana) - This small island originally had very rudimentary housing but has recently added improved beachfront cottages. It's great for snorkeling. This is one of the only islands without mosquitoes.

• Sikandang Island (Nina's Bungalows or The Coral Sikandang) - Basic cottages on a medium-sized island that can be walked around in 2-3 hours.

• Banjang Island (Kimo Beach Resort) - The most developed island and the most popular among locals, so it can be a bit crowded, especially on weekends.

• Tambalat Island (Ira Bungalows) - Basic cottages on one of the quietest islands in the Banyak Islands.

• Tuangku Island (Banyak Surf Resort) - A surf camp on the largest island in the Banyak Islands, "Abundant Bay." If you're a surf enthusiast and want to experience the thrill of surfing, come here.

  
  

Best Things to Do on Pulau Banyak

Island-hopping. You can take a wooden motorboat and driver to explore the islands near Pulau Banyak. Our boatman departed from Palambak and visited 5-6 islands throughout the day, including the lighthouse on Pulau Rangit, for a cost of 800,000 Indonesian rupiahs. This is a great way to see more attractions in the area.

Kayaking. Banyak is perfect for kayaking, which you can rent from Palambak or Tailana. We rented a single kayak for 100,000 Indonesian rupiahs per day (about $7), or you can rent a double kayak for 150,000 Indonesian rupiahs per day. However, I wouldn't stray too far from the main island.

Hiking. It's fun to walk along the perimeter of the islands. Palambak Island takes more than three hours to circle, but a small island like Tailana can be walked around in 20 minutes. If you want to go on a real hike through hills and jungles, you must visit Tuangku Island.

Snorkeling. The best snorkeling spots seem to be on Pulau Asok, Tailana Island, and Little Palambak Island, all of which are accessible near the beach. Unfortunately, unlike other parts of Indonesia, we saw a lot of dead coral in the Banyak Islands.