Gapang is the main beach of Weh Island (Sabang) and the primary tourist mecca to the north of Banda Aceh. It is 15kms south of Sabang town and is known for its lovely white sands and excellent snorkeling.
Gapang Beach is one of Pulau Weh’s most visited beaches, clad as it is with white sand which stretches around a bay and is backed by Gapang trees. The good thing is that many guest houses have set up right at the beach so that snorkelers and divers can swim out with ease.
In fact, Gapang has the widest range of accommodation on the island, from simple beach bungalows to smart resorts up on a hill overlooking the bay. There’s all sorts of marine life here, including resident turtles, plus the swimming is good.
In addition, lying inland on Weh Island, Mount Balek is a good place for checking out wildlife and hiking. There are flying foxes in the jungle here as well as refreshing waterfalls to cool off in.
Getting There & Away
Access to Gapang is by way of Banda Aceh, the main city in Aceh Province and about 25kms to the south by boat. Flight time from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta to Banda Aceh Airport is 2 hours, 40 minutes. There are also connections from Medan in North Sumatra and Bandarlampung in the south. Boats leave for Weh Island from Banda throughout the day, taking about an hour.