Riding Aceh’s South-West Coast to Padang: The Opening Miles of Touring Indonesia Harmoni

    A brief rest at the beach in Bakongan, South Aceh Introduction A brief rest at Bakongan Beach in South Aceh was a calming moment before continuing the long ride ahead. On a long-distance tour, the single most important decision is choosing the right route. Touring Indonesia Harmoni set out to travel overland from Aceh all the way to Papua, covering thousands of kilometres. For that reason, planning the route, the timing, and the budget became essential — both to keep the journey efficient and to make it possible to stop across the many provinces along Indonesia’s island chain: Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Halmahera, and finally Papua. Along Aceh’s South-Western Coast I began the journey from Banda Aceh, taking the south-western coastal route down to Aceh Singkil. This route was chosen deliberately, because on the way back to Aceh I would take the northern coastal road instead. The south-western coast is famous among bikers: long straight roads, relatively light traffic, and stunning views of both sea and mountains. Throughout the ride, the natural beauty of Aceh was a faithful companion, offering a touring experience that is hard to forget. The Ride to Padang Sidempuan From Aceh Singkil, the journey continued toward Padang Sidempuan in North Sumatra. I had travelled this stretch before during a family road trip from Aceh to Medan. The asphalt near the Aceh border is fairly smooth, making the ride more comfortable. Since 2015, Aceh Singkil has been one of the routes I have crossed most often. Once past the Aceh–North Sumatra border, the journey took on a new character, with distinctive Batak villages and an authentic rural atmosphere.TrendingConsciousness 2045: From Artificial Intelligence to Artificial Consciousness and the Future of Humanity From Padang Sidempuan to Padang After resting in Padang Sidempuan, Touring Indonesia Harmoni pushed on