Banyak Islands, Island group in Aceh Province, Indonesia.
Banyak Islands form an archipelago of roughly 99 islands scattered across the Indian Ocean off the coast of Sumatra. The largest islands are Tuangku and Bangkaru, and most visitors stay on Pulau Balai, which has good connections to the mainland.
These islands were historically important mainly for fishing and local trade until severe earthquakes struck in 2004 and 2005. These natural disasters permanently altered the geographical structure and forced many communities to rebuild their settlements.
The population belongs to three distinct ethnic groups who maintain their own customs and ways of life across different settlements. You can observe these cultural differences in local fishing practices and community structures that vary from island to island.
Most accommodation is found on Pulau Balai, which has regular boat connections to the mainland. Travel to these islands requires taking a boat from the port of Singkil, and visitors should expect variable sea conditions.
Pulau Bangkaru hosts a turtle conservation project focused on protecting nesting grounds. Access to this area is restricted to safeguard the green and leatherback turtles that come ashore to breed.
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