Sabang (Pulau Weh) - General Info

Select your download option below


Where is Sabang?

Sabang is the main town on the island of Pulau Weh off the northern tip of Sumatra in the province of Aceh.   The island is home to the Kilometer Nol (Kilometre 0) monument which marks the most northern part of the archipelago and either the start or the end of the country depending on whether you are clearing in or out of Indonesia.

Entrance Notes and Cautions for Sabang:

The harbour is deep – but it is possible to anchor in 24 – 25 meter depths.  Mooring balls are available.

Cruiser Highlights for Sabang:

Friendly officials and very helpful locals. Good for stocking up on fuel and provisions.  However, as the island is part of the Aceh province it is strictly Muslim and alcohol is prohibited.

Beautiful beaches and the island the diving is reported to be excellent with untouched reefs offering something for every level of experience.

The Japanese occupied the island and installed numerous bunkers, fortifications and gun emplacements. Their remnants can still be seen, though most have been re-purposed or removed.

Position:

5°53’N 95°19’E.

Last updated:  June 2024

Read and Post Related Comments

If you have information for this section, or feedback on businesses used, please let us know at editor@noonsite.com. We also welcome new information about businesses you have used (see Related Businesses).


Select your download option below


Next Section: Profile: Clearance

Sabang (Pulau Weh) was last updated 3 months ago.

Related to following destinations: , ,


YachtFlags.com provides high quality courtesy flags that are manufactured in durable Knitted Polyester fabric. Knitted so that the fabric itself does not deteriorate in the constant movement that marine flags are usually exposed to, and polyester so that the flag does not weaken in the strong UV-light usually found in the main sailing areas of the world.

YachtFlags.com offers a discount to Noonsite members.

Use the coupon code NOONSITE_5A2B when checking out to get 10% off today.

Buy Now On YachtFlags.com

YachtFlags.com provides high quality courtesy flags that are manufactured in durable Knitted Polyester fabric. Knitted so that the fabric itself does not deteriorate in the constant movement that marine flags are usually exposed to, and polyester so that the flag does not weaken in the strong UV-light usually found in the main sailing areas of the world.

YachtFlags.com offers a discount to Noonsite members.

Use the coupon code NOONSITE_5A2B when checking out to get 10% off today.

Buy Now On YachtFlags.com

You must Login or Register to submit comments.

  1. June 1, 2023 at 3:07 PM
    profile photo
    Sue Richards says:

    Reported by Tilly Eichler of SY Lapita:

    We checked in to Indonesia in Sabang in June 2023 without using an agent. This was no problem at all.

    For the application of our online visa B211A we used Bali Visas (www.balivisas.com). They have reasonable rates (especially compared to the very high rates that yacht agents requested) and provided a document for the arrival by yacht as well.

    There is one big yellow buoy, but you can also anchor in front of the dinghy dock (18m). We got no response on VHF Channel 16. The Harbour Master came over with his own boat. Then we had to pick up the Quarantine Team from the dinghy dock. They checked our covid vaccination certificates, body temperature, our medication cabinet and the bathrooms. Then we picked up the Immigration and Custom Teams. All of them took pictures of our documents with their cell phones, we just had to hand out one copy of the crew list, thats it. Of course there were many documents to fill in and sign and stemp them (stemp was very important!)

    After that we were allowed to leave the ship and had to visit the Quarantine, Immigration and Custom Offices to collect documents and passports. At the Quarantine Office we had to pay 50.000 IDR and we had to revisit it again at the next day to pick up the Green Book.

    The Harbour Master told us that we have to come to his office again when we will leave Sabang. We got a Port Clearance Letter (“Surat Persetujuan Berlayar” which means “Sailing Approval Letter”). We also had to visit the Quarantine Office again to get another document for clearance and pay 100.000 IDR.

  2. December 4, 2018 at 9:03 PM
    Data Entry3 says:

    More information from jlee1001:

    Pulau Rubiah – Nov 2018
    Is a lovely place to stop before clearing out (or after clearing in).
    There are 2 moorings in front of Pulau Rubiah and opposite, in front of the guest houses of the main island.

    They are just marked with little floats, we did see several boats using them.
    Anchorage is very protected, but maybe good to dive on them. Water is super clear.

    We anchored in the middle over dead corals (dead from the tsunami).
    Lots of places to eat, several dive shops.

    We loved Molina’s Cafe with great waffles, pancakes and ice cream.
    Iboih divers took us (with other customers) to the dive sites, incl. a guide they charged 200.000 R/pp.

    There can be strong currents, but we only encountered medium ones.
    A scooter is 100.000 R/scooter/day. Nice to explore the beautiful island.
    The little town 2km down the road has fruit and veggie.

    I heard of yachties taking the scooter to Sabang to clear out. Sometimes it seems to work, sometimes they want your boat in Sabang bay and take pictures from shore or might come on board.

  3. November 23, 2018 at 2:42 PM
    Data Entry3 says:

    We checked out of Sabang on November 23, 2018. Note that the new floating dinghy/ local fishing boat dock doesn’t reach all the way to the seawall except by a sketchy ladder (especially tricky at high tide).

    Quarantine, located at the BPKS Port Headquarters is just a few hundred meters to the west along the waterfront road. We were reprimanded for not checking in with them when we arrived in the region (we were anchored in P. Rubiah for a few days).

    Quarantine stated that they needed to inspect the boat as our Indonesian issued sanitation certificate had expired (it is apparently good for only 6 months). The only way to get the proper stamps (or ‘chops’ as they call it) to leave was for them to reissue a current certificate.

    When they boarded the boat they asked whether we have rats or mice (no). They wanted to check our water quality (by looking at the running water), see our bathrooms, check the expiration date on our soda and beer, see the inside of the refrigerator and freezer, check our garbage (‘how often do we remove it?’), look in our cabinets (‘what’s that?’ ‘boat spares’).

    Some of them had apparently never been on a cruising boat, so there was some ‘curiosity’ involved as well (is this a rental, do you live on the boat, why do you store soda and beer in your shower–don’t you have a proper storage area, how much did your boat cost, can I have some soda, etc.). Indonesia is still the only country we have visited that requires that you visit Quarantine when you’re leaving the country.

    It isn’t clear what would happen if you ‘failed’ any of the Quarantine criteria. If you have rats, will they make you stay until you get rid of them? Having passed the inspection, we went back to the office and received the proper forms and stamps in our Green Book (supposedly not required any longer, but apparently still needed in Sabang and elsewhere). The cost was 45,000 Rupiah.

    Immigration, located at the top of the hill up from the roundabout, was next. The office was well run and efficient and we were out in less than 30 minutes. Following the hilltop road back to the east brings you to Customs. Again, relatively quick and painless with just a few photocopies needed of crew lists and registration papers.

    A hundred meters or so east of customs is a stairway sidewalk that brings you down the hill and deposits you just behind the Harbor Masters building. With all the previous approval documents in hand, the harbour master’s office was also easy and quickly produced an outward clearance doc for our next destination. Being over 20 net tons, we were subject to a nominal harbour lights fee of approximately 20,000 Rupiah.

    All in all, even with the added time needed for the Quarantine inspection, we were done with the entire process in less than 4 hours, which is pretty much a new record for us in dealing with Indonesian CIQP.

    Friday from noon to 2 p.m. all businesses were closed (by law) for Friday prayers (including restaurants and food stands). We finished check-out before noon, so it is not clear whether the government offices in question would have been open during that time. In Iboih, the business was closed all morning until 2 p.m. While we were anchored near P. Rubiah, we did not see any moorings for use by yachts.

  4. November 20, 2018 at 5:12 PM
    Data Entry3 says:

    Reported by SV Andromeda:

    Thought I would share our experience from November 2018:

    Clearing out is quite easy and pleasant.
    We went by dinghy to quarantine first. There is a dinghy dock. Then by dinghy to harbourmaster dock. Harbourmaster is last, but walking distance to immigration and then customs a bit shorter. All open 24/7, very nice and fairly quick.

    Their flyer has a useful map with a QR-code that links you to google maps directions (works with ios also.

    Cheers
    Iris & Michael
    SV ANDROMEDA

  5. May 29, 2017 at 1:17 PM
    Data Entry3 says:

    Reported by Rachel Robertson:

    We visited Indonesia in 2016 and cleared in and out of Sabang, Pulau We. An easy process, all the officials in a small area, and easy walking distance.

    They are so welcoming of the yachts and even will throw the captain on the back of a motorbike and ride them around to help with the clearances.