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Voykit pocket guide · Indonesia
Singkil
Use Singkil as a transit point for the Banyak Islands, not a destination: one night before or after the ferry, or skip it entirely.
Singkil is the mainland gateway to the Banyak Islands, a small regency capital with basic services. The town itself has little to offer travellers beyond a losmen and a few warungs. Most visitors spend one night here to catch the Tuesday ferry or a chartered speedboat to the islands, then leave.
- Country
- Indonesia
- Best months
- Mar–Oct
- Avoid
- Nov–Feb (monsoon, rough seas to islands)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- IDR
- Money
- Rupiah (Rp) in small notes for warungs, parking, offerings and drivers; large cards are common in tourist restaurants but not everywhere.
- Daily spend
- Budget Rp150,000–250,000 excl. bed · Mid Rp250,000–400,000 excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Telkomsel, XL and Indosat sell tourist SIMs at airports; foreign phones must be IMEI-registered if staying over 90 days — check.
- Emergency
- Police 110 · Fire and ambulance 118/119 · General emergency 112
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · European round pins.
- Tipping
- Warung: Nothing.; Restaurants: Often 10% service + tax on the bill; nothing more needed.; Drivers and guides: Rp50,000–100,000 a day.; Spa: Rp20,000–50,000.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap; refill stations common in Bali.
- Toilets
- Western in hotels and cafés; squat toilets with a water scoop elsewhere; paper in the bin.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Nasi goreng or mie goreng at a warung | Rp15,000–25,000 |
| Coffee (kopi) | Rp5,000–10,000 |
| Becak ride within town | Rp10,000–20,000 |
| Bus Singkil → Medan | Rp160,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- check · Syekh Hamzah Fansyuri Airport
- Flights from Medan only, operated by Wings Air and Susi Air; check schedule
Typical fares
- Ferry to Banyak Islands
- Rp27,000, Tuesday 10:00 (check)Rp27,000, Tuesday 10:00 AM (check)
- Charter speedboat to Balai Island
- Rp1,000,000 for up to 4 pax (check)
- Bus Singkil → Medan
- Rp160,000, about 10 h (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walkable town centre. For the port or airport, arrange a becak (bicycle rickshaw) or ojek (motorcycle taxi); negotiate the fare first.
See and do
Known for
- Gateway to the Banyak Islands
- Syekh Hamzah Fansyuri Airport
- Losmen Mona Lisa
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Banyak Islands | Ferry Tuesday 10:00 (Rp27,000) or chartered speedboat (Rp1,000,000–1,500,000, up to 4 pax)Ferry Tuesday 10:00 AM (Rp27,000) or chartered speedboat (Rp1,000,000–1,500,000, up to 4 pax) | Ferry about 2–3 h; speedboat about 1 h |
Sleep
- Town centre
- A few losmen and homestays near the port and market; basic, cash-only.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| How much? | Berapa?buh-rah-pah |
| Where is the port? | Di mana pelabuhan?dee mah-nah puh-lah-boo-han |
| I want to go to the islands | Saya mau ke pulausah-yah mao kuh poo-lau |
| Thank you | Terima kasihtuh-ree-mah kah-seeh |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Light handshake then hand to chest; smile; avoid: Firm grips
- Left hand: Give and receive with the right; avoid: Passing anything with the left
- Temples: Sarong and sash; step around offerings; avoid: Standing higher than priests
- Keeping calm: Patience; indirect requests; avoid: Anger in public
- Pointing: Thumb; avoid: Index finger
Scams and watch-outs
- The Tuesday ferry to Banyak Islands is the only dependable sea transport; wooden boats are unreliable.
- ATMs are scarce; bring enough cash (rupiah) for your stay and the boat.
- Last flights from Medan may arrive late; have a backup plan if you miss the ferry connection.
Singkil is quiet and safe. The main risks are the unreliable boat schedules and limited medical facilities; bring a basic first-aid kit.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Singkil yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Gateway to the Banyak Islands
- Syekh Hamzah Fansyuri Airport
- Losmen Mona Lisa
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Singkil, revision 4752843 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4752843
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/singkil). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.