Tourism of Indonesia
Ready to Go to Nias Island
Planning to go on a tour or travelling, we definitely want a smooth trip, comfortable accommodation, cheap hotels, good food, cheap plane tickets, close to everywhere, and can rent a motorbike or car.
Attraction
In Nias Island, there is natural beauty and unique culture of the local community. There are many uniqueness, starting from the village (desa), sub-district (kecamatan), district (kabupaten) and provincial levels.
In Indonesia, each province has different and interesting characteristics. Each province has a different and unique culture and lifestyle.
Nias or Pulau Nias or Tanö Niha is an island located off the western coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. Nias is also the name of the archipelago (Kepulauan Nias) of which the island is the centre, but also includes the Batu Islands to the south-east and the small Hinako Islands to the west
Located west of the island of Sumatra in the Indian Ocean are a chain of islands, running alongside Sumatra but separated from the mainland by a deep trench, they include the islands of Nias, Simeulue, the Mentawai islands and Enggano.
Few early trading ships dared to approach these islands because of their forbidding appearance, veering instead to the ports of Padang and Bengkulu in Sumatra.
At over 5,000 square kilometers, Nias is the largest of those islands. It is 130 km long and 45 km wide, lying 125 km off Sumatra’s west coast.
This far-flung island with rugged terrain, fiercely independent people and a distinct hierarchical culture is a unique destination having remained largely resistant to outside influences for centuries.
The government is taking good care of the preservation of nature and maintaining the condition of the forest.
The environment is also well maintained.
Activity
Visiting Nias Island, we will witness routine community activities in unique traditional cultures. And there are special dishes and food as part of culinary tours that are delicious and yummy.
Today Nias is most famous for stones and surf. Stone jumping (lombat batu) is a phenomenon where local young men jump over stone walls up to two meters high while the surf here is famous the world over for massive breaks and awe inspiring swells.
Australian surfers in search of the perfect wave were among the first to “discover” Nias and the island is now home to the Indonesian Open surfing Championship at Lagundri beach.
This is an ancient land. While no one knows exactly how long people have lived on the island, according to Nias legend life originated at the Gomo River where six gods descended and began the human race.
This is why Nias people call themselves ono niha or ‘children of the people’. From Central Nias people moved North and South developing distinctive languages, customs and art in each region.
Traditionally Nias villages are ruled by a chief who heads a council of elders. Society is hierarchical with the aristocratic upper caste at the top, followed by the common people, and below them the slaves.
The people here have a reputation for fierceness and a militaristic culture which is one of the reasons Nias has resisted the impact of foreign influences for so long.
The warrior culture of Nias goes back for centuries when local villages would band together in coalitions and declare war on each other. Inter-village warfare was fierce and furious, provoked by a desire for revenge, slaves or human heads.
Along with being warriors, the people of Nias are traditionally farmers, cultivating yams, maize and taro. Pigs were considered a mark of social status and the more pigs you had, the higher your status in the village.
Throughout its history, the Chinese, Portugese as well as Arab traders have all explored Nias. The island became known as a source of slaves with the Acehnese, Portuguese and Dutch all probably having bought slaves from here at one time or another.
In fact, up until the 19th century Nias’ only connection with the outside world was through the slave trade.
The Dutch assumed control of the island in 1825. Despite a century of contact and conflict with the outside world, Nias traditional culture today remains remarkably intact. The population of the island is spread over more than 650 villages, many of which are inaccessible by road.
Gunung Sitoli is the capital city of Nias with most of the islands tourist facilities concentrated there.
The mysterious culture of the local people here fascinates visitors. The ancient megalithic monuments and traditional architecture make incredible attractions for cultural tourists.
Visit Bawomatauo and see the remarkable lompat batu or stone jumping. Hold your breath in anticipation as villagers leap over stones up to two meters high.
This art derives from an ancient form of war training where jumpers had to leap over a 1.8 meter tall stone wall often topped with pointed sticks. Today this is performed as a tourist attraction and the pointed sticks are no longer used.
Experience a traditional war dance in the village of Bawatomataluo and Hilisimae. Dancers are clad in traditional costumes with bright bird feathers on their heads.
There is a reason why surfers call Nias ‘paradise on earth’. Spectacular waves and sandy beaches make this a mecca for surfers from all over the world. Experienced surfers can do battle with the enormous breaks at Lagundri Beach. Surfing conditions are best from April to October.
Feel like an archeologist and investigate the pre-historic remains here which date back to the Stone Age.
While little detail is known about the pre-history of Nias, the island is widely considered to be home to the oldest megalithic culture in Indonesia. Rumah adat old stone carvings, can be found around the central part of the island. Some of these date back 3,000 years.
Off the coast of Nias lie the islands of Pilau Bawa and Pilau Aru. There is excellent surfing in Pilau Bawa which is accessible via a two hour ferry ride from Nias. To get to Pilau Aru you will need to charter a boat.
Wander around the villages of Nias and take a look at the unique architecture which has developed over centuries to resist frequent earthquake tremors.
The houses are set on pillars which rest on stone blocks. These pillars are then re-enforced by slanting piles which creates a very strong three dimensional structure.
Some people say the design of these ship-like wooden houses was inspired by Dutch spice ships. Look at the intricate symbolic wooden carvings which adorn each house. The village of Hilisimaetano in South Nias has more than 100 traditional houses.
In the central highlands the villages around Gomo have some of the island’s best examples of stone carvings. This area is difficult to access though and it might mean a slug through the jungle or hitchhiking with a local to get there.
In this place there are also regular events or activities held every year, both national and international.
Accessibility
The journey to Nias Island is now very easy. We can enter through various modes of transportation.
Nias Island is located off the West Coast of North Sumatra. Gunung Sitoli is the gateway to Nias. Binaka airport is 15km from the town and the port if 5 km.
Fly into Gunung Sitoli from Medan. Merparti operate two flights a day between Medan and Nias. Riau Airline operate one flight daily between Medan and Nias.
SMAC also fly to Nias twice a week from Padang.
Boats go most days from Gunug Sitoli to Sibolga. Contact Pelni for information on ferries to Nias.
Patience is a virtue when getting making your way around Nias as transport can be slow and difficult to access.
In Gunung Sitoli the bus terminal is 1.5km south from the centre of town. There are also minibuses or opulet which go from Gunung Sitoli to the southern market town of Teluk Dalam.
The condition of the infrastructure is getting better. Starting from highways, airports, trails, ports, bridges, stairs, even some places can be reached by toll roads.
We can visit by plane, car, ship, bus, motorcycle and bicycle. At some point, we can take the train. We can also walk freely.
Amenity
In Nias Island, as technology getting better. We can easily find locations for mini markets, shops (warung kedai), Money Changer, ATMs, Bank BRI BCA BNI Mandiri, BTPN Bank Nagari BJB, supermarkets, and restaurants. So we will not starve or lack the necessary items.
If you are sick and need help, you can also visit clinics, drugstore pharmacies (apotek), practice doctors, hospitals, and health centers (puskesmas).
In this place we can also look for places of worship such as mosques, churches, and others.
Accommodation
Finding place to stay in Nias Island is very easy. We can stay at home stays, hotels, inns, hostels and other places.
To get lodging at a cheap and definitely comfortable price, please see below:
Booking.com
Experience and Reviews
There are already many visitors have visited Nias Island, there are many interesting stories that are told. Like feeling satisfied, happy, wanting to come again, sleep well, and almost no one is disappointed or complains to come here.
So, visitors will find out on how to find the best hotels, where is exactly located, why it is amazing, how much is the fare and rate, who are the people, whom to ask, and when is the best time to visit.
We can visit these tourist attractions from Tanjung Pinang, Tanjung Redep, Tanjung Selor, Tapak Tuan, Tarakan, Tarutung, Tasikmalaya, Muara Bungo, Muara Enim, Muara Teweh, Muaro Sijunjung, Muntilan, Nabire, Negara, Nganjuk,
That’s all the information we provided, hopefully useful.
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