Jaboi Geothermal Site

The Jaboi geothermal area is the most visible sign of Pulau Weh's volcanic origins. Vents in the hillside release clouds of sulphurous steam, the ground is hot underfoot, and pools of pale mud bubble quietly nearby. It is not a spectacular eruption zone — more an eerily quiet demonstration of what lies beneath — but it is genuinely strange, and worth the 15-km ride from Sabang town.

The site is free to visit. A short trail leads from the road to the main vents. Keep a reasonable distance from the fumarole openings: the ground is unstable in places and the gas temperature is high. The surrounding forest is lush and the surrounding hills offer good views back over the island.

things to do sight
A story
Pulau Weh sits on the Sunda Arc, a volcanic chain running along the western edge of Sumatra. The island's last volcanic eruption is estimated to have occurred around 10,000 years ago, but it remains geologically active — the hot springs, fumaroles, and boiling mud at Jaboi are surface evidence of the magma chamber still simmering beneath. Underwater fumaroles at Gapang Beach, just 9 metres down, release volcanic gases directly into the sea.