Hi, travellers! Some time ago, my family and I held a family gathering camping. We will sleep outdoors by enjoying the beautiful panorama of Lake Lut Tawar, Takengon, Indonesia.
The location we chose was the Gayo Camping Ground, a special area intended for travellers to camp. Gayo Camping Ground is well managed by the owner.
Why choose Gayo Camping Ground? We can enjoy the natural beauty of the Gayo plateau with a panoramic view of Lake Lut Tawar. The committee also provides camping facilities without any hassle because the committee has provided camping facilities and other facilities.
The location of Gayo Camping Ground is very strategic. As long as I looked forward, I could see the top of Mount Burni Telong from my camp. Burni Telong is one of the mountains in Aceh, with an altitude of 2624 meters above sea level.
Well! My journey began on a sunny Saturday morning. The distance from Lhokseumawe to the location of Gayo Camping Ground is 118 km (according to Google Maps). If using a car, our travel time is 2 hours and 44 minutes (again, based on Google Maps). And, right! Google Maps is not lying. Because the distance and travel time I have travelled are only a few minutes apart.
A Family Gathering I Won't Forget
Well! We begin this family gathering story by choosing a tent. There are at least 18 tents that we have ordered for the managers of the Gayo Camping Ground. Each tent can fit about four adults. So, there are about 18 of our extended families occupying those tents.
After arriving at the camp, we all seemed busy storing our luggage. We arrived at the Gayo Camping Ground location on a Saturday afternoon. The weather at that time was unstable, sometimes cloudy, sometimes rainy.
I chose the location of the tent at the very end. I chose the tent at the end because I had a two-year-old child. Sometimes he seemed cranky and often cried. So, I don't want to disturb other families with my son's cry. Yups, although other families also have babies.
Several family gathering agendas have been designed. After the whole family occupied their respective camps, some of my family members seemed busy preparing tug-of-war games for the children. So each of the children formed a group to fight the other group. For those who win, of course, there are attractive prizes!
In another section, some adult females appear to be preparing food. The appetizer for the afternoon was Aceh noodles. This food is commonly found in my area, and the taste is also very delicious.
In the evening, bonfires are at the top of the family gathering. Several points are the location of bonfires at Gayo Camping Ground. Not only bonfires but the agenda of grilling fish is the main menu of the dinner. Children can watch cartoons together on the screen for entertainment events. Meanwhile, adults can sing together while gathering and chatting.
This was a rare moment for our extended family. I was able to get together with my distant cousins. This kind of special family gathering agenda has been planned for a long time. And Gayo Camping Ground is the right choice.
Lut Tawar Lake, an icon of beauty in Gayo, gives me a great sensation. I could feel a gust of wind from the direction of the lake, giving it coolness. From the opposite direction, a few towering tall trees also gave their own coolness. I have never found the cool and cold feel here in my city.
The children also seemed to enjoy playing in Lake Lut Tawar. They took a shower in the morning with clear lake water. You can see some photos I captured with the phone's camera.
Cost
I can spend little money to enjoy the excitement of camping outdoors. The committee has offered rental prices at an affordable cost.
The fee for the complete package is IDR 175,000 (USD 11.25). The facilities that can be obtained for this complete package are tents and one-package mattresses. Eat twice that is, dinner and breakfast. A barbeque menu and grilling tools can also be burned with friends and family. Then there are firewood facilities for bonfires. This includes obtaining electricity, lighting, bathrooms and mushalla (places of worship for Muslims).
For tent rental packages and locations only, the costs incurred are as follows:
| Items | Cost |
|---|---|
| Tent rental + mattress (tent for 4 persons) | IDR 110.000 (USD 7.07) per tent |
| Entrance ticket to Gayo Camping Ground location | IDR 30.000 (USD 1.93) per person |
| Cars parking | IDR 20.000 (USD 1.29) per car |
| Motorcycles parking | IDR 10.000 (USD 0.64) per motorcycle |
| Waste levy fee | IDR 25.000 (USD 1.61) per group |
A series of family gatherings at Gayo Camping Ground is very exciting. I am endlessly grateful for enjoying the natural beauty of Lake Lut Tawar, which I had only heard from people before. When I saw it in person, I was amazed. I promise I'll be back here someday.
You can try the concept of camping for family gatherings at the Gayo Camping Ground. Not only family gatherings, but you can also gather with your friends or work partners to establish a more intimate relationship.
If you are a local tourist interested in going here, you can check out Gayo Camping Ground's Instagram.
Thank you for stopping at my jouney
