RegionOutline guide

Mentawai Islands

Regency in West Sumatra, Indonesia

Photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/colmsurf/, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

The Mentawai Islands are a chain of islands in Indonesia off the western coast of Sumatra, recognized as having some of the most perfect surfing breaks in the world. However, because most waves break over very sharp and shallow coral reefs, only experienced surfers should attempt them. The islands are also home to the indigenous Mentawai people, whose distinct culture, shamanic tradition, and communal longhouses survive largely intact on Siberut Island.

Sights and activities

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Pulau Asli Tour
Do
Community-based operator run by a family native to Siberut Island, offering multi-day cultural visits to Sikerei host families and traditional uma longhouses, plus a surf camp on the same coast. Both government and tribal-chief permits are arranged as part of the trip.
Price
Tribal tours from around US$200 per person for multi-day group trips; surf camp packages from around US$950 per person
Details

Getting there and around

Getting there

Most visitors fly into Padang's Minangkabau International Airport (BIM) – the main gateway for domestic and international flights to West Sumatra – and continue on to the Mentawai Islands by ferry from Padang.

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Getting around

Three ways to get around once you're in the Mentawai Islands:

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Airports and nearby hotels

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Minangkabau International Airport

Padang (Katapiang) · International · PDG

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Read before you go to Mentawai Islands

Articles and travel topics about Mentawai Islands and Indonesia.

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Full travel guide

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Islands

UnderstandThe Mentawai Islands lie roughly 100–150 km off the west coast of Sumatra, separated from the mainland long enough to develop their own culture, language, and wildlife found nowhere else in Indonesia.

TalkThree languages are in everyday use across the Mentawai Islands: Indonesian (Bahasa Indonesia), understood everywhere tourism happens; Mentawai, a distinct Austronesian language spoken by the indigenous population and…

Get inMost visitors fly into Padang's Minangkabau International Airport (BIM) – the main gateway for domestic and international flights to West Sumatra – and continue on to the Mentawai Islands by ferry from Padang.

Get aroundThree ways to get around once you're in the Mentawai Islands:

See

DoThere are many surf camps and a few surf resorts on the Mentawai Islands, which are operated by local residents. Some of these surf camps have their own websites. Surf spots include:

BuyIf you're heading to a tribal village on Siberut, Muara Siberut – the small port village where the ferry from Padang docks – is your last chance to buy anything.

Eatg. on Sipora, and Muara Siberut on Siberut's coast – see Buy, above). Once you're in Siberut's interior on a tribal visit, there is nothing to buy – no shops, stalls, or restaurants exist in the villages.

DrinkBottled water is sold in the small port towns (including Muara Siberut, your last stop before the interior), but there is nothing to buy once you're in Siberut's interior on a tribal visit – bring all the drinking water…

SleepAccommodation falls into three broad categories: beachfront surf camps and resorts near the main breaks (mostly on Sipora and the Pagai islands); a few small, basic guesthouses in Muara Siberut, useful if you need to…

Stay safeThe Mentawai Islands is prone to earthquakes because it lies above the Sunda megathrust, a seismically active zone.

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Sources and licences

Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Mentawai Islands" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Summary from the Wikipedia article "Mentawai Islands Regency", available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Wikipedia
Photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/colmsurf/, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

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Overview

Sights and activities

Pulau Asli Tour