6 days / 5 night

What Is This Trip About?

Are you an adventurer looking for a life-changing experience? Look no further! We offer you a unique opportunity to explore the wilderness and meet the Mentawai tribe. Discover the local culture deeply and immerse yourself in a truly authentic experience living with the Mentawai tribe. We aim to take you away from the hustle and bustle of mass tourism and offer you a journey that will connect you with the local community. Join us and create unforgettable memories that will inspire you for a lifetime.

What to expect during this trip

Meet the Mentawai shaman (“Sikerei”) learning about their unique culture and their way of life in the forest. Having a real cultural experience by living with the Mentawai tribe family Engage in activity with the tribe family daily, and immerse yourself in different cultures and lifestyle Explore the jungle of Siberut

Trip Hightlights

Adventure route : Siberut Island, Mentawais
Type trip : Culture – Jungle and local living
Ferry schedule : Tuesday – Saturday
Comfort: 2/5
Price starts from 315euro, contact us if you wish to join in a small group or go on a private
What is include

Tickets ferry 2 times(padang>siberut>siberut padang)
Permit to local gofermaent and siberut national park
Logistic (all meels and drinks during our trip)
Motor canoe(upriver Siberut to reach our trek poin)
Porter(whenever you need it)
Accommodation with Mentawai Traditional House
Mousquito net,mattress
Local guide /team
What is not include

Personal expenses:souvenirs,alcoholic drinks,etc
Insurance
Medication
Accommodation in padang city.
NOTE*

Our price depends on the number of people in the group, season, and access to the remote village/jungle, the more further or remote we would go, it means more adventurous and logistically challenging.
We believe in transparency and fairness when it comes to pricing our trips based on access areas to the

Day 1 Padang – Siberut – Mentawai Tribe

Our journey will start from Muara port, Padang City, by fast ferry with a 1-hour stopping/transit in Pokkai, the Northern part of Siberut island. Proceed with lunch, which we will provide at a local restaurant. Arrival in South Siberut, we will travel straight to our transit village near the Siberut port. Continue our trip to the jungle by traditional motor canoe. (crossing scenic jungle river), Once we reach the trek point, continue trekking to the Mentawai clan house and meet the Mentawai shaman and family.

Day 2, 3, until, 5
Stay with the Mentawai tribe in the remote jungle area
Join or participate with the family for food preparation, and any other activities in our presence
During our stay, we will experience living traditionally like the Mentawai community Preparation of the rituals, ex: preparing magical leaves, and herbs that the Shaman uses for the rituals Join or participate with the family for food preparation, ritual preparation, and any other activities in our presence

During our stay, we will experience living traditionally like the Mentawai community We will have a chance to see the ritual, and the guide will explain the ritual During our stay with the family, you can ask them anything you would like to know about their way of living, culture, and traditions that they open want to talk it and answer your question.

Days 6
Breakfast and farewell with our host family, continue trekking back to the river bank, and a motor canoe will drive us back to our transit village near Siberut port, and transfer to the Mentawai local house. Cleaning your stuff, then proceed to lunch, and leave Siberut at 15:00 by fast ferry, Tour and

Practical Information

Things good to remember when you are traveling in Sumatra and Mentawai island !

Terms and Condition !

  1. You have to accept living in the same conditions as the local community in the remote village, sleeping in a very rudimentary comfort style on the floor with a mat (floor mat) with mosquito net this applies nights in the Mentawai jungle.
  2. Given the conditions of poverty and isolated areas, families that accept us to live and spend time with them, conditions of comfort and cleanliness are more than basic but far from being guaranteed for "western standards". In this case, it's very important and necessary to be able to tolerate this short inconvenience, to be able to enjoy your full stay and overall experience.
  3. Because Mentawai traditional communities live in remote areas in the jungle forest, access to these communities isn't simple and easy, so the conditions of a trek include quite a lot of muddy terrain, can be slippery and uneven ground (sometimes you have to walk on the log on the muddy ground that Mentawai make and use it as a bridge to access further route).
  4. Please bare in mind there is no electricity in Mentawai jungle, charge your camera and phone and bring an extra battery.
  5. The conditions in this trip, during which these stays are carried out sometimes felt like “pain” and to be required for each participant to have:
    Good mental preparation

    • Great adaptability
    • To be well informed before departure about the culture and ways of life in Mentawai and the jungle. ( the guide will give a little briefing and explain about this before we will start our trip
    • Because the Sumatra area is covered with rainforest and located right on the equator, it has a tropical climate, the weather is hot and humid all year round. The driest season normally starts from May to early September, although there are sporadic rains that may occur during this period. Rains are abundant between November and January. The average temperature is 27 - 33 °C degree in Siberut Island. Be ready for hot, humid, and hasty conditions.

Good things to know during our immersion stay

  1. Be mentally prepared to rough it out, as many tribes do not have the basic comforts of what Western standards used to.
  2. Give yourself and themselves time to connect with each other during our stay.
  3. Be your true self while visiting, show your interest in them, and learn from them.
  4. Be present throughout the experience, they expect you to enjoy your time with them.
  5. Please avoid wearing expensive stuff or accessories like watches, necklaces, bracelets, or earrings, so as not to attract the attention of the tribe, they may be tempting and ask you to give to them, so this could be counterproductive and may even harm your relationships with the community.
  6. Ask for their permission before taking pictures.

Consider spending a few days living with them for an authentic experience.
Don’ts

  1. DO NOT assume the tribes understand your lifestyle
  2. DO NOT inflict your lifestyle and comforts on them
  3. DO NOT Try to make them fit into the outside society (avoid influencing them to any perspective, ideology and other daily comforts that are essential to us)
  4. DO NOT be judgemental, every tribe has its own customs, so be a good observer

Things to carry

  • Linght clothing for hiking.most practice are fast-drying trousers with removable legs and a light-shirt.we will get dirty and wey,no metter what.
  • Hiking shoes with a good grip.(we recommend boots.)
  • Rain poncho.mostly for in the canoe if it happen to rain.
  • A pair of change.
  • Sun glasses.
  • Hat or cap, mostly against the sun while in the canoe.
  • Sun block.again,fot in the canoe.
  • Mousquito repellent.
  • Sleeping bag or blanket.
  • Some cash money-no ATM during our stay on Siberut.
  • Your camera stuff
  • Batteries!there is no electricity whwre we stay.it may sometime be possible to recharge batteries in a nearby social village,but not guaranteed and this will take time.
  • A passport photo-you never know travel insurance.
  • Personal necessities(medication & supplements,etc.Forget abaout make-up!)

OPTIONAL:

  • Tekking poles.we will provide naturalwalking stick though.
  • Inflatable neck-pillow.handy on the fast-boat.
  • Aqua shoes or similar.practical for short walks to and through the rivers and creeks,and the toilet…avoid open sandals or shoes.
What To Bring
  • Linght clothing for hiking.most practice are fast-drying trousers with removable legs and a light-shirt.we will get dirty and wey,no metter what.
  • Hiking shoes with a good grip.(we recommend boots.)
  • Rain poncho.mostly for in the canoe if it happen to rain.
  • A pair of change.
  • Sun glasses.
  • Hat or cap, mostly against the sun while in the canoe.
  • Sun block.again,fot in the canoe.
  • Mousquito repellent.
  • Sleeping bag or blanket.
  • Some cash money-no ATM during our stay on Siberut.
  • Your camera stuff
  • Batteries!there is no electricity whwre we stay.it may sometime be possible to recharge batteries in a nearby social village,but not guaranteed and this will take time.
  • A passport photo-you never know travel insurance.
  • Personal necessities(medication & supplements,etc.Forget abaout make-up!)

OPTIONAL:

  • Tekking poles.we will provide naturalwalking stick though.
  • Inflatable neck-pillow.handy on the fast-boat.
  • Aqua shoes or similar.practical for short walks to and through the rivers and creeks,and the toilet…avoid open sandals or shoes.
The Journey
Sleeping in an Uma

You will sleep together with the Mentawai on the floor of the Uma, on a thin mattress and under a mosquito net. So you will not be alone… It’s a bit like camping on a sometimes crowded camping ground. It’s all part of the journey and the lack of comfort is more than compensated with the overall authentic atmosphere and experience.

Sleeping in the new Huts

If sleeping in the Uma does not seem to be for you… We have recently built 2 small traditional huts, right outside the Uma. These huts come with proper mattresses, pillows, linen and mosquito nets and have a small private veranda. Each hut has place for 2 or 3 people.

Meals

Supplies to the interior of Siberut are extremely limited. There are only a few very small shops in the social villages, selling basic household necessities. No vegetables, no fruit, no meat. The Mentawai live from what the forest and their small gardens and little livestock provide.

A supply of rice, noodles, vegetables, (canned) fish, corned beef, eggs, spices, etc. is brought along from Muara Siberut. Meals in the interior are basic but sufficient, and are complemented with traditional Mentawai food and seasonal local fruit and vegetables.

Most of the time you will eat together with your hosts, as togetherness is what it’s all about.

Bathrooms

In the interior of Siberut there are no real bathrooms, with the exception in some of the small social villages. So along the way rivers and creeks will be your natural bathtub, the bush your toilet. HOWEVER, at the Uma in Butui we have built a brand new real toilet, for your comfort!

If you really cannot do without a proper shower and do not want to bath in a crystal clear river then this trip is maybe not for you. But hey, there’s a first time for everything, isn’t it..? This trip will certainly take you out of your comfort zone, but an afternoon bath in the usual crystal clear river, surrounded by rainforest and an often spectacular sunset is something you will not forget…!

Activities

Lot’s of things to do, or simply observe!

Traditional food gathering and preparation, making poison and traditional hunting with bow and arrows, night-time fishing, visit a nearby waterfall, witness ritual house cleansing, traditional ceremonies and dance, etc.

What to Bring

  • Light clothing for hiking. Most practical are fast-drying trousers with removable legs and a light t-shirt. We will get dirty and wet, no matter what. Most people prefer shorts, and that’s fine.
  • 2 pair of change: shorts and (t-)shirts. Our hosts can wash cloths.
  • A thin sweater: for on the fast boat (AC), and sometimes evenings.
  • Light hiking shoes with a good grip. Avoid open sandals or shoes.
  • Rain poncho. Mostly for in the canoe if it happens to rain.
  • Sun glasses.
  • Hat or cap, mostly against the sun while in the canoe.
  • Mosquito repellent.
  • Sleeping bag / liner or similar.
  • Slippers / sandals for short walks.
  • Cash money – no ATMs during your stay on Siberut.
  • Backpack (suitcases are not practical).
  • Dry-bags are very practical.
  • Flash light. Head lights are ideal.
  • Your camera stuff.
  • Batteries! There is no electricity where you stay. It may sometimes be possible to recharge batteries in a nearby social village, but not guaranteed and this will take time.
  • A copy of your passport.
  • Travel insurance.

OPTIONAL:

  • Trekking poles. We will provide natural walking sticks though.
  • Inflatable neck-pillow. Handy on the fast-boat.
  • Aqua shoes or similar. Practical for short walks to and through the rivers and creeks. And the toilet… Avoid open sandals or shoes.

 

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