Mentawai Jungle

Take a trip into the wild & immerse yourself in ancestral practices and traditions. Discover heavy spiritual semi-nomadic hunter-gatherer people who have chose to continue living their traditional tribal lifestyle.
Culture

The Mentawai lifestyle should be of interest to almost every society for it contains elements of hunter-gatherer, animal husbandry and subsistence level settled farming traditions; all of these forms of existence are at the roots of every contemporary scociety. However traditional Mentawai communities can not be reduced only to a lens on the yesterday of our modern technological societies, they are also an example a sophisticated socialization that balances subsistence with a unique pattern of family well being, in essence a window on a potential tomorrow. Dr Philip Cook, University of Victoria, BC. Canada

If you can move beyond the perception of the Mentawai as only «primitive», then you may be able to appreciate a culture whose veneration of the child, centrality of healing, and the emphasis placed on a rich web of connectivity linking the individual to his or her clan and community, ancestors of the past and future, as well as the spirit of creation manifest in the natural cycle of daily life in the rainforest, makes our own lives seem narrow & disconnected. Dr Philip Cook, University of Victoria, BC. Canada

The Mentawai People have lived for centuries on their unique Archipelago of Islands, now reduced to a few settlements on the southern tip of Siberut Island, they still have a strong traditional lifestyle though their future is threatened by external forces such as logging, introduced diseases, and large scale settlement of Non Mentawai due to economic and population pressures in other parts of Indonesia.

Is giving money a mere means of easing our western conscience? Money is an inevitable part of modern life, even for these tribes. We give them money for experiencing their life, but our aim is to help them use this money to preserve their culture. Have some chats with your guide along that week, as you will be staying in his family & friends’ houses, he will help you to understand the situation more deeply. He is the son of tribes’ people.

Mentawai, one of Indonesian islands, with its millions of beauty, inhabited by one ethnic people, Mentawai, having tattoes all over their bodies. Its exotism and the existence of endangered primate, called pigtail monkey, dwarf siamang and beruk that live wildly and freely side to side with the people in a traditional house inhabited by group of people. Prepare yourself for for the unlimited experiences. You will definitely enjoy

( Option 1 )
Mentawai jungle trekking 6 day / 5 night ( trekking 3 night + 2 night in padang ) Monday until friday ( stay in padang airport on Monday + stay in padang,padang to airport friday )

The price includes:

Picking up in airport and return
transfort from airport to guest house then guest house to harbour then guest house to airport
Ticket ferry boat return and travel permit in Mentawai
Accomodation staying at local people’s house
Meals in staying at local people’s house
guide + porter trekking
transfort from harbour mentawai to montai
transfort from local people’s house to harbour mentawai
stay guest house in padang return

The price not includes:

flight to Padang
Tipp
insurance
Visa

Things needed to be prepared:

Daypack and backpack
Shoes and Sandal for tracking
Personal medicine
Camera or handycam for documentation
Flashlight and back up battery

Important Notes:
Note:
The schedule for speed boat can sometimes be changed without prior notice depending on the weather.

Day 1: PADANG – SIBERUT ( L,D )
from airport to Padang

Day 2: PADANG – SIBERUT ( L,D )
Boarding at the port of Muara Dagang Padang at 6.30 AM early morning, it takes us 6 hours sailing on the way to Siberut Island includng 1 transit to the north Island before go to the south. Upon our arrival at the port of Siberut, we keep straight away to the first drop at the local village for taking rest while having a lunch. Stay overnight at the local house of Siberut.

Day 3: EXPLORING NATIVE’S ACTIVITIES ( B,L,D )
After having breakfast and preparing all the necessities, we will start our jouney to visit Shaman tribe of Mentawai by wooden boat. On the way to inland of jungle we will find ourself passing idyllic rainforest river. As we reach the point trek we have soon access to move in at the “uma” or Clan House. Here everything started with the new living of days, where everything is seemed back to the stone age.During this moment our cooker will prepare for the lunch, after having lunch we take a trek in the jungle with the Flower Man (Shaman) to find out the materials of making poison arrow then witness the processing.

Day 4: WALKING TO ANOTHER CLAN HOUSE ( B,L,D )
Wake up in the morning and go for traditional shower, then having breakfast. After that preparing stuffs that you need for capturing moments during trek to another clans. As we reach to a new clan house we will be having greeting from this family and will be trekked with new Shaman from this clan in the jungle to find sago worm, experiencing feeding pigs, and seeing sago processing. After having those things we get back at the clan house for lunch, after having lunch we proceed to visit new clan house with new shaman and having him to show the process of making loincloth and dressed with then having time to experiencing and knowing your skill of using catching fishing net into riverbed to catch tiny prawn. After having them all, back at the uma while waiting for dinner.

Day 5: HEADING BACK TO SIBERUT – PADANG ( B,L )
After having breakfast early morning we will do canoe riding on the way back to Siberut. Upon our first transit at Siberut, we catch the local transport to drop us at the port. There we can have rest and lunch. When the fast boat gives token of leaving in Padang we get in the fast boat and sailing back to the City of Padang.

Day 6 : PADANG – airport ( L,D )
from airport to Padang

(Option 2)
Mentawai jungle trekking 5 day / 4 night ( trekking 2 night + 2 night in padang ) Wednesday until Sunday ( stay in padang,padang airport on Wednesday + stay in padang,padang to airport Sunday )

The price includes:

Picking up in airport and return
transfort from airport to guest house then guest house to harbour then guest house to airport
Ticket ferry boat return and travel permit in Mentawai
Accomodation staying at local people’s house
Meals in staying at local people’s house
guide + porter trekking
transfort from harbour mentawai to local people’s house
transfort from local people’s house to harbour mentawai
stay guest house in padang return

The price not includes:

flight to Padang
Tipp
insurance
Visa

Things needed to be prepared:

Daypack and backpack
Shoes and Sandal for tracking
Personal medicine
Camera or handycam for documentation
Flashlight and back up battery
Note:
The schedule for speed boat can sometimes be changed without prior notice depending on the weather.

Day 1: PADANG – SIBERUT ( L,D )
from airport to Padang

Day 2: PADANG – SIBERUT ( L,D )
Boarding at the port of Muara Dagang Padang at 6.30 AM early morning, it takes us 3 hours sailing on the way to Siberut Island. Upon our arrival at the port of Siberut, we keep straight away to the first drop at the local town for taking rest while having a lunch. During lunch time I and the porters of mine will take time to ensure everything stuffs that we need are covered and well managed. After that we heading inland of the jungle by taking wooden boat which is take 5 hours journey on the way there. It’s depend on the level of water in the river. Stay overnight at the clan house.

Day 3: EXPERIENCING NATIVE’S ACTIVITIES ( B,L,D )
Rose up in the morn time at Jungle with new things in lifetime obviously will be greeted by natural view of this basic lifestyle while having breakfast. Then after having breakfast it’s time to experience the indigenous people since this tribe has been occupied as a ethnic group who has titi/traditional tattoo which is done by hand-tapped. According to the story is the oldest tattoo in the world. Along day with the Shaman tribe of Mentawai in overview jungle trip will bring to you the vibrant activities such as trekking in the heart of jungle while finding the rubber tree, locally called “Baiko Tree” for making loincloth as Mentawaian pants and experience to dressed with, exploring while knowing how good your skill of using catching fishing net into riverbed to catch tiny prawn, having time to witness sago processing as the staple food of local tribe, and last but not least looking for sagu worm and taste them.

DAY 4: HEADING BACK TO SIBERUT – PADANG ( B,L )
After having breakfast early morning we will do canoe riding on the way back to Siberut. Upon our first transit at Siberut, we catch the local transport to drop us at the port. There we can have rest and lunch. When the fast boat gives token of leaving in Padang we get in the fast boat and sailing back to the City of Padang.

DAY 5 : PADANG to airport ( B,L )

(Option 3)
Mentawai jungle trekking 7 day / 6 night ( trekking 4 night + 2 night in padang ) Wednesday until Sunday ( stay in padang,padang airport on Wednesday + stay in padang,padang to airport Sunday )

The price includes:

Picking up in airport and return
transfort from airport to guest house then guest house to harbour then guest house to airport
Ticket ferry boat return and travel permit in Mentawai
Accomodation staying at local people’s house
Meals in staying at local people’s house
guide + porter trekking
transfort from harbour mentawai to local people’s house
transfort from local people’s house to harbour mentawai
stay guest house in padang return

The price not includes:

flight to Padang
Tipp
insurance
Visa

Things needed to be prepared:

Daypack and backpack
Shoes and Sandal for tracking
Personal medicine
Camera or handycam for documentation
Flashlight and back up battery
Note:
The schedule for speed boat can sometimes be changed without prior notice depending on the weather.

Day 1: PADANG – SIBERUT ( L,D )
from airport to Padang

Day 2: PADANG – SIBERUT ( L,D )
Boarding at the port of Muara Dagang Padang at 6.30 AM early morning, it takes us 6 hours sailing on the way to Siberut Island including 1 transit to the north Island before go to the south. Upon our arrival at the port of Siberut, we keep straight away to the first drop at the local village for taking rest while having a lunch. Stay overnight at the local house of Siberut/ dinner.

Day 3: MENTAWAI PRIMITIVE ( B,L,D )
After an early breakfast, we leave behind of Siberut 08.00 AM to the upstream of Jungle by canoe riding. On the way of this journey we’re completely going through the lush of rainforest river. As we arrive at the starting point of trek, we have soon accesss to encounter the extended family members who had lived the ancient lifestyle for centuries ago at the long house called “Uma”. Say “anaileusita” to every single person on this living space. The word of Analeusita means “how are you”, during this moment our cooker will take care of the lunch. After having lunch we do trek at the jungle to looking for caterpillars which is lived inner of the rotten sago tree as the delicious meals for the native then having time to feeding pigs. Stay overnight at the clan house/ dinner.

Day 4: MENTAWAI PRIMITIVE LIFESTYLES ( B,L,D )
After having breakfast, we’ll be participating a typcal Mentawaian activities along with Medicine man (Shaman) at the jungle to make “kabid” or Loincloth made from the inner of the bark tree called “Baiko” and dressed with, experiencing and knowing how good your skill of using catching fishing net into riverbed to catch tiny prawn, and taking sago leaf for making sago roasted. Stay overnight at the clan house/ dinner.

Day 5: MOVING TO ANOTHER CLANS ( B,L,D )
After early breakfast, take preparation of all the stuffs and ready for a new journey of moving to another clans. We’re going to explore the jungle on the way to a new clan. At the this next Clan we’ll have a new host that will show us what is the Jungle’s life has to provide. This time we’ll have a look how do native people manufacture nice craft which all the materials come from the jungle. Such as makng basket for collecting fruits, chicken’s wicker basket, and traditional bracelet. Stay overnight at the new clan house/ lunch /dinner.

Day 6: HEADING BACK TO SIBERUT – PADANG ( B,L )
After having breakfast early morning we will do canoe riding on the way back to Siberut. Upon our first transit at Siberut, we catch the local transport to drop us at the port. There we can have rest and lunch. When the fast boat gives token of leaving in Padang we get in the fast boat and sailing back to the City of Padang.

DAY 7 : PADANG to airport ( B,L )

How To Get mentawai?
The first step of your journey will be to arrive in Padang which is the capital city of West Sumatra Province (Sumaterra Barat) and the gate to the Mentawai’s archipelago. From Padang you will take a passenger’s ferry to the island of Siberut, the biggest island in the Mentawais. Specifically you have to arrive to Muara Siberut, which is the port located at the South-West corner of the island. There are few companies doing this journey. You can take a fast ferry that will take you there in 3 to 6 hrs depending on the day (check schedule below) or you can take the government cargo and passenger’s ferry that will take you there in 12 hrs or more depending on the load and the amount of people traveling.
Padang airport only receives international flights from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. If you are outside Indonesia you can check the connecting flights offered by Airasia, a Malaysian carrier which has the best prices in South East Asia. If you are in another area of Indonesia you must likely have to flight through Jakarta to reach Padang as direct flights from other cities in Indonesia are very limited or scarce. For airfares on national flights in Indonesia check: Garuda Air and Lion Air. Padang airport code is: PDG.
A 30-day Indonesian visa is available on arrival to practically everyone for a fee of around $35.00 USD.

Ferries Schedule:
Fast Ferry Schedule (Mentawai Fast):

Padang to Mentawai Islands:
Tuesdays and Saturdays: (1 stop in north Siberut) the fast ferry departures at 7: 00 a.m. from Padang and arrives at Maura Siberut harbor at 1:00 p.m. The journey takes about 6 hours as the boat made a stop in North Siberut before getting to Muara Siberut in the South of the island.
Thursdays: (no stop) the ferry departures at 7: 00 a.m. from Padang and arrives at Maura Siberut harbor at 10:00 a.m. The journey takes about 3 hours as it comes directly from Padang.

Mentawai Islands to Padang:
Tuesdays and Saturdays: the ferry departures at 3:00 p.m. from Maura Siberut in the Mentawai Islands and arrives at Padang’s harbor at 6:00 p.m.
Thursdays: the ferry departures from Maura Siberut- Mentawai Islands at 1:00 p.m. and arrives at Padang’s harbor around 4:00 p.m

Note: Ferry departures can be cancel within a short notice period of time.