5 Day Ethical Immersion stay living with the Mentawai Tribe

04 Mei 2021       2517        Admin

5 Days of ethical immersion living with the Mentawai tribe

Go Off-Grid & Experience Authentic Immersion in Mentawai Islands

Have you ever wanted to get off-grid? Experience an authentic immersive experience in Sumatra. Join us on a journey to the Mentawai Tribe, where you will go off-grid and learn to live as they do. You will see their way of life and their culture, and get up close and personal with the Mentawai shaman who lives in the remote jungle of Siberut. Meet the Mentawai people in the heart of Jungle Siberut, one of our most unique offerings is living with a Mentawai family as part of your travel experience. Discover this mysterious person, share daily life, joining different families in their Uma (traditional house) through the forest ( by motor canoe and trek You will share their home, it is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to learn about their culture first-hand.

Trip highlights

·      Adventure route : Siberut Island, Mentawais

·      Type trip : Culture - Jungle and local living

·      Ferry schedule : Tuesday - Saturday

·      Comfort: 2/5

·      Price starts from 270 euro, contact us if you wish to join in a small group or go on a private

Trip Summary

Day 1 Padang - Siberut

At 06:00 a.m. we will pick you up at the hotel in Padang, and depart for Siberut Island with the Fast Ferry. Arrive in North Siberut ( Pokkai ) and transit for 1 hour ( loading on/off goods and passengers, during this stopover we will have lunch at the local restaurant. After Lunch, continue to South Siberut with the same ferry. Arrival in South Siberut ( our destination ) proceed to travel straight to a government settlement village by Minivan or pick-up car, arrive at the government settlement village, load our stuff and logistics, and take the motor canoe upriver to the Rereiket Jungle area ( about 1,5 to 2 hours canoe  )

Arrive at our trek point and trek to the Mentawai tribe family ( 3,5 km) from the bank river, arrive in the Mentawai traditional house, and meet and greet with the Mentawai family.

Days 2–4: Live with the Mentawai Tribe & Experience Their Way of Life

Stay with a Mentawai family in the heart of the jungle and fully immerse yourself in their daily life. Experience their traditions, participate in their routines, and gain a deep understanding of their unique culture and connection to nature. While living traditionally with a Mentawai family in the jungle, you will fully immerse yourself in their daily life, gaining a deep understanding of their unique culture, traditions, and way of living. This experience offers a rare opportunity to not only witness but actively participate in their daily activities, for example:

• Cutting sago trees and processing them into food
• Fishing using traditional methods
• Preparing and making poison for hunting
• Hunting and learning survival skills in the jungle
• Scouting the jungle and setting traps for animals
• Gathering food from the forest

This hands-on experience provides an authentic and unforgettable insight into the resilience and wisdom of the Mentawai people, connecting you to their ancestral way of life.

Note: This experience will push you beyond your comfort zone. Unlike a standard itinerary, this journey is flexible, allowing for a deeper immersion into local life and culture. There is no fixed schedule, as each day unfolds organically based on the rhythms of the Mentawai people. If we are fortunate, we may even have the rare opportunity to witness or participate in sacred Shamanic rituals during our stay.

Day 5 Leaving the remote village - Siberut port - back to Padang

Start the day with breakfast and a farewell to your Mentawai host family. We trek back to the riverbank, where a motorized canoe will take us to our transit village near Siberut Port. Upon arrival, we will transfer to a local Mentawai house to freshen up and organize our belongings. Transfer to the ferry’s port and lunch at the local restaurant before departing Siberut at 2:40 PM on the fast ferry. Estimated arrival in Padang is 6:30 PM, where you will be transferred to your chosen hotel or hostel, concluding your unforgettable Mentawai adventure. Tour end

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The Public ferry schedule from Padang City - Siberut, Mentawai

The Public ferry from Padang to Siberut only operates 3 times a week on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, departing from Padang at 07:00 a.,m and leaving from Siberut to Padang at 14:45.

Practical Information and Terms & Conditions 

During these days we will explore the jungle area, and experience the jungle life of the Mentawai people.

Join or participate with the family for food preparation, gathering, and any other activities in our presence

During our stay, we will experience living traditionally like the Mentawai community

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

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 is 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 is not simple and easy, so the conditions of a trek include quite a lot of muddy terrain, 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 bear in mind there is no electricity in the 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 required Ask for more infoAsk for more info participant to have: 

   1).       Good mental preparation 

   2).       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 this before we start our 
   
6. 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 degrees 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 time to connect with them during your 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

• DO NOT assume the tribes understand your lifestyle.
• DO NOT inflict your lifestyle and comforts on them.
• 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).
• DO NOT be judgemental, every tribe has its customs, so be a good observer.

Our Commitment

1. Promoting good practice to spread the idea of being responsible for traveling Working with expert local guides and partners to achieve sustainable goals and practices.
2. Bringing benefits to local communities when it comes to boosting their economic and social standard, teaching them about the tourism industry, as well as helping local children with ongoing education.
3. Preserving culture and nature through eco-tourism responsible travel.

Things to carry

• Small Backpack.
• Trekking pants, T-shirt, shorts.
• Trekking shoes (we would recommend rubber trekking boots).
• Dry bag (to protect your electronic devices, phone, camera, or document).
• Rain clothes/poncho.
• Personal utilities.
• Mosquito spray.
• Toilet paper.
• Torch, Suncream & Hat, Socks, Sandals, water shoes.
• Water bottle.
• First Aid and all medications that you usually take.

Ask more info

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