8 Days off-the-beaten-track encounter the Mentawai Tribe

04 Mei 2021       563        Admin

• What is this trip about?

Have you ever wished to go off-grid? Engage in an authentic and immersive experience in Sumatra. We invite you to join us on a journey to the Mentawai Tribe, where you will go off-grid and learn to live as they do. You will have the opportunity to observe their way of life and culture, as well as get up close and personal with the Mentawai shaman living in the remote jungle of Siberut.
Living with a Mentawai family as part of your travel experience is one of our most unique offerings. Discover this mysterious person, share daily life, join different families in their Uma (traditional house), and travel 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

• Trip type > Small group & private trip ( you can request )
• Adventure route > Siberut, Mentawai Island
• Characteristic > Cultural Immersion, Nature and Adventure
• Comfort > 2 / 5 
• Price > please contact us

NOTE* Our price depends on the number of people in the group, season, and access to the remote village/jungle, the further or remote we go, 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 jungle and remote locations. As you venture deeper into the jungle and remote regions, the costs associated with transportation, permits, accommodations, and logistical arrangements may vary. These areas often demand specialized knowledge, experienced guides, and unique arrangements to ensure your safety and comfort.

The strong point of this experience

• Immersion and living in the deep jungle with the native Mentawai tribe

• Explore beaten the track Siberut jungle

• Having unforgettable cultural experiences

• Real jungle life experiences

Trip Summary

Day 1 Padang - Siberut - Mentawai tribe

• 06:00 a.m: Hotel pick up in Padang city and at 07:00 a.m depart to Siberut island with the Fast Ferry.

• Arrive in North Siberut ( Pokkai ) and transit for 1 hour ( loading on/off goods and passager, during this transit we will have lunch at the local restaurant.

• Arrival in South Siberut ( our destination ).

• 1:50 p.m: Arrival in South Siberut ( our destination ) and travel straight to our local village ( a transit village) by motor taxi or pick-up car.

• 2:20 p.m: Arriving at our transit village, our team will do trip preparation, load our stuff, and take the motor canoe upriver for 1,5 hours. Arrival at our trek point and trekking to the Mentawai tribe family ( 5 km ) from the bank river, arrive in the Mentawai traditional house. Meet and greet with the Mentawai family.

• 20:00: Dinner and Evening.

Day 2, 3, and 4 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.

Day 5 Move to a different jungle area/ remote village

• Breakfast
• 08:00 a.m trekking back to the bank river
• Take the canoe down the river for 2,5 hours, once we reach our transit village/government settlement
• Trekking to Rorogot jungle area ( 6 k.m )
• Arrive in the Rorogot Jungle area, meet and greet with the Mentawai family
• Dinner and evening with the Mentawai family

Day 6, 7 Living with the Mentawai family in the Rorogot jungle area

• You can ask questions and talk about culture, and tradition with the Shamans.
• 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.
• During our stay, you will learn jungle life skills as the Mentawai do such as:
• 1). Setting the trap for wild boar and deer.
• 2). Learn how to weave baskets, trays, and bags from Ratan or leaves that the Mentawai people usually use to support their daily life in the jungle.
• 3). Making poison for bow and arrow.
• 4). Making traditional Mentawai bow and arrow.

Day 7 Leaving the remote village � back to Government settlement ( Muntei )

• Leaving the remote area.

• Ride back, down river to the Siberut town ( 1,5 h )

• Arrive in our transit village, Muntei

• Transfer to the local Homestay

• Spend one night in Muntei village ( local homestay ) before going back to Padang

• Overnight

Day 8 Siberut - Padang

• Breakfast
• Drive back to Mailepet port
• Lunch will be provided in the local restaurant at the harbor
• Back to Padang (estimated time of arrival 18:30 )

Tour End

The Public ferry schedule from Padang City - Siberut, Mentawai

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

Practical Information and Terms & Conditions

• 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.
• 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
• 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).
• Please bear in mind there is no electricity in the Mentawai jungle, charge your camera and phone, and bring an extra battery.

• The conditions in this trip, during which these stays are carried out sometimes felt like "pain" and required for each participant to have:

• 1). Good mental preparation.

• 2). Great adaptability.

• 3). 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 start our trip ).

• 4). 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 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

• 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

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

Get in Touch With Us

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