MENTAWAI TREKKING

Anai Loita !
These are the Mentawai words of welcoming you to Siberut Island. If you like to encounter the unique experience which island of Siberut will give you... read on.... The island of Siberut is inhabited by the Mentawai people; one of the pure indigenous Indonesian societies. They have had very little contact with the outside world and so have continued to live a fairly primitive form of life compare with the life standard of the present day. The Mentawaians live in the jungle villages and have to rely on the jungle for their food, clothing and medicine. On our trek we will join the Mentawaians on their daily trip to jungle to see how they make their life, how they gather their foods, clothes, medicines, poisons for their primitive weapons like spears and arrows, learn the differences of the trees, plants, and how they use their primitive equipments.

Trekking through the wet and muddy Mentawai jungle is truly a once in a lifetime experience, Imagine swims on the tropical river, swings on vines, soaked in mud baths and sings the traditional songs along the way. Don't worry its not too strenuous so you don't have to be too fit to trek the Mentawai jungles !

... The more you try to interact and communicate with the locals, the more you will learn and the more satisfaction you will get.

One of the most important thing to remember when trekking in Siberut is : WHAT YOU GIVE IS WHAT YOU GET.

The more you try to interact and communicate wit the locals, the more you will learn and the more satisfaction you will get. Even though there maybe a language barrier at the first, don't be hesitate to communicate with other ways like hand signs, songs or anything understandable. Once you get in touch with them, they will take you to explore their environments, their uma, their jungle and you'll never know what you will find! You will be surprised to know that the Mentawaians are very responsive and extremely friendly.

Our trekking packages are truly an experience of a lifetime. Why not top combine one with a surf charter to sample more of the Mentawais. Masura Bagata (Thank You)!

Schedule

Day 1

• Leave Muaro Padang Harbour at 8 pm, taking the overnight ferry boat to Siberut.
• Watch out for dolphins and flying fish, they can often be seen.

Day 2

• Arrive at Siberut in the early morning around 7 AM, where we will have a breakfast and a "mandi".
• 10 AM departure by a small tailboat for a 3 or 4 hours of sailing the river deep into the jungle.
• Trek for about 1 to 2 hours through to the jungle to our first Mentawaians village.

Day 3 - 4

Depending on the group members we will stay at either one or two Mentawai's uma (traditional house), this will allow far closer familiarity and interaction with the Mentawai people. Each day will be filled with variety of activities such as loin cloth making, fishing, sago processing, basket weaving, bracelet making and making poisons for their traditional weapons such as arrows and spears. And we will trek following them to the jungle for some 2 or 3 hours, to hunt and to gather vegetables and plants. On many occasions its also possible to see a Mentawaians ceremony, usually happens with all the village community gather together to sing and dance in their traditional dress. And usually this ceremony will be held under the supervision of the village's Sikerei ( Medicine Man )

Day 5

• We will trek for 2 hours to Badrogot village
• Take a small sail boat back to Muara Siberut
• Ferry to Padang. Usually the ferry will depart at 8 PM

Day 6

• We will arrive at Padang at about 8 AM.

Included In Your Trekking Adventure

Transportation

• Airport to Muaro Harbour, Padang
• Padang to Muara Siberut ( Regular Boat )
• Muara Siberut to Jungle/Villages ( tailboat charter )
• Muara Siberut to Muaro Harbour, Padang ( Regular Boat )
• Muaro Harbour - Airport


• Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner throughout the trekking time
• First Aid Medicines

Excluded

• Hotel in Padang
• Personal Expenses

Prices and Rules

Prices:

• $1,100 per person....Minimum 4 persons per group

Rules:

• $500 USD deposit is required at the time of booking
• Deposits are non-refundable
• Final payment balance is due 90 days prior to departure
• $100 penalty for late payments
• Failure to pay balance as specified can result in loss of booking dates and/or deposit

Cancellation Policy:

Any cancellation made by the client will be refunded as follows:

• 30 – 15 days before departure: 70% of total payment will be returned
• 14 – 8 days prior to departure: 50% of total payment will be returned
• 7 – 0 days prior to departure: No Refund

Cancellation of a trip must be made 60 days prior to your departure date. There are no refunds or partial refunds given for early departures from a designated charter, poor surf, or inclement weather. In addition, there are no refunds given for reasons pertaining to unstable global, national, or local political situations. Failure to pay your balance as specified will result in your loss of booking dates and or your deposit. Should you need to cancel for emergency reasons, you will be able to use your money toward another trip in the future.

more Images