 The Mentawai shaman |  Orangutan Sumatra |  Weh Island |  Weh island |
|---|---|---|---|
 Mentawai TribeMentawai shamans |  Adventure Sumatraclose to the nature |  Iboih beach |
15 Discover Sumatra
Mentawai Tribe + Orangutan trek, Toba Lake and Weh Island
Sumatra is an island full of diverse wildlife and culture, and our Sumatra holiday will allow you to explore it all in detail. You will visit Bukit Lawang, a world-renowned habitat for Orangutans, where you can observe these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat and learn about their conservation. In addition, you will experience the unique culture of the Mentawai people by living with a Mentawai family in Jungle Siberut, Mentawai. You will learn about their customs, traditions, and way of life, gaining a deeper understanding of the indigenous people of Indonesia. In summary, our adventure holiday offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore the lush jungles of Indonesia, witness its magnificent wildlife, and immerse yourself in the unique culture. You will embark on an unforgettable journey to Weh Island. This island boasts one of the most breathtaking experiences you'll ever have: the opportunity to dive into its crystal-clear waters and witness the stunning underwater life. With unparalleled visibility, you'll be able to marvel at vibrant coral reefs, exotic fish, and other fascinating marine creatures.
DESTINATION: Mentawai Tribe + Orangutan + Toba lake + Weh Island
LEVEL: Moderate
CHARACTERISTIC: Culture, Nature, and Beach
Arrival at Minangkabau International Airport Padang City, West Sumatra, our guide will pick you up and transfer you to your hotel in Padang.
(P.S. The trip can start every Tuesday to Thursday or Thursday to Saturday based on the ferry schedule ).
Day 1 Padang – Siberut island – Tribe stay
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06:00 a.m: Hotel pick up in Padang
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07:00 a.m: Departing to Siberut Island with the Fast Ferry
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11:00 a.m: 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
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Noon: Continue to South Siberut with the same ferry
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13:50: Arrival in South Siberut ( our destination )
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14:20: Travel straight to the local village Muntei Village by Minivan or pick-up
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15:00: Arriving in Muntei village, loading our stuff, and take the motor canoe
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15:30: Crossing the Siberut jungle river heading to the Rereiket Jungle area (about 1.5 h)
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16:00: Arrival at our trek point and trek to the Mentawai tribe family ( 2,5 km)
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17:30: Arrive in Mentawai traditional house and meet and greet with the Mentawai family
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20:00: Dinner and Evening
Day 2 to 3 Staying with the Mentawai tribe family
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Join or participate with the family for food preparation, and any other activities in our presence
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During our stay, we will experience living traditionally like the Mentawai community
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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
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During our stay with the Mentawai family, you will learn jungle life skills/survival as the Mentawai do such as:
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Learn how to weave a basket, tray, or bag from Ratan or leaves that the Mentawai people usually use to support their daily life in the jungle.
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Making poison for bow and arrow
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experience jungle survival with the Mentawai tribe
Day 4 Leaving the remote village – Siberut port – back to Padang
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Breakfast and farewell with our host family, continue trekking back to the river bank and motor canoe will drive us back to our transit village near Siberut's port and transfer to Mentawai local house. Cleaning your stuff then proceed to lunch and Leave Siberut at 15:00 by fast ferry, estimate time of arrival in Padang city at 18:30.
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Arrive in Padang and transfer to your hotel/hostel choice
Day 5 Flight from Padang to Medan and transfer to Bukit Lawang
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Morning flight from Padang to Medan ( it’s advisable morning flight )
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Arrival at Medan’s airport and travel straight to Bukit Lawang village 4 hours drive to be expected
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16:00 Arrival in Bukit Lawang, check in to our ecolodge
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Walking tour around the village and meet the local people ( optional, if you are not too tired )
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20:00 Dinner and briefing for the jungle trek Orangutan
Day 6 Orangutan exploration and jungle trekking
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08:00 a.m After breakfast at the Guest House, we will start our journey trekking to Leuser National Park, crossing the deep jungle to explore Orang Utans, Thomas Leaf monkeys, Black Gibbons, Masques, lizards, Siamang, birds (Hornbill)
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There will be a maximum of 3 hours of trekking before lunch.
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Lunch will be provided in the jungle, ( we will have a brief stop)
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After lunch, we will continue trekking for another 1-2 hours.
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Overnight in the jungle ( sleep in the build tent /camp in the jungle )
Day 7 Orangutan explore – back to Bukit Lawang
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08:30 a.m After breakfast, we will continue trekking to see and observe more animals, flora, and fauna
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Lunch will be provided in the jungle
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Take some time in the river and back to Bukit Lawang village with tubbing
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16:30 Arrive at Bukit Lawang village and transfer to our ecolodge
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Dinner and evening
Day 8 Tansfer from Bukit Lawang – Samosir, Toba lake
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08:30 Transfer from Bukit Lawang to Prapat City in the morning after breakfast
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On the way visit the Traditional Batak Karo village
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And visiting Sipiso-piso waterfall, lunch at a local restaurant
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Arrival in Prapat, cross to Samosir Island
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Arrival in Samosir, check in to our accommodation
Day 9 Explore Samosir Island and Batak Culture
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In the morning explore several interesting Batak culture traditional villages: Tomok: To see the old Tomb of Sidabutar Kings. Ambarita: To see the stone chair and table stone the execution places of Sialagan Kings.
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Traditional Batak village, Holbung hills
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Explore Samosir Island by scooter or Tuk-tuk and viewpoint
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Relaxing and enjoy the breathtaking view of Toba Lake
Day 10 Toba Lake transfer to Medan City
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After breakfast, visit Tomok village, visit Sidabutar tomb, museum, and market
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And continue to visit traditional Batak village
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Back to the hotel, have lunch leave Toba Lake, and transfer to Medan City ( to be expected 4 hours drive )
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Arrival in Medan City,
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Stay in Medan / hotel near the airport
Day 11 Medan City flight to Banda Aceh
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Flight to Banda Aceh from Medan
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Arrival in Banda Aceh, transfer to ferry's port
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Ferry to Weh Island ( 45 minutes)
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Arrival at Sabang’s port, transfer to Iboih Bay ( where we gonna stay for the rest of the trip)
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Stay in Iboih with seafront accommodation/bungalow
Day 12 Stay in Weh Island
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Enjoying your stay swimming, snorkeling and relaxing
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Free program
Day 13 Stay in Weh Island
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Visiting Gapang Beach by scooter or tuk–tuk
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Visiting village and viewpoint
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Free program
Day 14 Explore Weh Island
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Visiting Monument KM 0 of Indonesia in Sabang
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Visiting Sumur Tiga beach
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Sunset point
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Back to Iboih
Day 15 Weh Island – Back to Banda Aceh City
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Leaving Weh Island in the morning
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Arrival in Banda Aceh City, City tour
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Straight to the airport ( depends on your flight, i.g Medan city or Kuala Lumpur ( Tour End )
Practical Information
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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 September, although there are sporadic rains that may occur during this period. Rains are abundant between November and January. The average temperature is 30 °C degree in Siberut island. Be ready for hot, humid, and hasty conditions.
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To respect the culture of every local community, for example, local wisdom, their law order, their way of living, the way they dress up, bringing methods, different life perspectives and views of the world and local environment in the community, (in every villages area it is recommended to wear trouser below knee length and T-shirt to cover shoulders. This applies to both men and women, especially when we will visit some villages, or local community please do not wear shorts, sleeveless shirts, shirts showing cleavage, and skirts above the knee, also mind that looser clothes help fight the heat, compared to tight clothes), you will be free to wear those, or swim in bikini or shorts in the river when we are doing a trip in the jungle
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To stay in the remote village located in the Mentawai jungle, you will need to be prepared to live in the same conditions as the local community. This includes sleeping on the floor with a mat and a mosquito net for protection during the night. Please note that the living arrangements are very basic, so you should be ready for a rustic experience.
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In situations where poverty and isolation are prevalent, it is not always possible to guarantee the same level of comfort and cleanliness that one may be accustomed to in Western societies. However, when families graciously allow us to live and spend time with them, it is important to be able to tolerate any minor discomforts in order to fully enjoy the overall experience.
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The Mentawai traditional communities reside in remote areas within the jungle forest. It's not easy to access these communities, and the trek conditions include a significant amount of muddy terrain, with slippery and uneven ground. At times, you'll have to walk on logs on the muddy ground, which the Mentawai make and use as a bridge to access further routes.
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We would like to kindly remind you that the Mentawai jungle does not have access to electricity. Therefore, it would be wise to make sure your camera and phone are fully charged before embarking on this memorable journey. It's important to note that the conditions during this trip may be challenging at times and may require a certain level of physical endurance. Please don't worry though, because with proper preparation, you will be able to enjoy this experience to the fullest.
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"Good mental preparation and great adaptability are crucial for this trip. It's important to be well-informed about the culture and ways of life in Mentawai and the jungle before departure. The guide will provide a brief explanation about this before we start our trip."
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It is important to show respect towards the culture of every local community. This includes respecting their local wisdom, laws, way of living, dress (particularly for the Mentawai), upbringing methods, different life perspectives, and views of the world and local environment.
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Sumatra has a tropical climate with hot and humid weather year-round. The driest time is from May to September, with sporadic rains. November to January sees abundant rainfall. Siberut Island averages 30°C, so be prepared for the hot, humid conditions.
Things good to know during Orangutan trekking
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When visiting Gunung Leuser National Park, it's important to keep in mind some wildlife viewing and safety information. Orangutans are known to spend most of their time in the forest canopy and don't usually come into contact with humans. However, ex-captive orangutans in Bukit Lawang may walk on the ground and might come into close contact with humans. Unfortunately, some of their behaviors, as well as the behavior of human visitors, can make them sick.
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Due to their genetic similarity to humans (97%), orangutans are at risk of contracting many of the same diseases that we can. When humans come into contact with orangutans, they can unknowingly spread diseases through coughing, sneezing, and even spitting. This can result in the spread of diseases such as measles, tuberculosis, pneumonia, and influenza among the orangutan population. Additionally, many diseases such as shigella, hepatitis A, herpes, scabies, and worms are carried in human feces. When orangutans come into contact with contaminated feces, they can become infected with these diseases. It is important to be aware of these risks and take necessary precautions to protect both humans and Orangutans.
Things to carry during Orangutan trekking
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Please bring adventure equipment you will survive in the Sumatra rainforest such as :
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Trekking shoes will be muddy and wet
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Small backpack (we can leave some stuff at the previous place we stayed in (hotel/hostel)
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Long trousers, long sleeves, t-shirt, fresh underwear (there will be sweating going on)
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Rain clothes
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We recommend bringing a dry bag/pocket (waterproof) to protect your camera and any other important documents and equipment you need to take care of
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A sleeping bag, mosquito repellent, high protection sunscreen, a headlamp, toilet paper, a sun hat/cap, sunglasses, a water bottle, flip flop
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First aid such as paracetamol, painkillers, anti-diarrhea, disinfectant, and all other medication you would usually take
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Do not overpack! Keep it simple
Insurance
We strongly advise that you take responsibility for your travel insurance before or immediately after booking your trip with us. It is imperative that you bring all relevant documents and information with you on the trip. It is highly recommended that you obtain vaccinations before traveling to Indonesia.
In addition to the comprehensive information that you have already received on what to bring and not to bring, we would like to inquire further about any allergies, dietary restrictions, or health issues, such as diabetes, epilepsy, asthma, or heart disease, that you may have.
We thank you for choosing our services, and we eagerly anticipate hosting you.