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5.CR2

Living with The Mentawai Tribe

An authentic immersive travel experience in Sumatra.
Living with the Hunter–Gather Mentawai tribe.

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Overview               

Strong Point of the Experience

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

  • Learning about Mentawai culture, knowledge about nature, traditions, beliefs
    and the way of life with the Mentawai flower men

  • Wilderness of Mentawai jungle

  • Be inspired and get immersed.

 

What is the trip about

An adventure for those who want to hike in the wilderness this trip will take you deep into the jungle of Mentawai island, travel across the dense jungle of Siberut to meet the native Mentawai tribe. You will have a chance to learn their knowledge about the forest with them, medicine and herbs, plus their traditions and lifestyle. We aimed our trip to create an authentic immersive experience on your travel, this is not just the only trip but we build a connection, and engages will the local community that will allow you to touch and discover deeply the local culture, point of interest then for sure being away from hustle and bustle mass tourism.

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Travel theme  > Local living, Culture, Nature and Spiritual

Adventure route  > Padang city – Siberut, Mentawai Island     

Itinerary Focus  > Cultural immersion and off the beaten path.        

This is off the beaten track and it will stretch your comfort zone. They don't always feature tourist highlights, but dive deeper into local life and culture.

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Trip Summary

Day 1 Padang – Siberut island

Our journey will start from Muara port, Padang City by fast ferry with 1-hour stopping/transit in Pokkai, Northern part of Sibeurt island then proceed lunch that we will provide in a local restaurant. Arrival in South Siberut we will travel straight to our transit village near Siberut’s port. While our team prepare for logistics and lodging our stuff, you guys can take some rest/coffee break before we get ready to continue our trip to the jungle by traditional motor canoe. (crossing scenic jungle river), once we reach trek point, continue trekking to Mentawai clan house and meet the Mentawai shaman and family.

Day 2 - 4 Living with The Mentawai family and discover their culture

Our cultural immersion trip with the Mentawai tribe in the jungle of Siberut is an authentic immersive-experience that can open doors to a deeper understanding and having a real cultural experience to sharing culture and way of preserving it. By living traditionally with the Mentawai community in the middle of the jungle Siberut, to discover the uniqueness of Mentawai culture the way of life by participating in their daily routine such as sago food processing, learn about medicinal herbs, hunting or even we will have a chance to see traditional ceremony by the shamans. By immerse yourself will enhance your life experience by their unique way of life and ancient culture. 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 : Leaving remote village - Siberut port and comeback to Padang

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 to the Siberut's port and transfer at Mentawai local house. Cleaning your stuff/coffee break then proceed lunch and Leaving Siberut at 3:00 p.m by fast ferry, estimate time arrival in Padang city 6:30 p.m. Arrival in Padang and transfer to your hotel.   TOUR END

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Practical Information

Terms and 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 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's 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 isn't simple and easy, so the conditions of a trek include quite a lot of muddy terrain, can be 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. No running water in the Mentawai jungle.river is the option.

  • The conditions in this trip, which these stays are carried out sometimes felt as “pain” and to be required for each participant to have:

  • Good mental preparation,

  • Great adaptability.

  • To be well informed before departure about the culture and ways of life in Sumatra and the jungle. ( the guide will give some little briefing and explain about this before we will start our trip.

  • 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 September, although there are sporadic rains and 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.

  • Respect the culture of every local community, for example, local wisdom, their law order, their way of living, the way they dress (especially Mentawai) their upbringing methods, different life perspectives, and views of the world and local environment in the community.

Our Commitment

  • Promoting good practice to spread the idea of responsible for traveling

  • Working with expert local guides and partners to achieve sustainable goals and practices

  • Bringing benefit to local communities when it comes to boost 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-tourisme responsible travel

Things to carry

  • Small backpack (we can leave some stuff at the previous place we stayed in (hotel/hostel)

  • Long trousers, long sleeves, t-shirt, fresh underwear (there will be sweating going on)

  • Rain clothes (forget about umbrella)

  • 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

  • Trekking shoes, sleeping bag, a mosquito repellent, high protection sunscreen, a headlamp, toilet paper, a sun hat/cap, sunglasses, water bottle

  • First aid such as paracetamol, pain killers, anti-diarrhea, disinfectant, all other medication you would usually take

  • Do not overpack! Keep it simple

Details 

What is included and not included on the price

What’s include :

  • Airport transportation service

  • Ferry ticket Padang – Siberut 2 

  • Entrance ( Siberut National Park )

  • Logistic ( all meals and drinks during our trip )

  • Motor canoe 2 time ( crossing Siberut river to reach our trek point )

  • Porter

  • Accomodation with Mentawai community

  • Mosquito net, mattres

  • Present to the Mentawai clan

 

What’s not include

  • Flights

  • Insurance

  • Medication

  • Personal expenses : souvenirs, alcoholic drinks and etc

  • Accomodation in Padang city  Recommend place to stay : Budget hotel by harbour, Oxville Hotel ( breakfast included ), Yani Homestay, Riverside Hostel (non – breakfast ).

 

Food

  • All meals will be provided / cooked by our team in the local house / Mentawai (except the breakfast before starting our trip from Padang city). The food that we will provide such as rice, eggs, chicken, vegetables and, fruits, and you will have a chance to enjoy local Mentawai food as they do. Drink water we will carry fresh mineral water ( gallon), and we will use boil water from the river too.

Sleeping Arrangements

  • For sleeping arrangements in the Mentawai traditional longhouse, we will sleep on the floor ( with Mattress ) and mosquito net, for your comfortability it is recommended to bring your sleeping bag, mat, or air bed.

Transportation

  • During our trip we will use 2 times ( Fast Ferry ), 2-time local transport such as Motor taxi, Tuk-tuk or Pick up truck and Motor Canoa.

Insurance

  • We strongly recommended that you will have to take your responsibility for your travel insurance during the trip with us, or as soon as you book this tour. And do not forget to bring all those important documents and information with you.

Please inform yourself about getting vaccinated before traveling to Indonesia.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST: You already found all necessary info, what to bring and carry, dos and don'ts, however, there are other details and questions I have for you: - do you have any allergies? - do you have any dietary restrictions? - do you have any health issues (diabetes, epilepsy, asthma, heart disease, etc)?
                                                                                                                                                            

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