5 Days living with The Mentawai Tribe
What is the trip about
Have you ever wanted to get off-grid? Experience an immersive experience in Sumatra. Join us on a journey to the Mentawai Tribe, you'll go off-grid and learn to live as they do. You'll see their way of life and 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 residing 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'll share their home, to gain insight into their culture.
A. What to Expect
1. Meet the Mentawai Shaman (Sikerei)
Gain firsthand insights into the spiritual practices of the Sikerei, a key figure in the Mentawai community. Learn about their role as healers and custodians of tradition, and discover their deep connection to the natural world.
2. Live with a Mentawai Family
Experience true cultural immersion by staying with a Mentawai family. Share their home, daily routines, and meals, gaining a deeper understanding of their unique way of life.
3. Participate in Daily Tribal Activities
Engage in traditional activities like food gathering, weaving, and jungle trekking. Learn how the Mentawai people live sustainably off the land, using natural resources for everything from tools to medicine.
4. Explore the Siberut Jungle
Trek through dense, biodiverse rainforest, home to unique flora and fauna. This journey also offers opportunities to learn jungle survival techniques, such as making traps and identifying edible plants.
Trip Summary
Note: This experience will stretch your comfort zone, it does not always feature the itinerary or the tourist highlights, there is no fixed itinerary in this trip, but deep dive deeper into local life and culture. sometimes if we are lucky we can attend/witness some Shamanic rituals ( we will keep you updated on the information about rituals)
Day 1 Padang - Siberut
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06:00 AM – Hotel Pickup in Padang, your journey begins with an early morning pickup from your hotel in Padang.
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07:00 AM – Departure to Siberut Island by Fast Ferry, embark on a scenic fast ferry ride to Siberut Island, offering stunning views of the Mentawai Archipelago.
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11:00 AM – Arrival in North Siberut (Pokkai) and Transit, having a short stop at North Siberut for a brief one-hour transit to load and unload goods and passengers. During this stop, enjoy a delightful lunch at a local restaurant.
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Noon – Continue to South Siberut by Fast Ferry, and resume your ferry journey, heading towards South Siberut.
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1:50 PM – Arrival in South Siberut, reach your destination, and prepare for the next leg of the adventure.
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2:20 PM – Transfer to Muntei Village by Minivan or Pickup Truck
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Travel to the charming Muntei Village, where your jungle expedition begins.
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3:00 PM – Arrival at Muntei Village and Canoe Ride, after loading your equipment, board a motorized canoe for a picturesque journey along the Siberut jungle river.
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4:00 PM – Trekking to the Mentawai Tribe Family, arrive at the trek point and begin an exhilarating hike through the jungle (approximately 2.5 km).
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5:30 PM – Arrival at a Mentawai Traditional Uma (Longhouse), and reach the traditional home of the Mentawai family. Experience a warm welcome and immerse yourself in their rich culture and traditions.
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8:00 PM – Dinner and Evening Activities, enjoy a hearty dinner prepared with local ingredients, followed by an evening of cultural exchange and relaxation. Let this day be the start of an unforgettable journey, connecting with the heart of Mentawai life.
Day 2 - 3 Staying with the Mentawai tribe family
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During these days we will explore the jungle area, and experience the jungle life of the Mentawai people.
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Join or participate with the family for food preparation, and any other activities on 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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Learning to make a hut in the jungle in the Mentawai style
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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.
Tour end
Practical Information
Terms and Conditions
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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.
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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.
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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).
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Please bear in mind there is no electricity in the Mentawai jungle, charge your camera and phone, and bring an extra battery.
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The conditions in this trip, during which these stays are carried out sometimes felt like “pain” and to be required for each participant to have:
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Good mental preparation
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Great adaptability
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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
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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 sporadic rains may occur during this period. Rains are abundant between November and January. The average temperature is 27 - 33 °C degree in Siberut Island. Be ready for hot, humid, and hasty conditions.
Good things to know during our immersion stay
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Be mentally prepared to rough it out, as many tribes do not have the basic comforts of what Western standards used to.
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Give yourself time to connect during our stay
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Be your true self while visiting, show your interest in them, and learn from them.
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Be present throughout the experience, they expect you to enjoy your time with them.
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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.
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Ask for their permission before taking pictures.
⮚ Our Commitment
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Promoting good practice to spread the idea of responsibility for traveling ∙ Working with expert local guides and partners to achieve sustainable goals and practices.
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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
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Preserving culture and nature through eco-tourism responsible travel
