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    Mentawai Islands
    Island

    Mentawai Islands

    The Mentawai Islands, about 100 kilometers off Sumatra's west coast, are among the world's most famous surf spots. On Siberut, the Mentawai still partly live according to ancestral traditions in the rainforest.

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    9. Mentawai Islands
    The Mentawai Islands, about 100 kilometers off Sumatra's west coast, are among the world's most famous surf spots. On Siberut, the Mentawai still partly live according to ancestral traditions in the rainforest.
    The Mentawai Islands are located approximately 100 to 150 km off the west coast of Sumatra. The four main islands are Siberut, Sipora, North and South Pagai. They are internationally known for their surf spots, with most surfers staying in camps or on charter boats. On Siberut, the largest island, communities still live in traditional longhouses inland, and large parts are protected as a national park. The infrastructure is simple, and electricity and mobile reception are not available everywhere. The region is prone to earthquakes and tsunamis; in 2010, a tsunami hit the Pagai Islands.

    Sights in Mentawai Islands

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Siberut National Park
    National Park

    Siberut National Park

    Rainforest on Siberut's west side with endemic primates like the Mentawai gibbon. Access only with a guide via the villages.
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    Sights in Mentawai Islands

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Siberut National Park
    National Park

    1Siberut National Park

    Rainforest on Siberut's west side with endemic primates like the Mentawai gibbon. Access only with a guide via the villages.
    Open in Google Maps

    Restaurants in Mentawai Islands

    Food and Drink

    Sagu

    Sago is the basic foodstuff of the Mentawai, often cooked in bamboo or leaves.

    Food in the surf camps

    Most camps offer full board with rice, fish and vegetables.

    Culture

    The Mentawai have their own language and belief system, which has nothing to do with the culture of the Minangkabau on the mainland. They are known for their full-body tattoos and the shamans Sikerei, who perform healing rituals. Extended families traditionally lived in longhouses (uma). You should only visit the inland villages with a local guide who knows the families.

    Getting Here and Around

    Getting ThereSpeedboat: The Mentawai Fast travels from Padang to Tuapejat on Sipora in around 3.5 hours and to Siberut in around 6.5 hours (mentawaifast.com).Ferry: There are also slower ferries.Weather: Allow for buffer time, as trips are cancelled in bad weather.On the IslandsSurfcamps usually pick up their guests at the harbour. You can only get around between the islands and bays by boat.

    Day Trips

    Village visits on Siberut

    Guided multi-day tours to inland families, staying overnight in a longhouse.

    Padang

    The capital of West Sumatra and the departure port for boats.

    Accommodations in Mentawai Islands

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    Nearby

    West Sumatra

    West Sumatra

    West Sumatra is home to the Minangkabau. Volcanoes, crater lakes, and deep gorges define the Bukittinggi highlands, off its coast are the Mentawai Islands, with surf spots and a unique culture. Padang cuisine originates here, found throughout Indonesia.
    Bukittinggi

    Bukittinggi

    Bukittinggi lies at around 900 meters in the Minangkabau highlands. The Jam Gadang clock tower, the Sianok Gorge on the city's edge, and excursions to volcanoes, crater lakes, and traditional Rumah Gadang make it West Sumatra's traveler hub.
    Lake Toba and Samosir
    Chapsorini / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

    Lake Toba and Samosir

    Lake Toba fills the caldera of a supervolcano whose eruption approximately 74,000 years ago is among the largest in Earth's history. It is the largest lake in Southeast Asia, and at its center lies Samosir Island, home to villages, tombs, and royal houses of the Toba Batak.
    North Sumatra

    North Sumatra

    North Sumatra combines the vast crater lake Toba, Batak culture, active volcanoes, and Gunung Leuser National Park's orangutan-filled rainforest. Most trips begin in the metropolis Medan.
    Berastagi
    Christian Advs Sltg / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

    Berastagi

    Berastagi in the Karo Highlands is a market town at around 1,300 meters, surrounded by vegetable and fruit fields. The volcanoes Sibayak and Sinabung dominate the landscape, and traditional Karo-Batak longhouses stand in the surroundings.