Private Tour
4 Days/3 Nights Meet the Menthawans
Overview
Available languages
96 hours
Mobile ticket
We take you to meet the flower men, the people of the Mentawais, in the heart of Siberut National Park in Indonesia.
Saturday Fast Boat Departures from Padang (Mentawai fast)
The Mentawais live in the jungle in harmony with nature. They are animists and believe that everything has a soul and adorns themselves with tattoos and jewelry. Their tattoos are known to be among the oldest in the world.
Explore this fascinating people on an adventure. Come and meet the last flower men, the shamans of Siberut. Come and share a small part of their lives with respect and tolerance.
With them you will discover their unique way of life and close to nature, follow their daily Things to do like preparing sago, their staple food, or fishing in the river. But above all this stay will be rich in sharing with the family that will welcome you.
3% of the amount of the stay donated to Shama association.
Additional Info
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Cancellation Policy
If you cancel at least 3 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.<br>If you cancel within 3 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.
What To Expect
Check-out for Siberut from Padang (Saturday)
Accommodations
Overnight at inhabitant house, the "uma", under mosquito net.
Food and Drinks
LUNCH
Lunch
Lunch around midday at Sikabaluan habor at local Minang food restaurant.
DINNER
Dinner
Dinner with the Mentawai family.
Padang
Early wake up and fast boat at 7am to reach Siberut island. Arrival at midday at Sikabaluan harbor where we can have lunch, the arrival at 1:30 pm to Maileppet, little harbor in Siberut island.
Your local guide drop you to Muntei, small village nearby the harbor where you can rest and wait while he is going to by all supplies for the trip and ask permit to local authority to enter the national park. Then we take a motorized canoe and up the Reirekek river during 1h - 1:30 until the forest. Then walk for 2h or more to reach the "uma", the traditional Mentawai house. Once arriving at the "uma", we can spend the rest of the day exploring, resting and get to know the Mentawai family. Dinner and overnight in inhabitant.
With the Mentawai tribe
Accommodations
Overnights in "uma", traditional house under mosquito net.
Food and Drinks
BREAKFAST
Breakfast
Breakfast cooked by your guide : pancakes, omelets, local food, tea/coffee.
LUNCH
Lunch
Lunch cooked with rice, noodle, veggies, eggs, patatoes, sometimes chicken and local Mentawai food.
DINNER
Dinner
Dinner cooked with rice, noodle, veggies, eggs, patatoes, sometimes chicken and local Mentawai food.
Siberut National Park
Today we will follow Mentawai daily activities such sago preparation (their main food), searching for sago worm, making their loin clothes (kabit), the preparation of poison for their arrows, fishing in the river with the women, or walking around the forest to search for fruits or neighbourhoods. The evenings are special moments to share with the shamans and get to know the family better. Overnights at "uma", traditional houses in the jungle. (under mosquito net).
With the Mentawai tribe
Accommodations
Overnight at "uma", traditional house in the jungle under mosquito net.
Food and Drinks
LUNCH
Lunch
Lunch cooked with rice, noodle, veggies, eggs, patatoes, sometimes chicken and local Mentawai food.
DINNER
Dinner
Dinner cooked with rice, noodle, veggies, eggs, patatoes, sometimes chicken and local Mentawai food.
BREAKFAST
Breakfast
Breakfast cooked by your guide : pancakes, omelets, local food, tea/coffee.
Siberut National Park
Today we will follow Mentawai daily activities such sago preparation (their main food), searching for sago worm, making their loin clothes (kabit), the preparation of poison for their arrows, fishing in the river with the women, or walking around the forest to search for fruits or neighbourhoods. The evenings are special moments to share with the shamans and get to know the family better. Overnights at "uma", traditional house in the jungle. (under mosquito net).
Back to Padang (Tuesday)
Food and Drinks
BREAKFAST
Breakfast
In the jungle : pancakes, omelet, tea and coffee, local food.
LUNCH
Lunch
Lunch at Muara Siberut (local restaurant).
In the morning, goodbye to the Mentawai family and walk again in the jungle, take the motorized canoe down the river and back to Muntei village. Lunch at Muara siberut (local restaurant) while waiting the fast boat.
Padang
We take the fast boat at 3pm, back to Padang city. Approximative arrival between 6 and 6:30pm. Transfert to your hotel.
What‘s Included
Private transportation
English speaking guide
Fast boat (Mentawai fast go and back)
Gift for Mentawai (cigarettes), donation 3% donation to Kolibri association
Permit to ask to local authority to enter Siberut National park
Porters (food)
Hôtels in Padang
Personals expenses, tips
Soft drinks, beers, alcohol
Insurance
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Options
4 Days/3 Nights Meet the Menthawans
Pickup included
Reviews
5 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Exceptional
89florencev,,Sep 10, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Anne may not currently live in Sumatra she lived there enough to know perfectly the island, the accommodation, the airports, the basic logistics (transport, SIM card, various advice ..) . Everyone knows her and loves her there, it is a sure value and a respected woman. She perfectly managed my 15 days solo (bukit lawang, mentawais and Raoul Tintin ecolodge). She is always available to answer your questions and that is reassuring. Basically me who is used to backpack trips and change of scenery I come back enchanted. Do not hesitate , please contact . There are always ragers who will find a loophole but at that moment go alone and fend for yourself. Thank you Anne and thank you to all her team there.
Exceptional!
firolland,,Nov 21, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00A magic circuit! Everything was perfect; guides, drivers, buses, hotels, tours... great! Anne is a true professional, responsive, attentive with incredible field knowledge. An exceptional value for money!
An unforgettable trip
domimniquem,,Jun 2, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Good morning , Following our trip to Sumatra from 04 to 05/22/24, we wanted to comment on the organization of this trip to Indonesia. First of all we wanted to thank Samba Lado for the flawless organization of our stay, the professionalism of our driver and our guide during the duration of their support and occasional support by other interlocutors always lives up to our expectations and requests. The choice of sites and meetings sometimes improvised during our travels was the opportunity to share unforgettable moments (wedding, funeral) with a kind, welcoming people ready to help you without anything in return. We owe all this to Anne and her entire team on site who ensured that our stay was as perfect as possible and it was beyond our expectations. Thanks again .
👍👍👍
g rardc76,,Jun 2, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Samba Lado, a small agency which allowed us to have a great trip between North Sumatra and West Sumatra. Flawless support and organization with adjustments based on our choices with great professionalism. Exceptional meetings between guides, drivers, local speakers… What lovely surprises!!! An agency to absolutely recommend! Thank you Anne, Jefri, Dolly, Ricky… and to all those I may have forgotten
Very nice experience with the mentawai
mich leb511,,Mar 29, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Everything was super well organized, journeys, meals, accommodation, activities....with a warm and friendly atmosphere in unspoiled nature and landscapes of great beauty. The mentawai are incredible people and full of humor. Thank you Anne!
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