Living with the Mentawai

MENTAWAI JUNGLE & CULTURAL EXPERIENCE

Live deep in the Mentawai forest with a local family and Sikerei, learning traditional culture, daily life, and forest knowledge with respect.

Contact Oncy for group sizeFrom €330 / person · Children €280 / person

Day by day

Your itinerary.

Departure is Tuesday to Thursday or Thursday to Saturday. The exact pace of each day follows weather, ferry timing, and life in the forest.

Day 1
Padang → Siberut → Muntei Village → Jungle
Meet at Padang harbor at 06:30 for the 07:00 fast boat to Siberut. Continue by motorcycle taxi to Muntei Village, then travel by traditional river boat into the forest. Meet the Sikerei and Uma family, settle in, share dinner, and stay overnight in the traditional jungle house.
Day 2
Living with the Mentawai
Join daily forest life: fish in the river with Mentawai women, learn about Sikerei activities, poison arrows, tree-bark materials, forest plants, hunting, and survival knowledge. Watch the Sikerei make a traditional forest bracelet, then share dinner and another night at the jungle house.
Day 3
Jungle → Siberut → Padang
After breakfast, pack up and travel by canoe through the river to the village. Continue to Siberut Harbor for the fast boat back to Padang, where the tour ends.

Included

Meals during the programme: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Two porters and return Siberut–village river transfers by canoe
Accommodation in a local traditional house in the jungle
Licensed English- and Mentawai-speaking guide
Required local authority and police entry permit
Photography opportunity with the Sikerei
Cultural and jungle activities: river fishing, sago worms, poison arrows, loincloth making, and forest activities

Not included

Before you go

Comfortable clothes that can get wet and dry quickly, plus a dry change
Sun protection, a sun hat, and your preferred insect repellent
Old grippy shoes or boots for slippery forest terrain
Swimwear, a small towel, flashlight or headlamp, and personal necessities
Camera, extra batteries, and memory cards
Waterproof bags for valuables, small snacks, and optional small gifts for children

Tuesday07:00 via Sikabaluan (arrives around 13:30) or 14:30 direct (around 18:30)Confirm the return timing with Oncy

Thursday07:00 direct (around 10:30) or 12:00 via Sikabaluan (around 18:00)Confirm the return timing with Oncy

Boat schedules can change because of weather, sea conditions, and ferry operations. Please confirm the latest timing with Oncy before booking travel.

Ready to plan?