Mentawai like you mean it.

You need to fly to Padang City, in Sumatra. The major hub points to reach Padang are from Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Please ensure you have at least 6 months validity in your passport.

You need to land in Padang by 3pm on departure day. Please fill your flight details into the Google Sheet we provide so we can organise your transport. Your airport pick up and drop off are included in the price.

Please check online for the most current surfboard baggage policies, but as a guideline: Garuda is free of charge and the most reliable airline. Lion/Wings Air charges 200,000rp ($15) per surfboard, though delays are common — best avoided. Citilink charges 200,000rp ($15) for the whole board bag. AirAsia requires you to buy sports equipment as check-in baggage in advance to avoid a higher price at check-in; price varies. Pelita Air is free of charge and currently the best value option.

Travel insurance with cover for adventure sports and medivac is mandatory for any destination in Mentawai. We like World Nomads, as they cover this plus the cost to cancel all or part of your trip for up to 14 specific insured events, including sudden illness, natural disasters, strikes, or lost passports. They also cover theft, emergency dental, and hire of sporting equipment if your surfboards are misplaced by the airline. Cover for 13 days runs as little as $50–70 USD. We advise getting protection for the whole extent of your travels, not just the trip with us.

We use Starlink with an unlimited roaming plan, so you can easily stay on top of whatever it is you need to.

Please bring $130 USD or 2,000,000rp in cash to cover the Mentawai tax. This isn't a fee we charge — it was introduced by the Mentawai governor and requires each surfer to pay it upon visiting the region. You'll pay it in Padang in cash and receive a receipt.

Absolutely no drugs of any kind are tolerated. Foreigners caught with drugs may face capital punishment or life imprisonment.

We will cater for you. About a month before departure we'll send a questionnaire asking about your dietary requirements and flight details, so we can serve you properly.

Yes, you get a box of beers per person. If your group runs out, there are places we can stop to get more — or if you know you'll be drinking well, let us know in advance and we can arrange extra at cost price before departure.

We provide a professional photography service on every trip, though it isn't included in the price. Pricing for all images (photos, video, and lifestyle/landscape shots) is negotiated directly with the photographer, typically $250–350, with group deals often available.

Yes — it's our first-class option, reservable in advance at an extra charge. If you're a private group, you can decide among yourselves who stays where.

Mentawai has a huge number of breaks, and while we'd love to surf every one, it's not realistic in 10 days. We aim for a balance between variety and spending enough time at each spot to get to know it. Where we go is also shaped by the group's preferences and abilities. Under extreme weather we may need to take shelter and wait for safe conditions — the captain has full legal authority over safety decisions onboard.

There are waves for all tastes, but almost all of them break over reef, so guests get more value at a reasonable skill level. Around 2 years of surfing experience is a good minimum to fully enjoy what's on offer.

We have 5 air-conditioned cabins of varying styles, 5 bathrooms, 3 decks, a living room, a kitchen, and a large room for surfboards with direct access to the dinghy via a sea-level platform. See the Aboard section above for more detail.

We carry a basic first aid kit and can help out, though we recommend bringing any specific medications you might need. For more serious injuries, some parts of Mentawai have health centers with foreign doctors. In critical situations we can arrange transport to Padang, or in extreme cases to a hospital in Malaysia, Singapore, or Jakarta. All costs are the patient's responsibility, which is why travel insurance is compulsory.

We comply with all safety legislation and are authorised to host 22 people (well above what we usually carry). We carry two 15-person life rafts inspected and serviced annually, 22 life jackets, an EPIRB, radios, flares, 2 tenders, and a well-trained crew.

We provide towels — see the Aboard section above for what's included. We recommend bringing at least 2 good quality leashes, as it's not uncommon for them to snap. Not many clothes are needed, but extra fins, wax, or anything surf-related is welcome.

We aim to be back in port by 7am, but as we're at sea and things can change fast, it's best to schedule your departure flight from 12pm onward in case of delays.

When you make a reservation, we hold your spot for 14 days until a deposit is paid (at least 25%) — otherwise it's marked available again. The remaining balance is due 30 days before departure, or the booking is cancelled.

Payment methods: bank transfer via Wise or a classic international transfer; credit card via HitPay (3% surcharge); PayPal (4.4% surcharge); Pix via eFex (3% surcharge); or crypto via USDT (no surcharge).

No refunds are offered for natural disasters (tsunamis, earthquakes, storms, floods) or political instability, though we'll reschedule where possible. Solo travellers are welcome — we need a minimum of 7 guests to confirm a charter; if that minimum isn't reached, you'll be reassigned to another date or fully refunded, including the deposit. That said, we'll always do everything possible to depart when people are counting on it, even below the minimum in some cases. In an emergency, bad weather, or at the captain's discretion, the boat may shelter in a protected area for as long as needed — your safety comes first.

Yes — there's no minimum group size for a private charter. Get in touch and we'll quote your requirements, and we can often adjust dates where they don't clash with neighbouring trips.