MENTAWAI ISLANDS · 1°57'S 99°35'E
LIVE-ABOARD CHARTER
Ombak Kabau
Live at sea. Chase swell. Wake up in the lineup.
- 10 GUESTS
- 11 NIGHTS
- 10 SURF DAYS
- A/C CABINS
- 2 TENDERS
- ALL MEALS
The experience
Ombak Kabau is the original WaveBorn charter: a working surf boat in the truest sense. No fixed route, no schedule but the ocean’s. Your captain reads the charts each evening and points the bow at the best waves in the archipelago.
Days blur into a rhythm: dawn patrol from the tender boats, breakfast on the upper deck, a second session before lunch, fishing or snorkelling through the afternoon glass-off, then beers on the rooftop as the sun drops behind the islands.
Ten bunks, two bathrooms, three honest meals a day and a crew that treats you like family, because on this boat, you are.
The waves
The boat follows the swell. These are the classics of a typical run, but every trip charts its own course.
Life on board
The cabin
Air-conditioned sleeping quarters with ten single bunks (two convert to doubles) and two bathrooms with showers.
The decks
Fore deck, large covered upper deck and a rooftop lounge for sunsets, star maps and post-session debriefs.
Two tenders
A pair of fast motorboats run you straight to the peak, so nobody paddles from anchor.
Beyond surfing
Paddle boards and snorkelling gear on board, fishing equipment ready to go, island hopping between sessions. Scuba can be arranged.
The galley
Three healthy meals a day mixing Indonesian and Western cooking, plus snacks, juices and unlimited tea and coffee.
The essentials
Airport transfers from Padang, boat transport to the islands, and a crate of 24 beers per person for the trip.
A day on board
- 05:30
First light
Coffee on deck while the captain calls the morning break. Tenders drop in ten minutes later.
- 08:30
Breakfast
Back on board. Nasi goreng, fruit, more coffee. Wax up for round two.
- 11:00
Second session
The wind swings. The boat has already moved to the protected corner.
- 15:00
Glass-off
Fish, snorkel, paddle, nap. Or surf again. Nobody is counting.
- 18:00
Rooftop
Cold Bintang, tall stories, tomorrow’s plan drawn on the chart. Dinner under the stars.
In pictures
What's included
- Airport transfers from Padang
- Boat transport to the Mentawai Islands
- 11 nights on board · 10 full surf days
- Three meals per day, Indonesian & Western
- Snacks, juices, soft drinks, unlimited tea & coffee
- One crate of 24 beers per person
- Paddle boards, snorkelling & fishing gear
Not included
- Flights
- Mentawai surf tax (2,000,000 IDR)
- Photography package (available on request)
“Ten days, maybe forty waves each, and not one other boat in sight most mornings. The crew felt like old mates by day two.”
RETURNING GUEST, AUSTRALIA
Good to know
Ombak Kabau questions, answered
How much does the Ombak Kabau Mentawai surf charter cost?
Ombak Kabau is one of the more affordable all-inclusive surf charters in the Mentawai Islands. Rates depend on the season and whether you book the whole boat or individual berths. Enquire and we’ll send current pricing the same day.
How many surfers does Ombak Kabau take?
Up to 10 guests across ten single bunks, two of which convert to doubles, so it suits a full crew of mates or a mixed group.
When is the best time to surf on an Ombak Kabau charter?
The prime Mentawai surf season runs April to October, with the biggest swells from June to August. We run trips year-round, and the quieter shoulder months mean emptier line-ups.
What is included in the charter price?
Airport transfers from Padang, all boat transport, 11 nights on board, 10 full surf days, three meals a day, snacks and drinks, a crate of beer per person, and paddle, snorkel and fishing gear. Flights and the Mentawai surf tax are extra.