The Mentawai Islands sit roughly 100 kilometres off the west coast of Sumatra, out in the open Indian Ocean. Getting there takes a flight and a boat, but it is far simpler than it sounds, and we handle the moving parts for you.
Step one: fly to Padang
Every Mentawai surf trip starts in Padang, the capital of West Sumatra. Its airport (Minangkabau International, code PDG) is the gateway to the islands. Most surfers route through a regional hub first, usually Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur or Singapore, and then take a short domestic or regional hop into Padang.
Give yourself a comfortable buffer in Padang. Boats and ferries leave early, so almost everyone flies in the day before and spends a night in town before heading to the water.
Step two: Padang to the islands
From Padang there are two ways across, and which one you take depends on whether you have booked a charter or a camp.
On a live-aboard charter
If you are aboard the Ombak Kabau or the Mahalo catamaran, the boat itself is your ride out. You board in Padang and make the overnight crossing while you sleep, waking up already anchored in the islands, often beside the first wave of the trip. It is the single best thing about a Mentawai surf charter: no separate ferry, no wasted day, just a bed and a lineup at dawn.
To a land-based camp
If you are staying at Sunset Surf Villas, you cross on the Mentawai Fast ferry from Padang to Tuapejat on Sipora, roughly a three-hour trip. From the ferry terminal it is a short boat transfer to the villa. We coordinate the ferry tickets and every transfer so you are met at each step.
Getting to Jenny's in Krui, South Sumatra
Jenny's Bamboo Surfcamp is not in the Mentawais proper but on the Krui coast of South Sumatra, and it is reached differently. You fly to Bandar Lampung rather than Padang, and from there a camp taxi drives you up the coast to Krui. It is an easy, scenic transfer, and again, we arrange it.
Practical things worth knowing
- Visas: Most nationalities can enter Indonesia on a visa on arrival or an e-visa. Check the current rules for your passport before you fly.
- Boards: Bring your own quiver and check it through as sports baggage. A sturdy board bag is essential for the transfers.
- The Mentawai surf tax: A regional levy applies to surfing in the Mentawais. It is a modest, separate cost we will explain when you book.
- Travel insurance: Non-negotiable for a remote surf trip. Make sure surfing and medical evacuation are covered.
- Cash: The islands are remote with limited card facilities, so bring enough rupiah for extras.
We handle the logistics
The maze of flights, ferries and transfers is exactly the part we take off your plate. Once you land in Sumatra, the airport pickups, the crossing and every boat ride are arranged, so the only thing you carry is your board bag. Tell us your arrival details and we will map the whole journey for you. When you are ready, start an enquiry and we will take it from there.