Mentawai Islands

Some of the best waves in the world happen to be located in areas with the most severe environmental and social issues. This is the case for the Mentawais and each yeat hundreds of surfers visit the islands usually via a charter boat without even touching foot on land. Often surfers remain unaware of the issues and are unable to participate in any projects that are attempting to tackle the problem. Mentawai adventure is the only foundation offering volunteering placements in the area.

Siloinak Resort

Siloinak Resort is built on a 30 acres deserted island, with 900 meters of coconut palms fringed beaches and a wonderful lagoon, ideal for swimming among tropical fishes.Built in an authentic Mentawai spirit and architecture, the Resort offers a unique Mentawai experience of peace and relaxation, sometimes animated by beach BBQ and epic evenings at the bar.

Siloinak Resort is composed of a large 16 seat restaurant, established in the largest "uma" (the Mentawai long house) in the whole Mentawai archipelago and 12 bungalows hosting one or two surfers. Roofs are made of palm leaves and the complex is entirely built with local tropical red wood. The 8 showers and toilets, with hot and cold water, are located outside the bungalows. Siloinak Resort caters to a maximum of 12 surfers.

How does the placement work?

Please contact us at mail@swaptravel.org for current information regarding volunteering in the Mentawais.

The Proposed Projects... 

Mentawai Adventure Foundation strives for the preservation of this long-established culture. Mentawai Adventure is wishing to particpate in the reconstruction and repari of the homes in the Mentawai islands by reviving the traditional method of building, a nearly forgotten technique, replaced by more expensive and western-style housing using concrete and other non-traditional materials. However this traditional method over the years has proved to be fully seismic, cheaper and far more sustainable to live in. Mentawai foundation has opened a ''Forest job school' to allow young Mentawai people to be trained by their elders in the art of traditional building and the sustainable use of the forest. The picture below represents the first 'uma' built by Mentawai Adventure. The construction involved 40 young Mentawain and caused the re-discovery of long forgotten techniques and now all as a result have jobs. Volunteers will participate in the building of one monumnetal 'uma' or a series of smaller 'ruzuks'.

Coral Regneration Scheme

Mentawai Adventure wants to revive the coral in the Mentawais, thanks to a revolutionary technique which by low level electrification of the waters allow the re-growth of coral at a rate 10 fold its natural regeneration speed. With 30 acres of land and 60acres of coral reef, Sioloinak is a perfect area to develop a pilot-project for this technique which could be applied all over the world. The island has gained classification as a marine reserve through cooperation with the Mentawai authorities. The technical and legal framework is all finalised and the project is ready to go. As a volunteer you may be asked to carry out duties such as collecting the coral and trying it on underwater metallic structures for investigation. You may also be asked to use diving equipment and a former scuba diving experience would be particuarly useful.

Turtle Rehabilitation Centre

One of the most endangered marine species within the Mentawais is the turtle which populations have recently diminshed, due to overfishing and poaching of the eggs. Mentawai adventure plans to build a turtle hatchery and rehabilitation centre within the lagoon where the coral regeneration project takes place. Volunteers will assist in a range of activities i.e. collecting eggs, taking care of the young turtles, feeding and counting them and building any necessary infrastructure.

Surf Job Schools    

Mentawai Adventure is in the early stages of developing a school to train and educate promising young Mentawai surfers to be professional surf guides. This project is beginning to develop and could help support the young Mentawai surf generation to create a living from the surf industry as a sustainable alternative to logging or overfishing, therefore saving the forest and the seas. As a volunteer, you could be asked to build the infrastructure for the school, assist in the training of the local mentawai people and even be one of the surf-guide instructors, if you possess the relevant skills.  

What do we want from the volunteers?

Mentawai Adventure are looking for indiviudals from a range of backgrounds, whether just graduated from high school or being in work for many years. The following skills or experience in these areas are particuarly useful within the projects and other duteis on the island:

Diving qualificaiton/experience, Tradesmen i.e. carpenters, electricians, plumbers, gardeners, builders; solar energy technicians/research experience; maine/environmental background (academic and work experience); Chefs: Experience in tourism/travel industry; Marine engine mechanics/research experience; Diesel mechanics.

Aside from having relevant skills, we ask our volunteers to be flexible, able to work overseas in a tropical climate on a range of projects and have a sense of humour!

Interested? Contact us via the website and we will contact the organisation on your behalf. Please read our terms and conditions before applying

Silver Stay Program
Departures every Tuesday and Saturday
Transfers by ferry
Duration: 6,10, 13, 17, 20, 24, 27 days

Our offer includes :

• Full Board Accommodation, 3 meals a day, Mentawai Tourism Taxes.
• One day-tour by boat to discover Siberut island. Magnificent mangrove.
• One "Surf day-tour" that will allow you to discover the most beautiful waves of the planet. You will stay in the boat... You will also have a meal on a desert island with 3 palm trees, like Robinson Crusoe!
• One massage per day (one hour).
• The visit of small Mentawai harbors and fishermen villages.

Our Silver Stay begins at Padang Airport in Sumatra and end back at Padang Airport. They include twin or single accommodation, 3 meals per day plus snacks, all activities as described, and guiding. Mentawai Tourism Taxes.

Not included:, laundry, satellite internet and phone, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages, Visa fees, Airport Taxes.

Trips depart every Tuesday and Saturday at 14:00 (latest) from Padang Airport and come back to Padang Airport Monday and Thursday at 12:00.(soonest) for your flight back home.

However, you can choose a transfer by plane the Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday (mornings) if the ferry transfers do not fit your Holidays time. See our Departures Table.

Day 1 - Arrival in Padang (Saturday or Tuesday)
A Siloinak Resort staff welcomes you at the airport. You are escorted to a comfortable open air bar with swimming pool until the transfer to the harbor at around 5 / 6 pm. The ferry to the Mentawai Islands leaves at 19:00 for a full night's crossing.
If you arrive before the surf group's departure (every Saturday and Tuesday) we will also assist you at the airport and transfer you to a hotel of your choice, until departure to the Mentawai. Note that the nights in Padang, if any, are not included in the Silver Stay packages.
Day 2 - Arrival on Siloinak Island
The ferry is a modern, comfortable, reliable and on-time vessel with AC cabins of 2 and 4 bunks, one shared shower, by far the most comfortable way to travel 130 km (about 8/10 hours) to the Mentawai Archipelago. The ferry reaches the harbor of Siberut or Tuapajat on the second day of your journey, at 8:00.
From the Siberut or Tuapajat harbor, our speedboats take you to Siloinak Resort, a 70/120 -minute boat ride. We will arrive around 12:00, right on time for lunch. Surf in the afternoon.
Day 3 to Day ... Stay at Siloinak Island
Enjoy your stay on our private island: the water in the lagoon is 28° Celsius, sometimes 32°!
Visit of the tropical forest on Siberut island
Departure on a speed boat at 6 am. Beautiful mangrove crossing... Meal on a beach. Return to Siloinak in the afternoon.
Visit of a Mentawai village
Departure at 8 am. ; arrival in the village after 1 hour crossing.
Activities of the day : sharing the Mentawai life : fishing with women, making sagou, a kind of flour which is extracted from saw dust ; making of rotang baskets, fabrication of Sagou, making a bow and poisoned arrows. You can buy authentic bow and arrows, several kind of baskets, sometimes traditional collars.
« Surf » day
You will join a surfers' group on the waves.
After 1 to 2 hours in the speed boat watching the surfers, you will be abandoned with your lunch and water on a small islet! The speed boat will pick you up at the end of the afternoon. A splendid solitude experience!
Massages (supplement)
A professional masseur can give you up to one session per day . The Balinese massage is a synthesis of the Thaï massage and Chinese techniques of acupressure. Series of stretching and slowly and deeper massages are made, using essential oils as clove, cinnamon, coco, ginger.
Duration of the massage session: 1 hour.
Last day at Siloinak Resort
After lunch, transfer to Muara Siberut/Tupajat harbour.The ferry leaves at 19:00.
Last day of the trip
Breakfast in Padang and transfer to the airport for travelers departing the same day. End of our services at 18:00.

Gold Stay Program
Departures every Monday, Wednesday, Friday
Transfers by plane
Duration: 6,10, 13, 17, 20, 24, 27 days

Our offer includes :

• Full Board Accommodation, 3 meals a day, Mentawai Tourism Taxes.
• One day-tour by boat to discover Siberut island. Magnificent mangrove.
• One "Surf day-tour" that will allow you to discover the most beautiful waves of the planet. You will stay in the boat... You will also have a meal on a desert island with 3 palm trees, like Robinson Crusoe!
• One massage per day (one hour).
• The visit of small Mentawai harbors and fishermen villages.
• Transfer by plane to the resort.
• 1 massage per day.
• 4 beers or soft drinks per day.
• One hour internet per day.
• Laundry.

Gold Stay is an all inclusive experience, beginning with the comfort of flying directly to the Mentawai. From your arrival at Padang Airport, we will offer you the best the Mentawai and Sumatra have of offer.
At Siloinak Resort, you will be pampered by our professional masseur and our dedicated Mentawai staff and enjoy 4 beers or soft drinks per day as well as satellite internet.

Our Gold Stay begins at Padang Airport and end back at Padang Airport. They include twin or single accommodation, 3 meals per day plus snacks, transfer by plane to the resort, activities as described, 1 massage per day, 4 beers or soft drinks per day, one hour internet per day, your laundry.

Day 1 - Arrival in Padang
On arrival at Padang Airport you will be greeted by your personal guide and make yourself comfortable at the Bummiminang hotel, a comfortable 3 *, with swimming pool. Your guide will show you Padang. Dinner in a typical Minang Kabau restaurant. Night at the hotel.
Day 2 - Flight and arrival on Siloinak Island
After an early breakfast, your guide will pick you up at your hotel. Board the plane around 08:00. (Be prepared for some possible delays). Duration of the flight is 30 minutes. The plane is a Casa, 16 seats, bi-propeller. Upon arrival at the Mentawai Airport, Rokot, your speed boat takes you to Siloinak, where you arrive during the afternoon, after 2 hours sailing.
Day 3 to Day ... Stay at Siloinak Island
Enjoy your stay on our private island: the water in the lagoon is 28° Celsius, sometimes 32°!
Visit of the tropical forest on Siberut island
Departure on a speed boat at 6 am. Beautiful mangrove crossing... Meal on a beach. Return to Siloinak in the afternoon.
Visit of a Mentawai village
Departure at 8 am. ; arrival in the village after 1 hour crossing.
Activities of the day : sharing the Mentawai life : fishing with women, making sagou, a kind of flour which is extracted from saw dust ; making of rotang baskets, fabrication of the sagou, making a bow and poisoned arrows.
You can buy authentic bow and arrows, several kind of baskets, sometimes traditional collars.
« Surf » day
You will join a surfers' group on the waves.
After 1 to 2 hours in the speed boat watching the surfers, you will be abandoned with your lunch and water on a small islet! The speed boat will pick you up at the end of the afternoon. A splendid solitude experience!
Massages
A professional masseur can give you up to one session per day . The Balinese massage is a synthesis of the Thaï massage and Chinese techniques of acupressure. Series of stretching and slowly and deeper massages are made, using essential oils as clove, cinnamon, coco, ginger.
Duration of the massage session: 1 hour.
Last day at Siloinak Resort
Transfer to Mentawai Airport early morning, flight to Padang.
Departure of your flight back home the same day or transfer to Bumiminang Hotel.
Optional day
If you whish to stay at Padang one day more, we propose you a day of discovery of the Minang Kabau culture in the green hills of Bukittinggi. Your guide and a driver will introduce you to coffee plantations, wood carving workshop, silversmiths, and songket workshops. Accommodation at Padang. Lunch and dinner included.
End of Program - Flying back home
The next morning, after breakfast, your guide will pick you up at your hotel. Transfer to the airport for flying back home. Lunch and Dinner are not included.