Jiwa Surf Charter

Group Size: Max 10 guests
Number of Cabins: 1 air conditioned cabin with 10 beds
Length of Stay: 10 days surfing / 11 nights on board
Destination: Mentawai, Nias, Telo & Banyak islands
Surfing Ability: Intermediate to advanced only
Budget: Low to Medium
A/C: Sleeping quarters
Photos: $150 pp
Beers: 3 beers per person per day
Tender: 1 x 4.2m speedboat & 1 x 5m speedboat 
Port: Sibolga, West Sumatra

The Jiwa (soul) is a well-built 75ft Sulawesi phinisi that can accommodate up to 10 guests. She’s been crafted from the finest ironwood with twin masts, full length beams and double keel, and it’s plain to see she has been engineered to perform at sea. Cruising speeds are typically 7.5 knots but when the winds are right, her sails can be set for some classic cruising.

The experienced and talented crew include Eugene and Kwab, who have spent the last decade or so weaving, exploring and surfing just about every nook and cranny in the Sumatran archipelago. Trips are always focused on escaping the crowds which they do extremely successfully. Most trips are focused on the waves found in Northern Sumatra including the Banyaks, Aceh, Nias and the Telos as well as a handful of trips each year to the Mentawai islands.

There was an article written "post pandemic" about a trip aboard Jiwa. Certainly worth a read to give you an idea of what to expect! Check it out here


Always in the spot, Northern Sumatra

Your sleeping quarters

- Air conditioned sleeping quarters with TV
- 10 single beds
- 2 bathrooms
- 2 exterior shaded decks
- Interior Saloon

The Jiwa is a good-sized boat, with plenty of room for 8-10 guests to enjoy their own space, thanks to its three separate levels.

The shaded top deck is used for board storage as well as being one of the best places on the boat to just hang out. From the comfort of a "day mattress" its ideal to relax, unwind and watch your buddies surf or simply to enjoy a sunset over a couple of cold Bintang’s.

The fore deck is another area perfect for kicking back and relaxing, thanks to a large canopy and comfortable seating. At the stern of the boat you will also find the saloon – a very large open plan dining area that backs onto the kitchen. It offers plenty of room for a large group with ample seating and table space and provides a comfortable option when escaping from a passing storm.

Below, in the vessels bow, you will find the air conditioned sleeping quarters with 10 single beds. The cabin is also spacious and comes complete with a TV for those looking to watch a movie or to enjoy some down time in between surfs. There are also 2 bathrooms available.

The fore deck

Fore deck by night 

Included in all packages:

3 large, healthy delicious meals are served each day

A mix of Indonesian and Western cuisine served for breakfast, lunch & dinner. Vegetarians & Vegans can be catered for given prior notice.

Includes:

Daily meals
Snacks, fruit Juices & soft drinks
Unlimited Tea, Coffee and Water 
3 complimentary beers per person per day (more can be ordered prior to departure)

Its no exaggeration to say that the team aboard the Jiwa are pretty special. You’re blessed with a bounty of experience in both navigation and surf exploration from the southern Mentawais all the way to the top of Aceh. This tight crew have “been there, done that” and continue doing it, while many of the other charter boat operations settle for a more simple format, of hitting up the regular named spots, for team Jiwa, its all about the search.

The front man and full-time surf guide is Eugene, a pommie pirate who has explored just about every nook and cranny that Indonesia has to offer. His passion for surfing is plainly evident and its what will drive him to find you the best and least crowded waves of your life. A fountain of knowledge with endless British banter, he’s an ex UK pro who enjoys an empty line-up more than anyone. Simply put, Euge is a surf guide you want on your surf charter.

Eugene’s noble steed is his partner in crime Kwab, who amazingly, is as experienced as Eugene. A keen surfer, Kwab has been navigating throughout the Indonesian archipelago for decades. He’s also a passionate free diver.

The rest of the team include a very experienced captain Hendri, a mechanic, a chef and deckhands. All the crew are qualified to Indonesian Maritime standards.

Eugene

What’s included

* Airport transfers to and from the boat in Sibolga
* 11 nights on board the Jiwa surf charter surfing in the Mentawai, Nias, Telo or Banyak Islands
* Single bed in an a/c cabin
* 3 large, healthy delicious meals served each day
* Plenty of snacks, fruit Juices & soft drinks each day
* Unlimited tea, coffee and water each day
* Speedboat shuttles to the surf from dawn til dusk, all day every day
* Use of fishing and snorkeling equipment
* Fishing & island excursions
* 3 complimentary beers per person per day
* Use of stand-up paddle boards & longboards
* All necessary zone permits
* US$ 3 a day Mentawai Government Tax

What’s not included

* Mentawai Surfer Tax (IDR 1,000,000 pp) - only required in the Mentawais
* Photos $150 per person
* Flights to and from Sibolga
* Hotels if needed
* Visa Fees and Departure Tax
* Any additional cost resulting from late arrival or the need of early departure
* Use of satellite phone
* Tips for the crew

Vessel Type: Traditional Indonesian Pinisi
Length: 23 metres / 75 ft
Speed Cruising: 7.5 knots
Power: 6-cylinder diesel engine
Accommodation: 1 air conditioned cabin with two bathrooms
Tender (2): A 4.2m speedboat (rigid inflatable) with 40hp engine for shuttles to the line-up & a 5m speedboat perfect for fishing trips and for scouting out potential “around the corner”.

Safety Equipment & Navigation

Life raft for 20 People
EPIRB Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon
Life jackets for 20 people
Flares
Satellite phone available
Radios - VHF and SSB radios
GPS
Depth Sounder
Extensive First Aid Kit (with staff on board trained to use it)

Note: Satellite phone is available for emergency use only. If guests want to use it for any other reason, you will be charged. Please note, some areas of the region have mobile signal. Furthermore, some surf resorts have internet access and occasionally it will be possible to use their facilities.

When booking a trip aboard the Jiwa, guests will have the chance to surf the largest choice of surf regions offered by just about any charter boat operation in Sumatra. Not only are the crew willing to go that extra yard to score you the best possible waves, but they genuinely have first class experience surfing in each area, giving you the best possible chance of scoring the waves of your life.

Trips are typically between Nias and the Banyaks but a number of trips will cruise further south to the Telo and Mentawai islands.

If you’re booking a large group then you’ll usually get to choose which region. Smaller groups and single surfers should enquire as to which region the charter will be heading to.

All regions offer a great range of waves, so it’s best to check out our destinations pages as well as the surf breaks listed there to get an idea of which region you’d prefer to visit.

* Surf Breaks - Mentawai (Playgrounds)
* Surf Breaks - Telo Islands
* Surf breaks - Banyak Islands

Detailed information for all the surf breaks can be found in the destination's section of the site within the Mentawai, Banyak & Telo pages.

* Surf Breaks - Mentawai (Playgrounds)
* Surf Breaks - Telo Islands
* Surf breaks - Banyak Islands

Guests need to fly into Sibolga Airport (FLZ), West Sumatra  

Arrival into Sibolga by (latest) 2pm. 

The boat departs at 6pm.  Departure flights should be from 1pm (onwards) on the last day of the trip. 

Flights  

We recommend using www.skyscanner.com and flying into either Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - or Jakarta, Indonesia.  

From KL, there are several flights each day to Medan, then from Medan you’ll need a further flight to Sibolga.  We recommend www.traveloka.com

From Jakarta, there are some direct flights to Sibolga but also several flights each day to Medan, then from Medan you’ll need a further flight to Sibolga. 

Note: Visa On Arrival: A FREE 30 day Visa On Arrival is now available for a number of countries including: Australia, USA, Brazil, South Africa, New Zealand, Canada, Peru, Costa Rica, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Ireland, England, France, Switzerland, Sweden and Germany. 

Arrive Sibolga by 2pm.

One of our staff will be waiting to take you to the harbor.

Depart harbour 6pm, arrive Banyaks or Nias early the next morning.

11 nights / 10 days surfing

Return back to Sibolga early morning.

One of our reps will take you to the airport or hotel of choice

Fly anytime after 10am

Note: The trip has no fixed route as the surf conditions can change day to day. Our experienced crew are always aware of the swell forecast and will update everybody each day to discuss the next move. The captain will usually change location during the night, leaving the opportunity for the guests to enjoy most of the day surfing.

All guests travelling to any surf camp or charter boat in Sumatra will require Travel Insurance. Surf Camp Sumatra recommends using World Nomads for any trip to Sumatra. Simply use the below form to get a quote.

Before booking a trip aboard the Jiwa, make sure to check our "Know before you go" section which is a handy page of what to expect as well as a detailed inventory of what to bring.

For those that need some help in choosing the right surf charter boat or those that are unsure what's better a surf charter boat or surf camp, then check out both our blogs below.