Seriti Surf Charter

Group Size: Max 12 (14 on request)
Number of Cabins: 2 large a/c cabins
Length of Stay: 10 days surfing / 11 nights on board (flexible on request)
Destination: Banyak Islands (only)
Surfing Ability: Intermediate to advanced only
Budget: Medium
A/C: Cabins and all common rooms
Photos: On request
Beers: USD 40 for 24 beers
Tender: 6m power cat (200hp), a 4m centre console (40hp) and a rubber ducky (15hp)
Port: Lahewa, Nias, West Sumatra

“Seriti” is the proud home to the most experienced crew in the Banyak Islands, operating in the region since 2000. A large and spacious 25m aluminium vessel that was originally built in the USA but has since been customised for surf charter trips. Sleeping 12 passengers (in 2 large air conditioned bedrooms), guests have a common area inside (a/c) as well as at the rear of the boat where there is a huge shaded deck area as well as an additional top deck (also shaded) to sit back and watch your mates get slotted in between surfs.

Each trip requires a minimum of 7 guests and we're always happy to book in single guests and small groups to fill the remaining spaces. 

Katsuyoshi (Japanese) will skipper the boat on all trips & together with our residential Australian surf guide will provide you with the best possible knowledge to the Banyak Islands. Over half of the bookings on the Seriti are return customers, a clear sign of customer satisfaction.

There are 12 beds comprising 2 doubles and 10 king singles each with power socket and reading light. Comfortable inner-sprung mattresses throughout with two air-conditioned cabins and a separate quarters for up to 6 crew. Spacious and comfortable, it features an air conditioned saloon with two large sofas, tables and TV/video/music entertainment area.

At the rear of the boat is a huge deck area hard covered where you can watch the action in the water, or head up to the top deck for a 360-degree view of the beautiful Banyak's which also has a great sound system. Hammock options also available.

* 12 passengers (2 queen and 10 king singles) in 2 air-conditioned cabins
* Showers and Toilets
* Inside Lounge & dining area (A/C) with Flat Screen TV / Video CD Player/DVD Player

Daily meals and snacks are included in all packages aboard Seriti. The menu is always varied, plentiful and of course tasty, with a range of Western and Indonesian style dishes served each day. 

Included in each package:

* 3 large, healthy delicious meals are served each day
* A mix of Indonesian & Western cuisine served for breakfast, lunch & dinner. Vegetarians can be catered for.
* Snacks, fruit Juices & soft drinks
* Unlimited Tea, Coffee and Water

- USD 40 for 24 beers
- Vegetarians can be catered for on prior request

Trip inclusions:

* Airport transfers to/from Gunung Sitoli Airport to the charter boat and back
* 11 nights on board the Seriti surf charter
* 10 days surfing in the Banyak Islands
* Single bed in an a/c sleeping cabin
* 3 large, healthy delicious meals served each day
* Plenty of snacks, fruit Juices & soft drinks each day
* Tea, coffee and drinking water each day
* Speedboat shuttles to the surf from dawn til dusk, all day every day
* Use of fishing & snorkelling equipment
* Fishing & island excursions
* All necessary zone permits

What’s not included

* Flights
* Hotels
* 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 (not compulsory but appreciated)
* Photos – USD 220 per person approx. AUD 330 (PRE-PAID)
* Alcohol

Length Overall (LOA): 25m, width 6.5 m
Construction: Aluminium boat, built in USA
Marine Engine:  3 x 525hp Detroit V12 Turbo Intercooled engines
Style: Aluminium Motor boat (Indonesian Flag)
Cruise speed: 8-10 knots
Electrical points: 220v power

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 have mobile signal. Furthermore, some surf resorts have internet access and occasionally it will be possible to use their facilities.

Radar
EPIRB - Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon
Radios – HF/SSB, VHF Radios
Life Jackets
Life raft for 20 People
First Aid Kit (with staff on board trained to use it)
Satellite Phone Available

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 have mobile signal. Furthermore, some surf resorts have internet access and occasionally it will be possible to use their facilities.

The experienced crew of Seriti include:

Japanese Captain 
Australian Surf Guide 
Indonesian Chef, deck hands & kitchen staff

Languages spoken: English, Japanese & Indonesian

The “many” islands, lie off the west coast of Northern Sumatra, nestled between the island of Nias to the south and south east of Simeulue, to the North. These sparsely inhabited islands are home to world class waves including “Treasure Island” as well as a wave dense cluster of breaks, found in the “Bay of Plenty”. And in similar fashion to its neighbouring archipelagos, perfect waves break on its shores with extreme frequency. Located just above the equator, winds are generally light year round.  

The best time of year to surf “The Banyaks” is during the dry season, which can be anytime from April to October, when the Indian Ocean produces its most consistent groundswells. That said, "off season" trips (November-March) are becoming more popular with the promise of completely empty line-ups.

Detailed information for all the surf breaks can be found in the Banyak Islands destination's section of the site: 

* Surf Breaks - Banyak Islands

Guests need to fly into Gunung Sitoli Airport (GNS), Nias, West Sumatra 

Arrival into Gunung Sitoli by mid afternoon.

Guests will then be taken by taxi to the port in Lahewa. The taxi & meet and greet is included in your package & takes around 1hour 45 mins.

The boat departs at 6-7pm. 

Flights 

We recommend using www.skyscanner.net and flying into either Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - or Jakarta, Indonesia (recommended). 

We highly recommend the morning Garuda flight departing from Medan to Nias – Gunung Sitoli:

Garuda also has direct flights to Nias via Jakarta (resuming in 2022)

Note: Domestic and international flights can be booked via Boraspati Travel email [email protected]

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**Optional Transfer package** from Medan to the charter boat – USD 300 pp (each way)

Includes

* Return flights from Kuala Namu Airport (Medan) to Gunung Sitoli (GNS)
* Meet and greets off all your flights in Medan & Gung Sitoli
* Transfer of boards/luggage to and from your charter

For this service, guests would need to be in Medan by around 08:30am Monday.

Important: Some airlines usually cannot take an entire group’s surfboards and have restrictions on length/weight. If booking flights yourself, be sure to check with the airline.

If spending the night in Medan, we can also arrange your transfers for an additional charge.

In all cases, please run your itinerary by us before you book just to make sure!

On return

We recommend you stay the night in Medan on Friday and depart on Saturday (anytime) after your return, as the domestic flights from Gunung Sitoli to Medan are occasionally delayed or cancelled due to weather or operational requirements. If you want to depart on the Friday night, we can aim to connect with flights leaving Medan from 8pm, but you must have fully comprehensive travel insurance as we can bear no responsibility for missed connections due to domestic airline delays or cancellations.

Transfer package - in detail

If you have booked the transfer package you will be met at Medan KNO airport, and transported to either your domestic flight to the charter or your Medan hotel if you’re staying the night. Your boards may need to be sent in advance, please have items you might need in Medan, separate from your board bag. In the event of airline delays, Seriti's representatives will be able to collect your bags and connect you to domestic travel arrangements.

If you have booked the transfer package with your charter, staff should be waiting outside the Arrival hall in front of the main exit. The ground staff will easily recognise you with your boardbag, and will find you in the airport if you get delayed for any reason. Call your skipper at the numbers below if you have any problems.

IN GUNUNG SITOLI:

Once you arrive in Gunung Sitoli on the Monday of departure you will be met by Serit's representative and transported on a two hour drive north to Lahewa Harbour where the Seriti is moored. Later that afternoon you will be met by your skipper to finalise the paperwork before leaving port during evening.

Skipper – (+62 813 62779470) will be with the boat – you can contact him at any time, or the three days before departure if you have any issues or questions.

ON RETURN:

Guests will awake in port at Lahewa on Friday morning. After breakfast, you will be transported by car to Gunungsitoli airport for your flight to Medan. We recommend departing Medan on the same day after the surf trip ended, if your flight out is after 8 pm.

COMMUNICATION:

There is no cellphone coverage in most places in the Banyaks. In case of emergency, the Satellite phone number for the Seriti is +870776140216 – if anyone at home needs to reach you urgently they can also send a brief message via email: [email protected] (Less than 120 characters).

If you need to get a local SIM card, the Telkomsel network has intermittent coverage at Bay of Plenty, you can also use your phone’s roaming when the Seriti is in that area.

TRANSFER PACKAGE - USD 300 per person, each way (USD 600 total per person)                               

Includes: Domestic flights and transfers.

(One board bag to 3/boards. Does not include overland transport for mals or sups.)

Itinerary

Arrival: Medan  (KNO)

You will be greeted by a representative of Seriti outside baggage claim and escorted to the check-in counter for your connecting flight to Nias.

Guests staying overnight in Medan prior to day of fight to Nias will also be greeted, and then you will be instructed to leave your board bags inside the TOURIST INFORMATION CENTER. Here you will meet your driver who will transfer you to your chosen hotel in Medan, he will inform you of the pick-up time for the morning of your flight to meet the 10:15am flight to Nias.

(Note: You may not see your boards again until you board the Seriti)

Monday

You will be picked up by your driver from your hotel and driven back to the airport, then escorted to the TOURIST INFORMATION CENTER to collect your luggage (other than your boards) then ushered to check-in to meet your flight to Nias.

Depart: Medan (KNO-GNS)

It is a one-hour flight to Nias and departs (KNO) Medan airport at 10:15, landing at (GNS) Gunungsitoli airport. There you will be met by a representative of Seriti and escorted to a vehicle for a 2 hour drive north to the port of Lahewa where you will board the mighty Seriti.

The Charter (All meals, Non-Alcoholic drinks and snacks included)

After the port authorities sign off on all the required paperwork (around mid- afternoon) your Captain Suzuki will have you motoring into the sunset on an approx’ 4 hour cruise towards the Banyak islands.

Tuesday

You will awake to the sights and sounds of the majestic Banyak islands.

Now on location and ready for 10 days full surf action. The Captain and crew will do everything in their power to ensure you get the best waves possible and have all your needs met.

Thursday (10 days later)

After your last surf session and as the sun begins to set on your Banyak islands surf adventure, Captain Suzuki will up anchor and begin motoring back to the port harbor of Lahewa on Nias. You will be informed of the time to disembark the Seriti the following morning for the car ride to (GNS) airport.

Friday

Say goodbye to the mighty Seriti, for now at least!

Departure Nias  (GNS-KNO)

Transfer package:

You will be met on the wharf by your driver who will transport you by car back to the airport at Gunungsitoli to meet the 10:15 flight back to Medan.

Again your surfboards may have gone before you in advance.

At the (GNS) airport you will be met by the representative of Seriti, he will assist you through check-in.

Medan airport (KNO)

Outside baggage claim again, a representative of Seriti will greet you. You will be directed to the TOURIST INFORMATION CENTER where you can leave your boards and luggage until it nears time to check-in for your connecting international flights. (For guests whose board bags may have traveled earlier you will find them here)

A representative will usher you to the international departure counter and assist you through check-in to meet your departing flight.

Guests who will over-night in Medan will meet your driver at the TOURIST INFORMATION CENTER then be transported to your chosen hotel, he will inform you of the pick-up time for the morning of your departing international flight.

When arriving back at the airport you will collect your board bags from the TOURIST INFORMATION CENTER and a representative will usher you to the international departure counter and assist you through check-in to meet your departing flight.

Depart harbour 6pm from Lahewa, arrive Banyak Islands early the next morning.

10 days surfing / 11 nights on board

Return back to Lahewa early morning.

One of our reps will take you to the airport in Gunung Sitoli to fly to Medan.

Guests are advised to spend the night in Medan (Fly out the next morning) but it's also possible to take a flight on your last day from 8pm if preferred. 

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 Seriti, 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.