
By Dan Jeffs, 27th September 2017
Camp was great. Mamma served up great food each day. Waves were amazing - we had a varied crew and there was something for everyone. Thanks Adri! Service was top notch too. I thought it was really good value & I've recommended it to lots of people. I can't wait to go back! Dave’s help was excellent!
By Bart Davies, 6th May 2017
Dave was exceptional with the booking thanks! The camp was comfortable and close to plenty of great waves. Lots of good food and great variety always served on time and with a smile. We scored waves every day and Adri did a fantastic job in guiding us to the best spots!
By Becky Yates, 28th March 2017
Although we came early season we still scored good waves nearly every day. Accommodation, food and service were as expected and the whole family vibe was a real bonus. It was a genuine Mentawai Experience. Thanks Mamma, Pappa and Adri.
Camp Size: Max 10 guests
Accommodation: 2 private bungalows & 2 double rooms
Daily Meals: Included
Daily Transport: Private local daily boat rides included
Located in front of surf break: No, 5 min boat ride
Destination: Mentawai Islands
Surfing Ability: Intermediate to advanced
Budget: 3/5
Surf School: No
Surfboard Rental: No
Yoga: No classes
Ideal for: Budget travellers, groups, couples & families
Matungou Surf Camp is situated on Siberut Island, in the heart of the famed “Playgrounds” region in the northern region of the Mentawai Islands. The camp offers a welcome home for those wishing to experience the iconic waves of Kandui, Rifles & Bank Vaults, to name but a few. There are half a dozen waves accessible within 10 minutes of the camp. A further 15 are found 15-30 minutes away.
Matungou is managed by Adriano, a warm, friendly & well respected local with a smile as big as they come! Together with his mum (your seasoned chef) and his dad (much respected local ex fisherman) guests are guaranteed a welcoming atmosphere, great food and of course perfect waves. The camp is a seamlessly family run business that’s remotely managed with the help of Oli, a young doctor from England.
Visitors are able to travel to the resort from Padang 3 days a week with trips starting & ending in Padang every Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday.
Ideal for intermediate and advanced surfers – the camp is best suited for large to small groups as well as families or couples looking for an affordable option in the otherwise expensive Mentawai region.
Total 10 guests:
2 x bungalows - with private bathroom (sleeps up to 3 guests in each)
Matungou is built in traditional “Uma” style of the Mentawais but with a twist of 1st world comfort. The main house serves as the main social area with plenty of room to kick back and relax as well as enjoying your daily meals. This is also where the 2 double rooms are located. Both rooms have a shared balcony and shared bathroom.
In 2016, the camp built 2 fantastic private bungalows. Each comes with a large double bed, single bunk bed as well as a private bathroom & shower. The most enjoyable aspect is the full glass 3 hinged doors that allow guests to open up and enjoy the sea breeze. Located just a few short steps from the beach, each balcony has its own seating area, providing the perfect relaxation after a hard days surfing.
Matungou is certainly not the Ritz Hotel, but its more than comfortable by Mentawai standards. Its aimed at the budget conscious traveler looking for a comfortable stay at an affordable rate.
Inclusions:
- 1 x private speed boat per group (min 2 guests)
- Beach front bungalows or ocean view double rooms
- Large fans to keep you cool
- Western style bathroom
- Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
- Drinking Water, Tea, Coffee
- Sunset views from your balcony
Available but not included:
- Soft drinks - coke/sprite/pocari
- Bintang
- Laundry facilities
- Direct Speedboat Transfer from Padang to Matungou
- Wifi - $10 USD per hour, Maximum $30 per trip per person
3 large and healthy meals are served each day in the main house. The food is always plentiful and always extremely tasty. Adri’s mum is a local legend and she’s famed for her cooking skills.
We only buy fresh local produce. No burgers or fries here! Instead, we serve an Indonesian menu of fish, chicken and vegetable curries of varying spice. We often buy our fish from the beach in the morning. If you’re up early then you can choose your fish for dinner!
Breakfast
A flexible setup served whenever you wish.
- Pancakes, Donuts, Toast etc
- Tea & Coffee
Lunch
Served whenever you get back from your first surf of the day – you tend to be starving so it’s ready and waiting!
We serve a selection of dishes with a main chicken, fish or shrimp dish along with vegetables, rice and chilli sauces.
Dinner
Served after you get back from your afternoon surf but usually with less of an urgency as lunch – we tend to wait until people are showered and ready to sit down.
Again, similar to lunchtime there will be a couple of main dishes with meat and fish served with rice, tempura prawns and vegetables.
Not included in the price:
- Alcoholic beverages
- Soft drinks
- Additional snacks
Guests at Matungou will have the use of a private speed boat each day (2-6 guests / boat) complete with boat captain. You’ll have the chance to surf from dawn to dusk.
For the standard price (USD 125 pp / day) - this includes 1 trip to the furthest waves in the region (4 bobs, a-frames, rifles etc) - or 2 trips to the closer waves (E-bay, Bank Vaults, Pitstops etc). This still means you will surf ALL DAY. But it just means you have to be a little conscious with planning your daily surf sessions. Why? Well with any budget camp - fuel consumption is a large consideration and has to be managed. Of course there is an element of flexibility with this and you can still surf where you like but if you choose to burn more fuel (2 long trips in a day) then you'll just need to pay the fuel.
One of the great things about Matungou is that you'll never have to share a boat with a large group of surfers and so it's absolutely ideal for small groups looking to surf exactly where they want to - away from the crowds.
The camp is located in prime position to the world famous region of Playgrounds and its neighbouring waves. There are around 20 different waves accessible within 5 to 30 minutes boat drive providing something for everyone. Closest to home are a number of lefts; Beng Bengs (5 mins), Good Times (5 mins), Dogs Reef (10 mins) & Ebay (10 mins). For those after right hander’s there’s Pitstops (10 mins) and Shadow Right (10 mins). In 15 minutes you can access waves like Nipussi and Bank Vaults (both rights) as well as Hideaways (Left). 20 minutes and you’ve reached Kandui (left), Karangbat Left, Four Bobs (right), A-Frames (left and right) & Burger World (right). In 25 mins you’re at Rifles (right), 30 mins you’re at Pistols (right).
There’s another half dozen other secret spots too. There really is nowhere quite like this region.
Detailed information for all the surf breaks can be found in the destination's section of the site within the Playgrounds, Mentawai pages.
Playgrounds Surf Breaks
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.
Guests need to fly into Padang Airport, West Sumatra
We recommend using https://www.skyscanner.net/ and flying into either Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - or Jakarta, Indonesia. From KL, there is usually one morning flight (1hr) with Air Asia as well as a lunchtime flight to Padang. From Jakarta, there are over a dozen flights each day that fly into Padang, from airlines such as Garuda Airlines, Srwijaya, Citilink & Lion Air. We recommend http://www.traveloka.com/
Note: Visa On Arrival: A FREE 30 day Visa On Arrival is now available for the following countries: Australia, USA, Brazil, South Africa, New Zealand, Canada, Peru, Costa Rica, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Ireland, England, France, Switzerland, Sweden and Germany. To see the full list visit this link: http://www.topbali.com/indonesia-free-visa-entry/
US$ 95 per person, each way (details below)
All guests will need to spend their first night and last night in Padang due to the Mentawai Fast Ferry schedule between Padang and the Mentawai Islands. Taxis from Padang airport to the main hotel district takes around 1 hour and about 5-10 mins to the fast ferry port.
Padang Hotel (extra cost)
There are a number of very affordable hotels to choose from. Even the best hotels (below) are only around $60 for 2 guests including breakfast.
We suggest staying at either of the following options:
Mercure - www.mercurepadang.com or HW Hotel - www.hwhotelpadang.com
Mentawai Fast Ferry
The safest, most reliable way of travelling between the mainland and the Mentawai islands.
Full details: www.mentawaifast.com
From the hotel district, the ferry port is about a 10 minute taxi ride.
Travel days from Padang to Siberut are Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. We suggest Saturday to Tuesday as a standard trip. But for example, guests can also do 7 or 14 days (Tues-Tues, Sat-Sat) or 11 days (Tues-Sat).
The overall travel time is detailed below (crossing time 3-6hrs)
You'll need to overnight on your first night in Padang (Mon, Weds or Fri) and your last night in Padang (Tues, Thurs or Sat).
PADANG TO MENTAWAI (SIBERUT)
Note: Thursday is the best day to arrive in the Mentawai!
Tuesday: FAST FERRY, departs 7am, arrives Mentawai same day around 12.30/13.00.
Thursday: FAST FERRY, departs 7am, arrives Mentawai same day around 10/10.30am
Saturday: FAST FERRY, departs 7am, arrives Mentawai same day 12.30/13.00pm
MENTAWAI (SIBERUT) TO PADANG
Tuesday: FAST FERRY departs 15.00, arrives Padang around 18.30pm
Thursday: FAST FERRY departs 13.00, arrives Padang around 18.30pm
Saturday: FAST FERRY departs 15.00, arrives Padang around 18.30pm
Note: Tuesday or Saturday is the best day to return to Padang.
Note: Mentawai harbor (in Siberut) to the camp is about a 1hr 30 min speedboat ride
Transfer Summary
Taxis - Airport to Hotel - 1hr
Padang Hotel – approx $20-$60 (not included)
Taxis - Hotel to Mentawai Fast Ferry - 10 minutes
Mentawai Fast Ferry; 3-6hr crossing
Private Speedboat - Siberut port (Mentawai) to surf camp – 1.5hrs
Important:
All guests need to pay for each board bag on the fast ferry.
Pricing is ONLY in Indonesian Rupiah (each way) - payable on boarding the ferry
IDR 230.000 (around $17) bags between 10KG-15KG
IDR 460.000 (around $33) bags between 15KG-25KG
IDR 690.000 (around $50) bags between over 25KG
Make sure you to pack light & within the baggage restrictions of your airline.
Don’t leave for your trip without any of the following:
Passport valid for at least 6 months from date of departure and must have at least 1 completely blank page (no stamps, nothing)
Tickets & itinerary
Travel insurance policy
Cash – change $500 minimum per two weeks stay into Indonesian Rupiah (IDR).
Valid Visa (for Australian, British & USA passport holders, visas can be issued on arrival (30 days max). Please check prior to purchasing your tickets.
Important: 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.
A 30% deposit is required to secure your booking. Initial deposit is non-refundable but transferable or exchanged with a friend to take your place on that specific date (passengers are responsible for finding their own replacements).
Balance of payment is due 60 days prior to departure and is 100% non-refundable.
Payment only by Bank transfer
All transfer charges & bank fees, including correspondent bank fees, are to be incurred by the guests.
Bank details will be emailed upon booking.
Save a lot of $$$ by using www.transferwise.com for your international bank transfers. It's free and easy to use, you will receive much better currency rates than any bank.
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Item | Krui | Mentawai | Telos | Banyaks | Simeulue | Hinakos |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alcohol available | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Limited | Yes |
Beaches | OK | Great | Good | Great | Good | Great |
Crowd | Good | Good | Great | Great | Good | Great |
Date Flexibility | Great | OK | Poor | Poor | Great | Great |
Diving | No | Yes | No | No | No | Yes |
Family Friendly | OK | Great | Good | OK | OK | Great |
Female Friendly | OK | Great | Great | Good | OK | Great |
Fishing | OK | Good | Good | Good | OK | Good |
For Couples | OK | Great | Good | OK | OK | Great |
Learn to Surf | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
Snorkelling | OK | Great | Good | Great | OK | Great |
Surf & Yoga | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes |
Surf Season | April-Nov | All Year | All Year | April-Nov | All Year | All Year |
Surfer Daily Budget | $30+ | $130+ | $225+ | $200+ | $50+ | $160+ |
Surfing Ability | Beginner+ | Beginner+ | Intermediate+ | Intermediate+ | Intermediate+ | Intermediate+ |
Locally run and owned by two of the 2 nicest and well respected brothers in the whole of the Playgrounds surf region...
Surfers From: USD 125 pp / night
Non Surfers From: USD 75 pp / night
Probably the most remote of any camp in the entire region, Maonu offers a completely unique experience...
Surfers From: USD 110 pp / night
Non Surfers From: USD 60 pp / night
Surf Camp Sumatra offers a handpicked selection of the best Mentawai surf charter boats operating in this incredible surf region. Each boat has a reputation for consistently delivering the best and least crowded waves to its customers throughout the Mentawai Islands. Here at Surf Camp Sumatra, we guarantee to match any price you find anywhere online – including any special discounts on any website.
If you want the privacy & comfort that a surf camp offers or the diversity & ease of a boat trip, we’ve got you covered for all trips to the Mentawai Islands or the Telos. Our impressive selection of camps and charter boats offer a wide range of pricing to suit everyone’s budget & ability. And with over a dozen Mentawai Surf Charter boats and Mentawai surf camps to choose from, we can cater for single surfers or small groups, all the way up to larger packs of up to 14 guests.
We give the double thumbs up to each and every Mentawai Surf Charter on our website. We do the same for the camps too. We’ve been to all the regions and visited all camps, year in year out. It’s our stamp of approval to make the ease of booking a little less painful for you!
Surf & Yoga Female Friendly Learn to surf Couples & Honeymooners Family Friendly Solo Surfer
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