Sumatra to Mentawai Islands: Route, Stops and Access
This 1,668 km route traces the multi-leg journey from West Sumatra to the Mentawai Islands, covering ferry crossings, truck transport, canoe navigation upriver, and jungle hiking. The path illustrates the remote access required to reach indigenous Mentawai communities living deep within the Indonesian rainforest.
- Distance
- 1668.7 km
- Mode
- Places
- Start
- day 1: getting there
- End
- day 2: Mentawai daily routine
- Stops
- 2
- Video author
- travmap
- Updated
Stops on this route
- day 1: getting there — Journey to the remote Mentawai Islands off Sumatra's western coast, accessible by boat from the mainland port city.
- day 2: Mentawai daily routine — Indigenous Mentawai settlements where visitors observe traditional hunting, fishing, and communal practices preserved for millennia in jungle villages.
Useful for your trip
- Transport
- Journey to Mentawai tribe requires multiple stages: fly to Padang, ferry (12 hours), pickup truck (1 hour), canoe (2 hours), then hiking with multiple river crossings. Expect wet feet and very hot conditions.
- Transport
- Lose cell phone service around 7am when leaving concrete areas. No Wi-Fi available in remote jungle areas with the tribe.
- Tip
- Bring specific gifts: cigarettes (particular brands—may need to visit multiple shops) and cookies for children. Check locally available brands before traveling.
- Where to stay
- Accommodation includes sleeping on hardwood floors with bamboo mat and quilt, bug net, inflatable pillow. Bring your own sleeping bag if you prefer extra bedding.
- Food
- Sagu is the staple food—processed from sagu tree bark into flour. One tree feeds a family of three for one month or entire year depending on processing. Use as base with other flavors.
- Tip
- Toilet facilities use squat position over logs in running water area. Separate still water pool exists but is not for toileting. Walk through mud to access. No smell due to running water.
- Avoid
- Don't use still water pools for toileting despite them being near the bathroom area. Water flows to the river so be mindful of hygiene.
- Timing
- Daily routine starts very early (6:20am observed). Families work on food processing, sagu preparation, and other tasks throughout morning. Social visiting and coffee breaks happen mid-morning.
- Tip
- Mentawai women traditionally sharpen teeth for beauty and men have sacred tattoos. This has been part of culture for generations; 1960s government attempted to prohibit these practices.
- Food
- Fresh grub worms are harvested from intentionally left sagu tree portions for protein. Black beetles lay eggs in the wood creating edible grubs.
Video on this route
Visiting a 2,000 Year Old Tribe in Sumatra