MENTAWAI
Living With One of the World’s Oldest Rainforest Cultures
Suitable for - Culturally curious trekkers, adventure professionals, guides & outdoor educators, survival enthusiasts, herpetology enthusiasts
US$2999 per person
Early Bird Pricing US$2750 (until 28 February)
Focus - Jungle Survival and Exploration, Deep Jungle Immersion with Indigenous Experts
Difficulty - Medium. Participants should be comfortable with humidity, mud, insects, and basic living conditions.
Participants (Limited) 4 – 8, to ensure cultural respect & minimal impact
Dates - 24 June - 4 July 2026
Languages Offered - English, German, Bahasa Indonesia
Customizable - Yes
Professional Outcome - Certificate of Completion, Recorded Hours, Supports Progression towards Certification
Certified Guides - Safe and Ethically Run - Remote & Real Immersion
Another World First! Deep in the rainforests of Siberut Island lives one of Southeast Asia’s oldest surviving Indigenous cultures — the Mentawai.
For thousands of years, they have lived entirely in relationship with the jungle, guided by ancestral knowledge, spiritual practice, and an intimate understanding of the forest.
This expedition is not tourism. It is a rare opportunity to live, travel, and learn alongside the Mentawai, journeying by longboat and on foot into one of Sumatra’s last remaining primary rainforests.
Led by Jungle Guides International and local Mentawai guides, this expedition combines cultural immersion, jungle trekking, and traditional survival skills in a remote UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Operate in a live jungle environment under the guidance of certified local and international expedition leaders, designed for expedition leaders, guides, and professionals operating in remote jungle environments.
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Expedition Highlights
Experience an intact Indigenous worldview rarely accessible to outsiders
Trek through one of Sumatra’s last remaining primary rainforests
Travel by traditional longboats into remote jungle regions
Live in Mentawai Uma longhouses deep in the forest
Learn jungle survival skills directly from Indigenous Mentawai hosts
Observe traditional ceremonies, music, and daily life
Track wildlife and explore pristine river systems
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Siberut Island is one of the last strongholds of intact lowland rainforest in Indonesia. Its dense dipterocarp forests, peat swamps, and mangrove ecosystems support an extraordinary concentration of biodiversity — including four endangered primate species found nowhere else on Earth.
Equally rare is the Mentawai way of life itself.
For the Mentawai, humans are not masters of nature, but part of a delicate balance between body, spirit, and environment. Every hunt, every meal, every structure built carries meaning and responsibility. Much of this knowledge is disappearing rapidly.
By traveling slowly, respectfully, and with permission, this expedition helps support Indigenous communities while offering participants a profound learning experience rooted in humility, observation, and connection.
WHO IS THIS FOR?
This expedition is suited to:
Adventure professionals
Guides and outdoor educators
Expedition members and field practitioners
Filmmakers, photographers, and researchers
Culturally curious travelers seeking depth over comfort
The safest, most ethical, professionally guided jungle expedition in the Mentawi Archipelago.
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The Mentawai are among the oldest Indigenous societies in Southeast Asia. Today, approximately 70,000 people identify as Mentawai, but only a small number still live fully according to traditional customs deep in the forest.
They live in communal longhouses called Uma, practice animist belief systems, and pass knowledge through lived experience rather than written instruction. Children learn the forest before they learn to read.
This expedition provides a respectful window into their world — guided by Mentawai hosts themselves.
By joining this expedition, you are supporting the Mentawi People by showing government that eco-tourism is an important tool in keeping their forest, culture and communities alive. Join us in sharing their story!
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Day 00 – Arrival in Padang
Group welcome dinner and expedition briefing.
Day 01 – Journey to Siberut Island
Morning ferry from Padang to Muara Siberut (7–8 hours).
Final supply stop before entering the jungle.
Overnight in a traditional Uma-style guesthouse in Muntei village.Days 02–09 – Deep Jungle Immersion
Travel by longboat into the interior of Siberut.
From here, we leave modern infrastructure behind.Over multiple days, we trek between Mentawai settlements, living in traditional Uma longhouses, learning daily skills, and gradually moving deeper into the rainforest.
Day 10 – Return to Muntei
Exit the jungle and overnight in the Uma guesthouse.
Day 11 – Return to Padang
Ferry back to Padang. Arrival early evening.
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Activities vary depending on conditions, community availability, and cultural permissions, but may include:
Processing and cooking sago (staple forest food)
Traditional net fishing
Bow and arrow hunting demonstrations
Setting jungle traps
Introduction to poison arrow making
Traditional tattooing (optional, self-funded)
Medicinal plant knowledge and jungle medicine
Night wildlife walks
Canoeing traditional dugout boats
Singing, dancing, and storytelling with the Mentawai
Observing the work of a Sikerei (spiritual healer)
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This expedition is rated as Medium.
Fitness level: A good fitness level is essential. We strongly suggest engaging in activities like running, cycling or swimming to build stamina prior to this expedition, in order to prevent possible injuries due to navigating uneven, rocky and unstable terrain.
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Environmental Conditions
Daytime temperatures: 26–30°C
Night temperatures: 21–22°C
High humidity (82–94%)
Frequent rainfall
Terrain includes mud, river crossings, and dense forest
Your Expedition Leader: Mikel Yaki has been exploring the tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia and New Guinea since 1990. Driven by a childhood fascination with reptiles—especially Komodo dragons—he transformed his passion into a career guiding adventurous travelers through the rainforests of Indonesia and Malaysia. His survival expertise began in Europe and expanded through extensive time spent learning from Indigenous communities in New Guinea and the Moluccas. In addition to guiding, Mikel works as a professional liaison for international film crews, assisting with permits, logistics, and jungle location scouting. Around the campfire, his vivid stories of jungle adventure never fail to captivate.
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Welcome dinner in Padang
Return ferry Padang ⇄ Siberut
All local transfers on Siberut
2 nights accommodation in Uma-style guesthouses
Full board during jungle expedition (Days 02–09)
Drinking water, coffee, and tea
Chartered longboats
Local Mentawai guides and translators
Local porters
Certified JGI Expedition Guide
Accommodation in traditional Uma longhouses
Mosquito nets
All cultural activities and community contributions
Required police permits
Expedition organization and logistics
Local taxes
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International or domestic flights
Indonesian visa
Accommodation in Padang outside expedition dates
Soft drinks and alcohol
Tips
Optional Mentawai tattoos
Sleeping mat
Personal insurance
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Participants must provide passport details for local permits
ATMs on Siberut do not accept foreign cards — bring cash from Padang
Mosquitoes and leeches are common — proper protection required
Drinking water is boiled in villages; purification tablets recommended
Participants carry a portion of shared food (6–8 kg)
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Jungle Guides International – Terms and Conditions
(Effective June 2025)These Terms and Conditions govern participation in any course or expedition offered by Jungle Guides International (JGI). By registering for a JGI program, you acknowledge and agree to the terms outlined below.
1. Jurisdiction and Legal Framework
Jungle Guides International is a Canadian organization, and all agreements, disputes, or claims related to our services shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the Province of Nova Scotia, Canada, and applicable Canadian federal law.
Participants and guides agree to abide by these Terms regardless of their country of origin or location of the expedition.
2. International Association of Jungle Guides (IAJG) – Global Protection
Guides certified through the International Association of Jungle Guides (IAJG) operate as independent professionals within the JGI network. These Terms provide a framework for mutual respect, risk awareness, and fair conduct, ensuring appropriate protection for all guides operating under the IAJG framework worldwide.
3. Participant Responsibility
Participants agree to the following conditions before joining any JGI course or expedition:
Travel Insurance: Participants are required to purchase and maintain valid travel and medical insurance that includes emergency evacuation, accident, and repatriation coverage. Proof of coverage may be requested.
Travel Documentation: Participants are solely responsible for obtaining all necessary travel documents, including passports, visas, vaccination records, and permissions to enter Panama or any other destination.
Emergency Contact Information: Participants must provide emergency contact details prior to departure.
Liability Waiver: All participants must sign a Release of Liability, Waiver of Claims, Assumption of Risk, and Indemnity Agreement prior to travel. Failure to do so may result in removal from the program without refund.
4. Health and Physical Fitness
Participants must disclose any medical conditions or limitations that may impact their ability to safely participate. JGI reserves the right to decline participation if there is reasonable concern regarding safety, health, or group risk.
5. Cancellations and Refunds
Our cancellation and refund policy is designed to protect both participants and the local guides who invest significant time and resources preparing for each program.
Cancellation Policy:
More than 30 Days Before Expedition Start:
Full refund provided.15–30 Days Before Expedition Start:
25% of the total cost will be retained by JGI to cover preparation costs your guide may have ensued in preparation for your expedition. The remaining 75% will be refunded to you, along with any of the 25% retained, not otherwise used for any incurred costs.Less than 15 Days Before Expedition Start:
50% of the total cost will be retained by JGI. Of this, 25% will be paid directly to the guide, along with any costs ensued in preparation for your expedition. The remaining 50% will be refunded.Last-Minute Cancellations:
Managed on a case-by-case basis, in conversation with the lead guide. A minimum of 50% of the total cost can be retained.No-Shows:
Participants who fail to arrive on the agreed start date without notifying JGI in advance will forfeit 100% of their payment. No refunds will be issued.
6. Program Modifications or Cancellations by JGI
JGI reserves the right to cancel or modify any program due to unforeseen circumstances, including but not limited to safety concerns, natural disasters, political instability, or insufficient participant numbers. In such cases:
A full or partial refund may be issued, or
An alternative program or date may be offered.
JGI is not responsible for non-refundable travel expenses incurred by the participant.
7. Assumption of Risk
Participants understand that jungle expeditions and wilderness travel carry inherent risks, including but not limited to injury, illness, delays, environmental hazards, wildlife encounters, and limited access to medical care. Participation is voluntary, and participants assume full responsibility for all associated risks.
8. Respectful Conduct
JGI promotes a respectful, inclusive, and culturally sensitive environment. Participants are expected to act respectfully toward guides, local communities, and fellow group members at all times. Failure to adhere to behavioral standards may result in removal from the program without refund.
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Jungle Guides International
Release of Liability, Waiver of Claims, Assumption of Risk and Indemnity Agreement
IMPORTANT NOTICE: By submitting payment for participation in any Jungle Guides International course, expedition, or training, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to the terms and conditions outlined below. This agreement affects your legal rights. Please read carefully.
1. Assumption of Risk
I understand that participating in wilderness-based training, expeditions, or travel programs with Jungle Guides International (JGI) involves inherent risks and hazards. These include, but are not limited to:
Illness or injury in remote locations with limited access to medical care
Interaction with wildlife, insects, or plants
Slips, falls, or injuries from rugged terrain, rivers, cliffs, or natural disasters
Exposure to extreme weather, physical exertion, dehydration, or environmental challenges
Delays, cancellations, or disruptions due to weather, political, or logistical factors
Risks during travel by foot, boat, vehicle, or air
Cultural misunderstandings or variable health and safety standards
I freely accept and fully assume all such risks, including the possibility of personal injury, illness, death, or loss of property.
2. Waiver of Claims and Release of Liability
By participating, I waive any and all claims I may now or in the future have against Jungle Guides International and all affiliated parties, including but not limited to:
Directors, employees, contractors, volunteers, agents, and training partners
IAJG-certified guides operating globally
Heirs, successors, and assigns
This includes claims for negligence, breach of contract, or breach of any legal duty of care, and applies to any loss, injury, or damage sustained in connection with my participation.
3. Indemnity
I agree to indemnify and hold harmless JGI and its affiliates from any and all third-party claims, liabilities, or expenses resulting from:
My participation in any JGI program
My conduct during the course or expedition
Any inaccurate medical or travel documentation provided by me
4. Medical Fitness and Insurance
I confirm that I am medically and physically fit to participate. I understand that:
I am solely responsible for ensuring I am healthy and adequately prepared
I must secure personal travel insurance, including coverage for injury, illness, emergency evacuation, and trip cancellation
I am responsible for all costs related to medical care, evacuation, or repatriation
5. Legal Compliance and Cultural Respect
I agree to abide by all local laws and respect Indigenous communities, wildlife, and the guidance of certified expedition leaders. I understand that disrespectful or unsafe behavior may result in removal from the program without refund.
6. Photography and Media (Optional)
Unless I notify JGI in writing, I grant permission for any photographs, videos, or written feedback collected during my participation to be used by Jungle Guides International for educational or promotional purposes without compensation.
7. Governing Law
This agreement is governed by the laws of the Province of Nova Scotia, Canada, and the applicable laws of Canada. Any disputes will fall under the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Nova Scotia. This waiver applies internationally to all participants and is intended to protect JGI and IAJG-certified guides wherever they operate.
8. Agreement by Payment
By making payment to Jungle Guides International for any course, expedition, or training, I confirm that I have read, understood, and voluntarily agreed to the above terms.
This agreement is binding and enforceable without signature, and is deemed accepted upon payment.
LIMITED SPACES AVAILABLE: This expedition runs once per year with very limited group sizes to ensure cultural respect and minimal impact.
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Prepare for your Expedition with a Jungle First Aid Course
Be ready when the Jungle bites back.