The Mentawaian culture

In the hearth of Siberut National Park lies the home of the Mentawaian medicine men. Hidden in dense rainforest are several communal groups living a semi-hunter gatherer lifestyle. These incredible, good-natured people live in complete harmony with nature. While daily activities mostly concern food gathering, they never retrieve more than they can consume. Sago is the Mentawaian staple food. The pith of the palm is ground into a flour and one tree can feed a family for up to 3 months. Apart from this, they cultivate food e.g. bananas and root vegetables, and they keep domestic animals like chickens and pigs.

A large aspect of the Mentawaian believe is that everything has a soul: men, animals, plants, objects and even temporary events like a bright blue sky. They believe that one must always take care of a soul, otherwise they might fly away or hurt someone. This is done by numerous little and large ceremonies. It is incredible to see that many still choose the traditional lifestyle over modernity. Especially since for centuries the Mentawaians seem to be one of the happiest people on earth. This idealization of life is certainly something we can learn from.

Malaggasat portrait teu Agoi
Malagassat hunting medicine-man
Malagassat hunting medicine-man
Buttui portrait teu Ailamanai.

The jungle tours

In consent with the communal groups we organize jungle tours to several different villages. There you will be staying in the traditional longhouse called ‘Uma’. These communal houses are definitely Mentawaians’ most magnificent technical creation. During the daily activities you will learn in a hands-on way the culture, believes and traditions of the medicine men and their families. Such activities can be for food gathering: hunting, making poisonous arrows, fishing, learning the process from sago palm to sago bread, and collecting sago larvae. But also traditions: tattooing, loincloths, basket weaving and traditional medicine. Our tours occur in small groups and we preferably do not mix different groups together. Please get to know the different villages below. We do have group discounts.

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Malaggasat poison applying arrows teu Agoi.
Malaggasat poison applying arrows teu Agoi.

Dorougot jungle package

Teu Cookie preparing medicine.
Teu Cookie preparing medicine.
Teu Cookie's Uma from the front.
Teu Cookie view from the Uma, beautiful isn't it? The loincloths are drying.
Teu Cookie loves to make jokes.
Teu Cookie's large uma view to the back.
Teu Cookie's large uma view to the front.
Teu Cookie gathered the ingredients needed to make cough medicine.
Teu Cookie's cough medicine ingredients presented.
Teu Cookie's cough medicine is ready, it smells great!
When it is Rambutan season in Dorougot it is plentiful.
Mentawaians love durian, they cannot get enough of it. Do you dare to try?
Aman Jainambu is making a Mentawai bracelet for the guest.
Perfect for a rainy day, learn how to weave a basket in Dorougot.
Aman Saba is one of the best cooks in the Siberut jungle, his preparation of pork is awesome!
Yan is standing walking to the Kulukubuk waterfall. Incredible hike.
For some little shopping there is a store in Dorougot run by the daughter of a medicine man.
Teu Toikot arrived at the uma from his garden. Behind his ear a flower offer for the souls.
Teu Toikot is feeding his pigs in Dorougot.
Teu Toikot is peparing food for his pigs and chickens. Consisting of grinded sago and coconut.
Teu Toikot is fishing for a chicken for dinner.
Winner, winner, chicken dinner. Teu Toikot blesses the soul of the chicken first.
Monkey skull hunting trophy
Snake skin drums are used for the dancing ritual 'turuk'.
Beautiful jungle walk around Dorougot with teu Toikot.
The road from Dorougot to the Kulukubuk waterfall needs some balancing.
Rotan is very important in the Mentawaian culture. Watch out you do not get stuck in the hooks.
There is nothing better than a refreshing dive in the Kulukubuk waterfall after a jungle hike.
This store is our stop for lunch near the Kulukubuk waterfall. The cold drinks are a treat!
Travelling over the Rereiket river back to Siberut.
Arrival in Muntei, Siberut. Your start and end of the jungle tour.
Stay an extra night in our house in Siberut and order a well-deserved lobster dinner after a jungle tour.

Dorougot is the closest traditional village from Siberut Harbour and thus the quickest to get to. There are about five Uma’s in the village and some are open to receive guests. The most known Uma is that of medicine man teu Soromut AKA Cookie, named after his love for cookies and biscuits brought by guests. He enjoys accommodating guests and make jokes with the couple of English words he knows.

Surrounded by nature, Dorougot is a beautiful place to walk through. Also possible is a day trip to the Kulukubuk waterfall by foot or boat.

  • Getting there 1.5 hours by boat and 30 min. walking
  • Perfect for travellers on a (time) budget
  • Difficulty level 3/10
  • Starting point Siberut Harbour
  • Advised minimum stay 2 days
  • Price from 190 euro per person (based on two people)

Buttui jungle package

Aman Ikbuk and his wife.
Aman Ikbuk and his wife.
Uma of aman Ikbuk in Buttui
View from uma enjoy the nature and animals.
A duck, two pigs, a piglet enjoying the afternoon in Buttui
Sometimes pigs can misbehave and be a danger to the other pigs. So, they are put into detention.
Guests are leaving for their jungle tour.
Beautiful bamboo at Rereiket river
Often the water is to shallow for the canoe and it needs to be pushed.
Aman Lemmai our loyal pompong driver.
Our pompong driver aman Lemmai makes these nice little coconut bags.
Bashing the loincloth in Buttui.
Making a loincloth in Buttui.
Yan shows how to wear a loincloth.
In Madobak you can meet Teu Ailamanai, he is very well-respected.
Carrying sago in palm leaves in Buttui
Making a toy for the soul, to keep the souls at peace.
Painting the toy for the soul.
Toy for the soul is hanging.
Medicine men meeting, the men can sit, smoke and talk for hours.
Aman Poto holding his machete.
Aman Poto showing his archery skills in Buttui.
Road from Madobak to Buttui. Guests can choose to partially walk.
No shirt but two umbrellas. She is caring bamboo with pork meat... yummy!
Beautiful dressed medicine man in Buttui.
Walking is not always easy, but Yan and a walking stick make things easier.
Buttui does not need a lot of walking, but if you do it can be quite exciting!
Guests fun with carriers Buttui.
It is raining, medicine man picked up a banana leaf with his machete and created an umbrella.
Medicine man walking home
An older Uma in Buttui
Medicine man making tattoo ink sugar cane.
Traditional tattoo Mentawai
Applying poison in buttui.
Beautiful Mentawaian medicine woman in Buttui.
A family in Buttui
Sitta is making jokes with the kids.
Store near Kulukubuk waterfall, perfect for lunch and cold drinks.
Kulukubuk waterfall from far away, surrounded by nature.

After a incredible ride on the Rereiket river you arrive in the vibrant village called Buttui. Here you will stay in the traditional Uma of Aman Ikbuk and his family. Aman Ikbuk is always very curious about his guests and loves to get to know them.

You are able to reach the Uma by boat or partially on foot from Madobak, takes about 1 hour to walk from there. You can visit the Kulukubuk waterfall on a daytrip or on your way back to the Siberut harbour.

  • Getting there min. 3 hours by boat and 10 min. walking
  • Perfect for travellers who want to visit a more traditional clan
  • Difficulty level 2/10
  • Starting point Siberut Harbour
  • Advised minimum stay 3 days
  • Price from 360 euro per person (based on two people)

Malaggasat jungle package

Teu Agoi and his wife have adopted the baby pigeon.
Teu Agoi and his wife have adopted the baby pigeon.
Medicine man Agoi and his family and guests standing in front of his uma.
Pompong canoe arrives in Malaggasat, you can see the uma on the hill.
Yan, a guest and our loyal pompong driver aman Lemmai.
Side view of the traditional uma of teu Agoi.
The front view of the traditional uma of teu Agoi.
Hunting trophies consisting of monkey, squirrel, boar and deer skulls.
Teu' Agoi's wife takes us fishing, little walk to the river through nature.
Wife of teu Agoi fishes for little shrimp and crab.
Rambutan season is wonderful, plentiful to grab from the tree after fishing.
The view of the uma of teu Agoi, very peaceful isn't it?
Gridinging the bask of a tree, an ingredient for poison.
Bashing the ingredients for poison to let the juices come out.
An inventive way to be able to press the poison out.
Teu Agoi is pressing the poison with great force. He catches the juices in a coconut cup.
The poison is applied to the arrows a couple of times and then dried in the sun.
Yan is preparing the mattresses, sheets, pillows and mosquito nets.
Guest is waking up while having a banana pancake.
Teu Agoi takes us on a beautiful jungle walk while hunting.
The trees are checked for animals, but also fruits.
Teu Agoi is showing his climbing skills while having a laugh.
Teu Agoi came upon some squirrels and shows his archer skills.
Jungle mango - the jungle of Siberut is full of edibles everywhere, you just need to know how to look.
Teu Agoi is walking up the hill to his uma.
A pigeon fell out of the tree.
Our cook is preparing the vegetables on a traditional stove for lunch.
A chicken vegetable soup, fried chicken, egg, rice and sambal saus.
Wife of teu Agoi is wearing traditional Mentawaian ornaments
Teu Agoi's son is showing us how to find sago larvae.
We are not the only ones who want to eat the sago larvae...
Look at those teeth! Sago larvae can be eaten alive, but watch the head.
Teu Agoi's son has made a bag from tree husk to carry the sago larvae in.
Sago larvae sate anyone?
Sago bread is grinded and mixed with grated coconut and sugar before cooking into bread.
Sago bread is cooked in the sago leaf or in bamboo.
Mother pig is feeding her piglets and enjoying the afternoon.

A little past Buttui in a much quieter area lies Malaggasat. Here a medicine man built an Uma not long ago on top of a hill with a beautiful view. His name is Teu Agoi and he lives here with his wife, children and grandchildren. This is the perfect place to enjoy the culture and nature without any intense hiking.

You are able to reach the Uma by boat or partially on foot from Madobak, takes about 1.5 hours to walk from there. You can visit the Kulukubuk waterfall on a daytrip or on your way back to the Siberut harbour.

  • Getting there min. 3.5 hours by boat and 10 min. walking
  • Perfect for travellers who want to stay peaceful and secluded 
  • Difficulty level 2/10
  • Starting point Siberut Harbour
  • Advised minimum stay 3 days
  • Price from 360 euro per person (based on two people)

Attabai jungle package

Aman Topele blessing the soul of this beautiful jungle chicken.
Aman Topele blessing the soul of this beautiful jungle chicken.
Aman Toppele and his family. 'Aman Toppele, Attabai, good' he says.
The son of aman Toppele is showing the way through the jungle with his machete.
Children waiting for us in the jungle, they walk way faster!
Beautiful nature in jungle trek to Attabai
Get extra energy with a boiled egg during the jungle trek to Attabai.
Aman Toppele's uma entrance.
Aman Toppele is carrying sago home, very heavy!
Sago grinding starts early morning in Attabai, 5 am!
The sun is up and the children are still helping to grind the sago.
Sago is grinded and ready to be washed
Aman Toppele is washing the sago in an inventive washing and sieving equipment.
Traditional cooking in Attabai.
Aman Toppele is ready to eat sago and pork meat. Children in de back have already started.
Pigs and chickens eat sago too.
Aman Toppele's wife is fixing her hair.
Aman Toppele's dog named Rambo.
Our loyal pompong driver aman Lemmai is happy to see us.
Jungle trek to Attabai has many ups and downs.
Beautiful spot to rest a bit in jungle the of Attabai.
As the jungle of Attabai is still unspoilt there are beautiful large tree still.
Walking for hours can be quite tiring, resting near a river can be nice and cooling.
Walking through water in the jungle is normal. Please bring suitable trekking shoes.
The Kulukubuk waterfall surrounded by nature. Perfect ending to an Attabai jungle trek.

In the midst of a beautiful valley, along a river surrounded by thick jungle lies Attabai. Here you will stay in the traditional Uma of Aman Toppele and his family. He loves animals, so the house is surrounded by dogs, chickens and pigs. Come here if you seek more privacy. Here, life is calm and withdrawn, very much in contrast with larger Uma’s.

You can visit the Kulukubuk waterfall your way back to the Siberut harbour. Best to combine with a stay in Madobak, Buttui or Malaggasat. Please consider if you are able to perform the hike, twice!

  • Getting there min. 2 hours by boat and 3-4 hours hiking
  • Perfect for adventurers who want to emerge themselves in nature and culture
  • Difficulty level 6/10
  • Starting point Siberut Harbour
  • Advised minimum stay 4 days
  • Price from 540 euro per person (based on two people)

Sakuddei jungle package

Sakuddei sitting on tree.
Sakuddei sitting on tree.
Traditional Uma of Sakuddei.
Mentawai headband, hairpiece and necklace.
This Mentawaian gong is a must in ceremonies.
Delicious Mentawai bananas
Sakuddei meeting together, the men can smoke and talk for hours!
Toys of soul blessing the uma.
Unspoilt nature in Sakuddei, still large trees.
Sakuddei nature walk.
These pretty mushrooms can be eaten. They grow with full moon, get them before the pigs do.
Large tree Sakuddei
Jungle flower
Little mushroom in Sakuddei
Big beetle Mentawai
Not keen on walking the whole way back? Book a boat from Sagulubbe.

The Sakuddei is one of the best known clans by anthropologists and researchers. During the 1950’s through the 1980’s the government forced the Mentawaians to give up their traditional lives and live in modernity. The Sakuddei is one of the clans which escaped in order to save their traditional culture. The Sakuddei live in one large communal uma and this is where you will be staying as well.

The hike to Sakuddei starts from Matotonan, you will have to stay here overnight. Locals walk the path in 6 hours, guests in up to 12 hours. At the end of the hike you might have to spent a night at the riverbank before a canoe picks you up to bring you to the Sakuddei uma. Guests may choose to travel the same way back or be picked up at Sagulubbe by boat at extra cost. This tour already includes a traditional dance ceremony. End your tour with a of couple days at the Umata Village accommodation at a special rate.

  • Getting there min. 5 hours by boat, 6-8 hours hiking and 2 hours by boat
  • Perfect for adventurers who seek intense hiking through unspoilt jungle
  • Difficulty level 8/10
  • Starting point Siberut Harbour
  • Advised minimum days 9 days
  • Price from 1.650 euro per person (based on two people)

Simatalu jungle package

Traditional turuk dance ceremony.
Traditional turuk dance ceremony.
Walking to Simatalu is intense, because most of it is walking beside the river for hours.
Yet it is incredible nature. Simatalu is definitely Yan's favourite tour.
Boys help carry luggage to Simatalu. You will thank us later.
When walking through thick jungle for hours it is a sight to see above the trees.
The jungle to and around Simatalu is still unspoilt, so many large trees can be found.
Traditional wedding parade.
Traditional wedding clothing in Simatalu.
The bride wearing, traditional wedding clothes.
A baby seat in Simatalu.
A woman is washing her baby in Simatalu.
What a cutie! An inventive little seat.
Uma Simatalu medicine man and woman.
Hunting trophies in uma in Simatalu.
Uma Simatalu view to outside.
Little piglets trying to wake up mother pig.
Blessing of new canoes on Simatalu river.
Medicine man and woman canoeing to their fields.
Family canoeing back from their fields with fresh produce.
Girls fishing little crabs and shrimps in Simatalu river, which they put in the bamboo on her back.
Little girl stirring the canoe.
Children playing in the river.
Boy playing in canoe.

Simatalu is the mythical location of origin of the Mentawai. All clans have different myths and stories of ancestry, but they all start in Simatalu. These stories also describe how these first people started to emigrate, most of them due to conflict and quarrel. Together with the Sakkudei clan this is one of the oldest traditional clans. 

The hike to Simatalu starts from Sirisura or Simabuggei depending on the condition of the Saibi river. You will have to stay one night before you start the hike to Simatalu. Most of the walking happens on rocks at the river banks with many ups and downs. Guests may choose to travel the same way back or be picked up at Betaet, by boat at extra cost. This tour already includes a traditional dance ceremony. End your tour with a couple days at the Umata Village accommodation at a special rate.

  • Getting there min. 1.5 hours by boat, 8-10 hours hiking
  • Perfect for adventurers who seek intense hiking through unspoilt jungle
  • Difficulty level 9.5/10
  • Starting point Saibi Harbour
  • Advised minimum days 9 days
  • Price from 1.650 euro per person (based on two people)
Malaggasat turuk traditional dance ceremony.
Malaggasat turuk traditional dance ceremony.

The dance ceremony

Pigs are an important currency on Siberut and approval of the souls is one of the most important aspects of the Mentawaian believe. Therefore, booking a dance ceremony is one of the best ways to support your host communal group. Not only is this an never-to-forget experience, this way they can earn the extra money to buy the things they cannot make themselves.

During the ceremony a pig will be prepared and eaten together with the communal group. All food will be evenly divided among the families present. After dinner the traditional music serves as a rhythm for the ‘turuk’ dance, in which various animals and activities are portrayed.

Malaggasat fishing woman teu Agoi
Malaggasat fishing woman teu Agoi
Sleeping arrangements jungle Mentawai Umata Village.

Included in the jungle tours

  • Accommodation in traditional uma
  • 3 meals daily
  • Unlimited tea, water and coffee
  • Professional guide
  • All cultural activities (except the dance ceremony)
  • All transportation from and to the Siberut Harbour
  • Luggage carriers (you will thank us later)
  • Offer for the communal group (consists of e.g. cigarettes, sugar, rice, noodles, coffee, tea, cookies)
  • Clean bed sheets, camping mattress & mosquito net

Excluded in the jungle tours

  • Airport transfer
  • Accommodation in Padang
  • Mentawai Fast tickets
  • Transfer from Tuapejat, Pei-Pei, Nyang-Nyang or Katiet
  • Laundry service
  • Traditional dance ceremony (unless otherwise stated)
  • Souvenirs
  • Tips for guide, carriers, boat drivers etc.
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