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Men Siberut Sikerei Siberut

Sumatra Mentawai Tribe, Siberut Island Odyssey

A group of islands about 120 Km off the west coast of central Sumatra, the Mentawai archipelago is located in its own time zone, geographically isolated from the rest of Indonesia. There are four main large inhabited islands: Siberut, Sipora, North Pagai and South Pagai, and many small islands, surrounded by the vast Indian Ocean to the west, and the deep Mentawai Strait to the east.

Siberut Island, is the largest island in the Mentawai archipelago and often visited by tourists from many different countries. The region is especially fascinating for those interested in seeing the unique culture, customs and traditions of the Mentawai people living in remote parts of South Siberut. This area is becoming popular for a range of different scientifically motivated purposes. Trekking is a rewarding activity for those seeking a glimpse of primitive jungle life, while research gathering expeditions for scientists and students, the shooting of films or endemic wildlife documentaries also continue to frequent this unique and mysterious land.

The Mentawai indigenous people have a society based on shamanic beliefs, and still live in perfect symbiosis with nature, having very little contact with the outside world. The Mentawai depend on the jungle for their food, clothing and medicine. Shamanism is a quest for harmony in the relationships between human beings and nature, the clans, between men and women and between individuals. It is a profound wisdom born out of the constraints of survival and brings with it an effective natural medicine practiced by witch doctors: the shamans.

Moreover, the Mentawai Indigenous People also have numerous taboos, behaviors which are forbidden because they threaten harmony, especially those concerning hunting, wisely balancing their interaction with the immediate environment. Long and complex rituals regulate the hunting expeditions, thus limiting the damage to the monkey and wild hog populations. Other shamanist taboos regulate the relationships inside or between the clans.On our trek, we will learn how to manufacture a bow and arrow, how poison is used in arrows, how to find wild honey, catch fish in the river and many other things, amid laughter and the warmth of friendship with the local community.

We may be fortunate to be invited to a healing ceremony or to the ritual preparation for a hunt that are part of the daily life of the Mentawai Indigenous People. During these ceremonies the Sikerei (shamans) call on the spirits to re-establish harmony where it is missing.The isolated areas or jungle populations often visited by tourists for carrying out the above activities are: Attabai, Buttui, and Matotonan Jungle Population.

These areas can be reached by speedboat through a large river by passing some villages nearby the river bank such as Rogdog, Madobag, Ugai, and Matotonan, and then continued on foot, passing lush forests and high mountains.

Muara Siberut

05 DAYS – 04 NIGHTS
Sumatra Mentawai, Muara Siberut, Madobag and Attabai Village.
Start / Finish: Minangkabau Airport, Padang, West Sumatra
Tour Code: KNLR-SM-5D
Departure: Every Monday Padang - Siberut by Ferry Boat
Grade: Strenuous

Itinerary
Day 01: Padang to Muara Siberut
Upon arrival in Minangkabau Airport, Transfer to Padang. Possibility to buy gifts for the Mentawai people. City tour and Transit at the hotel in Padang till Ferry Departure. Departure of the ferry between 6 and 11 pm. you may spend one night on the ferry. The ferry offers basic cabins of four to six bunks. This is the most comfortable way, how to reach the Mentawai Archipelago. Arriving at Muara Siberut on Day 2 early morning. From the Muara Siberut harbor, a speedboat takes you to your destinations in the upper reaches of river.

Day 02: Siberut to Madobag and Attabai - Tribes Expedition Begins
Arrived in Muara siberut by 7am, having light breakfast, getting the permits and registrations, then cruising the river for 3 hours by speedboat to Madobag village. The river water level may vary time to time. When its low tide, we will be asked to get down and walk up on the riverbed with depth less than 30cm. Upon Arrival in Modabag village, short break, orginised all food supply with local porters then be ready for the most wonderful experience to Attabai village. It tkaes 5 hours trekking to reach Attabai village by passing lush forests into the high mountains, where you can experience the unique culture, customs, traditions and traditional life-styles of the Mentawai people. Arrived at Attabai village in the evening and stay overnight at Uma (Traditional house).

Day 03: Attabai Village - Highlight Night
Activities:
1). 2 or 3-hour walks, Visiting the surrounding forest and the neighboring clans requires. You need good a walking stick. We recommend you wear weather-proof or rubber boots.
2). Daily rituals begin early in the morning with a bathe in a creek
3). Eyewitness traditional Mentawaian people daily activities such as: sago harvesting, arrow poison making, fishing in the river, animal hunting, basket weaving, and making loincloths (avats) from the bark of the baiko tree, etc.
4). swimming in the creek and relaxing being a isolated life.
5). a clan ceremony with dancing and singing of traditional Sikerei (medicine men) songs.

Day 04: Attabai and Muara Siberut - Overnight.
Breakfast at Uma in Attabai village, return to Modobag village and Muara siberut. Arrived in Madobag where the boat is already waiting then cruise back to Muara siberut. Arrived in Muara siberut in the afternoon, check in at simple guest house with fan and visit other village around Muara siberut (Puro I, Puro II , Muntei and Mailippet where the port is located).  Back to your guest house. free at your own leisure.

Day 05: Siberut - Padang harbor Airport by Speedboat hire
Breakfast, depart Siberut early morning at 6am by speedboat, Arrive in Padang harbor by midday, transfer to Minangkabau airport for your next destinations or extension with our tour program (Tour Ends)

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Quick Links:

Ferry schedules Padang Mentwai Siberut and inland ferry return