Expedition to Mentawai tribe, orangutans of Sumatra and Pacu Jawi festival with biologist Ivan Kvasov
WESTERN INDONESIA
July 21 – August 2, 2024
Tour Sumatra and Mentawai islands, Indonesia
tour to to Sumatra Indonesia ethnic expedition tour to Mentawai Sumatra volcanoes tour to orangutan Pacu Jawi Batak people
Dassanech Karo tribe Bulls jumping ceremony Assale Afar
Go deep into the jungle of Mentawai Islands, where the culture of the cognominal tribe is still alive. Meet the "Flower" people who live in complete harmony with nature and tattoo their faces and bodies. Walk through the rainforest of Northern Sumatra and encounter one of the most notable primates of the modern world – orangutans. Get into acquaintance with Sumatran super volcanoes and explore its endangered Batak and Minang cultures, participating in the Pacu Jawi bull racing festival – iconic for any photographer.
Our expedition will take place in top season when orangutan alpha males can be faced and the world's biggest flower of rafflesia is flourishing. The team will be led by biologist and intellectual Ivan Kvasov.
Our expedition will take place in top season when orangutan alpha males can be faced and the world's biggest flower of rafflesia is flourishing. The team will be led by biologist and intellectual Ivan Kvasov.
Go deep into the jungle of Mentawai Islands, where the culture of the cognominal tribe is still alive. Meet the people who live in complete harmony with nature and tattoo their faces and bodies. Walk through the rainforest of Northern Sumatra and encounter one of the most notable primates of the modern world – orangutans. See Sumatran super volcanoes and explore its endangered Batak and Minang cultures, participating in the Pacu Jawi bull racing festival – iconic for any photographer.
SCHEDULE & COST:
Dates: July 21 – August 2, 2024
Duration: 13 days / 12 nights
Number of participants: 8 – 12
EXPEDITION COMPLETED
TRAVEL PROGRAM: TOUR TO INDONESIA
DAY 1. July 21, 2014 (Sunday). MEDAN – BUKIT LAWANG
Arrival in Medan (KNO, Kuala Namu International Airport). Meeting the driver. Transfer to Bukit Lawang takes 3 – 4 hours driving, passing via Binjai and Kuala villages. Arrival in Bukit Lawang, check-in at the hotel Heritage Resort in Bukit Lawang. Rest of the day is free for leisure, we can swim or take a beautiful walk/drive to the local village.
* Recommended flights from Kuala Lumpur (or from Jakarta, or from another city) to Medan:
— any flight from Kuala Lumpur (or from Jakarta, or from another city) to Medan with another flight with arrival in Medan before 11:00 am on July 21.
* Recommended flights from Moscow to Kuala Lumpur (or to Jakarta):
— any flight from Moscow to Kuala Lumpur (or to Jakarta, or to Singapore, or to another city) with arrival in Kuala Lumpur (or to Jakarta, or to Singapore) before 4:00 am on July 21, or adjusted to the flight to Medan.
Meals included: dinner
Accommodation included: Heritage Resort hotel luxury rooms
DAY 2. July 22, 2024 (Monday). BUKIT LAWANG – GUNUNG LEUSER NATIONAL PARK
After breakfast at 9:00 am our guides will greet us at our hotel and we set off into the jungle for roughly a 6 to 7 hour trek. During the trip we will meet orangutans – our main goal here. Orangutan belongs to the only genus of great apes native to Asia. Like the other great apes, orangutans are highly intelligent, displaying tool use and distinct cultural patterns in the wild. Orangutans share approximately 97% of their DNA with humans. According to some researches orangutans are considered the smartest animal on Earth but human, even more intelligent than chimpanzee. Even the word "orangutan" derives from Bahasa words "orang" – human, and "utan" – forest.
We may also spot Thomas leaf monkey, gibbons, or long-tailed macaque. During the day we have lunch with tropical fruits. Following by a short walk to our campsite location, we can bath in the river and behold the beauty of the natural landscape which will surround us, with the brake for a tea, coffee and snacks. Dinner and well needed rest in the wild right in the jungle. After dinner we make campfire with the team. If the weather is good we can go fishing in the river. We spend the night in the jungle in big common tents — amazing experience!
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation included: jungle camp in the National park
DAY 3. July 23, 2024 (Tuesday). GUNUNG LEUSER NATIONAL PARK – BUKIT LAWANG
After breakfast we make a trek into the jungle. Today we gonna spot again the unique wildlife of Sumatra: endangered Sumatran orangutan. Sumatran orangutan is one of 3 species of orangutans and is the biggest one. It reaches 1.7 meters long and weighs up to 100 kg. July is the best season in order to spot orangutang alfa males, as they come to grab the seasonal fruits. Adult males are of huge size and very distinctive with their round face and massive cheeks.
Orangutans, as opposed to other primates, are not social and do not live in the groups. They ideally adapted for life in the crown of trees. Even in order to drink, they prefer to lick the moisture from the leaves or drink the rain water that has accumulated in the hollows rather than to go down to the water bodies.
If we are lucky, we can also spot some other interesting animals, such as gibbons, snakes, monkeys, monitor lizards, and birds. During the journey we will also learn about the plants of the forest that can be used as herbal medicine.
There's also a nice waterfall we can visit. The jungle trek is typically a 4-5 hour walk. During the day we prepare a lunch that includes locally sourced fresh fruits. After lunch we will begin our trek to return to Bukit Lawang. We have option to return not on foot, but with a traditional tube raft which we can ride down the river! Let adventure begin! The rafting takes not more than 1 hour, the difficulty is moderate and appropriate for everyone. Wet feet are guaranteed!
In the afternoon we drive to the place called Batu Katak (or Tualang Gepang) of Gunung Leuser National park (2 hours drive). Our goal here is giant flowers of rafflesia.
Only in July we have a privilege to see the world's biggest flower on earth — rafflesia, which reaches as much as 120 cm in diameter! Rafflesia has a very short period of blossoming, and we are exactly on time for it!
Rest of the day free for leisure in the hotel.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation included: Heritage Resort hotel luxury rooms
DAY 4. July 24, 2024 (Wednesday). BUKIT LAWANG – BERASTAGI — LINGGA VILLAGE OF BATAK — SINABUNG VOLCANO — SIPISO PISO WATERFALL — LAKE TOBA – SAMOSIR ISLAND
After breakfast we head to Lake Toba. Passing Berastagi, we stop in to see its famous fruit market, Sipiso Piso waterfall, with its 120 meters the highest in Sumatra, and village of Karo people.
Karo tribe belongs to the group commonly called Batak people, who have very rich heritage of spiritual and material culture. The architecture of Karo villages is beautiful and unique. They traditionally lived in shared peak-roof longhouses, but very few now remain. We will visit these houses in Lingga village.
We are in Karoland now. Karoland contains two major volcanoes: dormant volcano Sibayak and Mount Sinabung, which after 400 years of dormancy erupted 6 times for the last 10 years! We will see Sibayak volcano from a view point. Since 2010 Sinabung volcano has buried under its lava and ash dozens of villages and forced thousands of people to leave their homes. En route we have chance to explore those hit villages covered with the ash (visit Simacem abandoned village or another one).
Don't forget that legendary Krakatau is located in Sumatra. The eruption of Krakatau in 1883 became the most notable and violent volcanic events in recorded history.
We proceed to Lake Toba, the huge crater lake situated right in the middle of the biggest volcanic caldera of 1775 square km. Toba volcano is acknowledged the most violent volcano for the last 25 million years! 75 thousands years ago, Toba volcano destroyed humanity, plunging the whole world into the Ice Age, thereby reducing the already small population of the globe to 10 thousand people.
We arrive in Lake Toba in the afternoon, cross the lake to get to Samosir island, check in at Samosir Cottage and stay overnight in the very center of the most powerful volcano on Earth in the whole history!
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation included: Samosir Cottages, Super Deluxe rooms
DAY 5. July 25, 2024 (Thursday). SAMOSIR ISLAND
After breakfast start tour around Samosir Island. Visit the Ambarita village, then Simanindo to see Batak museum and their wonderful architecture. Batak traditional dance performance: tor-tor dance and Sigalegale performed with the puppets. Guided tour in Ambarita to learn more about former Toba Batak practices of ritual cannibalism. After the performance visit Huta Raja village to see sarong/ulos or Batak blanket maker. We stop for lunch before back to the hotel in the afternoon. Toba is the main resort of Sumatra. Mountain landscapes, fresh air and crystal water of the volcanic lake create an atmosphere of relaxation and serenity. Our hotel is situated on the very bank of beautiful and very clean lake, where one can swim or try water sport activities. In the afternoon rest on the lake.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation included: Samosir Cottages, Super Deluxe rooms
DAY 6. July 26, 2024 (Friday). SAMOSIR ISLAND – MEDAN – PADANG
After very early breakfast, around 7 am we leave for Medan airport (KNO). Transfer to Medan airport, depending on the traffic may take up to 6 hours. Check-in and flight to Padang at 14:00, JT-2239 from Medan with Lion Air, arrival in Padang at 15:40.
Padang – the harbor city and capital of West Sumatra. Now we find ourselves in the southern hemisphere, as we crossed Equator in the air.
Transfer to the hotel Rocky Plaza hotel Padang 4*, or Pangeran Beach Hotel 4* or similar. Rest in the hote, swimming pool and walk around Padang to get acquainted with West Sumatra cuisine.
Meals included: breakfast
Accommodation included: Rocky Plaza hotel Padang 4*, or Pangeran Beach Hotel 4*, or Mercure Hotel 4*, or similar
DAY 7. July 27, 2024 (Saturday). PADANG – PACU JAWI FESTIVAL IN TANAH DATAR – PADANG
After breakfast in the hotel, head to Bukittinggi or another place in Tanah Datar regency for attending Pacu Jawi festival. Tanah Datar is populated by Minangkabau (Minang) people who are famous for practicing matriarchy while being the Muslims and building beautiful wooden peak-roof houses erected in honor of the horns of local buffaloes. According to tradition, when the rice fields are empty after harvest and before the next planting, and so that Mount Marapi becomes visible, Pacu Jawi festival can be held. Its location is rotated between several villages of Tanah Datar.
The central action of Pacu Jawi is a traditional bull race. In the race, a jockey stands holding on to a pair of loosely-tied bulls by their tails while the bulls cover about 60 – 250 meters of muddy track in a rice field. Although it is called a "race", the bulls do not directly compete against each other, and no formal winner is declared. Instead, spectators judge the bulls by their performance (mostly their speed and their ability to run straight), and may buy well-performing bulls at well above their usual price, which of course motivates the contestants.
Pacu Jawi is nowadays one of the most desirable events for worlds famous photographers, which brought many awards for the best photography.
Lunch during the festival and drive back to Padang. One the way short stop to see amazing rice fields and beautiful traditional village of Pariangan.
Evening at leisure and overnight in our hotel.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch
Accommodation included: Rocky Plaza hotel Padang 4*, or Pangeran Beach Hotel 4*, or Mercure Hotel 4*, or similar
DAY 8. July 28, 2024 (Sunday). PADANG – SIBERUT – BAT DOROUGOT
After early breakfast in our hotel, driver will pick us up at the hotel and then transfer to harbor to take charter fast boat to Sanctuary island Muara Siberut. Private fast boat leaving at 07:00, arriving in Siberut around 1 pm.
Meet our guide, prepare and report to authority for trekking, continue by local motor canoe along the river.
In some 2 hours arrive to Bat Dorougot, Mentawai traditional village. Stay in Bat Dorougot.
Mentawai are semi-nomadic hunter-gatherers who, believed, came to the area more than 3000 years ago, and since then, their lifestyle and culture have changed not much. Mentawai people call their homeland Bumi Sikerei. They follow their own animist belief system called Arat Sabulungan, that links the supernatural powers of ancestral spirits to the ecology of the rainforest. Mentawai also have very strong belief towards objects they think are holy. They are characterized by their heavy spirituality, tattoo body art and their tendency to sharpen their teeth, a practice they feel makes one beautiful. Mentawai tend to live in unison and peace with the nature around them because they believe that all things in nature have some kind of spiritual essence.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation included: Mentawai traditional dwelling
DAY 9. July 29, 2024 (Monday). EXPLORING THE TRADITIONAL ACTIVITIES IN BAT DOROUGOT
Wake up for a bath in the river. After having breakfast exploring the daily activities of traditional Mentawai tribe such as: making loincloth, fishing and making tattoo and then continue your trip to Butui by local motorized canoe, it will take about 3-4 hours, arrival at Butui village, stay at traditional house of Mentawai called "Uma".
Uma is a longhouse made by weaving bamboo strips together to make walls and thatching the roofs with grass, the floor is raised on stilts and is made of wood planks. Each Uma is decorated with skulls of the various animals Mentawai hunted. An Uma can house three to four families.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation included: Mentawai traditional dwelling
DAY 10. July 30, 2024 (Tuesday). EXPLORING THE TRADITIONAL ACTIVITIES IN BADOSAK
After breakfast in the morning, prepare to continue walking to Badosak, it takes 2 – 3 hours walking in the forest. Explore Badosak: we will see how Mentawai weave the baskets or other things from rattan, how they prepare the poison for their arrows and later attend traditional hunting in the jungle. Overnight at traditional dwelling in Badosak.
Men hunt warthogs, chicken, deer, and primates. Dogs are usually used to spot the animals during hunting, then the prey is shot with a bow and poisonous arrow. The poison comes from a local leaf which has been mashed and mixed with water.
It is notable never harvest a plant or take the life of an animal without asking for their spirit's forgiveness first because they believe every part of the environment has a spirit. That is why they are also called "Flower People".
In the evening we may have change so see the traditional healing ceremony performed by Sikerei (Mentawai shamans).
Overnight stay in Uma — Mentawai traditional house, under our own mosquito nets.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation included: Mentawai traditional dwelling
DAY 11. July 31, 2024 (Wednesday). BADOSAK – KULUKUBUK — MUNTEI — BEACH ON THE MASILOK ISLAND
After breakfast, you still have time to enjoy and see the activities of Mentawai (sago collecting or other activities) and then back to the river and leaving by traditional motorised canoe, to the sandy beach island, via Muntei Village, where we have to change the boats for the marine long boats.
On the way stop at Kulukubuk to visit waterfall in the forest, you can swim at waterfall and then return to river to continue your trip to Muntei village. In 3-4 hrs (depending on the tide level) arrival in Muntei village.
Immediately move to the small Masilok island with the beautiful beach. This is the kinda Maldives but there's none around us! Caribbean style palms reclining to the sea and huge coconuts that we immediately take!
Enjoy the crystal clear water of Indian Ocean and white sand beach, leisure.
Stay in the simple guest house on the island, all together in local houses.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation included: guest house
DAY 12. August 1, 2024 (Thursday). BEACH ON MASILOK ISLAND — SIBERUT — PADANG
After breakfast, free at own leisure on the beach. You can also order surfing or snorkeling.
At 10 am or so transfer to Siberut, to catch scheduled (regular) fast boat to Padang at 12:00 p.m. It goes to Sikabaluan (North Siberut) first and arrives in Padang at 18:30. Transfer to the hotel Rocky Plaza hotel Padang 4*, or Pangeran Beach Hotel 4* or similar.
Rest in the hotel, using swimming pool, and walk around Padang city if you wish.
Meals included: breakfast
Accommodation included: Rocky Plaza hotel Padang 4*, or Pangeran Beach Hotel 4*, or Mercure Hotel 4*, or similar
DAY 13. August 2, 2024 (Friday). PADANG – RETURN FLIGHT
After breakfast, transfer to the airport of Padang and flight back.
* Recommended flight from Padang to Kuala Lumpur (or Jakarta, or another city):
— any flight from Padang to Kuala Lumpur (or Jakarta, or another city) with departure from Padang any time on August 2.
* Recommended flight from Kuala Lumpur (or Jakarta, or another city) to Moscow:
— any flight from Kuala Lumpur (or Jakarta, or Singapore, or another city) to Moscow (or another city) with departure from Kuala Lumpur (or Jakarta, or another city) any time on August 2, adjusted to the flight from Padang.
Meals included: breakfast
Accommodation included: no
Duration: 13 days / 12 nights
Number of participants: 8 – 12
EXPEDITION COMPLETED
TRAVEL PROGRAM: TOUR TO INDONESIA
DAY 1. July 21, 2014 (Sunday). MEDAN – BUKIT LAWANG
Arrival in Medan (KNO, Kuala Namu International Airport). Meeting the driver. Transfer to Bukit Lawang takes 3 – 4 hours driving, passing via Binjai and Kuala villages. Arrival in Bukit Lawang, check-in at the hotel Heritage Resort in Bukit Lawang. Rest of the day is free for leisure, we can swim or take a beautiful walk/drive to the local village.
* Recommended flights from Kuala Lumpur (or from Jakarta, or from another city) to Medan:
— any flight from Kuala Lumpur (or from Jakarta, or from another city) to Medan with another flight with arrival in Medan before 11:00 am on July 21.
* Recommended flights from Moscow to Kuala Lumpur (or to Jakarta):
— any flight from Moscow to Kuala Lumpur (or to Jakarta, or to Singapore, or to another city) with arrival in Kuala Lumpur (or to Jakarta, or to Singapore) before 4:00 am on July 21, or adjusted to the flight to Medan.
Meals included: dinner
Accommodation included: Heritage Resort hotel luxury rooms
DAY 2. July 22, 2024 (Monday). BUKIT LAWANG – GUNUNG LEUSER NATIONAL PARK
After breakfast at 9:00 am our guides will greet us at our hotel and we set off into the jungle for roughly a 6 to 7 hour trek. During the trip we will meet orangutans – our main goal here. Orangutan belongs to the only genus of great apes native to Asia. Like the other great apes, orangutans are highly intelligent, displaying tool use and distinct cultural patterns in the wild. Orangutans share approximately 97% of their DNA with humans. According to some researches orangutans are considered the smartest animal on Earth but human, even more intelligent than chimpanzee. Even the word "orangutan" derives from Bahasa words "orang" – human, and "utan" – forest.
We may also spot Thomas leaf monkey, gibbons, or long-tailed macaque. During the day we have lunch with tropical fruits. Following by a short walk to our campsite location, we can bath in the river and behold the beauty of the natural landscape which will surround us, with the brake for a tea, coffee and snacks. Dinner and well needed rest in the wild right in the jungle. After dinner we make campfire with the team. If the weather is good we can go fishing in the river. We spend the night in the jungle in big common tents — amazing experience!
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation included: jungle camp in the National park
DAY 3. July 23, 2024 (Tuesday). GUNUNG LEUSER NATIONAL PARK – BUKIT LAWANG
After breakfast we make a trek into the jungle. Today we gonna spot again the unique wildlife of Sumatra: endangered Sumatran orangutan. Sumatran orangutan is one of 3 species of orangutans and is the biggest one. It reaches 1.7 meters long and weighs up to 100 kg. July is the best season in order to spot orangutang alfa males, as they come to grab the seasonal fruits. Adult males are of huge size and very distinctive with their round face and massive cheeks.
Orangutans, as opposed to other primates, are not social and do not live in the groups. They ideally adapted for life in the crown of trees. Even in order to drink, they prefer to lick the moisture from the leaves or drink the rain water that has accumulated in the hollows rather than to go down to the water bodies.
If we are lucky, we can also spot some other interesting animals, such as gibbons, snakes, monkeys, monitor lizards, and birds. During the journey we will also learn about the plants of the forest that can be used as herbal medicine.
There's also a nice waterfall we can visit. The jungle trek is typically a 4-5 hour walk. During the day we prepare a lunch that includes locally sourced fresh fruits. After lunch we will begin our trek to return to Bukit Lawang. We have option to return not on foot, but with a traditional tube raft which we can ride down the river! Let adventure begin! The rafting takes not more than 1 hour, the difficulty is moderate and appropriate for everyone. Wet feet are guaranteed!
In the afternoon we drive to the place called Batu Katak (or Tualang Gepang) of Gunung Leuser National park (2 hours drive). Our goal here is giant flowers of rafflesia.
Only in July we have a privilege to see the world's biggest flower on earth — rafflesia, which reaches as much as 120 cm in diameter! Rafflesia has a very short period of blossoming, and we are exactly on time for it!
Rest of the day free for leisure in the hotel.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation included: Heritage Resort hotel luxury rooms
DAY 4. July 24, 2024 (Wednesday). BUKIT LAWANG – BERASTAGI — LINGGA VILLAGE OF BATAK — SINABUNG VOLCANO — SIPISO PISO WATERFALL — LAKE TOBA – SAMOSIR ISLAND
After breakfast we head to Lake Toba. Passing Berastagi, we stop in to see its famous fruit market, Sipiso Piso waterfall, with its 120 meters the highest in Sumatra, and village of Karo people.
Karo tribe belongs to the group commonly called Batak people, who have very rich heritage of spiritual and material culture. The architecture of Karo villages is beautiful and unique. They traditionally lived in shared peak-roof longhouses, but very few now remain. We will visit these houses in Lingga village.
We are in Karoland now. Karoland contains two major volcanoes: dormant volcano Sibayak and Mount Sinabung, which after 400 years of dormancy erupted 6 times for the last 10 years! We will see Sibayak volcano from a view point. Since 2010 Sinabung volcano has buried under its lava and ash dozens of villages and forced thousands of people to leave their homes. En route we have chance to explore those hit villages covered with the ash (visit Simacem abandoned village or another one).
Don't forget that legendary Krakatau is located in Sumatra. The eruption of Krakatau in 1883 became the most notable and violent volcanic events in recorded history.
We proceed to Lake Toba, the huge crater lake situated right in the middle of the biggest volcanic caldera of 1775 square km. Toba volcano is acknowledged the most violent volcano for the last 25 million years! 75 thousands years ago, Toba volcano destroyed humanity, plunging the whole world into the Ice Age, thereby reducing the already small population of the globe to 10 thousand people.
We arrive in Lake Toba in the afternoon, cross the lake to get to Samosir island, check in at Samosir Cottage and stay overnight in the very center of the most powerful volcano on Earth in the whole history!
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation included: Samosir Cottages, Super Deluxe rooms
DAY 5. July 25, 2024 (Thursday). SAMOSIR ISLAND
After breakfast start tour around Samosir Island. Visit the Ambarita village, then Simanindo to see Batak museum and their wonderful architecture. Batak traditional dance performance: tor-tor dance and Sigalegale performed with the puppets. Guided tour in Ambarita to learn more about former Toba Batak practices of ritual cannibalism. After the performance visit Huta Raja village to see sarong/ulos or Batak blanket maker. We stop for lunch before back to the hotel in the afternoon. Toba is the main resort of Sumatra. Mountain landscapes, fresh air and crystal water of the volcanic lake create an atmosphere of relaxation and serenity. Our hotel is situated on the very bank of beautiful and very clean lake, where one can swim or try water sport activities. In the afternoon rest on the lake.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation included: Samosir Cottages, Super Deluxe rooms
DAY 6. July 26, 2024 (Friday). SAMOSIR ISLAND – MEDAN – PADANG
After very early breakfast, around 7 am we leave for Medan airport (KNO). Transfer to Medan airport, depending on the traffic may take up to 6 hours. Check-in and flight to Padang at 14:00, JT-2239 from Medan with Lion Air, arrival in Padang at 15:40.
Padang – the harbor city and capital of West Sumatra. Now we find ourselves in the southern hemisphere, as we crossed Equator in the air.
Transfer to the hotel Rocky Plaza hotel Padang 4*, or Pangeran Beach Hotel 4* or similar. Rest in the hote, swimming pool and walk around Padang to get acquainted with West Sumatra cuisine.
Meals included: breakfast
Accommodation included: Rocky Plaza hotel Padang 4*, or Pangeran Beach Hotel 4*, or Mercure Hotel 4*, or similar
DAY 7. July 27, 2024 (Saturday). PADANG – PACU JAWI FESTIVAL IN TANAH DATAR – PADANG
After breakfast in the hotel, head to Bukittinggi or another place in Tanah Datar regency for attending Pacu Jawi festival. Tanah Datar is populated by Minangkabau (Minang) people who are famous for practicing matriarchy while being the Muslims and building beautiful wooden peak-roof houses erected in honor of the horns of local buffaloes. According to tradition, when the rice fields are empty after harvest and before the next planting, and so that Mount Marapi becomes visible, Pacu Jawi festival can be held. Its location is rotated between several villages of Tanah Datar.
The central action of Pacu Jawi is a traditional bull race. In the race, a jockey stands holding on to a pair of loosely-tied bulls by their tails while the bulls cover about 60 – 250 meters of muddy track in a rice field. Although it is called a "race", the bulls do not directly compete against each other, and no formal winner is declared. Instead, spectators judge the bulls by their performance (mostly their speed and their ability to run straight), and may buy well-performing bulls at well above their usual price, which of course motivates the contestants.
Pacu Jawi is nowadays one of the most desirable events for worlds famous photographers, which brought many awards for the best photography.
Lunch during the festival and drive back to Padang. One the way short stop to see amazing rice fields and beautiful traditional village of Pariangan.
Evening at leisure and overnight in our hotel.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch
Accommodation included: Rocky Plaza hotel Padang 4*, or Pangeran Beach Hotel 4*, or Mercure Hotel 4*, or similar
DAY 8. July 28, 2024 (Sunday). PADANG – SIBERUT – BAT DOROUGOT
After early breakfast in our hotel, driver will pick us up at the hotel and then transfer to harbor to take charter fast boat to Sanctuary island Muara Siberut. Private fast boat leaving at 07:00, arriving in Siberut around 1 pm.
Meet our guide, prepare and report to authority for trekking, continue by local motor canoe along the river.
In some 2 hours arrive to Bat Dorougot, Mentawai traditional village. Stay in Bat Dorougot.
Mentawai are semi-nomadic hunter-gatherers who, believed, came to the area more than 3000 years ago, and since then, their lifestyle and culture have changed not much. Mentawai people call their homeland Bumi Sikerei. They follow their own animist belief system called Arat Sabulungan, that links the supernatural powers of ancestral spirits to the ecology of the rainforest. Mentawai also have very strong belief towards objects they think are holy. They are characterized by their heavy spirituality, tattoo body art and their tendency to sharpen their teeth, a practice they feel makes one beautiful. Mentawai tend to live in unison and peace with the nature around them because they believe that all things in nature have some kind of spiritual essence.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation included: Mentawai traditional dwelling
DAY 9. July 29, 2024 (Monday). EXPLORING THE TRADITIONAL ACTIVITIES IN BAT DOROUGOT
Wake up for a bath in the river. After having breakfast exploring the daily activities of traditional Mentawai tribe such as: making loincloth, fishing and making tattoo and then continue your trip to Butui by local motorized canoe, it will take about 3-4 hours, arrival at Butui village, stay at traditional house of Mentawai called "Uma".
Uma is a longhouse made by weaving bamboo strips together to make walls and thatching the roofs with grass, the floor is raised on stilts and is made of wood planks. Each Uma is decorated with skulls of the various animals Mentawai hunted. An Uma can house three to four families.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation included: Mentawai traditional dwelling
DAY 10. July 30, 2024 (Tuesday). EXPLORING THE TRADITIONAL ACTIVITIES IN BADOSAK
After breakfast in the morning, prepare to continue walking to Badosak, it takes 2 – 3 hours walking in the forest. Explore Badosak: we will see how Mentawai weave the baskets or other things from rattan, how they prepare the poison for their arrows and later attend traditional hunting in the jungle. Overnight at traditional dwelling in Badosak.
Men hunt warthogs, chicken, deer, and primates. Dogs are usually used to spot the animals during hunting, then the prey is shot with a bow and poisonous arrow. The poison comes from a local leaf which has been mashed and mixed with water.
It is notable never harvest a plant or take the life of an animal without asking for their spirit's forgiveness first because they believe every part of the environment has a spirit. That is why they are also called "Flower People".
In the evening we may have change so see the traditional healing ceremony performed by Sikerei (Mentawai shamans).
Overnight stay in Uma — Mentawai traditional house, under our own mosquito nets.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation included: Mentawai traditional dwelling
DAY 11. July 31, 2024 (Wednesday). BADOSAK – KULUKUBUK — MUNTEI — BEACH ON THE MASILOK ISLAND
After breakfast, you still have time to enjoy and see the activities of Mentawai (sago collecting or other activities) and then back to the river and leaving by traditional motorised canoe, to the sandy beach island, via Muntei Village, where we have to change the boats for the marine long boats.
On the way stop at Kulukubuk to visit waterfall in the forest, you can swim at waterfall and then return to river to continue your trip to Muntei village. In 3-4 hrs (depending on the tide level) arrival in Muntei village.
Immediately move to the small Masilok island with the beautiful beach. This is the kinda Maldives but there's none around us! Caribbean style palms reclining to the sea and huge coconuts that we immediately take!
Enjoy the crystal clear water of Indian Ocean and white sand beach, leisure.
Stay in the simple guest house on the island, all together in local houses.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation included: guest house
DAY 12. August 1, 2024 (Thursday). BEACH ON MASILOK ISLAND — SIBERUT — PADANG
After breakfast, free at own leisure on the beach. You can also order surfing or snorkeling.
At 10 am or so transfer to Siberut, to catch scheduled (regular) fast boat to Padang at 12:00 p.m. It goes to Sikabaluan (North Siberut) first and arrives in Padang at 18:30. Transfer to the hotel Rocky Plaza hotel Padang 4*, or Pangeran Beach Hotel 4* or similar.
Rest in the hotel, using swimming pool, and walk around Padang city if you wish.
Meals included: breakfast
Accommodation included: Rocky Plaza hotel Padang 4*, or Pangeran Beach Hotel 4*, or Mercure Hotel 4*, or similar
DAY 13. August 2, 2024 (Friday). PADANG – RETURN FLIGHT
After breakfast, transfer to the airport of Padang and flight back.
* Recommended flight from Padang to Kuala Lumpur (or Jakarta, or another city):
— any flight from Padang to Kuala Lumpur (or Jakarta, or another city) with departure from Padang any time on August 2.
* Recommended flight from Kuala Lumpur (or Jakarta, or another city) to Moscow:
— any flight from Kuala Lumpur (or Jakarta, or Singapore, or another city) to Moscow (or another city) with departure from Kuala Lumpur (or Jakarta, or another city) any time on August 2, adjusted to the flight from Padang.
Meals included: breakfast
Accommodation included: no
Cost includes:
• international flight to Medan and back from Padang
• international medical insurance
• Indonesian visa (if required)
• meals not specified in the program (lunches and dinners in Padang)
• excess baggage charge
• dancing ceremony, tattooing and other extra activities in Mentawai
• alcohol and drinks,
• tips and personal expenses
• single room supplement in hotels
Cost excludes (to be additionally paid) :
• international flight to Medan and back from Padang
• international medical insurance
• Indonesian visa (if required)
• meals not specified in the program (lunches and dinners in Padang)
• excess baggage charge
• dancing ceremony, tattooing and other extra activities in Mentawai
• alcohol and drinks,
• tips and personal expenses
• single room supplement in hotels
To take with:
· two sets of clothes (trousers, long sleeve shirt, T-shirt, underwear, socks;
· comfortable and hard wearing shoes: 1) light ones for the cities; 2) high rubber boots (waterproof) for jungles; 3) trekking snickers or shoes for time in the tribes and for trekking;
· light trekking jacket;
· raincoat;
· sun hat;
· swimsuits;
· sun glasses and sun protection cream;
· personal medical kit (analgesic, antiseptic, antibiotic, antiviral, intestinal, multivitamins, rehydration, court plaster, your personal medicine);
· personal hygiene items: soap, wet tissues, towel;
· forehead torch;
· travel backpack (better waterproof), not more than 70 liters capacity;
· small backpack for personal stuff and photo-, video- cameras;
· sleeping bag for warm weather,
· tourist sleeping mat;
· anti mosquito net (is a must!);
· various anti mosquito repellents;
· anti malaria prevention medication (up to you to decide but recommended);
· waterproof case for the documents;
· photo-, video- cameras;
· additional batteries for cameras and power bank,
· waterproof case for camera (would be appropriate)
• international flight to Medan and back from Padang
• international medical insurance
• Indonesian visa (if required)
• meals not specified in the program (lunches and dinners in Padang)
• excess baggage charge
• dancing ceremony, tattooing and other extra activities in Mentawai
• alcohol and drinks,
• tips and personal expenses
• single room supplement in hotels
Cost excludes (to be additionally paid) :
• international flight to Medan and back from Padang
• international medical insurance
• Indonesian visa (if required)
• meals not specified in the program (lunches and dinners in Padang)
• excess baggage charge
• dancing ceremony, tattooing and other extra activities in Mentawai
• alcohol and drinks,
• tips and personal expenses
• single room supplement in hotels
To take with:
· two sets of clothes (trousers, long sleeve shirt, T-shirt, underwear, socks;
· comfortable and hard wearing shoes: 1) light ones for the cities; 2) high rubber boots (waterproof) for jungles; 3) trekking snickers or shoes for time in the tribes and for trekking;
· light trekking jacket;
· raincoat;
· sun hat;
· swimsuits;
· sun glasses and sun protection cream;
· personal medical kit (analgesic, antiseptic, antibiotic, antiviral, intestinal, multivitamins, rehydration, court plaster, your personal medicine);
· personal hygiene items: soap, wet tissues, towel;
· forehead torch;
· travel backpack (better waterproof), not more than 70 liters capacity;
· small backpack for personal stuff and photo-, video- cameras;
· sleeping bag for warm weather,
· tourist sleeping mat;
· anti mosquito net (is a must!);
· various anti mosquito repellents;
· anti malaria prevention medication (up to you to decide but recommended);
· waterproof case for the documents;
· photo-, video- cameras;
· additional batteries for cameras and power bank,
· waterproof case for camera (would be appropriate)
KEY FEATURES:
TOUR TO INDONESIA
Sumatra island and Mentawai islands, Western Indonesia
Best season: March – October
Deep jungle expedition to Mentawai tribe who live in full harmony with nature and cherish their unique and vanishing culture
Trekking with orangutans in their natural habitat
Pacu Jawi Festival – famous Sumatran bull racing
Cultures of great architects: Minang people practicing matriarchy and Batak people, former headhunters
Famous Sumatran volcanoes: Sinabung and Sibayak, Lake Toba situated in the crater of super volcano
Sumatra island and Mentawai islands, Western Indonesia
Best season: March – October
Deep jungle expedition to Mentawai tribe who live in full harmony with nature and cherish their unique and vanishing culture
Trekking with orangutans in their natural habitat
Pacu Jawi Festival – famous Sumatran bull racing
Cultures of great architects: Minang people practicing matriarchy and Batak people, former headhunters
Famous Sumatran volcanoes: Sinabung and Sibayak, Lake Toba situated in the crater of super volcano
Why with MZUNGU EXPEDITIONS?
- 1UNIQUENESS
We find the most astonishing places on Earth and speed up to reach them. Our motto is to go ahead of road roller, touch the unique and unknown, before it disappears. - 2ADVENTURISM
Wherever we go, we look for challenging activities and adventures, filling the journey with absolutely different spirit and emotions. That is why people join us over and over again. - 3SAFETY
In our trips we pay special attention to safety. All our travels are based on personal experience, equipped with the best gear, involving proved providers and experienced local guides who perfectly know local features. - 4EXPERIENCE
We have a unique experience of the most offbeat expeditions and ascents, deep knowledge of countries and peoples, and are ready to share it with you. All the expeditions and climbings are guided by Mzungu himself, guaranteeing exciting traveling and your comfort. - 5LOW PRICE
All our trips are reach in adventures, with high quality accommodation, transportation and meals included. We do not save on it. Thanks to solid contacts with reliable providers we offer really good prices and high quality.
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