Updated October 2026: This guide has been reviewed to reflect current Mentawai surf charter arrangements. Some of the featured vessels still have published listings on BookSurfCamps, although individual trips may have no available booking dates. Always confirm the current schedule and package conditions before making a reservation. The Mentawai Surf Tax is now IDR 2,000,000 per foreign surfer for 15 days, and its inclusion in a charter package depends on the operator.
The Mentawai Islands, as well as the whole island chain between the Indonesian island of Sumatra and the open Indian Ocean, are known as one of the best surfing destinations in the world. Many surfers and ordinary travelers (non-surfers) go to enjoy the stunning tropical paradise and the gorgeous breaking waves in various ways. Some go to surf resorts (surf camps), and some stay in budget homestays as their “base camps”. And some try one of the most adventurous options- Mentawai surf charters. Now, we will focus on them- with general info, boats, routes, schedules, and useful tips.
Table of Contents
Mentawai surf boat charters- general info
First, what is a surf boat charter? If you are not familiar, it is a type of liveaboard tour, like a cruise. It starts from a certain point, follows a certain route for a certain amount of time (7 days, 10 days, 14 days, etc.), and usually ends at the starting point. During this time, you live on the boat. On its route, it leads you to certain spots related to the main theme of the tour- in this case- surfing spots.
If you go to a surf camp, you stay in one place and you are limited to going to the nearby surfing spots only. But a boat charter allows you to try more surfing spots, in a larger area of exploring.
In the Mentawai Islands, surf charters can explore different parts of the archipelago, moving between surfing areas according to the swell, weather, and preferences of the group. Unlike a land-based surf resort, a charter boat can cover much greater distances and reach remote breaks that are difficult to access from a single island base. Some operators also offer separate expeditions farther north, to the Batu (Telo), Nias, Hinako, and Banyak Islands.
Join a Mentawai surf camp or a surf charter!
The best Mentawai surf charters
Most Mentawai surf charters last approximately 10 to 13 days and depart from Padang, although shorter, longer, and privately arranged expeditions are also possible. Below are six charter vessels with published listings on BookSurfCamps. Some listings may have no bookable dates, even when the vessel continues operating through its own charter company. Check the current departure schedule and booking conditions before making arrangements.
Crystal Clear: 13 Day Surf Charter
Crystal Clear is a luxurious 22-m-long aluminum catamaran, operating since 2016. It has two double-bed private cabins, eight single bunks, and two double beds. There are two bathrooms, and a guest accommodation lower hull level. You can enjoy three deck levels, a saloon, and other facilities. Everything is enough spacious for more than 10 passengers (the minimum number of passengers for a tour).
You have two tour options with this catamaran. The first option is to travel around the Mentawai Islands, and the second- to the islands north of Mentawai- Tello (Batu Islands), Nias, Hinako, and Banyak. The routes are flexible because they depend on the current conditions, weather, and other factors.
The crew will welcome you at Minangkabau Airport in Padang, and normally, the boat departs from Padang at 6 pm. But before that, there will be a team meeting with general instructions, details discussions, and of course, making friends.
Check for availability in Crystal Clear!
Moon Palikir: 13 Day Surf Charter
Moon Palikir is another luxurious boat, designed for 12 passengers. It is 35 m long, with several spacious cabins, docks, and safety equipment. It has also bathrooms and entertaining equipment. This boat provides tours not only for surfing but also for stand-up paddle board and snorkeling, and they offer gear that you can use.
Again, the itinerary of Moon Palikir is flexible. The boat roams around the whole Mentawai Archipelago and Telo, a part of the Batu Islands. As mentioned above, you can not only go surfing, but also you can enjoy paddling, snorkeling, and relaxing on the beaches between the surfing sessions.
The team provides a full package with air transfer from Minangkabau Airport to the harbor of Padang where the boar departs. As usual, there is a meeting in advance. Although this tour is proper for advanced surfers, there is an instructor who can teach beginners and intermediate surfers too.
Check for availability in Moon Palikir!
Maki Boat: 12 Day Surf Charter
This tour provides a bit different vibe. The Maki Boat is a traditional Indonesian “Phinisi” boat. These boats have their roots in South Sulawesi, the area around Makassar, and were recognized later by the Europeans as one of the best types of boats in the world, used to this day.
Initially Maki Boat was used for diving liveaboard around Komodo Island, but later converted into a surfing charter boat. It is 24 m long, with five cabins, a large living room, a kitchen, a sun deck with eight additional beds, and six bathrooms. In addition, it also offers SUP, kayaks, fishing gear, snorkeling gear, and more.
Maki Boat offers a 12-day itinerary around the whole of the Mentawai Islands. As usual, the exact route is not fixed, it depends on the weather and other conditions, as well as the preference of the passengers, but in general, the boat roams around all of the surfing areas on the archipelago. The group of passengers can be from 7 to 13 people. This tour is not only for advanced but also for intermediate surfers.
Check for availability in Maki Boat!
Now, we will focus on a company, called Sibon Charters. They have a fleet of two vessels- Sibon Baru and Sibon Jaya, both exploring the archipelagos west-southwest of Sumatra.
Naga Laut: 12 Day Surf Charter
Naga Laut is another luxurious boat in its own style. It is distinguished from the other charter boats by its timber interior. It has four 2-bed cabins and one spacious 4-bed cabin, well-provided with electric sockets for electric devices charging. It has two tenders- a fiberglass speed boat and a smaller zodiac to take you to the waves of every surfing spot that you arrive.
The tours of Naga Laut are only around the Mentawai Islands. Although they say “12 days”, the length is actually 11 days, with provided transport from Minangkabau Airport in Padang. Their tours are designed for 8 to 10 people, but in some cases, with discussion in advance, the group can be 12 people.
Again, between the surfing sessions, you can enjoy various other activities like snorkeling, paddling, fishing, or just relaxing on board or on a beach. There is also a photo and video service, not included in the package.
Check for availability in Naga Laut!
Sibon Baru: 13 Day Surf Charter
Sibon Baru is the bigger of the two boats. It is a 62-foot aluminum catamaran with six cabins, three bathrooms, a saloon with a TV, and more. It has perfect safety equipment and offers SUP, fishing, and snorkeling gear. In general, the crew makes great efforts to arrange everything as luxurious as possible.
As usual, the route of Sibon Baru is only around the Mentawai Islands. The number of participants is between 8 and 12 people. Like the other boats, this one also guides you to the best surfing spots with no fixed route and itinerary, and opportunity for other activities. What’s more is that they also offer professional photo services (the photographer is included in the price, however, various packages have additional prices).
On BookSurfCamp, you can see two Sibon Baru 13-day tours. Actually, it is the same tour but on the first one, the price is per 1 and 2 participants, while on the second one, they offer a group price for 6 people.
Check for availability in Sibon Baru for 1-2 participants!
Check for availability in Sibon Baru for a group!
Sibon Jaya: 13 Day Surf Charter
Sibon Jaya is presented as the more exclusive option in the Sibon Charters fleet, with private guest cabins and comfortable areas for relaxation. Its published facilities include spacious indoor accommodation and outdoor deck space. The exact guest capacity and cabin arrangements should be confirmed with the operator, as different charter listings provide inconsistent information. Besides the bathroom and other facilities, it has a comfortable deck with sofas for relaxation. The boat uses solar panels for electricity and water heating. In addition, again, it provides gear for other activities.
Sibon Jaya roams around the Mentawai Islands like Sibon Baru, but of course, due to the flexibility, the route can be different. It allows only 6 to 8 participants. Again, there is a professional photographer and he offers various photo and video packages with additional prices.
Like Sibon Baru, this boat has two offers for the same tour in BookSurfCamp– one for 1 or 2 participants, and one for a group of 6 participants. For the trip, the teams of the two boats provide full transport service from Minangkabau Airport.
Check for availability in Sibon Jaya for 1-2 participants!
Check for availability in Sibon Jaya for a group!
Join a Mentawai surf camp or a surf charter!
Useful tips
Booking a Mentawai surf charter is different from booking an ordinary hotel. The boats have limited capacity, and popular departures during the peak surfing season can fill up many months in advance. For the best choice of dates and vessels, it is wise to plan well ahead, particularly if you are traveling with a group. However, last-minute spaces and departures during the quieter season may also be available, so it is always worth checking the current schedules.
Here is more info:
- The Mentawai Islands are located very close to the Earth’s equator, and the climate is equatorial. It is an endless rainy season with more (between October and April) or less (between April and October) rainy parts.
- Surfing is possible throughout the year, but the most consistent and powerful swells usually arrive between April and October, with peak conditions generally occurring from May to September. These swells are generated by powerful storms in the southern Indian Ocean during the Southern Hemisphere winter. From November to March, the waves are often smaller, but many surfing spots remain active, and changing wind directions can favor different breaks.
- Many of Mentawai’s most famous waves break over shallow, sharp coral reefs. Their difficulty depends not only on wave height but also on reef depth, tides, currents, and the shape of the break. Some spots are suitable for intermediate surfers under favorable conditions, while others require advanced or expert-level skills. A mistake can result in serious reef injuries, and medical assistance or evacuation may take considerable time on these remote islands. Before surfing an unfamiliar break, study its conditions carefully, including the tides and safe entry and exit points. Reef protection, basic first-aid supplies, and insurance covering surfing and emergency medical evacuation are worth considering.
- Foreign surfers must pay the mandatory Mentawai Surf Tax, currently IDR 2,000,000 per person for 15 days (as of October 2026). For a longer surfing trip, an additional payment may be required for the next 15-day period. In 2026, the local authorities introduced an online payment system, allowing surfers to pay electronically and receive confirmation without relying on the previous manual collection process. You can check the payment procedure through the Mentawai Surf Tax online portal. If you book through a surf resort or liveaboard operator, ask whether the tax is already included in your package.
- Mentawai Fast also charges separately for surfboard bags. Commonly published rates are IDR 230,000 for bags up to 15 kg, IDR 460,000 for 16–25 kg, and IDR 690,000 for heavier bags, per journey. These are indicative rates, not guaranteed fixed prices. Confirm the current baggage policy and charges with the ferry operator before departure.
Before booking a remote surf charter, check the vessel’s safety equipment, emergency communication systems, and evacuation arrangements. The Mentawai Islands are far from major medical facilities, and serious injuries on shallow coral reefs or emergencies at sea may require complicated evacuations. Make sure your travel insurance covers surfing, boat-based expeditions, and emergency medical evacuation. Sea conditions can also affect departure times, routes, and the possibility of reaching individual surfing spots.
Joining a surf boat charter around the Mentawai Islands is undoubtedly an expensive pleasure, even more expensive than the surf camps fixed in one location. But the experience it offers is unforgettable and totally worth it!
Check some travel books about Mentawai:
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Hi, we are Krasen and Ying Ying. Krasen is from Bulgaria, and Ying Ying is from China. We are passionate about geography and history, and we believe that the best way to experience it is by exploring the Earth in reality, not in a school, and not virtually.
So, we created this blog Journey Beyond the Horizon, where we share geographical knowledge, travel guides and tips how to experience it when you explore our planet, and a lot of inspiration.
And we wish you a happy journey, not just virtually, but most of all- in reality.
Enjoy!
Krasen and Ying Ying
Hi, we are Krasen and Ying Ying. Krasen is from Bulgaria, and Ying Ying is from China. We are passionate about geography and history, and we believe that the best way to experience it is by exploring the Earth in reality, not in a school, and not virtually. So, we created this blog Journey Beyond the Horizon, where we share geographical knowledge, travel guides and tips how to experience it when you explore our planet, and a lot of inspiration. And we wish you a happy journey, not just virtually, but most of all- in reality. Enjoy!
