Travel guide
Everything you need to get here
It is a long way, which is exactly why the waves are still this good. Every step of the journey, with the schedules and prices we give our guests.
On the map
Katiet, on the south coast of Sipura
Sipura is the middle island of the Mentawais, off the west coast of Sumatra. The house sits at Katiet, on the southeast corner, forty metres from the paddle out at Lance’s Right.
- Village
- Katiet, Sipora Selatan
- Province
- Kabupaten Kepulauan Mentawai, Sumatera Barat
- Coordinates
- -2.37813, 99.85833
The route
Four steps, and we organise the last two
- 01
Fly to Padang
You bookCome through Kuala Lumpur (KUL) or Jakarta (CGK), then on to Minangkabau International Airport (PDG) in Padang, on the west coast of Sumatra.
- 02
One night in Padang
You bookEverything to the islands leaves early, so you’ll need a night here. Tell us your flight and we’ll point you at a place near the harbour.
- 03
Cross to Sipura
We arrangeEither the fast ferry to Tuapejat, or the short flight to Rokot. Which one depends on the day you arrive and how many boards you’re carrying.
- 04
The road to Katiet
We arrangeA car meets you and brings you to the house, about three hours from Tuapejat, or two from Rokot. We arrange the car; you tell us your arrival time.
Crossing to the island
Ferry or flight? It comes down to your boards
If you are bringing boards
The fast ferry
Mentawai Fast Ferry, Padang to Tuapejat. Takes your boards, and then a car covers the last three hours to the house, shareable between up to four people.
- Ferry ticket
- IDR 380,000
- Board bags
- IDR 260,000 to 450,000
- Car, Tuapejat to Katiet
- IDR 1,500,000
If you are travelling light
The local flight
Padang to Rokot, well under an hour in the air and two hours by car at the other end. They will not take board bags, so we send your boards over on the ferry instead, schedules permitting.
- Flight ticket
- IDR 400,000
- Car, Rokot to Katiet
- IDR 1,000,000
Ferry and flight timetablesTwo tables
| Route | Days | Departs | Arrives |
|---|---|---|---|
| Padang to Tuapejat | Sunday & Monday | 10:00 | 13:30 |
| Padang to Tuapejat | Wednesday & Friday | 07:00 | 10:30 |
| Tuapejat to Padang | Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday | 15:00 | 18:30 |
| Route | Days | Departs | Arrives |
|---|---|---|---|
| Padang to Rokot | Tuesday & Friday | 07:00 | 07:40 |
| Rokot to Padang | Tuesday & Friday | 07:50 | 09:00 |
Schedules and fares change with the season. These are the numbers the owners gave us in . Message us before you book and we’ll confirm what is running that week.
Before you fly
The checklist we give every guest
Documents7 things
- Passport
- Airline tickets
- Visa: check the current Indonesian entry rules for your passport before you fly
- Travel insurance
- Your booking confirmation
- Cash: there is no ATM in the village
- A copy of all of the above, kept separately
In the board bag8 things
- Two to four boards, including one for bigger days
- Two sets of fins
- Leashes: one for big days, one medium
- Wax for tropical or warm water
- A surf shirt
- Reef booties
- A surf hat
- Optional: helmet, snorkelling gear, fishing tackle and lures
Medical4 things
- Antibiotics, if your doctor will prescribe them: reef cuts get infected fast
- Antiseptic cream
- Mosquito repellent
- Any prescription medication you take, in its original packaging
There is a small clinic in the village, ten minutes away, for cuts and everyday illness. For anything more serious the mainland is a ferry ride away, which is why we ask everyone to travel with insurance.
Still working out the route?
Send us your arrival date and we’ll tell you which ferry to be on, what it will cost, and where to sleep in Padang.