Experience the wild adventure

island of
SUMATRA

"the flower men"

Mentawai

General route

Deep in the Indonesian jungle, the Mentawai people embody a rare and authentic relationship with nature. Their survival depends on an intimate knowledge of the forest, an exceptional capacity for adaptation, and a profound respect for the environment. Here, every action has meaning: observe, understand, act with precision.

This internship draws on their essential knowledge to offer a concrete and demanding immersion: survival skills in a tropical environment, understanding the terrain, self-reliance, and mutual support. More than just learning, it's a powerful human experience, far removed from modern comforts, to reconnect with what truly matters and rediscover a sense of inner freedom. A genuine, intense, and transformative adventure.

In short... A magnificent adventure. The Mentawai Islands are located in the Indian Ocean, some 150 km off the west coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra . Only on the island of Siberut do the flower men still survive.

Today they number only about a thousand individuals.

ITINERARY

Day 1 - Pick-up of participants at Padang Airport

and transfer to the hotel. You will be immediately immersed in the Indonesian jungle as your accommodation is located in the heart of nature on the hillsides overlooking the ocean. You will have the opportunity to recover from jet lag, check your equipment, and pack your bag for the adventure. Dinner and overnight stay.

Day 2 - Breakfast. You can leave your belongings at the hotel. You will collect them upon your return. A short taxi transfer will take you to the port where a speedboat will be waiting for you for a 3-5 hour crossing (150km) to Siberut Island (the heartland of the Mentawai people). Upon arrival, lunch will be served in the village. In the early afternoon, you will board a small fishing boat which will drop you off on a white sand beach lined with coconut palms. This is the site of your first campsite. Dinner and overnight stay in a "survival" setting. You will fish and try to find your own food on the island.

Day 3 - A great day awaits you in this idyllic location. You will be introduced to survival skills: making a fire with a bow drill, protecting yourself from the sun (we are on the equator), preparing a coconut, collecting fresh water... In short, everything you need to know to survive on a deserted island. Hoping for a good catch, we will cook seafood. We will also do some group psychology during dinner and begin to plan for the next day and our meeting with the Flower Men.

Dinner and overnight stay in a "survival" setting.

Day 4 - Early in the morning, a boat will come to pick us up to get even closer to our hosts. You will begin the day with a fishing boat trip on an inlet, followed by canoes to travel upriver. The transfer will take up a good part of the day, but the experience will be spectacular. Perhaps dolphins will even join us. You'll gradually enter the jungle, then the primary forest and the Mentawai gardens. Around 3 pm, you'll disembark in the heart of the island. You'll be just an hour's trek from your destination. After a walk through lush vegetation, crossing small rivers, and traversing canyons, you'll arrive at the foot of a huge wooden house built on stilts. You're in the home of the Flower Men. They will welcome you with a broad smile and offer you a typical dinner of roasted sagot and forest fruits. You'll be fully immersed in the fascinating world of the Mentawai.

Dinner and overnight stay: in the community house

Days 5-6-7 - Departure for three days and three nights in the jungle.

The Mentawai people will show you all their tricks and immense know-how, acquired since time immemorial, for surviving in this environment.

- Walking in the river

- Crab and shrimp fishing

- Line fishing

- Fruit gathering

- Trap checking

- Bow hunting

- Navigation with and without a compass

- Fire making using bamboo and other methods

- Hammock making and camp construction

- Carrying fire

- ... In the evening, as dusk falls, by the fireside you might hear gibbons and birds, but above all, you will listen to the enchanting stories of your hosts. Moments that will remain etched in your memory forever.

Day 8 - You will quickly dismantle your camp this morning to return to the Mentawai home (uma). Once you arrive at the "uma," a large meal will be served, offering everything you could have dreamed of. In addition to eating, you will experience one of the highlights of the immersion. The shamans will perform dances and ceremonies in the house in your honor. They will invite you to participate. Refusing would be impolite.

Dinner and overnight stay: in the community house

Day 9 - Last morning with the Mentawai people before returning to modern life. A one-hour trek followed by a two- or three-hour drive along a dirt track to reach the island's main port by late morning. If all goes well, the speedboat will be waiting for you to take you across to Padang and your hotel by late afternoon. You will find your belongings there, which you left on the first day. Hot and hearty dinner. Overnight stay in a double bungalow with a view overlooking the surrounding area.

Day 10 - Breakfast. Transfer to the airport.

PLEASE NOTE: The program is subject to change. As the Mentawai are a free people, weather, game, and predators are unpredictable factors that may necessitate adjustments to the program to ensure the smooth running of the course and your safety.

This course includes:

1 survival specialist instructor

+ 1 or 2 guides from the Mentawai community

Entry and camping fees in reserves and national parks

All transfers

7 days of survival and immersion / 2 nights in a hotel

Full board (except lunch on the first day)

Flying doctor service

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Not included:

- International flights and excess baggage fees

- Insurance, tips, personal purchases

- Drinks during meals and meals not mentioned