Let us show you how
amazing a boat trip can be…
Let us show you how amazing a boat trip can be…
Since 1998, we have continually provided surfers from around the world with the adventures of their lives.
Sumatran Surfariis is one of the longest-running independent surf charter operators for the islands of Mentawais and Northern Sumatra. Our boat trips cover any and all nooks of the Mentawais, Telos, Nias, Hinakos, and Banyaks, and we’ve recently begun custom trips that travel even further north or south. Our experience and willingness to look around every bend is what sets us apart from the competition. There are still many places you can surf out here alone if you have the knowledge, ambition to travel further, and ability to think outside the box. There are places for chargers, places for carvers, and places that won’t cut you up when you go over the falls. There are also many chances to slip into those well-known and rightfully famous waves for a quiet session or two if you know how to plan it right.
We have taken this knowledge and hard work and built it into our boats, our crews, our office, and our service. We are proud to have an extensive family of long-term return guests that continually help make Sumatran Surfariis what it is today. But there are a few other things that set us apart from charter operators as well:
- We are all dedicated surfers.
- We, too, want to surf alone.
- We want to see you happy, stoked, and improve your surfing.
- And, most important, we want you to have fun on your vacation. It’s all bagus!
Regardless of your age or skill level, we can tailor a surf trip to your specific needs and desires. Please take a look around our website, and feel free to contact one of our experienced sales representatives at any time if you have questions.
Terima kasih!!
Check out our boats…
We are the sole operators and owners of three charter boats: Southern Cross, Budyadahri, and Mahogany. Our boats are built in traditional Indonesian style, which adds to the authenticity of your adventure. All our boats are large and spacious, offering lots of covered deck space, and they come equipped with all the modern amenities. You’ll be very comfortable and very well taken care of by our crew who have many years of experience running trips in these waters.
What our guest are saying…
“This email finds me 4 weeks back. Back at work and back to late winter NZ.
The trip was awesome. Very pleased we ended up on the Mahogany It is a spacious, comfortable boat. Even though there were 17 people on board (guests and crew) it never felt crowded. Scuzz was a fantastic guide and very knowledgeable and skilled at finding empty sessions and gaps between other groups.
The captain woke up pre-dawn every morning and made sure we were at a spot, before anyone, ready to paddle out while it was still dark. The crew were always happy to take the tender wherever and whenever we wanted, always with a smile. They were also very alert for anyone needing to be picked up or rescued.
The food was awesome and the chef keenly asked if you were ready for breakfast and proudly announced when lunch and supper were ready. Even a couple of birthday cakes were baked in the ship’s kitchen. Grant, the photographer, over delivered. We surfed a whole bunch of fun waves on the Telos, usually uncrowded and had a few days up in Asu, which was awesome.
Last, but no means least, the other Kiwi crew that we shared with were all good surfers and mellow guys. No beef and just good good vibes all trip.
Fully recommend Sumatran Surfaris. Thanks for helping organise everything.”
“Hi Scuzz,
Now that I’m back to reality after a great trip where Huey definitely came to play, I just wanted to pass on some good feedback about our guide Grant.
This trip was about my 10th boat trip through the chain, and I would have to say that Grant was one of the hardest workers I’ve come across.
He consistently put all of our needs before his own, taking photos and footage every time a guest was in the water (more than necessary tbh J), only surfing himself when the guests where all surfed out (this has not been common on previous trips), or when we needed a bit of extra motivation to get out there and get another session in if conditions required.. plus making sure we knew the options available at any time.
Also, the boat and speedy ran a dream, and the crew all extremely good and well versed (Sjut from Nias on the speedboat in particular is a great asset to your team with his local knowledge and years of experience)
I’m sure you get people quick to complain every time something doesn’t go exactly to plan, so just wanted to pass on the good feedback when everything does go to plan (thanks to Huey again!).
Looking forward to the next trip already!”
“A boat trip in the Ments is an itch I’ve wanted to scratch and a joint 50th was the ‘now or never’ proposition and justification I needed.
I cannot speak highly enough of our experience with Scuzz and the crew of the Mahogany.Sumatran Surfariis 30 years of experience was plainly evident from arrival to departure with every minute detail taken care of in-between.
From travel logistics, boat design, sleeping arrangements, menu options, staff focus combined with an encyclopedic knowledge of every nook and cranny of the archipelago I cannot see it being done any better.The price has long been forgotten but the memories will resonate a lifetime. You’ve found the right company, pull the trigger and book the trip of a lifetime is my advice.”
“Just want to express my gratitude for all of your help to give us an Amazing trip! Grant was astounding with giving us uncrowded spectacular waves and the crew insuring we were first on a a break either way, great for an old fella who doesn’t always play well with others having great waves every where. Highlights eqeuled high lines right down to the last waves, or left as they may have been.
Can not praise your crew enough running us where ever to find a wave with a big smile. The food was awsome and plenty of it.
I will happily pass on the froff for SS
Mark by name
Monkey for fun
Monk by nature
He is truly a lovely man and yes and inspiration for contentment what a great man. Thankyou for getting him on our boat.Grants picture nights epic that man can take a picture or 2. He was very pragmatic respectful and above all helpfully let alone the waves he Granted us.
Rippa Trip”
“Chris and Danny… thank you guys so much for this awesome experience and time on an incredible adventure. Unbelievable boat, crew, captain and best guide!!! And the vibe… loved surfing with you and meeting you Chris. Loved jamming on the boat… loved that I was only one of two people that did not get seasick or have stomach issues… ha!! Really hope to see you again Chris and buy you dinner or be on the Mahogany again!!! out there doing what I’ve always loved and dreamed of doing for 35 years. Thanks for celebrating my 51st birthday and making me a cake as well… Truly Dr. evil and Maurice are people to look up to and realize you can do this even after heart issues!! life-changing experience I had. amazing waves surfed the funnest waves of my life with my best friend and great people. Thank you!!!”
“Hey Danny,
What a trip! As Bones (Campbell) put it – ‘this trip will age well’. It was by far the best trip I’ve done out of 4, Bones has done 5 and it’s the best he’s done.
Expectations were through the roof and Scuzz, Sugud and the crew, and the Hog smashed them.
Didn’t get anything massive, but we had pretty consistent head/overhead lined up swell with good winds. Scuzz had us on the right spots at the right times and we really picked the eyes out of it.
I can’t thank Scuzz enough for his efforts on our trip, from his forecasting to his secret spots and everything in between it was just epic. And his engagement – after doing this for 25 years you’d think he’d be jaded by it, but he was a stoked grom like the rest of us.
I’d rate it as the best surf trip I’ve done in 35 years of surfing. Big call!
Thanks for organising for us Danny, and thanks again to you and Scuzz for agreeing to Derek being on the trip. I’ll let the dust settle at home for a little bit then book in the 2024 Hog trip. A bunch of us will be turning 50, as will Scuzz and Sugud. Cheers!”
“I hope you are doing well.
I just wanted to drop you an email to close the loop with you about our trip.
Everything was very positive!
• Crew: Super friendly and very supportive. You can feel that by spending a couple more days with them, they become more than just the crew, but friends.
• Food: Exceptional. No more comments. The chef always had a smile on his face and asked if we wanted more.
• Guide: Manu is a legend. He managed to take us to un-crowded lineups. Also, our group had a big range of surfing levels, he understood that perfectly and made the right decisions for us all to surf and enjoy the trip. Moreover, he ended up being one more of the group, increasing the positivity and good vibes of the trip.
Thank you again for your support and for making the trip possible even with covid hitting us all.
See you soon mate!”
“Just a quick mail to let you know that we are back in France, in our homes after spending the best surf trip of our lives! We were so relieved to finally get to the Mentawais after expecting this for over two years…
We’ve had a blast, the boat and the crew were great! None of us would change a thing. Special thank-you to Yu, he has made some bold but smart choices, 4 of us got the ride of their lives during this trip. We are still buzzing…
The last day, I was waiting for my prio at Lance’s and heard a guy who was saying to another: “I leave tomorrow, I’m a bit disappointed I didn’t get the chance to surf Greenbush, we haven’t had enought swell during the trip”. I didn’t say anything but couldn’t help thinking that their guide blew it because we’ve had plenty of swell, we surfed Greenbush and Rag’s on the same day and it was pumping. We are so grateful for Yu. And other than his skills as a guide, he is a wonderful human being, very respectful, funny and sweet, he has become a part of group.
Concerning the crew now… well, we miss them, they were so nice and helpful. Sabar is the best cook ever and there’s nothing Willy can’t do…
So, again, thanks for the organisation. We will be back in a couple of years… Cheers.”
“Hi Danny, I just had ts say after more than a dozen trips with Sumatran Surfariis over the past 15 years the trips keep getting better the new super fit Scuzz was more motivating and enthusiastic than ever ( I didn’t think it was possible ) he lead by example we surfed 17 different breaks more often than not on our own from fun beach breaks to A grade world class waves Also paddle boarding through the mangroves ,fishing and food as always was excellent Thats why Sumatran Surfariis will always be my first choice for a boat trip !
I know all the other guys felt the same Keep up the good work. Regards.”
Our destinations…
While our primary focus over the years has been the Mentawais and North Sumatra, we’ve explored everywhere from the very tip of Aceh down through mainland Java. Our travels have taken us around Panitan Island, through the Sunda Straits, along the points of Enganno and Southern Sumatra, up the mighty Sumatran mainland, past Simeulue and to the northernmost points of the island. We’ve seen it all, and we’ve have kept detailed logs of our travels along the way. We’ve also managed to maintain quite a few secrets over the years, and the only people we share them with are our guests. Many of these secrets are in our standard Mentawais and North Sumatran runs, but with enough time and planning, we can show you adventures you’ve likely never seen in magazines or video clips.
Our family…
We all love Sumatra, and this is our home. We aren’t a new crew just out to exploit this area to make a buck – we are all SURFERS with an extensive background in creating the most amazing trips to these areas while being respectful to everyone we come across. Our guides come several different parts of the world, including Australia, USA, Japan, New Zealand, Spain, and Brazil. Most of our all-Indo crewmates have many years, in some cases decades, of experiences in these waters and on our boats. Our cooks are outstanding and will provide you with a wide variety of nutritious and delicious meals. Each of our charters has a world class photographer/videographer who will document your dream trip for a very reasonable price. We will all look after you very well so all you need to focus on surfing and enjoying your beautiful surroundings.
Check out our schedule and book you trip…
Sumatran Surfariis has always chosen to do longer trips so we can travel further and surf more than just the most popular waves. Our standard-length charter is typically 2- 3 full surf days longer than the most operators. Those extra days allow you to surf more waves than anyone, get the next swell, see the next point, the next island, reel in the wahoo, and get the backside pig dog wired. And we’re always excited to do even longer trips, as our schedule allows, so we can keep searching for that next secret around the corner.
