6 Epic Mentawai Surf Camps for 2025

Here’s a hard truth – serious surfers don’t really mess around with Bali any longer. There are bigger – much, much bigger – fish to fry in Indo.

One such big fish goes by the name of Mentawai, a splattering of islands just off West Sumatra that’s basically unrivaled in the quality of its breaks. And we don’t mean unrivaled in Indonesia. We mean unrivaled anywhere on the globe. Seriously…that good.

Up until only a few years back, the best way to surf the Ments and make the most of the world-class breaks that abound was to do a very pricy live-aboard boat trip. Boat trips are still awesome here, and they’ve come down in price a lot. We even recommend a couple below.

But the islands are now speckled with a range of very high-quality surf camps that see you return to dry land and the comfort of swimming pools and spacious suites once the day is over.

They’re especially good if you’re not sure you want to dispense of all creature comforts. Plus, some are even within walking (read: paddling) distance of epic, epic waves.

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• Hidden Bay Resort – The top surf camp in the Ments this year
• The Shadow – The finest surf camp in the Ments right now
• Beng Bengs Surf Camp – An old-school surf camp with three speedboats (yep, three!)
• Kingfisher Mentawai Resort – The best surf camp in the uber-consistent central Ments
• The Maki Boat – The best surf charter in the Ments
• Masokut Surf Camp – The budget choice (Ments for <$60/night possible)

• Location: Masokut Island, Mentawai

Hidden Bay offer a very performance-focused itinerary that’s all about honing in on the technicals of your surfing. Guests get daily surf sessions on some of the finest breaks in the islands but they also get tailored fitness classes to maximize paddle power, yoga sessions that stretch out key surfing muscle sets, and in-depth theory and analysis. All that’s why we really recommend it for the confident intermediates and above. 

The location is perfect for getting out and about in what’s unquestionably the premier surf area of the Ments: Playgrounds. The folks at Hidden Bay have their very own speedboat for transport to and from the breaks, meaning you can whiz up to Beng Beng in 15 mins or cross to Kandui in 20. Barrel chasing hardly gets any easier.

The stay oozes authentic Indo charm, too. The rooms are all built in old-school Sumatran style, with thatched roofs and eco materials. They can sleep groups of three or couples, have big ensuite bathrooms, and open onto deck spaces that gaze at the Indian Ocean. We also love how everyone gathers at the resort’s own Restaurant Sikerei come evening, to dine on food that’s especially curated to up your energy levels on the surf.

• Location: Private island off Siberut Island, Mentawai

It’s not often we get to say this but The Shadow boasts its very own private island. Mhmm…come here to channel your inner Richard Branson, only with less in the way of premierCru champagne, more in the way of perfect barreling rights and lefts over pristine coral reefs.

Location? Think smack dab in the heart of the acclaimed Playgrounds area of the northern Ments, with 20 or so named breaks sat within easy boat ride (and, yep, don’t worry, these guys have their own boat!).

The Shadow is one deeeeelluxx surf resort. The rooms have a touch of the castaway about them but don’t let that fool you. They come with plush double beds and driftwood-built balconies, indoor-outdoor bathrooms and air conditioning throughout.

You’ll hangout with other guests and surf guides in the communal space, or pretty much anywhere along the beachfront that’s 100% deserted from tip to toe – did we mention that it’s a private island?

The surf program at The Shadow is, simply, exactly what you’re looking for from surf camps in the Ments. They’ve got local guides who know the archipelago like the back of their hand running the twice-daily sessions. You also get morning or evening yoga included, along with all three daily meals cooked by the fantastic in-house chef – think healthy, vegan-veggie-friendly, dishes that run the gamut from gado gado salads to avocado on toast.

We also love that they have a couple of packages aimed at different levels, from this two-week advanced odyssey to this 14-day beginner and intermediate option.

• Location: Masokut Island, Mentawai

Poking out of the jungles of Nyang Nyang Island in the midst of the Playground area of northern Mentawai, Beng Bengs Surf Camp is one of the original on-land camps in the area.

It looks over the iconic wave known as Ebay, a frothing left hander that offers more barrel sections than you can shake your morning pancakes at. They also have not one, not two, but three speedboats ready and waiting for when it’s time to explore the other waves in the region.

What we really like about Beng Beng is the fact that it has a bit more of a down-to-earth vibe than some of the five-star camps on this list.

It’s built more like a classic surf stay, with palm-thatched ceilings and a mix of double and twin rooms, some with cold showers, most with hot. The fact that it’s limited to a max of 8-10 people each week helps to keep the whole thing feeling like a little community, not some factory line surf hotel that’s in it for the cash.

We recommend their 10-day camp package. That’s enough time to make the most of the best waves in the area, since you get 2x daily surf sessions on 8/10 of the days. And when we say surf sessions, we mean session that can last 4+ hours a pop.

• Location: Sipura Island, Mentawai

The further south you head, the fewer Mentawai surf camps there are to choose from. That’s what makes the Kingfisher Mentawai Resort a bit of an outlier. It offers a rare chance to get stuck into the breaks of the central islands around Sipura, which host the breaks that first put the region on the map: Hollow Trees, Lance’s Left, Bintangs. These are spots that ooze quality from lip to reef, and they are WAY less busy than their compadres up in Playgorunds. 

Aside from helping you escape the growing crowds of surfers in the Ments, a stay at the Kingfisher Mentawai Resort also promises to be a proper tropical island experience. The rooms are bungalow-style lodges with bamboo balconies that overlook coconut groves and bird-stalked wetlands. Guests get three meals included each day. And there’s lots for non-surfers, including snorkeling reefs and SUP lessons. 

The 8-day package with these guys means you’ll get access to 15+ surf spots in the surrounding area, which you can access through unlimited use of the resort’s private speedboat. The trip also includes all your transfers from the airport on Sumatra, which is not to be sniffed at – reaching the Ments is half the battle!

• Location: All over!

No guide to the best Mentawai surf camps could possibly miss out on a surf charter option. For a long time, boat charters were the ONLY way you could surf the Ments. It makes sense. You live on board and just sail from break to break. In a region with literally hundreds of spots that work on different swells, tides, and winds, it means you can be quick to the top breaks.

There are quite a few to pick from, but we think the Maki Boat is a sure-fire bet for a good time. We’ll get to what the package entails below, but first, let’s take a look at the vessel. A former luxury diving vessel that was used in the Komodo National Park, Maki is a traditional Phinisi boat from Sulawesi. It’s been refitted to suit surfers over bubble blowers, and now hosts five cabins (three of which are ensuite), plus room for up to 50 surfboards and extras like SUPs and sea kayaks.

The deal here is a 12-day surf package that includes all your accomodation (ensuites are a little extra), meals, and even beers for just a little over $3,000. That’s pretty incredible, espeically when you factor in that a surf day on a boat charter isn’t limited to like 2 hours on a single break. It can easily be three, four, five, six+ hours and involve multiple stops in a single day.

One thing to remember if you do plump for a boat charter over an on-land surf camp: These are very much catered towards the more advanced end of the spectrum. Good intermediates and up should be fine, but the Maki package involves A LOT of surfing and you’re likely to be sharing the boat with similarly advanced riders.

Masokut Surf Camp/HostelWorld

• Location: Siberut

Aside from a little jostling up and down, there’s not all that much change in our selection of the top surf camps in the Ments from 2024 to 2025.

That is, apart from the arrival of the Masokut Surf Camp.

With one eye on soaring cost of living and whatnot, we thought we’d add this one as a fantastic budget option. You see, having boat charter access to the best waves in the world doesn’t have to cost a bomb. It can cost around $50/night if you want it to.

The dorms and doubles here won’t set you back a bomb – you’re looking at under $100/night for the priciest private rooms. What they definitely will do is get you a prime location in the heart of the northern Ments, with five world-class breaks within 15 minutes’ walking (including Beng Bengs and Ebay).

There’s an onsite restaurant where you can dine on fresh fish and curried rice, all homemade. And there’s a shimmering white beachfront right outside. It’s paradise, only without the mega price tag.

Surfer tax and ferries and things are not included here. Neither is any planned surf schedule. You book room only and then add on from that.

Check prices and availability at the Masokut Surf Camp