Sumatra, Metawais, Telos advice

[Surfsisurf]

Looking for some advice on Sumatra.
Myself and a few mates (maybe up to about 10) are going to book a trip and we’re thinking Mentawais, Telos or similar. We’re looking at surf camps or accommodation that can provide or advise on guides/boats when needed.

We’d rather keep it as cheap as possible without sacrificing too much safety/health etc.

What areas/islands would you recommend? Any you wouldn’t?

What time of year should we be looking at? (We’re not looking for huge waves but don’t want it tiny. 5-8ft faces would be ideal with good winds obviously)

Is a budget of between $60 and $80 (USD) per person per day for everything realistic?

Is it better to get everything ‘all in’ at the same place, boat, guide, beers etc etc or put together your own package?

Any specific recommendations on camps/accomm etc?

We have all travelled a fair bit so know what to expect in terms of general travelling advice but are there any other things that we should think about that we might not have, that might be considered almost essential e.g. western guides, reef boots, 12 board quiver etc?

If it’s going to be super expensive we’ll still do it, but probably only once, if we can get the price down a bit we might try for every 5 years

[jaffa1949]

There are a lot of options to choose from....... there are island camps that range from feral price levels with just a hut and meals and a canoe to nearby breaks. Hi end resorts come in at least $100 per day and should cover boats to nearby breaks and transfers to the island, + government taxes and other stuff. Check out Macaronis at the southern end , Kandui resort and villas in playgrounds area there are other resorts in the Playground area too and the various resorts around the Telos end. You also have Nias and the actual coast of Sumatra to consider too.

Boats depending on where you coming from if you want an all mates. Charter get in early boats may already be booked for the 2017 season.
As will the camps, doing it yourself means ferry rides and often being stuck on one island and it's conditions.
I recommend Kandui Resort from personal experience they access at least 25 waves varying from good longboard waves to death slabs and everything between. There are five breaks in easy distance the rest further away. All boat trips take you to stuff you can handle and often faster than the charter boats can get there.
Don't think the Mentawais are uncrowded, boats and more camps resorts and home stays can mean quite a few in the water usually all good to excellent surfers.
Research a little what you think you might want and I can help further.

[Surfsisurf]

No worries about being late as looking at 2018 season.
We ideally want land based accommodation, not boat, but with access to a boat when we need it. So sounds like we need a camp. Kandui is way out of price range at $300 per day though.

Our priorities are as uncrowded as possible with good choice of waves.
I know uncrowded is a bit hard to find but that is high on the wish list. Am I right in thinking that Playgrounds area is one of the busiest?

We could probably stretch to $100 per day or even $120 for the right trip

[jaffa1949]

Playgrounds is one of the busier areas, but a large amount of breaks to choose from, at least 30 I know of.
Other Camps Botik, Pitstop Hill, EBay camp Beng Beng camp, some home stays, There are about 3 camps up the Telos end at least.
Have you surfed in Indonesia before? You can get good and cheaper camps along Java and Mainland Sumatra, Lombok is worth considering As is Sumba and Sumbawa.
Consider that your costs in the Mentawais have to cover petrol between islands and meals and bedding.
Think too malaria and tropical mosquito diseases, the further you go down the accommodation food chain the more at risk you are.
Beer is always a separate tab too.

[RinkyDink]

If I were in a group of 10, then I'd just pick a country with good surf, create a caravan of two or three rent-a-wrecks, and head down the road looking for surf Endless Summer style. Bring some camping gear as well as hit cheap lodging along the way. The surf is crowded as hell in California, but you can still drive down Pacific Coast Highway (Central & Northern Cal for the most part), and find all kinds of uncrowded wave treasures along the coast if you give yourself a little time to explore. I met some fishermen who worked on a boat and surfed all up and down the coast on their way back to Alaska. They surfed all kinds of barren breaks. If you're up for a real adventure, I'd imagine the coasts of Africa probably have some amazing waves (sharky, but with 10 humans you're probably okay).

[Surfsisurf]

I think a US surf trip is on the cards at some point, for me anyway, but this one is definitely going to be somewhere on the Sumatran Islands. It's a friend's 50th and its' on his 'must do' list.

I have surfed Bali, Lombok and Lembongan many many years ago.
As for Africa, we go to Morocco every year but don't fancy the extra shark factor of Namibia or other similar countries!

Malaria is definitely a consideration and I know I don't get on with a couple the drugs, although most other tropical diseases I'm already vaccinated for from other trips.

Our max budget is around $2500 USD but that includes flights from the UK at around $800. 10 days would be minimum, 12 preferable.

I will check out the camps mentioned. Aloita resort looks nice with hood reviews but not sure if it would be in budget.

[jaffa1949]

Have a look at Beng Bengs surf resort, it's well situated with 3 waves in easy walk , some good waves on the other side of the island, prices inAustralia dollars and cheaper rates for more surfers in the group. It is close to your price range.
They boat to other waves too. There are others cheaper but they start to hit you up for boat cost and transfers. Which ever way you come you need to end up in Padang Sumatra for the ferry trip out and there are fast ferries and slow ferries. Some resorts offer speedboat transfer some include it others don't works out about $350 .
Really I would at anything that good inclusions, without that you could be stung big time.

Things to know, government resort or hotel tax, local government tax, are your ferry transfers included, staying in Padang to meet ferry costs.
Travel insurance a must, being medivaced would bankrupt you and an Indonesian hospital would be your end without it.

I figure since you've done travel in other parts of Indo you know this.

[Surfsisurf]

Thanks for all the help, given me a bit to think about and research.