Real Photos From Our Mentawai Tribe Tours

Every photo below is from an actual Pulau Asli Tour trip — no stock photography, no staged scenes.

These are real moments from real Mentawai tribe tours and surf camps led by Andrian Salis and the Pulau Asli Tour team on Siberut Island — Sikerei families welcoming guests into their UMA, traditional tattoo and craft sessions, jungle treks, and shared meals. Every photo is tagged with what's actually happening, so you know exactly what a trip with us looks like before you book your own.

Community & Guest Moments

Andrian Salis with guests Olivia and Nam from the UK alongside a Mentawai Sikerei shaman and his wife in Siberut village — Unforgettable moments in Siberut with Olivia and Nam alongside a Mentawai Sikerei and his wife.

Andrian Salis posing with a guest family after completing a Mentawai tribe tour in Siberut — A joyful farewell moment with a wonderful family after an unforgettable Mentawai journey.

Tour guests conversing with a visiting Mentawai Sikerei inside a traditional Siberut longhouse — Cultural exchange: travelers engaging in conversation with a visiting Sikerei inside the *uma*.

Solo female traveler enjoying a safe guided tour with Pulau Asli Tour in Siberut Mentawai — Exploring the heart of Mentawai safely as a solo female traveler with Pulau Asli Tour.

Tour guest child playing and bathing in a clean Siberut rainforest river alongside a Mentawai Sikerei family — Pure joy: guest child sharing smiles and a refreshing river bath with a Mentawai Sikerei family.

Mentawai Sikerei applying traditional forest-leaf medicine to a tour guest's leg in Siberut — Traditional plant medicine in practice: a Sikerei treating a guest with forest-leaf remedies.

Tour guests harvesting palm leaves alongside the Mentawai community in Siberut — Hands-on harvest: guests gathering palm leaves with the local Mentawai community.

Tour guest posing in a group portrait with a Mentawai Sikerei family in Siberut — A group photo to remember: a guest with the Sikerei’s family in Siberut.

Tour guest harvesting palm leaves alongside an elderly Mentawai woman in Siberut village — Learning from the elders: a guest harvesting palm with a Mentawai grandmother.

Tour guest sharing phone photos with Mentawai women in Siberut village — Sharing photos and smiles: a guest showing phone pictures to Mentawai women.

Tour guest showing phone photos to an elderly Mentawai woman in Siberut — Bridging generations and technology: a guest showing photos to a Mentawai elder.

Tour guest with a village dog at the entrance of a traditional uma longhouse in Siberut — A friendly welcome: a guest and the village dog at the uma’s entrance.

Tour guest photographing a Mentawai Sikerei by the fire inside a Siberut uma — Capturing the moment: a guest photographing a Sikerei by firelight.

Tour guest in an evening portrait with Mentawai Sikerei elders in Siberut — An evening portrait with the Sikerei elders after a day of shared culture.

Tour guest in a group portrait with the entire Sikerei family in Siberut village — The whole family: a guest’s group portrait with an entire Sikerei household.

Tour guest taking a selfie with a Mentawai woman and their local guide in Siberut — A quick selfie moment with a Mentawai woman and the guide.

Tour guest with a Mentawai Sikerei holding a forest axe and a cooked forest snack in Siberut — After the find: a guest and Sikerei with the axe and a freshly cooked forest snack.

Tour guest giving a thumbs up by the river while a Sikerei prepares medicine in the background in Siberut — Thumbs up by the river while the Sikerei works his traditional remedies nearby.

Tour guest walking with Mentawai women through a village garden in Siberut — A stroll through the garden with the women of the village.

Tour guests with local Mentawai children in a bamboo forest in Siberut — Playful moments: guests with local children among the bamboo.

Tour guest with local children and a Mentawai Sikerei inside a traditional uma in Siberut — Family time in the uma: a guest with children and a Sikerei.

Tour guests relaxing by the river in a Mentawai village in Siberut — River time: guests relaxing by the water in the village.

Tour guests with a local boy and village dog at a traditional uma in Siberut — New friends: guests with a local boy and the village dog at the uma.

Group of tour guests giving thumbs up with a Mentawai Sikerei standing in the river in Siberut — Group photo in the river with the Sikerei looking on.

Tour guest holding a chicken inside a traditional uma longhouse in Siberut — Village life up close: a guest holding one of the uma’s chickens.

Tour guest posing with the extended Sikerei family inside a traditional uma in Siberut — The extended family: a guest’s portrait inside the uma with the whole household.

Tour guest sitting with a Mentawai elder on the porch of a Siberut uma longhouse — A quiet moment on the uma porch with a Mentawai elder.

Andrian Salis with Mentawai Sikerei shaman on Uma porch, Siberut Island — Founder and friend: Andrian Salis with a Sikerei on the uma porch.

Guest with local family outside Kokos surf shop, Mentawai — A friendly stop: a guest with a local family outside the Kokos surf shop.

Guests dressed in traditional Mentawai costume with Sikerei inside Uma — Dressed the traditional way: guests in Mentawai costume with a Sikerei.

Guests taking a selfie with a tattooed Sikerei inside Uma — Selfie with a Sikerei, traditional tattoos on full display.

Guide and guest with Sikerei couple, group portrait inside Uma — Guide, guest, and a Sikerei couple — a group portrait inside the uma.

Mentawai family daily life inside Uma longhouse interior — A candid look at Mentawai family life inside the uma.

Two elderly Sikerei eating durian, tattoos visible, inside Uma — Sharing durian: two elderly Sikerei, traditional tattoos on show.

Guest standing in front of a traditional Uma longhouse, Mentawai — Framed by the uma: a guest on the path to a traditional longhouse.

Sikerei: Daily Life & Rituals

Mentawai Sikerei applying handmade natural poison to wooden arrows for hunting in Siberut — A Mentawai Sikerei carefully preparing poisoned arrows for a traditional hunting expedition.

Mentawai Sikerei crafting natural arrow poison using freshly harvested rainforest plants in Siberut — Crafting natural poison for hunting arrows using freshly gathered Siberut rainforest plants.

Mentawai Sikerei eating traditional sago caterpillar as a natural protein source in Siberut rainforest — A Mentawai Sikerei enjoying traditional sago caterpillars deep in the Siberut rainforest.

Mentawai Sikerei mixing traditional soot-based tattoo ink in a coconut shell mortar in Siberut — Preparing the ink: a Sikerei mixing traditional soot-based tattoo ink by hand.

Mentawai Sikerei preparing natural arrow poison ingredients with a tour guest in Siberut — Preparing the poison arrow tips together, guest and Sikerei side by side.

Mentawai Sikerei preparing natural forest ingredients by the riverside in Siberut — Riverside preparation: a Sikerei working with natural forest ingredients.

Mentawai Sikerei mixing traditional natural ingredients by the river in Siberut — Mixing tradition by the water: a Sikerei blending natural riverside ingredients.

Mentawai Sikerei holding bamboo containers of freshly prepared medicine by a Siberut river — Medicine ready: a Sikerei holding bamboo containers by the jungle river.

Mentawai Sikerei chopping wood with a traditional tool in the Siberut jungle — Everyday jungle work: a Sikerei chopping wood with a traditional tool.

Mentawai Sikerei and tour guests gathered together at night inside a Siberut uma — Evening in the uma: a Sikerei and guests gathered together after dark.

Mentawai Sikerei holding a jungle vine for a tour guest to drink emergency water from, child watching in Siberut — The Sikerei lends a hand: helping a guest drink straight from a forest vine.

Tour guest sitting with a tattooed Mentawai Sikerei family inside a Siberut uma longhouse — Inside the uma: a guest sitting with a tattooed Sikerei family.

Tour guests group portrait with a tattooed Mentawai Sikerei family inside a Siberut uma — Group portrait with the Sikerei family, traditional tattoos on full display.

Mentawai woman tending the fire hearth inside Uma — Keeping the hearth alive: a Mentawai woman tending the fire.

Two Mentawai women preparing fish food inside Uma — Preparing the day's meal: two Mentawai women with fresh fish.

Monkey skull hunting trophies hanging inside Uma longhouse — Hunting trophies: monkey skulls hung facing outward, their spirit belonging to the forest.

Monkey skull hunting trophies hanging on Uma roof beam — Close-up on tradition: hunted skulls hung from the uma's roof beam.

Wild boar skulls hanging from Uma roof, Mentawai hunting tradition — Wild boar skulls hanging from the roof, marking a successful hunt.

Two Sikerei relaxing on the Uma porch, Mentawai — Downtime on the porch: two Sikerei relaxing together.

Sikerei preparing arrow poison while guests watch, Mentawai — Guests watching closely as a Sikerei prepares arrow poison.

Sikerei examining medicinal forest plants, Mentawai jungle — Reading the forest: a Sikerei examining plants for medicinal use.

Wild boar skulls hanging from Uma roof beams, Mentawai — A wider look at the boar skulls hanging from the roof beams.

Traditional Craft & Tattoo

Tour guest sketching a traditional Mentawai tattoo draft using authentic tribal tools in Siberut — Hands-on culture: a guest practicing traditional Mentawai tattoo drafting in Siberut.

Mentawai Sikerei and tour guest washing newly made traditional tree bark cloth in a Siberut river — Rinsing freshly crafted tree bark clothing (*kaburit*) in the river with a Mentawai Sikerei.

Tour guests sharing a laugh with a Mentawai Sikerei after crafting traditional tree bark clothing in Siberut — Warm moments: guests sharing a lighthearted laugh with a Sikerei after making traditional tree bark loincloths.

Tour guests hugging and laughing with a Mentawai Sikerei after completing traditional tree bark clothing in Siberut — Heartwarming moments: guests sharing hugs and big laughs with a Sikerei after making traditional bark clothing together.

Mentawai Sikerei teaching a guest child how to make traditional tree bark clothing in Siberut village — Passing down traditions: a Mentawai Sikerei guiding a guest child in processing tree bark for traditional clothing.

Mentawai Sikerei hand-tap tattooing a tour guest's arm using traditional method in Siberut — The traditional hand-tap method: a Sikerei tattooing a guest’s arm in Siberut.

Local Mentawai craftsman weaving rattan strips inside a traditional uma longhouse in Siberut — Handcraft in the uma: a local craftsman weaving rattan strips the traditional way.

Portrait of a Mentawai Sikerei with his family, showing traditional tribal tattoos in Siberut — A family portrait: a Sikerei and his family, marked by generations of traditional tattoos.

Mentawai Sikerei teaching a tour guest how to weave palm leaves in Siberut — A hands-on lesson: a Sikerei teaching a guest traditional palm-leaf weaving.

Close-up of a Mentawai Sikerei hand-tap tattooing a tour guest's leg in Siberut — Close-up: the traditional hand-tap tattoo technique in action on a guest’s leg.

Mentawai Sikerei performing a full traditional tattoo session on a tour guest's leg in Siberut — A full traditional tattoo session, guest and Sikerei working together in Siberut.

Mentawai Sikerei crafting traditional hunting arrows together with a tour guest in Siberut — Hands-on tradition: a Sikerei and a guest crafting arrows together.

Tour guest weaving palm leaves together with a Mentawai woman in Siberut village — Learning to weave: a guest and a Mentawai woman working palm leaves by hand.

Tour guests learning palm leaf weaving from a Mentawai family in Siberut — A shared skill: guests learning palm leaf weaving from a Mentawai family.

Tour guests with a Mentawai Sikerei holding traditional bark cloth in the Siberut jungle — Bark cloth in hand: guests with a Sikerei showing traditional tree-bark clothing.

Tour guest practicing traditional Mentawai archery alongside a local boy in Siberut — Bow in hand: a guest practicing traditional archery with a local boy.

Rattan stem, traditional inspiration for Sikerei shoulder tattoo motif — Nature as design: the rattan stem that inspired a Sikerei's shoulder tattoo.

Close-up of Sikerei hand tattoo with spiral pattern — Spirals and symbols: a close-up of traditional tattoo work on the hand.

Sikerei in traditional kabit dress with full body tattoos, standing in a river — Full traditional dress: a Sikerei's kabit and full-body tattoos by the river.

Sikerei full body portrait with traditional tattoos at a waterfall — A striking portrait: full traditional tattoos at a jungle waterfall.

Close-up of traditional Mentawai arm and hand tattoo on Uma porch — Traditional motifs up close, photographed on the uma porch.

Traditional Mentawai geometric grid pattern tattoo on arm — Geometry in ink: a traditional grid-pattern tattoo on the arm.

Traditional Mentawai star motif tattoo on shoulder, close-up — A star motif tattoo, close up on the shoulder.

Traditional Mentawai Titi tattoo motif on elbow, close-up — The Titi motif, traditionally inked at the elbow.

Traditional Mentawai leg tattoo, back view showing ankle motif — Traditional motifs from a different angle: leg and ankle tattoos, back view.

Traditional Mentawai herringbone tattoo motif on forearm — A herringbone motif tattoo, worn the length of the forearm.

Two Sikerei peeling tree bark from a forest log for traditional cloth — Where bark cloth begins: two Sikerei peeling bark from a forest log.

Guest learning sago leaf roof thatch weaving with a Mentawai woman — Learning the craft: a guest weaving sago leaf roof thatch.

Guests group weaving palm leaves with local children inside Uma — Weaving together: guests and local children working palm leaves.

Guest with an elderly Mentawai woman weaving by the fire — By the fire: a guest learning to weave from a Mentawai elder.

Uma longhouse under construction, wooden frame structure — Behind the architecture: a traditional uma under construction.

Guest at the entrance of an elevated traditional Uma longhouse, Mentawai — The uma's elevated entrance, a guest at the stairway.

Guest with full exterior view of traditional Uma longhouse architecture — A full view of traditional uma architecture.

Sikerei peeling tree bark for traditional Mentawai clothing — Detail shot: peeling bark for traditional bark cloth.

Guest and Sikerei weaving a sago leaf roof panel, Mentawai — Weaving a sago leaf roof panel, guest and Sikerei side by side.

Guests and local children weaving palm leaves by the fire, Mentawai — Fireside craft: guests and children weaving palm leaves together.

Sikerei cutting sago leaves with a machete, Mentawai forest — Machete work: a Sikerei cutting sago leaves in the forest.

Sikerei processing tree bark for traditional clothing, Mentawai — From bark to cloth: processing the raw material by hand.

Sikerei peeling tree bark with a knife, Mentawai forest — Peeling bark with a traditional knife, step one of bark cloth.

Jungle Trekking & Forest Life

Tour guests crossing a Siberut jungle river by traditional wooden canoe during a Mentawai tribe tour — Crossing the river the traditional way — by dugout canoe deep in the Siberut rainforest.

Andrian Salis guiding tour guests through the Siberut jungle on a Mentawai tribe tour — Andrian Salis leading guests deep into the Siberut jungle.

Tour guests trekking through the Siberut jungle together with the local Mentawai community — Trekking together: guests and the local Mentawai community deep in the Siberut jungle.

Tour guest bonding with an elderly Mentawai woman in the Siberut jungle — A quiet, genuine moment of bonding between a guest and a Mentawai elder.

Tour guest posing at a jungle waterfall during a Mentawai tour in Siberut — A refreshing stop: a guest posing at a hidden Siberut jungle waterfall.

Tour guest and local guide taking a selfie together at a Siberut jungle waterfall — Selfie stop: a guest and guide together at a Siberut waterfall.

Tour guest with a Mentawai woman holding a freshly picked durian in Siberut forest — Forest bounty: a guest and a Mentawai woman with a freshly picked durian.

Tour guests walking with a Mentawai Sikerei through the Siberut jungle forest — Deep in the forest: guests walking alongside a Mentawai Sikerei.

Tour guests trekking a muddy jungle trail alongside a Mentawai Sikerei in Siberut — Mud and all: guests trekking a real jungle trail with a Sikerei as their guide.

Tour guest drinking emergency water from a cut jungle vine during a Mentawai jungle trek — Nature’s water bottle: a guest drinking straight from a forest vine.

Local Mentawai boy drinking water from a forest vine in the Siberut jungle — A local boy shows how it’s done: drinking straight from a jungle vine.

Tour guests and their local guide taking a selfie during a Siberut jungle trek — Trail selfie: guests and their guide mid-trek in the Siberut jungle.

Tour guests wearing traditional Mentawai skirts while river fishing in Siberut — Dressed the traditional way: guests river fishing in traditional Mentawai skirts.

Tour guest crossing a river with Mentawai Sikerei men on the way to a Siberut village — Crossing the river together with Sikerei men on the way to the village.

Tour guest trekking a muddy jungle trail with a walking stick in Siberut — Real trail conditions: a guest trekking through the mud with a walking stick.

Local guide and tour guest waiting for a river boat in Siberut — Waiting for the boat: guide and guest by the riverbank.

Local guide collecting water from a jungle stream during a Siberut trek — Refilling from a jungle stream mid-trek.

Misty sunrise over a jungle river in the Mentawai Islands — Sunrise mist rising off a Siberut jungle river.

Muddy rainforest trail path in the Mentawai jungle, Siberut Island — A real Siberut rainforest trail — mud included.

Wild boar family spotted in the Mentawai jungle wildlife, Siberut Island — An unexpected sighting: a wild boar family in the Siberut jungle.

Sikerei and guest chopping a sago palm log in the jungle — Working together: a Sikerei and guest chopping a sago palm log.

Guests and guide posing at a jungle waterfall pool, Mentawai — A cool-off stop: guests and guide at a jungle waterfall pool.

Guests and guides group photo at the start of the trek on a village road, Mentawai — Day one: guests and guides at the start of the trek.

Guests and guides group photo at the end of the trek by truck, Mentawai — Trek complete: guests and guides at the finish, truck waiting.

Guests and guides riding a motorbike convoy on a rainy Mentawai road — Rain or shine: a motorbike convoy heading to the village.

Guides pushing a truck stuck in mud on the Trans-Mentawai road — Real road conditions: guides pushing a truck free from the mud.

Guest with muddy legs giving thumbs up on the Trans-Mentawai road — Mud and a thumbs up — the Trans-Mentawai road doesn't slow guests down.

Guests laughing inside boat cabin during a river transfer, Mentawai — Laughs on the river transfer, boat cabin included.

Guests wading in a clear jungle river in Mentawai — Wading through a clear jungle river, hunting for something in the shallows.

Guests cutting a forest vine for emergency water, Mentawai jungle — Reaching for a jungle vine — a traditional emergency water source.

Sikerei giving a thumbs up at a hidden jungle waterfall, Mentawai — All smiles: a Sikerei at a hidden jungle waterfall.

Guest and Sikerei portrait at a hidden waterfall, Mentawai — A portrait stop at a hidden waterfall, guest and Sikerei together.

Sikerei and guest at a natural waterfall pool, Mentawai jungle — A Sikerei and guest beside a natural waterfall pool.

Andrian Salis and Sikerei at a natural jungle pool, Mentawai — Andrian and a Sikerei at a natural jungle pool.

Swimming in a natural jungle pool, Siberut Mentawai — A refreshing swim in a natural jungle pool.

Guest and guide navigating a steep muddy jungle trail, Mentawai — Real trail conditions: a steep, muddy jungle descent.

Food & Village Traditions

Tour guests sharing a traditional dinner with a Mentawai Sikerei family inside a Siberut uma — Sharing a warm traditional dinner inside the *uma* with a Mentawai Sikerei family.

Mentawai Sikerei holding freshly harvested sago grubs on a leaf in Siberut rainforest — Fresh from the sago palm: a Sikerei holding a leaf of sago grubs.

Cooked sago grubs served as traditional Mentawai food in Siberut village — From forest to fire: cooked sago grubs, a traditional Mentawai delicacy.

Local Mentawai girl tending a traditional cooking fire inside a Siberut village home — Everyday life in Siberut: a local girl tending the traditional cooking fire.

Tour guest joining an evening gathering with a Sikerei family eating forest snails in Siberut — An evening around the fire: a guest joining the Sikerei family for forest snails.

Mentawai women processing sago flour using traditional method in Siberut village — The traditional way: Mentawai women processing sago into flour by hand.

Tour guest sharing a traditional meal with a Mentawai family in Siberut village — Sharing a meal, sharing a life: a guest at the table with a Mentawai family.

Tour guests searching for sago grubs by extracting sago pith with a Sikerei in Siberut — Digging for dinner: guests and a Sikerei searching for sago grubs in a fallen palm.

Tour guests eating fresh tropical fruit in a Mentawai village in Siberut — A taste of the tropics: guests enjoying fresh fruit in the village.

Close-up of a tour guest extracting sago grubs from a fallen palm log in Siberut — Up close: a guest extracting sago grubs straight from a fallen palm log.

Fresh sago grubs in a wooden tray, Mentawai traditional food — Fresh from the palm: sago grubs in a wooden tray.

Grilled sago wrapped in leaf, traditional Mentawai meal — Grilled sago in leaf wrap, ready to eat.

Domesticated pigs raised in a Mentawai village, Siberut Island — Village life: domesticated pigs foraging near the houses.

Guest carrying a bundle of sago leaves through the Mentawai forest — Carrying sago leaves back from the forest.

Guest and Mentawai woman collecting sago leaves in the forest — Collecting sago leaves together in the forest.

Sago grubs in a wooden tray, traditional Mentawai food — Sago grubs, a traditional Mentawai forest food.

Surf Camp & Arrival

Tour guests arriving with their guide and luggage transport in Siberut — Arrival day: guests and their luggage making their way in with the guide.

Local guide and surf guest checking a surfboard at the dock in Mentawai — Board check at the dock before heading out to the break.

Tour guests relaxing on a tropical beach in the Mentawai Islands — Downtime on a Mentawai beach — sun, sand, and quiet.

Tour guest relaxing on a white sand beach in the Mentawai Islands — Beach downtime: a guest relaxing on Mentawai's white sand.

Tour guests on a boat transfer with a surfboard in the Mentawai Islands — Boat transfer day, board in tow.

Surf boat crossing turquoise water in the Mentawai Islands — Turquoise water crossing on the way to the break.

Guest family group portrait on a Padang street before departing to Mentawai — Before it all begins: a guest family in Padang, ready for Mentawai.

Guest selecting a surfboard with staff, Mentawai surf camp rental room — Picking a board with help from the surf camp staff.

Mentawai guesthouse accommodation at night — Guesthouse accommodation, evening view.

Mentawai surf camp grounds with bungalows and palm trees — Surf camp grounds, bungalows framed by palm trees.

Photo Gallery FAQ

Are these real photos from actual Pulau Asli Tour guests?

Yes. Every photo on this page was taken during real Pulau Asli Tour trips — tribe tours and surf camps — with actual guests, actual Sikerei families, and actual villages on Siberut Island. Nothing here is staged or stock photography.

Will my own trip include moments like these?

Every group is different, so the exact moments vary, but the core experience shown here — time with a real Sikerei family, jungle trekking, traditional craft, and shared meals — is standard on every tribe tour package, not a one-off for photos.

Are the Sikerei families shown here paid to pose for tourists?

No. Pulau Asli Tour never stages rituals or moments for tourist entertainment. What you see — tattooing, arrow poison preparation, cooking, weaving — is authentic community life that guests are welcomed into, not a performance.

Can I request specific photos from my own trip afterward?

Yes. Andrian and the guiding team take photos throughout every trip and are happy to share them with guests afterward via WhatsApp or email — just ask before or during your trip so the team knows to capture your group.

Do surf camp guests get photos like these too?

Some — the Surf Camp & Arrival section shows a few surf-side moments, but most of this gallery is from tribe tours since that is where most guest-Sikerei interaction happens. Surf guests can still request photos from their own trip.

Is it okay to take my own photos and videos during the tour?

Yes, guests are welcome to photograph and film most of the trip. Some sacred ceremonies may have photography restrictions out of respect for the Sikerei — your guide will tell you clearly when this applies.

Ready to Make Your Own Mentawai Memories?

Join a real Sikerei family on Siberut Island for an experience worth photographing — guided by a 3rd-generation native of Mentawai.

✓ Chat Andrian to Book