Authentic Sumatra
Community Cooperative started in 2010
Locally Owned with 100% local staff
Lodging, Day Trips
Activities: Surfing
Venture beyond the well-trodden paths of conventional tourism with Authentic Sumatra, a boutique tour operator that unlocks the true essence of this Indonesian island. Steeped in a commitment to sustainable travel, Authentic Sumatra weaves journeys that intimately connect travelers to the heart of the Mentawai community, ensuring every experience is as enriching for the visitor as it is for the community.
Established by the visionary Ricky Putra Sinaro, Authentic Sumatra’s ethos is deeply rooted in creating meaningful exchanges. Ricky, having formed profound ties with the Mentawai over a decade, channeled his passion into crafting tours that promote understanding, mutual respect, and socio-economic upliftment. Unlike many operators, this isn’t about fleeting moments or ticking off attractions; it's about forging deep connections, understanding traditions, and contributing to the growth and preservation of the community.
Choosing Authentic Sumatra means stepping into the world of the Mentawai, residing in traditional 'Uma' homes, partaking in age-old practices, and contributing to the community's welfare. It's not just about travel; it's about stories, relationships, and leaving a positive footprint. Through their endeavors in education, employment, and environmental conservation, Authentic Sumatra stands as a beacon of responsible tourism, ensuring that the beauty and traditions of Sumatra are celebrated, preserved, and shared with the world.
Lokal Travel Badges
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Community
Authentic Sumatra works closely with local communities in order to create community based tours in Sumatra. They only employ and train locals as guides or staff in order to help local communities and develop the economy of the region. About 15% of the income generated from tours goes to support the education of children in local communities. Ricky's Beach house supports local villagers by providing work, using local products, and using their income to support education and create an emergency fund for the community. By working in the beach house local people learn to speak English and leanr about the hospitality business. The goal is to teach them about tourism, which will provide them with more opportunities to expand their talents elsewhere.
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Environment
The Sumatran Turtle Conservation was formed in March 2016 to save the turtle population around the fishing village of Nagari Sungai Pinang, aiming to increase awareness of ecological matters among local inhabitants. They started this project because they found the sea turtles in Sumatra were in danger of becoming extinct and they were concernec by the widespreaad degradation of the Sumatran marine environment. While the program focuses mainly on rescuing turtles around the fishing village, their broader goal is to contribute to different aspects of marine conservation in Sumatra. In addition, they also have developed a project where villagers can join and learn how to make us of recycling plastic. They regularly organize "cleaning beach day" so local children can start to learn how to keep their surroundings clean.
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Traditions Preserved
Authentic Sumatra will give you a look inside the way of life of the Mentawai and take part in their daily activities. Some of the activities include: traditional fishing in the river, canoe on the river, walking through the jungle, preparation of sago (a starch made from palm trees), feeding the pigs, making loin clothes, poison for arrow.