HTs Mentawai Surf Package: Lance’s Right Trip Guide
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An HTs Mentawai surf package is a trip built around Lance’s Right, the hollow right-hander at Katiet on the southern tip of Sipora. Most packages are 7 to 12 nights at a Katiet land camp with meals, boat access and Padang transfers, or a charter that works HTs into a longer route. The main season runs April to October.
Few waves in Indonesia have a whole trip category named after them. HTs does. Surfers ask for an “HTs package” because they want to sleep close to one specific reef and surf it as often as the swell allows, rather than hop between regions. This guide explains what an HTs Mentawai surf package normally covers, how a Katiet land stay compares with a boat trip, what it typically costs in 2026, and the planning details that catch people out.
What an HTs Mentawai surf package usually includes
“HTs” stands for Hollow Trees, a name reportedly taken from a hollow tree that once stood near the break. Surf guides and maps also list the wave as Lance’s Right. Packages sold under either name follow a fairly standard pattern, although every operator sets its own inclusions.
- Accommodation in or near Katiet, the village at the southern end of Sipora closest to the reef.
- Full board: three meals a day, drinking water, tea and coffee.
- Boat access to HTs and the neighbouring breaks when the main reef is not the best call.
- Transfers from Padang, which may include an airport pickup, a Padang hotel night and the ferry to Tuapejat, followed by an onward transfer arranged by the camp.
- Surf guiding at many camps, ranging from a staff member who knows the reef to a formal guiding programme.
What is usually not included: international and domestic flights, travel insurance, alcohol, board bag fees, tips and the regency surf levy. Some camps fold the levy into the price; most list it separately.
The wave that shapes the trip
Lance’s Right is a fast, mechanical right-hand barrel breaking over shallow coral. It is generally rated intermediate to advanced, with bigger days suited to experienced tube riders only. Commonly cited ideal conditions are a solid south-west swell in the 6 to 8 foot range with light or offshore wind, although the wave can work smaller and hold more size.
The inside section has a well-known nickname, the Surgeon’s Table, and it earns it at low tide. Plan your sessions around the tide, wear booties if your camp recommends them, and pack a proper reef-cut kit. Next door, Lance’s Left offers a different look on the same swell, and Bintangs and Iceland are alternatives in the wider Katiet area when the swell direction, tide or wind favour them.
Crowds vary a lot. On a moderate swell in the shoulder months you might share it with a handful of people. On a good swell in July, with several camps and visiting charter boats in the channel, the take-off zone gets competitive quickly because the peak is tight.
Katiet land camp or boat charter?
Your first real decision is where you sleep. Both approaches can deliver good HTs sessions, but they suit different surfers.
| Factor | Katiet land camp | Boat charter that includes HTs |
|---|---|---|
| Time on HTs | High: you are minutes away and can surf it every suitable session | Lower: the boat may spend a day or two here, then move on |
| Wave variety | Katiet-area breaks reachable by boat | Several regions in one trip, depending on swell |
| Comfort | Beds on land, more space, easier for non-surfing partners | Cabin space, motion at anchor, group living |
| Flexibility on dates | Fixed arrival days tied to the ferry schedule | Fixed departure dates set by the boat |
| Typical 2026 cost | Around USD 135 to 800+ per person per night, by camp level | Around USD 1,900 to 4,400 per person for 10 to 12 days |
If HTs is the reason you are going, a land camp gives you the most sessions on it. If you want HTs as one stop among several, a charter makes more sense. For a broader comparison of camp tiers, our Mentawai surf camp price guide breaks down what each level typically includes.
Best season for HTs
The Mentawai main season is generally April to October. The most reliable large south-west swells tend to arrive between June and August, with mid-June to early August historically the strongest stretch. That is when HTs shows its heaviest side and when camps fill first.
April, May, September and October are the shoulder months many repeat visitors prefer. Swell is less consistent than in peak season, but there are usually fewer people in the water and winds are often lighter. From November to March the wet season brings smaller, less predictable swell and more rain, although usable windows still happen. Our existing Mentawai surf season page covers the month-by-month pattern in more depth.
What an HTs package typically costs
Prices vary by operator, room type, season and how many transfers are bundled in. Based on published 2025 and 2026 rates, typical ranges look like this:
- Budget or guesthouse-style camp: around USD 135 to 200 per person per night, often with meals and boats included.
- Mid-range camp: around USD 285 to 500 per person per night.
- Premium resort: around USD 350 to 800 or more per person per night, sometimes before government tax and service charge.
On top of the package, budget for flights to Padang, insurance, drinks and tips. Surfers also pay the Mentawai surf levy, which rose to IDR 2,000,000 per foreign surfer for each 15-day period in February 2024. Some operators reported in 2026 that payment had moved to an online system with a small app fee, so confirm the current amount and method shortly before you travel. For the full trip budget, including flights by departure country, see the Mentawai surf holiday price breakdown.
Getting to Katiet
Flights to Padang
All routes run through Padang’s Minangkabau International Airport (PDG). Most travellers connect through Jakarta, a flight of roughly 1 hour 45 minutes. Direct services from Kuala Lumpur and Singapore are listed by some carriers, but schedules change, so check your dates before you book anything else. There is no reliable scheduled passenger flight from Padang into the Mentawais, so plan on the sea crossing.
The crossing
The Mentawai Fast ferry leaves from Muaro Padang harbour and reaches Tuapejat, the main town on Sipora, in roughly three to four hours. Sailings to Tuapejat have typically run on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, but the operator can change days, so confirm the week you travel. Camps then arrange the onward leg to Katiet. Some operators also offer a private speedboat directly from Padang, usually priced per boat and better value for groups.
Arrival days
Because the ferry runs on set days, most camps also have set arrival and departure days. Book flights around the camp’s transfer day, not the other way round, and leave a buffer night in Padang on the way home in case weather delays a sailing.
Planning tips specific to HTs
- Bring a step-up board. A standard shortboard plus something 2 to 4 inches longer and slightly thicker covers most days.
- Ask each camp how far its accommodation is from the take-off. Some locations need a paddle of more than 20 minutes or a short boat ride.
- Check what the camp does on small days, because Lance’s Left and the nearby breaks can rescue a week of light swell.
- Confirm medical and evacuation cover. Katiet is remote and a reef injury can mean a long trip to a hospital.
Quick facts
- Wave: Lance’s Right (HTs, Hollow Trees), right-hand reef barrel
- Location: Katiet, southern Sipora, Mentawai Islands
- Level: intermediate to advanced; big days for experienced surfers only
- Season: April to October, most reliable swell June to August
- Typical stay: 7 to 12 nights
- Surf levy: IDR 2,000,000 per foreign surfer per 15 days (since February 2024)
Frequently asked questions
Is HTs suitable for intermediate surfers?
On smaller, cleaner days a confident intermediate surfer who is comfortable over reef can ride it. On solid swells it becomes a serious barrel over shallow coral. Choose a camp that can take you to gentler nearby waves when HTs is too heavy for you.
How many nights should an HTs package be?
Seven nights is the common minimum, but 10 to 12 nights gives you a better chance of catching a quality swell. Swell arrives in pulses, and a short stay can fall between them.
Can I surf HTs on a boat trip instead of a land camp?
Yes. Many charters visit the southern Sipora area on suitable swells. You will get fewer sessions on HTs itself but more variety across the island chain.
Is the surf levy included in HTs packages?
Sometimes. Many operators list it as an extra. Ask whether your quote includes the levy, and plan for IDR 2,000,000 per surfer for each 15-day period unless told otherwise.
When do Katiet camps book out?
June to August fills first. For those months, start enquiring several months ahead, and earlier if you need a specific room or are travelling as a group.
Plan your HTs trip
This site is an independent planning guide. We help you compare Mentawai surf packages and connect with operators that fit your dates, level and budget. Send your dates and group size on WhatsApp at +62 811 3941 4563 or email bd@juaraholding.com, and we will help you shortlist options.
