MELALEUCA

MELALEUCA CHARTERS

An Endless Surf Team representative will pick you up at the airport in Padang and transport you to transit hotel or the boat depending what time you arrive. When you arrive at the Melaleuca you will find 80 feet of air conditioned comfort and space. Every square foot of the interior is under a/c except the galley and captains quarters. The main salon is equipped with comfortable couches, a bar, a flat screen TV, DVD player and stereo. The separate dining area is a nice feature for large groups. Six individual cabins make for a more luxurious feel than the dorm style. The Melaleuca has two, 3 person cabins, three, 2 person cabins and a surf guide cabin all with their own a/c units for individual comfort. Two bathrooms, one with an interior entrance allows you to stay dry and go during foul weather.  

The exterior is more spacious than any other local boat. The upper deck is huge with a booming stereo that you can hear in the lineup if you like. Half the upper deck is open and half is covered. You get real shade with our hard top. Suntan or get out of the sun and spread out with 360 degrees of unobstructed views of your mates getting barreled. The fishing station is also covered with a hard top and gives great access to some of the best fishing anywhere. Plenty of covered, easy access board storage, an outside shower and swim platform finish off this magnificent, spacious living area. 

The Melaleuca is powered by twin Mitsubishi 8DC9's with 320 HP each. Two Mitsubishi PS100 250 volt generators providing electricity. A cruising speed of 8 to 10 knots will get you to the waves and have you catching fish from break to break. Furuno Radar, Furuno GPS, Furuno Echo Sounder, Kenwood SSB Radio, Icom VHF Radio and all safety features including, seven fire extinguishers, a 20-person capacity life raft, 20 life preservers, SSB and VHF radio communications, one EPIRB, flares, smoke and emergency alarms. A 20 foot chauffer driven tender with 70 horsepower will get everyone where they need to go.

We prepare traditional Indonesian cuisine, western style, sushi, vegetarian and a variety of foods to please every palate. We include 3 meals, snacks, beverages and 3 beers a day. Our crew is seasoned and Ali Hendriana has 20 years experience as a Captain in Western Sumatra and the Mentawais.  Thanks for choosing the Melaleuca and our crew will make sure that you have the surf trip of a lifetime in the world's premier surfing destination.

THE PRICE

2012 SEASON 
 

Extended trips are available.  Trips to Telos, Nias and Banyaks are available. 

Exclusive Charter: The whole boat for 10 full days and 11 nights and up to max 10 passengers: USD$26,000
 
 Individual Charter: Per passenger for 10 full days and 11 nights: USD$2,750
 
 We reserve the right to book up to max 12 passengers per trip on individual or non-exclusive charters. Please note if less than 8 spots are showing "HELD" (5-11 spots available) on a departure (NOT GUARANTEED TO DEPART).  A group booking with 8 or more spots can take this departure.
 
Until 8 or more passengers are booked on a departure, the trip is not guaranteed.  Therefore it is unwise to ticket flights until 100% confirmed to depart. 

Trip 16 and 19 are OPEN for 11 passengers at the 10 person price
 
Off peak season exclusive charter - Trips 21-24
The whole boat for 10 full days and 11 nights and up to max 10 passengers:
 USD$22,500

Off peak season individual charter - Trips 21-24
Per passenger for 10 full days and 11 nights and up to max 12 passengers:
 USD$2,500

* prices are for CHARTER ONLY and subject to change at anytime.

* 2013 dates and prices are available.  Contact us now for early booking discounts! 

THE SURF

We've listed the main breaks from North to South with many other spots available.
Burgerworld - This is a mushy pointbreak - like righthander. Can offer barrels at times, but usually long rippable walls with many cutback sections.
E-Bay - This is a hollow left that barrels off the take-off with a short wall down the line. A great option when a lot of swell is hitting.
Pit Stops - This is the right off the peak at E-Bay Usually a playful right that can offer some cover-ups off the take-off, but mostly a high performance waves with air sections at the end. Ends in a sandy channel.
Bank Vaults - A heavy righthander that barrels and spits. Usually larger than most spots in the area. Watch out for clean-up sets.
Nipussi - A shorter right that breaks down the point from Bank Vaults. Definitely fun and rippable. Usually has fairly deep water from the takeoff to the inside. Ends in a riptide that sucks all the water back out to sea. A good option when there’s not much swell, and usually the most consistent spot in the area.
Hideaways - A very hollow left that can be shalow at times. It comes out of deep water, then unloads on a shallow section of reef before barreling towards the channel. Can get very shallow at low tides.
No Kanduis - A long barrelling left that wraps around a small island. Usually very sectiony, but can line up on the largest of swells. Many barrels on offer, but usually only makeable for one or two sections before clsing out and racing down the line.
Four Bobs - This is a small peak for when there is heaps of swell, or guys looking for a mellower option. Mainly a right with a short barrell off the takeoff, but quickly dies off into the channel. There’s an even shorter left, but usualy not worth the effort. 
Rifles - One of the best waves in the Mentawais. A very long righthander that wraps around the other side of the same island as No Kanduis. Rarely makeable from start to finish, but even just from section to section you can get rides up to 100 yards or longer. Nice and hollow once it’s a few feet overhead, but usually more sectiony at smaller sizes.
Icelands - Another consistent lefthander for when the swell is smaller. Usually always has some riddable surf, even when other breaks are flat.
Telescopes - A perfect wrapping left reef. Long walls wrap around the reef with very few sections on larger days. Mostly breaks in pretty deep water, but it can get heavy and shallow on the inside on the bigger days.
Scarecrows - Breaks off of an island just south of Telescopes. Good lefts but a bit more less predictable and shifty. It’s a short, wedgy wave that works best on a dropping high tide.
Bintangs - A short and hollow right across the channel from Lance’s Left. As the wave approaches the reef, the bottom drops out before barreling towards the channel. 
Lance’s Left - Long left walls wrap down the point before hitting the last section, which is the main take-off area. Great hollow section after the take-off. A bigger gun helps on the larger days. 
Hollow Trees (HT’s, Lance’s Right) - A great righthander that has been all over the surf mags and videos over the last decade. The main takeoff spot is up the point where most of the waves start barrelling and peel flawlessly down the reef. On larger swells it can be very shifty and hard to read. It can shift more to the end bowl where it can break, reform, then bowl again into the channel. The inside is very shallow and is often referred to as the “surgeon’s table” due to the many reef-cuts doled out to traveling surfers.
Macaronis - One of the most perfect waves in the world. A very hollow wave with many shallow spots. Lefts start from way up the point, then gradually slow down as it approaches the channel. The further up the point you paddle, the faster it barrels when you take-off. After the initial barrel ride, this wave offers one of the most rippable walls for any maneuvers you can think of.
Rags Left - A great lefthander that can hold the biggest swells. It is very hollow and can often dish out some of the heaviest hold-downs in the island chain. Usually a bit more water moving around so a larger board can be useful. 
Rags Right - A shorter, hollow right on the southern end of Rags Island. Similar to HT’s only a little shorter, but just as good. It can be fickle, but it’s one of the best rights in the islands.
Thunders - Another large left that picks up and can hold the biggest swells. It’s a top to bottom wave on the outside, that gets a bit mellower on the inside section. Another wave that usually has a lot of water moving, so a bigger board can come in handy. 
The Hole - Another very hollow left off a small island in the southern end of the Mentawais. Starts barrelling off the takeoff, but never really stops until a closeout section at the end of the reef. Definitely not a place to strighten out at. 

2012 Availability

 STUFF TO BRING

TERMS & CONDITIONS 

The trip package includes:
All transfers to and from Padang airport to your transit hotel.
Surf package in the Mentawai Islands.
All meals, snacks, mineral water, soft drinks on vessel, and 3 beers a day.
Government and Harbor permits.

Trip package does not include:
Airfare to and from Padang, Sumatra, Indonesia
Visa fees on arrival USD$25 per person
Hotel in Padang
Meals off vessel

Airport taxes
Excess baggage
Personal tips 
Personal spending money
Passport, inoculation costs

Tips for the crew- we recommend USD$50 per crew member minimum.

Travel insurance (mandatory)

Deposit:
A USD$500 per person deposit is required for an individual charter. To reserve the whole boat for an exclusive charter a USD$5000 deposit is required.
Deposits are non-refundable but may be used towards another trip if proper notice of cancellation is given.

Your Final Payment:
All costs for your surf charter must be paid 90 days prior to your departure date.

Cancellation Policy:
Cancellation of a trip must be made no less than 60 days prior to your departure date. There are no refunds or partial refunds given for early departures from a designated charter, poor surf, or inclement weather. In addition, there are no refunds given for reasons pertaining to unstable global, national, or local political situations. Failure to pay your balance as specified will result in your loss of booking dates and or your deposit.

Travel Insurance: 
You must obtain Travel Insurance for all of our charters, this is mandatory for your safety. A proper travel insurance package will include coverage for the following: trip cancellation & interruption, baggage delay, baggage coverage, travel delay, emergency medical and dental, emergency medical transport & evacuation, and travel accident insurance.

Documents:
Passports must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of departure. If applicable, a valid visa is required for travel. You must have at least one photocopy of your passport, and travel and medical insurance. When you are in Indonesia you will be issued an immigration form that you must keep until your departure. When you leave they will ask to see it to determine how long you were in Indonesia. If you lose this form you will be charged a fine and may miss your return flight.

Airline Related Information:
"The Endless Surf Team" and its representatives are not responsible for airline boarding fees or baggage policies. "The Endless Surf Team" does not accept any responsibility for the late arrival or non-arrival of surfboards/surfboard bags or any other luggage.

Baggage:
"The Endless Surf Team" and its representatives assume no liability for loss or damage in transit to and from your surf charter or while on your surf charter. It remains the passenger’s responsibility throughout the trip.

Responsibilities of surf charter participants:
The surf charter member has certain responsibilities to "The Endless Surf Team" and fellow charter participants. You are responsible for comprehending the condition implied in this notification.  You should be prepared for your charter by reading the supplement material, bringing appropriate equipment and clothing. You should help foster a sprit of good will with your fellow charter participants.  You must act in an appropriate and respectful manner in accordance with Indonesian customs and laws.

The Endless Surf Team responsibilities:
We have a commitment to do our best to ensure your arrangements are satisfactory. We aim to portray a realistic vision of conditions on our charter and we accept no liabilities for any loss or damage sustained by or as result of another paying passenger.  Representatives of "The Endless Surf Team" reserve the right to disembark a passenger for not complying with instructions and those whose mental or physical condition is objectionable to other passengers or become a hazard to themselves or other passengers. "The Endless Surf Team" and its representatives will not be responsible for costs incurred by persons precluded from completing the journey for these reasons.

Medical and Health:
It is vital if you have any type of medical condition that you make them known to us well before departure.  This will enable us to assess personal and group risk that may result from any event caused by a known medical condition.  It is highly recommended that you obtain medical insurance with a reputable insurance company prior to your departure. Vaccinations for tetanus, typhoid and hepatitis are advised, as is malaria medication for precautionary measures. Check with your local doctor.

Surf conditions:
We always hope for great surf, unfortunately though, there will be times when surf conditions are less than desirable and perhaps unsuitable for the less experienced surfer. "The Endless Surf Team" and its representatives shall not be liable in the event, due to climatic or other reasons, that satisfactory surf is unavailable.

Limitations of Liability:
"The Endless Surf Team", its owners, agents, employees and representatives give notice that they act only as agent for you as our client in making arrangements for hotels, transportation, restaurants or any other service and do not assume any liability whatsoever for any injury, damage, death, loss, accident, delay, cost, expense, or inconvenience arising from travel misfortunes or delay due to sickness, pilferage, labor disputes, mechanical breakdown, quarantine, government restraints, act of wars, weather or other circumstances beyond their control.

All participants in our surf charters imply the travelers’ agreement to the above conditions.

Please contact us for details.

The above policies are non-negotiable.  We strongly advise protecting yourself with traveler’s insurance.  Below is a link to a provider we highly recommend.

TRAVEL INSURANCE POLICIES