Must-Do Trip: Surfing the Mentawai Islands, Indonesia

A collection of islets off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, the Mentawai Islands bear the brunt of the Indian Ocean’s fury, which means one thing to surfers: a tantalizing abundance of waves.

“Every surfer, regardless of their ability, needs to do a surf trip to the Mentawai Islands,” says Layne Beachley. “There’s an enormous variety of conditions, from barrels to deep-bottomed playful waves, complemented by accommodations for all budgets and creature comforts. It is a dream adventure.”

Some surfers charter boats and cruise between surf breaks, and others stay at a resort and boat to waves daily. For either approach, simply getting to this remote archipelago is the hard part. The rest is simple: Catch waves all day, sip cocktails on the beach, eat, sleep, repeat.

Surging Waters is one of many surf charter companies in the Mentawai Islands. A ten-day surf expedition between islands costs $2,750 per person. Kandui Resort is one of many hotels in the Mentawai Islands that offers accommodations, meals, and speedboat transportation to surf breaks. Prices are about $260 per person per day.

Next: See Layne Beachley's Dream Trip: Surfing Circumnavigate the Earth

See the Ultimate Adventure Bucket List 2011