Kandui Resort ::::: Mentawai Islands ::::: Indonesia :::: Arriving in Padang

The main advantage of our 2008 schedule is the ability to surf the same day that you arrive into Singapore! Here is our suggested flight itinerary/schedule from Los Angeles to Kandui. Click here to visit our one-of-a-kind Google Map page for Kandui Resort.

Please Note: We advise that guests have flexible schedules with respect to their VISA requirements. Inclement weather can potentially cause delays to the flight or boat schedules. Kandui Resort will do everything in our power to ensure you are able to make your connecting flights but we reserve the right to not be responsibile for unforeseen delays during the transfer process. Thank you for your understanding.

Sample Itinerary: Kandui Resort from Los Angeles
(1 stop flight)

Dates: August 16 - August 26, 2008

Route: Los Angeles > Singapore > Padang > Rokot > Kandui > Rokot > Padang > Jakarta > Singapore (Overnight) > Los Angeles

Thursday, August 14 @ 11:30am: Arrive at AirportInternational flights require that you check in a full three hours before departure. We suggest you get there as early as possible to ensure that your boards make it on the flight without incident and you get the seat you want for the extended flight to Singapore. The procedure once you get to the airport dictates:

Check-in. Please make sure you have your passport and tickets handy. The Singapore Air portion is usually electronic now so all you need is to show your passport. The other flights will also be a combination of tickets/e-tickets,
After check-in take your bags/boards to get scanned. You have to wait in line but essentially once they take your bags they will give you the go-ahead and you can proceed to your gate.
Before you get to the gate you will have to go through a security checkpoint – this usually takes 20 minutes but can be longer – be prepared!
After you made it through your checkpoint go to your gate and wait for your flight. We recommend purchasing a pillow that wraps around your head and once you get on the flight an international converter for your electricity conversion along the way.

Thursday, August 14 @ 2:30pm: Plane Takes Off to Singapore
Singapore Air Flight SQ11 departs at 2:30pm and eventually arrives at 1:30am in Singapore – you lose one day in transit due to the time change. This flight has one stop in Narita, Japan. Once you arrive in Narita they will ask you to disembark the aircraft with all of your belongings – please make sure to not leave anything behind! Once you are off the aircraft they will give you a transit ticket and take you upstairs to go through a security checkpoint. This doesn’t just happen in Japan, it will happen on any of the layovers. Once you go through security proceed back to your gate quickly because the total layover will only be about 45 minutes.

Saturday, August 16 @ 1:30am: Arrive in Singapore
Your flight will arrive into Singapore. You will need to clear customs and then pick up your boards and bags from the luggage carousel area. Before you leave customs we suggest exchanging a few hundred dollars into Indonesian Rupiah and for you to grab $50 in Singapore Dollars as well. After you’ve cleared customs look for the “Oversized Baggage” area that your boards will emerge from to pick up your surfboards; the rest of your bags will come out on the Carousel designated for your flight… Singapore Airlines is very responsible, it is extremely rare you will have any issues with lost baggage, if you do please contact the nearest agent to assist you. Once you have collected all of your belongings most people grab dinner in the terminal and hang out in a comfortable area until their next flight at 7:40am. You should have all of your stuff by 2:30am at the latest.

Saturday, August 16 @ 5:30am: Go to "Budget Terminal"
Around 5:30am we suggest that you make your way towards the “Budget Terminal” where Tiger Airways is located… You are currently in Terminal 2; to get to the Budget Terminal you will need to locate the shuttle area where you will catch a short, 5 minute ride to the Budget Terminal. This is the only hassle you will have to endure in Singapore, it’s not very complicated to find the right shuttle bus as long as you ask around.

Saturday, August 16 @ 6:00am: Check-In for Tiger Air flight
Once you have arrived at the "Budget Terminal" do a quick spot check to make sure all of your things are still with you - this is especially important in larger groups as sometimes things can get left behind on accident. Proceed to the check-in counter where you should already have a reservation on file. Tiger Airways does not accept bookings from travel agents so this is one part of the trip that you are responsible for on your own. The Tiger Air tickets are very inexpensive, all you need to do is book a one way ticket from Singapore to Padang – they will also charge you $20 Singapore Dollars for your boards. After the check-in you can go through security and into the terminal to grab a snack, get on the computer, exchange money, or even go shopping.

Saturday, August 16 @ 7:40am: Plane takes off to Padang
Your Tiger Airways Flight TR224 departs at 7:40am and arrives into Padang at 7:55 am. This particular flight only operates two times a week on Tuesdays and Saturdays and is the only direct flight from Singapore to Padang nowadays so expect to see a few other anxious surfers onboard.

Saturday, August 16 @ 7:55am: Plane arrives in Padang
No, you did not experience a 10 minute long flight… there is an hour time difference between Singapore and Padang and the good news is you’ve finally arrived in Indonesia!Once your flight touches down you are
ushered to the baggage claim/customs area. Because this is a direct flight from Singapore the first thing you'll have to do is pay the$25US VISA fee at a special booth set up inside the customs area. Once you've paid they give you a special form that you must keep until your departure, we suggest leaving it inside your passport for safe keeping. The fastest and easiest way to make it out of the customs area without having them go through your bags is to get a porter to handle your baggage. They seem to have the right connections because they can get you out of that room as fast as possible, all you have to do is have 3 or 4 dollars ready to tip them. Pay careful attention to the porter that carries your bags, the general rule of thumb is to not give them the tip until your boards are loaded on the truck and your bags are stored away where they belong. They will hang around looking for that tip and they are not really appreciative when they get it but that's just how they are. There is no need to give them more than 3 or 4 dollars, that is a ton of money for them and is a very generous gesture on your part. Once you've made it outside the customs area you will be met by a representative from Kandui Resort.

Saturday, August 16 @ 8:45am: Check-In for flight to Rokot
The next thing you need to do is get outside and with the help of our representative walk over to the “domestic” side of the airport where you take one more quick flight to Rokot, on Sipora Island, in the Mentawai Islands. This flight typically leaves at 9:30am and is included in the overall price of the resort as well as your speedboat transfer to the resort once you land in Rokot. This aspect of the trip is your “transportation cost.”

Saturday, August 16 @ 9:00am: Kandui Resort Disclaimer
After you have settled in and are waiting for your next flight a representative will pass out a packet of basic Kandui literature and go over the procedure about what life at Kandui and what to expect upon arrival. They will also collect a $40 Mentawai Tax - this tax is paid to the Mentawai Government on your behalf. Around 9:30am you should be able to board your flight.

Saturday, August 16 @ 9:30am: Plane leaves for Rokot
After you have loaded up your gear on the plane you are ready for one more quick jaunt across the Mentawai Strait. A typical charter boat would take between 8 – 12 hours do endure this crossing, you have the luxury of covering the same distance in a little over 30 minutes. SMAC Flight PR1 will depart at 9:30am and arrive at 10:05am in Rokot – get your cameras ready because it offers a really unique glimpse of the fabled Mentawai Islands and a few of their best reef passes on the way over.

Saturday, August 16 @ 10:05am: Plane arrives in Rokot
Hopefully, you arrive in Rokot on time and you are finally ready for the last leg of the journey. Upon arrival in Rokot you should be met by the surf guide personally responsible for your group and a boat driver. They will help transfer your gear to our waiting speedboat where cold drinks and a few snacks await. Once you are on the boat the surf guide will go over the basics of the resort, address safety issues, establish a plan of attack to cater to your personal needs and answer any questions you have. As you travel back to the resort, the surf guide will also go over the basic flow of the resort, emphasize where to keep their boards, the features available in each uma, where to hang wet items, internet usage, what the waves are like, and how they are responsible for nightly meeting to determine the best plan of action for the next day... On certain occasions we look at Telescopes if we know the waves are pumping and the group is keen to give it a try! Total travel time back to the resort is between 1 ½ and 2 hours.

Saturday, August 16 @ 12:30pm - 1:00pm: Arrive at Kandui!
Once you arrive at Kandui we have created a staging area near the restaurant to greet you and show you to your home for the next week or so – our one-of-a-kind umas. At this initial meeting you will be met by our resort manager, your surf guide, and a few other members of our staff to help carry your belongings to your room. As a general rule we prefer if you keep your boardbags down at your uma but feel free to put the boards you are using in the surfboard shack. In each uma you have an iPod hookup and stereo, wireless internet, bath and beach towels, everything a typical hotel room would have… We also encourage you to bring your own laptop but ask that you try to keep it in your uma to prevent damage or it getting lost. If you prefer to work in the restaurant please try to take them back to your uma at night.

The overall character of Kandui is not expressed in glossy opulence but in a traditional sense of style, atmosphere, service, and warm friendships. The Mentawai cultures, traditions, and values are the fundamental force behind the way the resort is run. Fabulous food, stunning beaches, beautiful accommodation, and an abundance of world class waves await.

During the Trip - Important Points:
We've got an entire section dedicated to what life is like at the resort...you can click here to read more. Overall, the general flow of the resort dictates that your assigned surf guide is the "go to" person to seek answers to anything and everything... They are your personal concierge and whether you need a towel to take a shower or a wax comb to take off your wax they are the person you need to contact. Every night the surf guide is also responsible for a nightly pow-wow covering the following topics:

A. What the swell and weather are supposed to do the next day.
B. Where people would prefer to surf the next day.
C. Establish a specific time when the boats will leave the next day and ask people to volunteer if they want to get woken out of bed.
D. A contingency plan/alternative activity in case the waves are small or weather is undesirable... At the very least they are there to propose a fishing excursion, volleyball tournament, snorkeling, jungle cruise, whatever you'd like.

Everyone at the resort is out there to ensure you have the best experience possible.

At the end of the trip - Important Point:
Most people will have a meager bar balance at the end of the trip. You can pay for this balance with a credit card or in cash. Please feel free to visit our gift shop to grab a few unique Mentawai souvenirs or a Kandui t-shirt to take home.

Tuesday, August 26 @ 8:00am: Time to Leave
We genuinely hope that you have had the time of your life with us but it is time to go back to reality. We ask our guests to have their bar bills paid and to be ready to go by 8:00am on the last day of their trip. This is when the group will leave with their surf guide yet once again to catch the flight back to Padang via Rokot.

Tuesday, August 26 @ 10:00am: Arrive in Rokot
The speedboat ride will typically take between 1 1/2 hours and 2 hours from Kandui to Rokot. Once you arrive in Rokot you check-in for your flight and eventually board the plane around 9:30am.

Tuesday, August 26 @ 10:45am: Plane leaves for Padang
After checking in and getting your ticket you settle in to your seat and catch one last glimpse of the Mentawais from your window.

Tuesday, August 26 @ 11:30am: Plane arrives in Padang
Once you get back to Padang a representative from Kandui Resort will greet you at the terminal and help ensure you are able to catch a flight home. There are a few options to consider but in general there are two primary options for people flying back to Singapore; one involves overnighting in Singapore, the other involved overnighting in Jakarta. Here is the basic breakdown for each one:

Option #1: Jakarta Layover
This is our most conservative option with an overnight stay required in Jakarta:

Padang to Jakarta: Garuda Air Flight 165 departing at 6:30pm and arriving at 8:10pm (Call Jeff Samuelson at Oceanview Travel to book flights and reserve room at our recommended hotel, the "Sheraton Bandara": 949-493-5231)
Jakarta to Singapore: Singapore Air Flight SQ951 departing at 6:20am and arriving at 6:55am (Call Jeff Samuelson at Oceanview Travel: 949-493-5231)

Option #2: Singapore Layover
This is a more aggressive approach with an overnight stay in Singapore instead of Jakarta:

Padang to Jakarta: Air Asia Flight QZ7525 departing at 1:35pm and arriving at 3:15pm (Online Booking only – please visit www.airasia.com)
Jakarta to Singapore: Singapore Air Flight SQ961 departing at 5:05pm and arriving at 7:40pm or Singapore Air Flight SQ963 departing at 7:05pm and arriving at 9:40pm (Call Jeff Samuelson at Oceanview Travel: 949-493-5231

Wednesday, August 27: Flight Options from Jakarta to Singapore and then Singapore to Los Angeles
For the sake of argument and to be on the safe side we will go with Option #1 which meant you stayed in Jakarta overnight... There are a number of options to choose whether you want to wake up early or sleep in and catch the afternoon flight back to Los Angeles from Singapore... You can mix and match these flights to suit your individual needs:

Singapore Airlines from Jakarta to Singapore:
Jakarta to Singapore: SQ951 @ 6:20am > 6:55am
Jakarta to Singapore: SQ953 @ 9:15am > 11:50am
Jakarta to Singapore: SQ955 @ 10:35am > 1:10pm
Jakarta to Singapore: SQ957 @ 12:20pm > 2:55pm
Jakarta to Singapore: SQ959 @ 2:25pm > 5:00pm
Jakarta to Singapore: SQ961 @ 5:05pm > 7:40pm
Jakarta to Singapore: SQ963 @ 7:05pm > 9:40pm
Jakarta to Singapore: SQ959 @ 8:15pm > 10:50pm

Singapore Airlines from Singapore to Los Angeles:Singapore to LAX: SQ12 @9:45am > 12:50pm – 1 stop Narita Airport in Japan.
Singapore to LAX: SQ28 @5:05pm > 8:20pm – 1 stop Taipei, Taiwan.
Singapore to LAX: SQ38 @4:05pm > 5:25pm – Direct

Please feel to visit our "Flight information" page to go over the advantages and disadvantages of each flight listed above.

Wednesday, August 27: Arrive in Los Angeles
You made it home! Going through customs will typically take about one hour. After you clear customs the easiest thing to do is grab a complimentary trolley cart, throw all of your things on there and head over to the "Oversized Baggage" area to collect your boards.

See you again next year!