TELO ISLAND LODGE
The Experience
Surfers interested in visiting an exotic and remote part of the Indonesian Islands will enjoy their stay at Telo Island Lodge.
The resort is located in the Telo group of islands off the coast of North Sumatra which lies just south of Nias. A decision was made with their Indonesian partner to design and build a quality air conditioned bungalow right on the water at Telo Island making for a perfect, remote retreat from the jungle heat. The lodge owners have made a conscious, conservative effort to maintain the natural beauty and uniqueness of the area. Much time and money will go back into the local community providing income for families that may otherwise go without in an ongoing effort to create a low environmental impact operation.
This area is typically accessed and enjoyed by experienced surf travelers who know of its consistency and world-class caliber lesser-known waves. For the past 15 years the lodge owners have been running surf charters in this region and are now happy to host you and your friends at their land-based operation. There are a great variety of different surf spots within a 40 minute radius, the local breaks are only 5 minutes from the lodge and the furthest breaks are approximately 90 minutes away. Their speedboat provides surfing guests the best opportunity of finding high-quality un-crowded waves on any given day which is much more difficult in other regions of this country.
Non-surfing guests are able to comfortably relax in a small, quaint lodge environment in the remoteness of a jungle. There are convenient areas to unwind both indoors and outdoors. General water activities for non-surfers include swimming, fishing, snorkeling, beachcombing and tide-pooling. Other activities include relaxing on the deck area, bar/entertainment area or television lounge areas and receiving massage treatments .
The cuisine is a combination of international dishes, a menu you will be pleasantly surprised to find in this remote part of the world. It's high energy, healthy food including abundant local fresh fruits, vegetables and seafood and there is plenty of it!
In summary, Telo Island Lodge not only offers 'an amazing surfing experience' to surfing guests, but it also offers a host of other activities and facilities for non-surfing guests, comparable to many resorts found in remote and pristine regions of the world.
ACCOMMODATIONS
February 1 – April 1, 2007
The house is a cool air-conditioned and spacious open plan style building right on the lagoon’s edge at Telo’s home break, Max’s Right. Sleeping is in two separate bungalows that are attached to the giant 23 meter x 15 meter post and beam construction house. The building is self-contained and fully screened. It has several areas to relax in including: superb viewing deck area, bar/entertainment, surf-viewing lounge and television lounge.
The two triple rooms inside the structure each have a private entrance, en-suite bathrooms with pressurized hot and cold water and western style toilets. Sleeping arrangements vary from full size queen beds to normal single bunk style beds depending on your groups needs. All beds have a permethrin-treated mosquito net and high quality 100% cotton linen. The open plan design allows guests the choice of opening doors and windows to enjoy natural ventilation and fan cooling or close windows and doors for air-conditioning comfort to suit the individual needs of each guest. Each room also has a private deck with undercover surfboard racks. The property is situated nicely on a private white sand beach with a lagoon.
 
April 1 Onward.
Accommodation will be in twin-share architect-designed, over water bungalows. Each bungalow features a upstairs and downstairs air-conditioned sleeping area for two people as a separate set of single beds or one double. They also feature a shower, toilet, coffee and tea making facilities and a well stocked fridge. Each of the bungalows faces the wave and are located mid lagoon and connected to the main lodge building via a private jetty.
There is accommodation for 6 guests (8 guests can be accommodated for group bookings only)
Special Note: The over water bungalows are currently in construction and they are scheduled to be finished by April 1. However, delays in construction do occur and those traveling next season should know if the over water bungalows are not finished they will be staying in the main lodge.
For more details on Telo Island Lodge:
PACKAGE DETAILS | MEALS |THE SURF | THE BOATS | FAQ'S
*(menus above linked to page below)
PACKAGE DETAILS
Upon arrival you will be met by a Telo Island Lodge representative. This person will assist you with domestic check-in from international to domestic terminals to assure you have a smooth transfer in preparation for your 45-minute direct flight to Telo. Domestic round-trip airfare and transfers are included in package price. Your Australian guides will put forth their best effort to have you in the surf ASAP!!
What’s Included?
Three meals per day, snacks, three litres of bottled water, coffee, tea and fruit juice are included in the package price (soft drink and alcohol are available at local prices). When you’re not surfing other activities include fishing, snorkeling, ping pong, dartboard night fishing for crayfish or just kicking back and watching satellite TV, DVD’s or listening to your favorite CD whilst reading. The island itself is very beautiful and many hours can be spent just beachcombing and swimming in the beautiful lagoons. We are also only a short distance from the local markets.
Also included in this package is the priceless, expert knowledge of your Australian guides who have been living and surfing in this part of Indonesia for almost 15 years!!
What is not included in the package?
International flights, board bag fees, entry visa, departure taxes, travel insurance, Mentawai Government tourism tariffs (USD$3 per day).
MEALS
Fresh fruit such as bananas, watermelon, mandarins, apples or papaya is available for you to help yourself at all times at the lodge. Tea, coffee, fruit juice and water (3 litres per person per day) is included in the Telo Islands Lodge package price and is available for you to help yourself to at all times.
For a quick light breakfast before an early surf, cereal (cornflakes, oats etc) and toast (with jam, vegemite, honey etc.) are there for you to help yourself.
Lunch is also usually something that provides you with lots of energy but not filling you up so much you can't surf in the afternoon. Typical lunches include fresh ham salad sandwiches, noodles, tacos, jaffles etc. If we are surfing further than 30 Mins from Base we will have lunch onboard the boat.
Dinner is the main meal of the day. If any fish is caught during the day this is prepared and served for dinner. Typical dinners include spaghetti, BBQ chicken, curry beef, lasagna, and burritos and stir fried veggies. Vegetables, rice and fresh salad accompany dinners.
We realize when surfing all day that diet is very important. So we provide a variety of good, healthy food for you to eat. The dining experience is a major aspect that distinguishes the lodge apart from its competitors.
Meals are mostly "all-you-can-eat" and there are usually plenty of leftovers. There are no set meal times so when you eat depends on what the surf is doing. So don't think if you stay out surfing from 10 am to 3pm that you will miss lunch!
If you don't catch any fish or don't like seafood there is no need to worry as the chef has ample ingredients to prepare different dinners for each night of your stay so you don't get sick of eating the same thing again and again.
THE SURF
Over the years the tour operators have surfed, explored and researched many breaks of this area and have made a few secret discoveries. There are also a number of other breaks yet to be surfed in close vicinity to the lodge. There are more than 11 different breaks within an hours distance of the lodge and 70% of them remain un-crowded and are approximately 20 minutes away. The surf here is ultra-consistent - lefts and rights that work in all tides and opposing wind directions, generally create clean conditions.
Max’s left/Churches/Mishos – A long bowling left that will throw up a tube in two separate sections perfect for the intermediate to advanced surfer. Located directly behind the lodge.
Max’s right. - High performance right about 100-150meters in length. Breaks on a reef/ledge set-up. Offers a tube on take-off. 20 minutes from lodge.
GT’s – A super fun, super tubular right about 20 minutes from the lodge. Named after Aussie legend Grant Thomas who holds the Telo island lodge Bintang record.
Pinnacles - Fun wave suited to novice surfers learning to ride reef breaks, set in a beautiful environment surrounded by rain forest and palm trees.
Schoolyards – Made up of three separate waves all of which work on different swell directions, the “yard” is about 10 minutes from the lodge. All these waves are rights.
Le Ba – Another pretty right that runs along the edge of a nearby island. Suits beginners to intermediate surfers. 10 minutes from the lodge.
The Bubble. – Suited to advanced-level surfers, the bubble is a super-sucky right that does a 180-degree wrap. Ten minutes from the lodge.
The E.R. – Made up of two separate reef passes, the E.R. features two lefts and three rights. Best on a very light to medium swell, the E.R. has a wave suited to levels of all experience. Fifteen minutes from the lodge.
Zippers. – A super – fast left suited to experienced surfers, Zippers is a racing tube over a shallow reef 15 minutes from the lodge.
Dislocators. – A shallow tubing left suited to intermediate to advanced surfers, 28 minutes from the lodge.
Wegs – An amazing coral point suited to intermediate to advanced surfers, nothing but high speed tubes. Thirty-five minutes from the lodge.
THE BOATS
Their main transfer boat, Zero Down, is a 26-foot centre console, computer designed 7mm plate alloy, Phil Curren model designed and cut in Austrailia. Zero Down is powered by a 200 hp Yamaha two stroke outboard. The backup motor is a 115 hp Yamaha two stroke. With the ability to capacitate 200 litres of fuel it gives her a full speed run time of four hours. The boat is fitted with two way communications, GPS, fish finder, stereo, ample sun protection, drink and food refridgeration for longer trips and full game fishing set-up. Surf craft storage is forward and there is ample seating room for eight surfers, guide and driver. The boat has recently been refitted for 2007 and capable of 26knots cruise 33 knots top speed, getting us to most breaks very quickly. Zero Down is captained by camp manager Dave Simmons and crewed by local surfer Furna.
The lagoon boat, Bombay Sapphire, is a five-meter, flat bottom, locally constructed wooden craft. The Sapphire is used for supply runs to the local village and transport around the lagoon and also to the nearby left. The Sapphire is powered by a 15 hp Yamaha and captained by “Ness”.
FAQ’S
How do I book a trip?
Please contact WaterWays Travel directly with your preferred travel dates.
What does the price include?
Please see the package details section
What food will I be eating?
Please see the meals section.
What about travel insurance?
ALL guests must have full comprehensive travel and medical insurance and should include at least a MedEvac option and compensation for lost charter days due to unforeseen circumstances or emergencies.
How many boards should I bring?
This is entirely up to how much excess baggage you are willing to pay for! Most people bring 2-4 boards. Mid length boards and guns generally get used and occasionally the short boards get pulled out. If you are going to bring an extra board we would suggest a replacement for the board you will use the most as it is not uncommon to break boards. Remember to bring extra leg ropes and tropical surf wax.
What do you suggest I pack?
Besides yourself and your surfboards, we recommend that you at least try to bring the following items:
2 or 3 pairs of board shorts
Some t-shirts
Booties
Solarez - the type with rovings in it.
Spare leg ropes
Rash vests
Tropical surf wax
Spare fins & Keys, spare plugs and screws if you have a removable fin system
Sunscreen
Sunglasses
Mosquito repellent
Can I recharge my camera battery?
Yes! No problems.
Can I be contacted while I am staying at Telo Islands Lodge?
Yes, you can be contacted on your mobile phone as long as you have global roaming activity. You can also be contacted on the lodge managers phone.
Due to medical or personal reasons, I follow a special diet. Can you accommodate this?
Yes, with prior notification we can accommodate most dietary requests.
Can you give me an idea of how many other people I’ll be surfing with?
Our aim is to spend the majority of our trips surfing with just the people staying at the lodge (maximum 8). This is not always possible but there are plenty of waves in this area and due to our extensive experience we know how to be in the right place at the right time while still avoiding major crowds. While it is inevitable that we will come across other surfers from time to time you can rest assured you will get plenty of waves.
What additional services do you offer at Telo Island Lodge?
The following services are provided for an additional fee:
Laundry service
Masseuse
Game fishing excursions
Wireless satellite broadband
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