FAQs

Yes. 30-day Visas are available for visitors from almost every country. You can apply and pay for your visa on arrival in Indonesia, but it’s SO much more convenient to take care of it online before leaving home. Visit https://evisa.imigrasi.go.id/ to check your country’s status, and get it all sorted out. One less hassle. Nice!

When entering Indonesia, passengers need to line up and fill out a declaration form at a computer kiosk. They then receive a QR code and proceed to a customs queue to scan it.
We recommend streamlining this process by visiting https://ecd.beacukai.go.id/ before your arrival, saving the QR code in your phone so you can proceed straight to the scanning line like a rock star.

Absolutely. It’s vital you ensure you are fully covered for medical evacuation. And you’ll need to provide the policy details to us ahead of time, so we can activate it immediately (in the unlikely chance of it being needed.)

The odds of being tagged by a malaria-carrying mosquito here are remote, and almost all surfers visiting here don’t bother with prescription medications such as doxycycline or mefloquine. And though our quiet island doesn’t have the human population to host a malarial mossie, we ‘fog’ regularly, just to be sure. A bit of repellent around dusk, common sense and awareness, and you should be fine. If you’re really concerned, though, see your doctor before embarking on your trip.

Until recently, savvy travellers looking to avoid heart-stopping roaming charges would make a bee-line for the phone shop in the airport and whack a local SIM card in their phone. It’s been made easier these day by services such as https://www.airalo.com where you can line up an eSIM, which is a digital SIM card, allowing you to connect to local networks and use mobile data in Indonesia without needing a physical SIM card. For a modest price, all your comms apps (WhatsApp, Messenger, Signal, etc) are good to go on local networks, so you won’t get shafted by roaming costs. What a time to be alive!

Padang, (pronounced ‘Pudung’ if you want to sound in the know) is the time-honoured hub through which surfers have transited for decades. International flights arrive daily via Kuala Lumpur, or three days a week through Singapore, and multiple domestic flights touch down daily via Jakarta. It’s important to arrive the afternoon or evening before your chartered Telo flight the following day, as flying in to Padang the morning of the charter leaves you zero buffer in case your flight is delayed or your boards go wandering. Overnighting in a swish Padang hotel also means you’ll be fresh as a daisy for the last leg out to the island, and ready to surf straight away.

Sure will. You’ll be met by an English-speaking Tanah Mympi host holding up your name, whereupon you’ll be installed in a deluxe ten-seater van and taken to your hotel, with arrangements for next morning’s pick-up all sorted.

There’s a host of great accommodation options in Padang, but our recommended favourites are Mercure Padang and the newly built Hotel Santika Premiere Padang. Both hotels are elevated for quiet from the sounds of the city, and both boast a breakfast buffets that don’t disappoint. If you feel like a bit of a night out, there’s no shortage of bars and restaurants in Padang, and we can steer you to the best ones.

Our operations team can help sort out any issues during the lead-up to your trip, but once you’re on your way, you’ll have the WhatsApp and email contacts of our on-island manager, who’ll help you navigate whatever pickle you’ve found yourself in.

This is when your trip to Tanah Mympi really gets exciting! We charter a Susi Air Cessna Grand Caravan – a comfortable all-weather, turbine engine aircraft with a worldwide rep for reliability and safety in all environments. Generally speaking, it has 12 passenger seats, four of which are removed to make space for board bags. With an experienced crew of two at the helm, the flight takes 55 minutes, and there’s nothing quite like those last few minutes of the inbound flight, looking down as white-water triangles fan out over aquamarine reefs.

For the purposes of ensuring your boards can join you on the island flight, we recommend boards be no longer than 9’6”, and ideally two boards max. It’s vital you advise us well ahead of time if you want to bring more boards and gear, so we can make suitable arrangements. As a general rule, 20 kilos per passenger (boards and luggage) is the maximum sweet spot.

The flight from Telo is scheduled to arrive in Padang by 11:30 am, but this varies, so we recommend that homeward flights out of Padang be booked no earlier than 2:00 pm on that day. If you need to stay overnight on Padang on your way out, we’ll be able to help with getting you to the airport the next day.

We’ll provide you with a packing checklist on booking, but the short answer is … you really don’t need to bring much! You’re on a full-service island in the tropics: you’re immersed in the ocean much of the time; you’re cruising, chilling, dining, relaxing, sleeping; and our complimentary laundry service turns your washing around in a flash. All of which is to say, life is beautifully simple, so pack minimally! Light clothing, toiletries, sunblock & medications, plus, most importantly, your surf gear!

Although our bar service is phenomenally well-stocked, we’re not going to stop you from bringing your duty-free along, and we won’t even try that ‘corkage’ racket on. Bring it. Share it. Enjoy it. The last chance to buy duty free is at your last international airport before landing in Indonesia. Most commonly KL and Singapore. Indonesia allows one litre of duty-free alcohol.

Nice try, Spicoli. But the answer is a flat No. Indonesia famously has a zero-tolerance policy towards drugs, and being found with even the smallest amount of Devil’s Lettuce carries awful, life-forever-changed consequences. Not worth it.

There’s no right or wrong answer here. All on-island services and expenses are settled via direct transfer or credit card on the day of departure, (guests can view their account at any time through their stay). It’s nice to have some cash on hand, though. You’ll need some rupiah to pay for any local purchases of souvenirs, etc. on the Telo tour, or when an enterprising kid paddles up to the boat with some sweet carvings in his canoe. A few hundred dollars’ worth of rupiah should more than do the trick.

Many guests tip guides and local staff at the end of their trip, and cash (any currency) is needed for this as tips can’t be added to the guest’s account.

There are often a few knitted brows on departure day as guests wonder who, and how, to tip, so here are some simple guidelines. First of all, it’s not necessary to tip but we do encourage it. Please tip if your experience has exceeded your expectations. All tips need to be in the folding stuff, because we can’t add tips to your bill. We appreciate it if Western guides and hosts are tipped discretely and directly. For tips to local staff, our policy is to consolidate all tips and distribute the pooled amount equally among all local staff, simply because SO many staff operate behind the scenes to make your trip a success. Cash tips to both guides and local staff can be in any currency.

Though we’ve been in the Telos for decades, we’ll never lose sight of the fact that Tanah Mympi exists courtesy of the patience, warmth and hospitality of the Telo Islanders. It’s only right that we give back to this community. Seventy percent of our staff are from these islands, and all of our produce is sourced through local families who in turn employ scores of locals. Once the resort is up and running, we’ll turn our attention to social initiatives and educational programs that will give practical support to the area. And of course, out on the water, we’re often assisting local craft, and helping carry out mechanical repairs to fishing boats. We are firm believers in the spirit of co-operation with everyone here.

One word. Respect! Be respectful! Friendly. Positive. And while – thanks to surfing – elements of western culture have been fast-tracked to Telo, it remains a place where men and women are expected to dress with a degree of modesty. If you’re a female surfer, surfing a village-fronting break in a g-banger isn’t cool, (actually, that rule applies to fellas as well, come to think of it.) And if you’re having a beer in town at the end of a Telo tour, keep it cruisy and not-too-raucous. Smile. Be an ambassador.

The predominantly Christian faith that runs through these islands can be traced back to a missionary by the name of E.L. Denninger touching down in Nias back in 1865. There is also a significant Muslim population as well, and in a lesson to many other parts of the globe, both faiths co-exist here in no-worries harmony. Religious belief has a strong presence here, and underpins values of decency and modesty.

Absolutely! It’s worth bearing in mind, however, that things like wooden carvings and shells will need to be declared when you return home. Buying souvenirs here customarily involves a bit of good-natured bartering. Keep it in perspective. Don’t get petty over dollar or two, but conversely, don’t blow the local economy out by throwing a hundred bucks at a cowrie shell. Such generous intentions paradoxically destabilize and weaken the local industry. Incidentally, a spare pair of trunks or sunglasses are prized by the locals as either bartering material or simply as a gift, if you’re looking to stoke out some fellow surf-loving humans.

The easiest and most fun way to do this is to come on our Telo tour. A 14-kilometre, scooter-powered trip on the paved path that encircles Telo’s main island. It’s a great way to take in the sights, sounds and essence of village life, see how many amped youngsters you can high-five, and maybe stop for an impromptu game of soccer or volleyball at the local school. (Plus, you get to know what it’s like to be part of a motorcycle gang, albeit on rented scooters and wearing boardshorts and goofy smiles – so by general bikie-gang standards, a pretty lame motorcycle gang – but a gang nonetheless.)

If you’re keen to immerse yourself in the local culture at a deeper level, let us know and we can organise a visit to an outer island community. We can load up on colouring books, pencils and other education materials and visit some of the most remote and off-the-radar schools. The smiles on the kids’ faces on these ‘Donation Tours’ have been known to bring a happy tear to many a guest.

Literally, Tanah Mympi translates to “Land (Tanah) of Dreams (Mympi)”. The island’s been known as “Tanah Mimpi” for years, but when developing the resort, we learned of an existing place in Bali that goes by that name, so we swapped the ‘I’ for a ‘y’, to save copyright headaches.

Our surfing guests often express surprise at how deluxe the service, accommodation and amenities are here at Tanah Mympi, yet our prices are on par with other offerings in the zone. How does that work? Long story short, surf guests are the beneficiaries of the fact that Tanah Mympi occasionally plays host to some big hitters with high expectations.

OK, let’s drill deep on this one. However rare, it’s a fact that earthquakes and tsunamis happen, and we’ve put Tanah Mympi together with this in mind. Every post, bearer and joist here is bolted not nailed; the concrete and steel footings are solidly over-engineered – 2.8 cubic metres of concrete in each footing alone, with steel post brackets. Basically, if a tsunami comes, we’ve got the strongest structures ready to meet it.

All managers and guides are plugged into USGS – the most trustworthy and fastest source of real time seismic data – and run multiple early warning alert apps on their phones, which means we’ll never be caught unawares. Within 90 seconds of a quake anywhere – no matter how minor – our phones light up. Whether at sea or on the island, we’re prepared.

We’re realistic enough to know that we’re not immune to the awesome forces of nature, so all structures here are post and beam construction, and the case of an extreme tsunami, we anticipate that walls would blow out, but posts, floors and roofs would remain rooted.

Our main house / restaurant’s top floor sits over 18 feet above sea level, and our tsunami muster point there is equipped with emergency stores: food, water, first aid, flares etc. If at sea, we deploy to deep water until the danger has passed, and our boats are provisioned similarly.

Earthquakes are more frequent in this area, and so the choice to build in timber instead of concrete was a no brainer. Timber flexes and gives, whereas above-ground concrete cracks and comes tumbling down.

Absolutely. Say what you will about its inventor, but there’s no denying the way Starlink has revolutionised remote access to the interweb. The only time our Starlink misses a beat is during the heaviest of rain downpours, and even then, it’s just a temporary disruption.

We run ten-day trips as a rule, with a number of seven-day trips sprinkled through the schedule. Included in the package are the following:   

• Padang airport pickup and accommodation transfers
• Charter flights (Padang > Telo > Padang)
• Premium villa accommodation
• Three gourmet meals per day prepared by our in-house chef
• Appetizers and snacks available throughout the day
• Unlimited soft drinks
• Guided Surf Transfers: Daily surf transfers via our speedboats to nearby breaks
• Half-Day Fishing Charter (fishing gear supplied)
• Epic island snorkel drift dive
• 30-minute massage or spa treatment
• Daily yoga
• Cold plunge
• Access to on-site activities and facilities, including lagoon SUP (stand-up paddleboarding); kayaking, bocce ball, table tennis, cornhole etc.
• Telo Island Scooter Tour: 14-km scenic island tour with local guide and equipment.
• Laundry Service
• High-Speed Wi-Fi

• Alcoholic beverages
• Access to Tanah Mympi Surfboard Quiver
• Private surf speedboat day hire
• Full-day fishing charter day hire
• Photo and video packs (booked in advance)
• Ding repair
• Massage, spa and wellness treatments
• Jet Ski hire
• Surf Coaching (booked in advance)
• Foiling tuition (booked in advance)

Yes. All speedboats are patched in to our island comms, so you’ll always be reachable by loved ones if needed.

Over the years we’ve been in this game, we’ve found that everyone’s happiest when the number of surfers onsite is capped at around eight – so as a rule, eight it is! We can comfortably accommodate well over a dozen additional non-surfing guests, but we’ll always keep a lid on surfer numbers.

We know how important food is here. Not only does it energise your days of adventure and oceanic activities, but it needs to be an event in itself. The cuisine here leans towards authentic Southeast Asian flavours: it’s fresh, healthy and nourishing – without sacrificing taste and a sense of holiday indulgence. With advance notice, we can accommodate most, if not all, dietary restrictions.

As mentioned previously, all on-island services and expenses are settled via direct transfer or credit card on the day of departure. Guests can view their account at any time through their stay.

“Photos or it didn’t happen”, as they say. We’re stoked to have legendary surf photographer and filmer Andrew Shield curating our guest photo / video program. Book ahead for a discount on our media package and come away from your trip with a drive full of high-resolution pics and clips.

We’ll stock out our shop through 2026. Expect to find a good selection of tees, caps and drink bottles, as well as all the surf extras you’ll need: legropes, wax, tail pads, rashies, surf hats, beach towels and drybags, not to mention toiletries, sun block, zinc, and assorted souvenirs.

This time-honoured question is the first thing covered at Surf Guide college, or it would be if such a college existed. Short answer: No, you don’t need booties here … but if you like surfing in booties, there can be the odd moment you’re glad you’re wearing ’em, as foot cuts aren’t always fun. They’re definitely a good thing to pack, (think reefy adventures and excursions.)

Bring your favourite board and introduce it to your new favourite waves! Pack a step-up for the days when things get punchy. Two boards should do the trick. Tap into our range of longboards and fish for the fun smaller days, and all your bases are covered.

Our stock of hire boards is constantly growing and evolving. Our goal is to have the most robust and best maintained quiver of hire boards in surf travel. The majority of the boards cater to experienced surfers aged 30 to 60, who enjoy a bit of foam underfoot but still want to send some spray off their rails. We also have an armada of longboards and fish to bring big fun to small glassy days.

Absolutely. What surf guide worth his or her salt doesn’t run a little ding repair side racket?

To log the optimum amount of surf hours here on the equator, you really need to be sun smart, and lycra is your friend. Long sleeved rashies are great, as are the hooded versions popularised by Florence Marine. Bring zinc, wax, a spare leggie, a surf hat and a dry bag. (Leave your bulky beach towel at home, we’ve got you covered.)

With unrivalled knowledge, the best boats in the region, and our surfing guest numbers capped at eight, we’ve got the flexibility and resources to tailor our program perfectly to your surfing desires. Depending on surf conditions, and the wishes of the group, we can be out roaming for the whole day, or run a morning and an afternoon trip. Being positioned in the central Telos means easy access to both northern and southern breaks, not to mention the wave-rich set-ups around us.

To optimise everyone’s experience, we co-operate closely with other operators in the area, and if you want to take it to the next level, there’s also the option to have your own private boat.

That’s the magic of the Telos. There are quite literally waves for all levels of experience, and we have the sharpest guides in the game who match each guest’s skill and comfort levels with the appropriate waves. Almost without fail, at days end, it’s the rookies and the rusty returners who have the biggest, blissed-out smiles at the dinner table every evening. We have also put together a great surf coaching program that can make a massive difference, and return you to peak form again.

Sure do. Our shop will be stocked with everything you need.

Our goal is to make Tanah Mympi a waterperson’s paradise. We’re inspired by the world-class ocean-sports programs run at places such as Namotu in Fiji and Beran Island in Micronesia, and so we’re going the extra yard to give our guests as many quality experiences in and on the water as possible. Snorkelling, SUP, scuba, free-diving, foiling, kayaking, fishing. You name it. More in the FAQs below.

If you’ve got a favourite mask, by all means, bring it along, but we’ve got you covered with an excellent range of masks, snorkels and flippers. If there’s one non-surf activity we can’t recommend highly enough to all guests, it’s our snorkelling island drift dive. Stroll through the jungle and enjoy a 30-minute underwater wonderland drift back around the island back to our swim-up bar. We’re incredibly lucky to be surrounded by such a healthy and biodiverse reef system here on Tanah Mympi.

Though the diving round these parts isn’t on par with, say, Raja Ampat or the Galapagos Islands, we do have a number of epic spots marked on our charts that are well worth strapping the tank on for. Our flagship Heidi – armed with all the gear: tanks, compressors etc. – can be chartered by PADI qualified guests for a day of serious diving. And if you’re keen to learn to Scuba, let us know when booking and we’ll make it happen.

Ah yes. We see what you did there with that question. Very hip. If you’ve never tried SUP (Stand Up Paddleboarding) before, a calm day in the Tanah Mympi lagoon is the perfect entree. Our fleet of Stand Up Paddleboards is available for flatwater cruising free of charge. Higher-end SUPS are available for hire if you want to ride ’em in the surf zone.

Another of our signature activities. This is too much fun. Paddle out and hook up to one of our perfectly placed moorings in the lagoon. Using our surface ‘popper’ lures, you can chase the mighty GT, (current lagoon record 7KG) Blue Trevally, Fingermark Bream and Coral Trout. As a rule we run a catch-and-release policy off the island, but nail a sweet Spanish Mackerel, and the fine print on our Fresh Sashimi Clause is immediately invoked.

If you’re a mad keen fisho, bring your own gear for sure, but there’s no real need, because we’re stocked with all the gear, which is free to use. Lose too many lures and we might ask you to shell out for a replacement.

We’ve got some jetskis, which we put to use for tasks more functional than hooning*. Think tow-foiling, paddle back assists on the solid days, etc. We have a strict non-tow policy if there are any other paddlers in the water.

(*Brief moments of low-level hooning might be acceptable under the right conditions. It’s a grey area.)