Let’s talk about September sessions. While most of the northern hemisphere starts
looking toward winter and watching the first leaves turn, West Sumatra is slipping
into one of the most magical windows of the year. The intense weather systems of
July and August—those pulse-filled months that deliver powerful surf and stronger
winds across the Mentawai Islands—begin to soften. What follows is a calmer, more
refined rhythm of weather that rolls in just before our traditional Sunda Straits season
and annual dry-dock period.

This is when the pace slows, the crowds thin, and the kind of playful, clean, and
genuinely enjoyable surf takes center stage aboard the MV Indies Trader III. During
September, the boat roams freely between the southern Mentawai Islands and the
Banyaks, slipping into zones others overlook and positioning you right where the
conditions come together best. With our annual Sunda Straits season approaching,
it’s an ideal moment for surfers of every ability level to be on board—equal parts
adventure and ease.

If you’ve ever watched Jack Johnson’s September Sessions, you already know the
vibe: warm water, glassy lines, good energy everywhere you look. And if you haven’t
experienced that feeling in person yet… well, September on the Indies Trader III is
exactly where it lives.

Off the western coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra, the Mentawai Islands are known for ideal surf conditions and a storied past. The Mentawais are comprised of about seventy islands, some of which are uninhabited and remain essentially untouched.

The unique reef formations around the Mentawais ensure that waves break absolutely perfectly, and the weather patterns mean consistent swell year round. The summer months, from June to August, bring peak conditions.

Over the years, many expeditions have visited the Mentawai Islands. Some have changed names or crew, some have gotten washed ashore during tsunamis, others have sunk, but one operation remains the gold standard, the expert in the area: Indies Trader.

The legendary vessel: The MV Indies Trader

Our 72-foot vessel, the MV Indies Trader, wasn’t always used for luxury surf trips. In fact, quite the opposite. The Indies Trader family has a fascinating history, from working as a salvage vessel to a research station.

During the 1980s, the original Indies Trader primarily operated salvage missions. Its crew would dive to recover lost equipment and even treasure from ancient shipwrecks. During these salvage trips, Martin Daly and his crew stumbled upon some of the best surfing in the world, fueling his desire to find the best breaks.

In the late 1990s, the Indies Trader embarked on a one-of-a-kind research mission, the Quiksilver Crossing, during which scientists studied reefs around the world. The mission was also an important one for the surfing community, as over 100 new surf spots were discovered.

Today, the Indies Trader 3, which currently serves the Mentawais and Sumatra, Indonesia boasts all the modern amenities of a luxury charter vessel. With top-of-the-line technology and highly trained crew, it’s the world standard of small leisure ships.

Our Surf Trips

With more successful charters than any operation in Indonesia and an iron-clad safety record, you can count on Indies Trader to provide not only area expertise, but also the amenities and service of a luxury hotel.

Though the journey to get here may be long, once you arrive in Padang, Indonesia, let us handle the details. But thanks to new non-stop flights from the United States to Southeast Asia, getting here is easier than ever.

Just show up with a few good boards, a couple pairs of board shorts, and a good attitude. We’ll pull up anchor and leave the crowds behind as we chase some of the best waves on the planet.

For a complete history of the Mentawai Islands, the Indies Trader, and the pioneers of the surf culture in this part of the world, read the stories below and check out the 2018 GoPro video, “Discovering Mentawais.”