Ugai Traditional Village

Ugai Traditional Village (Dusun Ugai) is one of the primary cultural centers of the indigenous Mentawai people, located in the hinterland of Madobag Village, South Siberut District, Mentawai Islands Regency. This traditional settlement is nestled deep within the lush and well-preserved tropical rainforest ecosystem of Siberut Island. The area serves as a stronghold for indigenous Mentawai communities who steadfastly uphold their ancestral heritage amidst modernization. Its main architectural highlight is the Uma, a traditional communal stilt longhouse inhabited together by an extended family clan. The Uma is remarkably constructed using wooden pegs and interlocking notched joints without using a single nail.

From a cultural education perspective, Ugai Traditional Village serves as a living classroom for visitors to understand the Arat Sabulungan philosophy, which teaches harmony between humans and nature. Here, travelers can engage in direct discussions with the Sikerei—Mentawai traditional healers and spiritual leaders—about traditional medicine wisdom derived from forest plants. Visitors also have the opportunity to learn the history and philosophical meanings behind traditional Mentawai body tattooing, recognized as one of the oldest tattoo traditions in the world. Furthermore, there is local culinary learning through the traditional preparation of sagu kapurut wrapped in sago leaves and kaobbuk cooked inside bamboo stalks. Travelers are also introduced to the community's craftsmanship through the making of traditional bracelets (letcu) carefully woven from natural fibers.

As a community-based tourism destination, Ugai Traditional Village offers a warm and authentic experience of staying directly with a local family inside the Uma (Live in Uma). Travelers can actively participate in the residents' daily lives, including joining the traditional communal river fishing in crystal-clear streams (Paliggagra/Panairi). At night, the journey becomes even more memorable with a cultural evening featuring traditional music performances and ancestral storytelling by village elders. Before concluding the visit, travelers can capture moments of togetherness through a photo session with the Uma family against the stunning backdrop of the Siberut hinterland. Every tourist visit to Ugai Traditional Village provides a direct economic impact on the welfare of the indigenous community while supporting the sustainable preservation of Mentawai culture.