HT's (Hollow Trees, named for the casuarina trees on shore) is the Mentawai Islands' most famous right-hander—a long, mechanical barrel that peels down a pristine coral reef on Lance's Island. The wave offers everything from rippable walls on smaller days to death-defying tubes when it maxes out. Unlike some Mentawai breaks, HT's is remarkably consistent and handles a wide range of swell sizes. The takeoff is predictable, the barrels are forgiving by Indo standards, and the channel makes paddling out relatively easy. Many consider it the best all-round wave in the Mentawais.
Return flights to PDG, departing today with a 5-day trip window.
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Water temp
29°C
Wetsuit
Boardshorts / Rashguard
Difficulty
7/10
Crowd level
3/10
Access: Day boat from Padang or charter
HT's works best on a mid tide, ideally between 0.5m and 1.6m on the local tide chart. The tide chart above shows today’s strike window.
Offshore wind at HT's blows from the E (90°). Anything in the 50° to 130° range grooms the faces; outside it, expect chop or bumpy conditions.
HT's wants SW swell (190° to 260°) between 1m and 3.5m, with a period of 16s or more for quality waves.
The main season at HT's is Apr-Oct. April-October. E winds offshore.
Fly into PDG, then allow about 0 minutes by road, plus a boat transfer (around $150 USD). Day boat from Padang or charter
HT's is a reef break, a right-hander. Difficulty is rated 7/10.
Peak: Apr-Oct
April-October. E winds offshore.
🌊 Hidden Mentawai gem • Bowling barrels • Uncrowded lineup
🌊 Overlooked Sipora right • Often surfed alone • Quality solitude
🔭 200m Mentawai left • Barrel to shoulder • Trade wind perfection
🌋 Mentawai big wave • 20ft+ faces • Expert-only reef
💥 Near HT's • Short hollow slab • Quick intense barrels
💥 Shallow Mentawai slab • Technical tube ride • Expert barrels