The Famous Perahu Sandeq in Majene Regency, West Sulawesi Province

Lots of things make Majene Regency popular among tourists. One of them is the presence of a traditional boat called Perahu Sandeq! That means the region is not only known for its natural attractions, isn’t it? Even foreigners recognize this cute and beautiful kind of boat. It can be said that the boat represents Majene Regency and its maritime life. As for tourists, they can visit the local village where the boats are produced and take photos of these boats directly. Moreover, they are allowed to ride it along with the owner in the sea!

About Perahu Sandeq
In terms of appearance, Sandeq Boat combines both elegance and sturdiness. It is dominated by white color and features a wide sail. In fact, the size of the sail is considered bigger than the body of the boat! These boats can be found easily in coastal areas around Majene Regency and nearby regions. For the information, the best time to see and learn about Sandeq is on an annual event called Sandeq Race. At the time, lots of participants would put the best efforts to win the race. The nuance becomes merrier and more fun, without a doubt!

More about Perahu Sandeq
For the Indonesian locals, Perahu Sandeq has become their maritime icon of superiority, especially among Mandar Tribe. It represents how tough and well they explore the see. In terms of function, actually, the boat is meant for fishing. It is said the boat is able to get to the ocean and reach other countries like Madagascar, Japan, Malaysia, and much more! This is why tourists are quite impressed with the toughness and sturdiness of the boat.

Tourists should know that Perahu Sandeq also becomes one of the locals’ cultural heritage. It has a unique appearance, which is both elegant and strong. The length is about 10 – 15 meters and the width is only about 1 meter. The boat also features an outrigger on both sides. Plus, the presence of a giant sail helps the boat to move swiftly on the sea. That means it depends on the strength of the wind to move around instead of using a machine.

Aside from taking photos of the boat, tourists are allowed to ride the boat in the sea! They need to do it along with the owner of the boat, though. Another thing that tourists can do, which is related to Perahu Sandeq, is to visit the local villages where the boats are made. Somehow, in this case, they need the help of a local guide who knows about the location of the villages. As an alternative, tourists can simply visit Mandar Museum for the replica.

Nearby Attractions

• Lamungan Beach
• Salutakaang Waterfall
• Bonde-Bonde Beach
• Kasambang Beach
• Buntu Liarra
• Timbu Waterfall
• Tosalama Mangrove

How to Get There
In order to watch and learn about Perahu Sandeq directly, tourists need to visit Majene Regency. However, it may take some time for those who live outside the island. For instance, from Jakarta City, tourists need to take an airplane service at Soekarno – Hatta International Airport and head to Mamuju Regency (the capital of West Kalimantan Province) first. Usually, a flight to Tampa Padang Airport may take around 4 hours and 45 minutes

Once getting to Mamuju Regency, the next destination is Majene Regency. Tourists only need to take Poros Majene – Mamuju Street, which may take around 2 hours and 18 minutes. It is because the distance is 85.1 km. Once arriving at Majene, they can start gathering information regarding Perahu Sandeq from the locals. It is also recommended to hire a guide, actually.

Where to Stay

• Ukhi Guesthouse
• Mesra Inn
• Hotel
• Tiga Bintang
• Bogor Inn
• Saudara