Located only 10 km (6.2 miles) west of Bengkulu city, this small island offers blue waters, white beaches, coral reef, and the feel of a remote getaway that you will not want to miss. Pulau Tikus (Mouse Island) is home to a small community of local fisherman, many colorful fish, and ironically many cats. This popular tourist destination can be reached by an hour ride on a speedboat. Equipped with our snorkeling gear you can enjoy hours of underwater exploration around the island as you observe the diversity of aquatic life present there. You can also climb the signal light tower and view the entire island and surrounding reef from a vantage point high above the island.
Sumatran Tiger Trek Jungle Ecotourism

Arriving at Pulau Tikus after a short boat ride.

Plan on leaving in the morning between 9:00-10:00AM. Enjoy a boat ride out to the island with one of our local partner businesses. Arrive at the island to have fun swimming, snorkeling, and spotting wildlife around the island before you eat a traditional “bungkus” (take out) lunch on the beach. Relax on the beach for a bit before exploring the reef some more and then returning to Bengkulu in the afternoon between 1:00-2:00PM.

Interested in more? Check out our other itineraries to see more of Wild Sumatra!

Summary

Difficulty : Moderate, participants will need to be able to wade in the ocean to the boat and climb into the boat

Activities : Swimming, Snorkeling

Terrain : Ocean, Reefs

Duration : Day Trip – 4-6 hours

Months of Operation : All year pending good weather

Additional information : Life jackets provided for all participants.

  • Swim suits (NO BIKINIS; modest, one-piece suits only)
  • Your own water bottle, to cut down on single-use plastics.
  • Sunscreen! Being near the equator means the sun is no joke.
  • Frisbee, football, other water toys/personal items, etc. 

The trail is rocky and it could be easy to twist an ankle. So tread carefully. There are also a few spots with steep drop offs on the sides. And of course, the waters initially coming out of the hot springs are boiling hot, with the strong smell of sulfur – so don’t touch! Enjoy a dip in a natural pool a bit downriver where a cool mountain stream mixes with the hot spring water to create the perfect temperature.

Like all of our trips, you travel at your own risk. Keep in mind that you are visiting a wild and extremely remote area of rural Sumatra, far from quality medical care. It’s your responsibility to make sure you are covered with valid travel and medical insurance.

You’ll take a short boat ride to the island sponsored by one of our local partners. 

We’re proud that 100% of our proceeds goes directly to Pencagura, a local grassroots conservation and development organization that works to preserve the surrounding rainforest and improve the lives of forest-edge communities .

As always, we use only local guides and porters from nearby communities, who are paid a fair, ethical wage above the standard local price.

Come discover Bengkulu for yourself! Learn about the region, visit our itineraries page, or view additional points of interest around Bengkulu to create your own custom trip. Be sure to check out our travel tips when you’re ready to start planning.

INTERESTED? WE’D LOVE TO SET UP SOMETHING THAT’S RIGHT FOR YOU.