Ricky’s Beach House – West Sumatra’s Best Kept Secret

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Sunset at the jetty at Ricky Beach House in Sungai Pinang, West Sumatra
Sunset at Ricky’s Beach House

A Beautiful Surprise on the West Sumatran Coast

What if I told you there’s a place where your bungalow sits ten steps from the ocean, where turtles glide past your morning jetty, where sunsets demand you stop everything, and where your stay actually changes lives? Would you believe me?

And that’s Ricky’s Beach House. Ocean front. Community heart. And yes, it’s as good as it sounds.

Ricky’s Beach House sits on the coast of Sungai Pinang in West Sumatra. Ten years ago, you could only reach there by boat even though it’s on the mainland. Now there is a proper road, but it still feels like somewhere the world hasn’t quite discovered yet.

Your Bungalow Between Forest and Sea

Wooden family beach bungalow at Ricky's Beach House in Sungai Pinang, West Sumatra
My lovely two bedroom bungalwo with a spacios terrace overlooking the ocean

Imagine waking in a wooden bungalow tucked between tropical trees, forest rising behind you, ocean stretching endlessly in front. Ten steps, literally ten, separate you from the shoreline.

The bungalows at Ricky’s Beach House are beautifully simple. No air conditioning, just fans (though you won’t need them – the nights are so refreshingly cool I’d wrap myself in blankets). Comfy beds that actually let you sleep. Showers so cold and invigorating they wake you better than any coffee could.

And the terrace. That blessed terrace with its hammock catching the afternoon breeze, where you can read or doze or just stare at the ocean.

One of the wooden bungalows at Ricky Beach House by the beach in West Sumatra
Beachfront wooden bungalow at Ricky Beach House in Sungai Pinang

There are options for everyone – family bungalows for those travelling with children, and cosier ones perfect for couples or solo travellers like me. Each tucked into the landscape like they grew there naturally, sheltered by trees, opening onto that impossible view.

This isn’t luxury in the five-star sense. At Ricky’s Beach House, this is luxury in the way that actually matters: space, simplicity, and waking-up to the sound of waves instead of traffic.

Bungalow terrace at Ricky's Beach House
The terrace and Micoh the dog

The Morning Ritual

Wake-up to the first light stretching across the water. The world is still asleep. No sounds except the gentle lap of waves and the occasional call of a bird you can’t quite name.

I’d walk down to the jetty each morning, coffee in hand, and just sit. Watch the fish waking up beneath the clear water. Sometimes, if I was lucky, turtles would glide past – slow, ancient, completely unbothered by my presence.

Feet dangling over crystal clear water at the jetty of Ricky's Beach House in West Sumatra
Crystal clear water
Wooden jetty at Ricky Beach House in Sungai Pinang, West Sumatra
The jetty at Ricky’s Beach House

Sunsets That Deserve Their Own Poetry

Every evening, without fail, I’d walk up the jetty with a cold Bintang in hand and wait for the show.

And what a show it was.

The sky glowed in layers of yellow and gold as the sun slowly melted into the horizon. The water turned liquid gold. Everything went quiet in that way it does when nature’s putting on a performance and everyone knows to just watch.

The sunsets at Ricky’s Beach House are totally mesmerising.

Sunset over the jetty at Ricky Beach House in Sungai Pinang
Sunset at ricky’s Beach House

Just look at that! I swear I wouldn’t want to blink an eye at this very moment!

Nights on the Beach

Then came the bonfires.

Flames dancing against the darkness. Live music – Robi on guitar, Iwa on the cajon.

Beach bonfire night at Ricky's Beach House in Sungai Pinang, West Sumatra
Beach bonfire night

These weren’t planned events. They just happened. Someone would light the fire, someone else would bring out instruments, and suddenly without any announcement or formal invitation, the beach transforms. It comes alive with laughter and music and this collective joy that feels almost sacred. 

This is what travel should feel like. Not manufactured experiences packaged and sold, but authentic moments that emerge organically when the right people gather in the right place at the right time.

At Ricky’s Beach House, it happens almost every night.

I sang. And I danced, barefoot. I have been dreaming of beach bonfire nights like this in ages. Thank you Ricky’s Beach House, for making my dreams come true.

Dinner at the Long Table

Evenings at Ricky’s Beach House revolve around the long communal table. Everyone eats together – guests from France sitting next to backpackers from Holland, solo travellers like me mixing with couples and families.

The food is beautifully varied – local Indonesian dishes spread across the table, family-style. Chicken. Tofu. Tempe. Sambal that makes your eyes water in the best way. Vegetables cooked simply but perfectly. Rice. Always rice.

The staff set it up this way intentionally. Not just to serve food, but to create connection. To give guests a chance to experience the variety of local cuisine while mingling with people whose paths might never have crossed otherwise.

Some of my best conversations happened at that table. Stories swapped. Travel tips exchanged. Laughter over shared struggles with spicy food. Plans made for the next day’s adventures.

You arrive as strangers. You leave as friends.

The Simple Luxury

There is something profoundly luxurious about waking up and having nowhere you need to be. No itinerary. No must-see attractions. Just the ocean ten steps from your bungalow and an entire day stretching ahead.

Some mornings I’d read in the hammock. Some afternoons I’d just write. Some evenings I’d just sit on the jetty and just enjoy the moment.

Shannim writing at Ricky's Beach House in Sungai Pinang, West Sumatra

This is the gift Ricky’s Beach House gives you: permission to slow down. To just be. To remember that not every moment needs to be photographed or optimised or turned into content.

Island Adventure Awaits

When you’re ready for adventure, it’s waiting just offshore. Boat trips to Merak Island and Seronjong Island reveal water so blue it seems impossible, white sand beaches completely deserted, and cliff jumping for the brave (or foolish, depending on your perspective).

Small island near Sungai Pinang seen on a boat trip from Ricky Beach House

The water is that impossible shade of blue that makes you question whether someone’s edited reality. Fine white sand. Not a soul in sight. Literally no one. Just you, the ocean, and the kind of pristine beauty that makes Greek islands look a bit… ordinary. (Sorry, Greece. I still love you. But facts are facts.)

Shannim on a boat trip from Ricky Beach House in Sungai Pinang, West Sumatra
Boat trip to nearby islands
Small island off the coast of Sungai Pinang in West Sumatra
Sironjong Island
Shannim on the beach on an island near Ricky's Beach House in Sungai Pinang
Merak Island

More Than a Beach House

What makes Ricky’s Beach House truly special is what it gives back.

Your stay supports Ricky’s edu-camp, where local children learn English, gain confidence, and discover possibilities beyond what their school system can offer. It provides training for young people from the village, giving them skills in hospitality, languages, and opportunities for different futures.

You are not just a tourist passing through. You’re part of something bigger. Something that matters.

Shannim with local children at Ricky's Beach House, Sungai Pinang, West Sumatra
With the local kids

Why Choose Ricky’s Beach House?

Because some places give you a holiday. This place gives you perspective.

Because you’ll fall asleep to the sound of the ocean and wake-up to serenety and silence.

Because you’ll sit on a jetty at sunset with a cold Bintang and understand why people write poetry about moments like these.

Because you’ll dance on the beach under the stars and eat dinner with strangers who become friends and contribute to something meaningful just by being there.

Because Ricky’s Beach House doesn’t just count guests. It counts hearts.

And once you’ve been, you’ll understand why that matters. And thank me later!

Local man fishing from the jetty at sunset in Sungai Pinang, West Sumatra

What You Need To Know

Location: Sungai Pinang, West Sumatra

Getting There: 2 hours from Padang (PDG airport) – Grab cars are easily accessible from the airport or book direct throgh Ricky’s Beach House for transfers.

Accommodation: Wooden bungalows nestled between forest and ocean, 10 steps from the beach. Family bungalows available, plus options for couples and solo travellers. Fan-cooled (no AC needed – nights are naturally cool), comfy beds, cold showers, private terraces with hammocks.

Vibe: Barefoot luxury, community-focused, authentic.

Perfect For: Solo travellers, couples, families, anyone seeking genuine connection.

What to Bring: Sunscreen, a good book, an open heart, and a light blanket for cool evenings.

Cultural Note: Dress modestly when visiting the village, cover knees and shoulders out of respect for the Muslim community.

Ready to experience it yourself?

Ready to Experience Ricky Beach House?

Don’t just read about sunsets on the jetty and bonfires under the stars – live them.

Book your stay: Contact Ricky’s Beach House directly via their Instangram

Want to volunteer? Reach out to discuss teaching opportunities at the edu-camp.

Planning your West Sumatra adventure? Read my blog on Mentawai HERE . The Mentawai Island is to the Mentawai Tribe, and experience a way of life that feels far removed from the modern world.

Shannim at Ricky's Beach House in West Sumatra

Sometimes the best destinations are the ones you never knew you were looking for.…

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