KALIMANTAN/BORNEO
Ready to trade the city buzz for the sounds of the jungle? Welcome to Pangkalan Bun, the gateway to one of Indonesia’s most unforgettable adventures! Nestled in Central Kalimantan, this charming riverside town is your launchpad into the heart of Borneo’s wild wonders.
Hop on a traditional klotok boat and cruise down the legendary Sekonyer River, where every bend brings a new thrill. Keep your eyes peeled—orange flashes in the trees mean one thing: wild orangutans! You’re entering Tanjung Puting National Park, a lush, untamed world where nature reigns and adventure never takes a day off.
By day, you’ll trek through tropical rainforests, spot proboscis monkeys leaping through the canopy, and visit orangutan feeding stations to meet our distant, curious cousins face-to-face. By night, the jungle comes alive with the sounds of cicadas and distant calls, and you’ll fall asleep under a blanket of stars on your boat—pure explorer vibes!
But it’s not just about wildlife. Pangkalan Bun offers a rich cultural experience too, with friendly locals, traditional Dayak crafts, and delicious Kalimantan cuisine to spice up your journey.
So pack your spirit of adventure—Pangkalan Bun is calling, and the wild is waiting!
WILD BORNEO: 3-DAY ORANGUTAN EXPEDITION IN TANJUNG PUTING NATIONAL PARK
(Cruising the Sekonyer & Kumai Rivers aboard a traditional Klotok)
DAY 1: INTO THE WILD – PANGKALAN BUN > KUMAI > TANJUNG HARAPAN (L/D)
Touch down in the lush heart of Kalimantan, where the air is thick with the scent of the forest. Meet your local guide at Pangkalan Bun Airport and head to the river port of Kumai, where your floating home awaits—a beautifully restored “klotok” riverboat, crafted from teak and ironwood. Glide into the winding jungle waterways aboard this intimate vessel, where an upper viewing deck and cozy air-conditioned cabins below provide both comfort and a front-row seat to nature.
Cruise slowly into Tanjung Puting National Park, and by mid-afternoon, arrive at Tanjung Harapan, a vital rehabilitation center for rescued orangutans. A short walk on wooden trails brings you to the feeding platform—watch in awe as semi-wild orangutans emerge from the forest for their afternoon meal.
As twilight falls, the jungle hums to life. Float along the river’s edge where proboscis monkeys gather in treetop clusters, silhouetted against the sunset. Enjoy a candle-lit dinner on deck under the stars, serenaded by frogs and cicadas, before retiring to your cabin for the night.
DAY 2: JUNGLE RENEWAL & CAMP LEAKEY ENCOUNTER (B/L/D)
Awaken to the gentle sounds of the rainforest and enjoy breakfast on the deck as your boat glides upstream. Keep your eyes open for water monitors, crocodiles, and birdlife along the banks. First stop: Pesalat, a community-led reforestation site. Here, you’ll have the chance to plant a tree—leaving a living footprint in this fragile ecosystem.
Return to the boat for a hearty lunch as you journey deeper into the wild. Your next destination is the legendary Camp Leakey, a renowned research center and home to many orangutans that have been released back into the wild. Take a guided forest trek among towering trees and tangled vines—encounters with orangutans, macaques, gibbons, and forest birds are likely, and always magical.
Return to your riverboat for a peaceful dinner and overnight in a quiet bend of the river, surrounded by the rich, living symphony of the jungle.
DAY 3: FAREWELL TO THE FOREST – PONDOK TANGGUY > KUMAI > DEPARTURE (B/L)
On your final morning, head to Pondok Tangguy, another feeding station where newly released orangutans are gradually reintroduced into the forest. Witness the 9:00 AM feeding ritual—watching these majestic primates in their natural element never fails to inspire awe.
As your journey winds down, cruise slowly downstream while enjoying a final lunch on board. Keep your binoculars handy—you may still spot hornbills overhead or a crocodile gliding silently beside you.
Disembark at Kumai and transfer to the airport in Pangkalan Bun, bidding farewell to the magical rivers of Borneo and the wild hearts that call it home.
