CROSS BORNEO AND ORANGUTAN ADVENTURE I

State/Province : CROSS BORNEO
Tour Price : USD for 1 Person | USD for 2 Person
Duration: 20 Days/19 Nights
Grade: Challenging

Experience the ultimate challenge by traversing one of the most rugged islands in the world from the east to west crossing jungles, hills, mountain, rivers, rapids, and wilderness. We will be trekking to the lush of Borneo jungle with diversity of vegetation and animal wildlife. We will use land transportation, public houseboat and chartered motorized canoe to access the jungle for roughed days trekking. We will sleep in the jungle and simple houses of the villagers with basic facilities, we will be trekking in tough and mostly wet trails, those are the only way to appreciate the primary jungle of Borneo with the most traditional Dayak tribe settlements as well as the exotic wildlife of the jungle itself. On this long and challenging journey, we can also explore the only Asian Great Ape in Tanjung Puting National Park which is located on a peninsula in the south coast of Borneo. It is the world third largest tropical rainforest park covers an area 415,040 hectares, the only protected area in Southeast Asia with vast tract of wet and low land, tropical heat and swamp forests with large rookeries that provide breeding grounds for a wide population of waterfowl. The needs of orangutans and other wildlife primates are also satisfied by 400 species of trees as their diets.
However, the reward of the trip are the romance of the journey itself, combination of river travel with long stretches of rapids, the experience of jungle trekking, wildlife exploration, as well as interacting with the Dayak people who accept visitors with their friendly attitude and hospitality that tend to make visitors immediately feel at home in their midst. Therefore, good level of fitness, strong sense of determination, and of course the spirit of adventure are the conditions for accomplishing this challenging trip.

Tour Itenary :

Day 01  ARRIVAL IN BALIKPAPAN SAMARINDA

Meet at airport and directly transfer to Samarinda for overnight on hotel. Free at your own leisure.

Day 02  SAMARINDA � MAHAKAM RIVER

After breakfast at hotel, we will proceed to boat station for starting our expedition by cruising the Mahakam River by public houseboat, here you can explore the local people way of life, the riverside civilization that certainly different with our normal life on the land. The houseboat is a public traditional wooden boat with two decks, the first deck for carrying goods and economy class with capacity about 100 passengers and the second deck is for executive class with capacity of 75 passengers. The economy room is more open both sides and no mattress while the executive served mattress, with communal room, no cabin and no AC. At the back side, there are some Borneo style toilets and simple restaurant providing Indonesian food, tea, coffee, and snacks on the first deck. The boat will stop sometimes to pick and drop passengers or loading some supplies. Lunch, dinner and overnight on houseboat. (B,L,D)

Day 03  MAHAKAM RIVER � LONG BAGUN

At the second day on the houseboat, we will cruise the upper Mahakam River while sightseeing beautiful view of rainforest as well as people unique activities at riverside. Lunch, dinner and overnight on houseboat. (B,L,D)

Day 04  LONG BAGUN � TIANG OHANG

Get a full day trip by public boat to cruise the headwaters of Mahakam River through some amazing rapids while sightseeing beautiful view of rainforest as well as people unique activities at riverside. Lunch will be served en route, dinner and overnight on local house. (B,L,D)

Day 05  TIONG OHANG � MUARA HUBUNG � MUARA SAITE

After breakfast at local house, we will cruise the headwaters of Mahakam River by motorized canoe for about 2,5 hours to reach Muara Hubung. Afterwards, we will start our jungle trekking by climbing up the Atikop hill to reach Muara Saite for 3,5 hours approximately. Before dark, we will set a campsite at riverside. Lunch will be served en route, dinner and overnight on bivouac/tent. (B,L,D)

Day 06  MUARA SAITE � SUNGAI BEKANA � ARINGE

We will be trekking deeper into the jungle by crossing rivers and climb up the hills to reach Aringe for setting a campsite at riverside. Lunch will be served en route, dinner and overnight on bivouac/tent. (B,L,D)

Day 07  ARINGE � MULLER RANGE

We will be trekking deeper into the jungle to reach Muller Range by crossing rivers and hills. On the way, our Dayak porters will show us how to survive on the jungle by collecting the rattan, fish catching, and setting animal trap that involve you. Before dark, we will set a campsite for dinner and overnight. (B,L,D)

Day 08  MULLER RANGE � SUNGAI SABANG

The trek here is almost the same with before day but never boring, we will pass the monument border of West and East Kalimantan at 1000 M above sea level. Afterwards, we will be trekking downhill and crossing rivers to reach Sungai Sabang for setting a campsite at riverside. No need to rush as the jungle view is fantastic. Lunch will be served en route, dinner and overnight on bivouac/tent. (B,L,D)

Day 09  SUNGAI SABANG �SUNGAI BONGAN LEA

This is the longest and toughest of all paths, since we will be trekking up and down by crossing rivers, rocks, and hills. After lunch at riverside, we will continue the trek with almost the same characteristic. The trek is so challenging and need more power and spirit of adventure. Before dark, we will set a campsite at riverside. Lunch will be served en route, dinner and overnight on bivouac/tent. (B,L,D)

Day 10  SUNGAI BONGAN LEA � BRAKAN

Trekking path here is varied but tough. We will have lot of deal with water about � - 1 meter deep and walking on rock at riverside. Afterwards, we will continue our journey by trekking up and down along the riverside, while sighting flora and fauna as well as the fascinating landscape along the trek. Before dark, we will set our campsite for dinner and overnight. (B,L,D)

Day 11  BRAKAN � DATAH OPET

After breakfast, we will cross rivers, up and down passing the jungle while exploring exotic flora and fauna of Borneo. After lunch at riverside, we will then cross jungle, rivers, cave and temporary huts used by villagers when having cultivation or hunting deer, wild pig, birds, and even sometimes clouded leopard. Lunch will be served en route, dinner and overnight on bivouac/tent. (B,L,D)

Day 12  DATAH OPET � TANJUNG LOKANG

After breakfast, we will be trekking to Tanjung Lokang crossing secondary rainforest, rivers, hills, villager farmlands and cave. Lunch will be served en route, dinner and overnight on local house. (B,LD)

Day 13  TANJUNG LOKANG � KAPUAS RIVER � PUTUSSIBAU

After breakfast, we will cruise downward the Kapuas River to Putussibau crossing challenged rapids while sightseeing beautiful view of rainforest as well as people unique activities at riverside. Lunch will be served en route, dinner and overnight on local hotel. (B,L,D)

Day 14  PUTUSSIBAU � SINTANG

Proceed to Sintang by public land transportation for about 8 hours passing the beautiful view of Mount Kelam on the roadside. Arrive at Sintang and directly transfer to a nice simple hotel for overnight. (B,L,D)

Day 15  SINTANG � PONTIANAK

After breakfast, we will leave to Pontianak by public land transportation for about 8 hours. Lunch will be served en route, dinner and overnight on hotel. (B,L,D)

Day 16  PONTIANAK � PANGKALAN BUN � TANJUNG PUTING NATIONAL PARK

Breakfast at hotel and free at own leisure till the proper time for transferring to airport for your flight to Pangkalan Bun. Arrive at Pangkalan Bun and directly transfer to Kumai sub-district for boarding the houseboat to Tanjung Puting National Park. The houseboat is a traditional wooden river boat about 6m by 2m with a roof forms the upper deck where you can view the rainforest as it glides by. The boat crew including the boatman, cook and expert guide. In the peaceful afternoon, we will slowly explore the quite river by the houseboat while observing the primates along the riverside. Overnight and dining on houseboat, with facilities; thin mattress, pillow, fine meals, bottled "mineral" water, mosquito net, kitchen, and simple toilet available on boat besides the familiar helpful guides and boatmen. (B,L,D)

Day 17  TANJUNG PUTING NATIONAL PARK

After breakfast, we will board the houseboat for cruising upward to Pondok Tanguy to explore the rehabilitation center of the new ex-captive orangutans. Next, return to houseboat for sailing upward the creek to Camp Leakey where the older orangutans are reintroduced into the rainforest. At this station, you will have opportunity to trek into the rainforest with your expert guide and forest rangers to appreciate the flora as well as viewing wild orangutans, gibbons, macaques, and birds. Lunch will be served on houseboat. In the afternoon, we will visit the feeding station to see rehabilitated orangutans are given additional foods. We will then sail back down the river and overnight on houseboat. (B,L,D)

Day 18  TANJUNG PUTING NATIONAL PARK

Get the morning river safari by houseboat to observe river ecology and wildlife along the riverside. En route, we will stop at Pondok Tanggui Feeding Station to watch rangers feed orangutans, and then we will continue our trip by visiting the Pesalat Station to explore reforestation activities and the famous iron wood as well as other exotic vegetation. Lunch will be served on boat while sighting wild animal activities along the riverside. Next, we will depart to Tanjung Harapan Feeding Station for viewing the feeding process of orangutans. Afterwards, we will proceed to Tanjung Harapan village for sightseeing villagers' daily activities. Enjoy the natural river view on the way back, dinner and overnight on houseboat. (B,L,D)

Day 19  TANJUNG PUTING NATIONAL PARK

Exploring the National Park is never boring. We will observe deeper the swamp rainforest by trekking in other paths that may give you an opportunity to encounter the differences of orangutans either wild or ex-captive as well as other wildlife of the low land tropical rainforest with fascinating atmosphere of the nature itself. Lunch will be served en route, dinner and overnight on houseboat. (B,L,D)

Day 20  TANJUNG PUTING NATIONAL PARK � DEPARTURE

Return to Kumai district by boat then transfer to Pangkalan Bun airport for your next destination. (B)