Expedition Overview
We will provide you with the ultimate challenge, by crossing one of the most rugged islands in the world, Borneo. Travelling from the west to east, through jungles, mountains, rivers, rapids, and remote wilderness. We will take you to the jungles of Indoensian Borneo where you will be immersed in a diversity of vegetation and animal wildlife habitat. Your trip will involve using a variety of transportation including public houseboat, chartered motorized canoe, speedboats and cars.
Your cross Borneo adventure is a mix of adventure, leisure and ecotourism. This tour can be organised for a minumum of 2 persons up to maximum group size of 12 persons. To maximize service and safety for all participants, we also provide you with “comfortable” camping equipment and safety features like first aid kit and a satellite phone.
You will sleep in tented camps while in the jungle and a variety of simple local hotels (Losemen) in villages. You will be trekking in tough and mostly wet trails, which is the only way to appreciate the deep jungle of Borneo with the most traditional Dayak tribe settlements andmost exotic wildlife.
You will undertake a long and challenging journey on foot through the primary forests, home to many unique animals. We will cross many (seems like hundreds) of rivers from big to small. We will pass the muddy, slippery tracks, as you trek down hills and then back up as you cross the Muller mountain range that stretches between east, central and west kalimantan and near the border of Malaysian Borneo.
The real reward of this expedition is the journey itself; combining river travel with long stretches of rapids. The challange of jungle trekking, wildlife exploration, as well as meeting with the Dayaks who accept visitors with their friendly nature and hospitality that make visitors immediately feel at home in their midst. A high level of fitness, sense of determination, and a spirit of adventure are the conditions for accomplishing this challenging trip.
The trip package duration is 18 days with an Intermediate to Advance level of fitness required.
Expedition Goals
Our goal is to provide our guests with a unique experience, to observe forests and animals in their natural habitat. We will provide you with a safe platform to observe other wildlife, jungles and the traditioanl dayak people. We will provide you with comprehensive information about the destinations so you are fully informed of your surroundings. Furthermore, Orangutan Odysseys has partnered up with The Orangutan Project which supports conservation programs in Borneo and Sumatra. Each guest’s fare includes the cost of adopting an Orangutan for 1 year.
Highlight
- Join the exclusive “club” of people to have crossed Borneo island
- See primary forests that have survived human interferance for hundreds of years
- Experience the Dayak Culture & visit a LongHouse (Lamin)
- Travel along the 2 longest rivers in Borneo – Mahakam River & Kapuas River
- Jungle trekking across Borneo borders
- See the extensive array of Borneo flora and fauna.
- Travel with an experineced team of guides and porters who know this area like few others.
- Challenge yourself to complete this uniuque adventure.
- Finish the tour seeing orangutans and sunbears and learning about the cause to help save them
Sustainability
This is your chance to become part of a tour that will challenge you physically and mentally but also help to make a difference to the magnificant orangutan species. In completing the Cross Borneo Adventure you will learn about the plight of the orangutans, the flagship species for many other endangered creatures, as well as the continued destruction of their rainforest habitat. Part of you tour fare will be donated directly to The Orangutan Project to help their survival.
What’s Included
Domestic airfares Pontianak to Puttissibau
Orangutan Odysseys experienced expedition guide
Accommodation in Pontianak on arrival Day 1 only (twin share)
Accommodation in all locations throughout the event in Borneo (twin share)
Meals as noted in the itinerary (B,L,D)
National park fees
Airport transfers
Experienced local guides and porters
Orangutan Odysseys T-shirt
Ranger and local guide fees
All basic camping equipment
Porters & assistants
What’s Not Included
International airfares
Travel Insurance
Trip Itinerary
ITINERARY – CROSS BORNEO CHALLENGE – Class: Top Hard Adventure – Difficult
West to East – 18 Days 17 Nights
Day 1 : ARRIVAL – PONTIANAK – HOTEL
On arrival at the International Airport Supadio Pontianak, meet with services then visit the Equator Monument. Then transfer to your hotel for accommodation. (D)
Day 2 : HOTEL – AIRPORT – PUTUSSIBAU
After breakfast, check out from the hotel and transfer to airport for your flight to Putus Sibau. Upon arrival, transfer to hotel for a rest and to prepare for the hard trip ahead. (B,L,D)
Day 3 : PUTUSSIBAU – KAPUAS RIVER – BONGAN RIVER
After breakfast, board the Long Boat and cruise up the Kapuas river to Tanjung Lokang. Spending two days up the river. Stay and overnight along the river bank by tent. (B,L,D)
Day 4 : BONGAN RIVER – TANJUNG LOKANG
On arrival at Tanjung Lokang village, proceed to check in at simple guest house accommodation. Afternoon sightseeing around the village to observe the lifestyle of the Punan Dayak Tribe, followed by preparing the equipment before trekking the next day. (B,L,D)
Day 5 : TANJUNG LOKANG – NANGA TARAN – BERAKAN
Wake up early morning. After breakfast board a motorized canoe and cruise further up Bungan river. On arrival, you will start trekking into the deep forest to Berakan. Arrve in Berakan, set up the tent and overnight. (B,L,D)
Day 6 : BERAKAN – PUHUN PISUN
Wake up early morning, after breakfast continue the trek to Puhun Pisun, approximately 6 – 7 hours. Arrive and set up the tent for overnight (B,L,D)
Day 7 : PUHUN PISUN– ULANG TAHUN
Wake up early morning, then a full day hike deep into the Muller range. Set up the tent for overnight. (B,L,D)
Day 8 : ULANG TAHUN – KUPAN TANAH (Muller Range)
After breakfast, continue to walk to the border between West and East Borneo. Afternoon, arrive at camp site, set up the tent and overnight. (B,L,D)
Day 9 : KUPAN TANAH – MUARA CUHUTING
Continue trek up and down across a creek with rocky, slippery, wet, muddy terain. You have to be extra carefull while you trek. Afternoon arrival in Muar Cuhuting, set up the tent, cook dinner and rest. (B,L,D
Day 10 : MUARA CUHUTING – MUARA SAITE (PANGKAL BULUH)-Wake up early, after breakfast start your trek to the last camp site. Afternoon arrival in Muara Saite (Pangkal Buluh), our porter will set up the tent and cook the last dinner in the jungle. Swim in the creek and freshen up for the last sleep in the jungle. (B,L,D)
Day 11 : PANGKAL BULUH – MAHAKAM RIVER – TIONG OHANG
After breakfast, continue your last jungle trek to Mahakam river bank. Upon arrival, transfer to motorised canoe and head down the river to Tiong Ohang village. Arrive and proceed to check in at Local Inn (Losmen) for your overnight accommodation. After lunch, sightsee around the villages to observe the lifestyle of local people (Dayak tribe). (B,L,D)
Day 12 : TIONG OHANG – LONG BAGUN
After breakfast, check out and board a public speed boat and cruise down the Mahakam river, passing several rapids and a water fall. Arrive in Long Bagun, check in at Losmen Pole Wali for your overnight accommodation. (B,L,D)
Day 13 : LONG BAGUN – TERING – BARONG – MELAK
After breakfast, check out and board the speed boat. Cruise down the river to Tering, continue on to Barong. Overnight in Barong tongkok. (B,L,D)
Day 14 : MELAK – EHENG – JANTUR INAR – KERSIK LUWAI – MELAK
After breakfast travel about 40 minutes to Eheng long house where twenty families still live together in one long house. Afterwards, travel to Jantur Inar (water fall) near by the Eheng long house. Then we drive to Kersik Luwai (Orchid Forest). Overnight on Private House Boat. (B,L,D)
Day 15 : MELAK – MUARA MUNTAI – JANTUR INAR – MANCONG – MUARA MUNTAI
After breakfast leave from Muara Muntai by motorized canoe to Mancong. We will pass the Jantur Inar (fisherman Village) and explore the area. Continue to Mancong, passing Jempang Lake and Ohong river. There are proboscis monkeys, king fisher and no end of wildlife along Ohong river. Arrive at Mancong, watch a dayak dance performance and try to use a blow pipe (Sumpit). Back to the house boat for dinner and overnight. (B,L,D)
Day 16 : MUARA MUNTAI – TENGGARONG – SAMARINDA – SAMBOJA LODGE (BOSF)
Early morning we will arrive at Tenggarong (Kutai Kertanegara). After breakfast visit the first old Hindu kingdom in Indonesia. Afterward continue to Samarinda by public house boat, then drive to Balikpapan. On the way to Balikpapan we will stop at the Sun Bear Sanctuary, to see the Sun bear (symbol of Balikpapan city), then continue to Balikpapan where we will visit the Mangrove center to see proboscis monkeys by boat. Then transfer to our hotel in Balikpapan. (B,L,D)
Day 17 : SAMBOJA LESTARI Day Visit (BOSF) – BALIKPAPAN
Early morning drive to Samboja BOSF, about 1 hour 20 minutes from Balikpapan. You will learn about the orangutan and see the morning feeding programme. Lunch at Samboja lodge. Afterwards, see the Sunbear feeding and then head to the blackwater river to see the proboscis monkeys in the late afternoon. Return to Balikpapan hotel for our final night. (B,L,D)
Day 18 : BALIKPAPAN – AIRPORT
After breakfast, transfer to a traditional market to buy souvenirs then transfer to the airport. End of tour. (B)
Note: Prices can be provided for flights and accommodations in Indonesia (like Jakarta or Bali) before and after the tour. Please contact us for more details on this service.
Program And Price
Price
US$4,150 ex Pontianak (minimum 2 pax). Price discounted for larger size groups. POA
Trip Duration
18 days / 17 nights
Find trip dates and book your tour click here!
A journey on foot through the primary forest or natural forest where this is the forest where rare animal live. We will pass tens or even hundreds rivers from big to small. We will pass the slippery road, muddy, down the hills and up and through the Mullers mountains that stretches as the boundary between east, central and west kalimantan and bordering the territory of malaysian part. During the journey in the forest maybe almost everyday we will walk wet in the rain or cross the rivers. Every day the carrier will help us build a tent for a place to sleep, we also prepare hammock if you are interest.
To place a booking simply click the ‘Book Now’ button for your preferred date and complete the compulsory fields of the booking form.
What to expect
You are embarking on an adventure to places and amongst people whose lives are very different from your own. Many aspects of life in Indonesia will seem unusual. Remember that these are often the same aspects that make an area an exotic and attractive destination. While boat expeditions are considered easy, no trek is easy, even those rated “easy or moderate”. In addition to the personal physical challenges you may face, travel conditions can present unexpected obstacles, such as rough and bumpy roads and changeable weather. To prepare for this “pack” a flexible and relaxed attitude. Bring a spirit of adventure and inquiry, a healthy sense of humor and a willingness to encounter the unexpected and you will find your trip to Indonesia the adventure of a lifetime!
