Kalimantan Tribes And Villages

Balikpapan – Loa Janan – Mahakam River

Balikpapan Sepinggan Airport – Loa Janan (109 km): approximately 3 hours

Upon arrival at Sepinggan Airport in Balikpapan, our guide and driver will be waiting to provide transport to the Mahakam River in East Kalimantan.

Recommended flight (airfares not included and quoted separately). Schedules are subject to change without prior notice: Garuda Indonesia from Jakarta to Balikpapan GA564, departing at 08:50 and arriving at 12:05, OR Garuda Indonesia from Surabaya to Balikpapan GA350, departing at 06:35 and arriving at 09:10.

Reaching the river, board a wooden house boat and depart for an amazing overnight cruise on the Mahakam River.

This evening, enjoy a dinner of local specialties and spend the night on board.

Overnight onboard a houseboat on the Mahakam River

Mahakam River - Muara Muntai – Mancong – Muara Pahu

After breakfast on the boat, enjoy some time cruising the river, observing the traditional lifestyle of the riverside villages. After visiting the local market at Muara Muntai, take a motorized canoe across the Jempang Lake and along the Ohong River to reach Mancong Village. While crossing the Ohong, stay on lookout for rare proboscis monkeys, macaques, monitor lizards and kingfishers that inhabit the shoreline.

Upon arrival at Mancong Village, enjoy a traditional welcoming ceremony performed by the Dayak Benuaq Tribe in front of their long houses, one of the Oldest Dayak Longhouse of East Kalimantan can be found here. Late afternoon by motor canoe to Tanjung Isuy for sightseeing and continue to Houseboat for dinner and overnight. Houseboat will cruise up to Muara Pahu

Overnight On board a houseboat on Mahakam River.

Muara Pahu – Mt. Bayan – Terbisak Village

Arrive at Muara Pahu, cruise upstream the Kedang Pahu River by canoe for more than one hour by canoe to Mount Bayan to visit Terbisak Dayak village known of its Longhouse of the Benauq Dayak tribe which is still habituated by about 100 Dayak people living in their community house, and traditions of dry rise fielding and hunting.

Continue downstream by canoe, along the river bank, enjoy the exotic nature and wildlife as otters, leave monkeys, endangered proboscis monkeys and birds before we move to the delta of the Belowan river as a black water peat swamp forest land there is an opportunity to spot the fresh water dolphins in the colliding stream of the Kedang Pahu and the Bolowan River.

 Afternoon, return to houseboat for continue upstream to Melak.

Overnight onboard houseboat on Mahakam River

Melak – Eheng – Kersik Luway

Marks a fascinating half-day excursion over land to the Eheng Village.

Transport through the jungle (overland, private transport) to Eheng Village. This village is home to the famous Dayak tribes of Borneo. Here, deep within the rainforest interior of the island, a wealth of ecological and cultural treasures await discovery. 

Spend the morning in the village and experience the incredible culture of the Dayak. Watch village elders practice traditional medicine, take note of their their status through their intricate body tattoos and remarkably heavy ear adornments. Then, receive a warm welcome from the friendly villagers and enter their traditional longhouses to learn more about their customs and rituals.

After the village visit, continue through the forest to see mysterious black orchids and huge iron-wood trees.

Afternoon to Ombau Asa waterfall, an exciting place for swimming. Return to Melak then board to the houseboat and downstream to Tenggarong.

Overnight onboard the houseboat on Mahakam River.

Tenggarong – Loa Janan – Balikpapan

Loa Janan – Balikpapan (109 km): approximately 3 hours

Arrive at Tenggarong for a short stop. This village is home to a former Sultan’s Palace, which is now a museum. Lunch will be served onboard the houseboat.

Then, transfer from the village of Samarinda by car to Pampang Dayak Kenyah Village and have a look an extraordinarily vibrant Dayak designs portraying scenes from jungle life. After taking a look around, transfer to Balikpapan, en-route enjoy dinner at a local restaurant

Upon arrival, check in to the hotel. The rest of the evening is free at leisure.

Overnight in Balikpapan.

Balikpapan – Departure

Balikpapan Hotel – Balikpapan Sepinggan Airport (9 km): 20 minutes

The morning is free to spend at leisure until it is time to transfer to the airport for the departing flight.

Recommended flight (airfares not included and quoted separately). Schedules are subject to change without prior notice: Garuda Indonesia from Balikpapan to Jakarta GA563, departing at 10:00 and arriving at 11:00