by Duration: 16 Days/15 Nights
Grade: Easy
Day 01 ARRIVAL IN PANGKALAN BUN – TANJUNG PUTING NATIONAL PARK
Meet at airport and directly transfer to Kumai village for boarding the houseboat to Tanjung Puting National Park. The houseboat is a traditional wooden river boat with 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 romantic river by the houseboat while observing the primates and birds along the riverside, such as racket tailed drongo, little green and pink necked pigeons, spotted dove, stork billed kingfisher, herons, kinds of bul-bul, etc. Lunch, dinner and staying overnight at houseboat. (L,D)
Day 02 TANJUNG PUTING NATIONAL PARK
Early morning, we will proceed to Pondok Ambung station which is inhabited by species of birds such as greater and lesser coucals, kinds of bul-bul, chestnut bellied and raffless malkohas, bristlehead, red throated barbet, hooded and garnet pittas, sunda pygmy and banded woodpeckers, minivet, leafbird, babblers, flowerpeckers, trogons, bulwer’s pheasant, asian paradised flycatchers, etc. Next, boarding the houseboat for cruising upward the creek to Camp Leakey where the older orangutans are reintroduced into the rainforest. At this station, we will explore the story of first orangutan project in the world, we will then trekking to the feeding station to see rehabilitated orangutans are given additional foods. Afterwards, cruising downward the river while spotting some birds on riverside such as stork billed and blue eared kingfishers, black and red broadbills, rhinoceros, black, and oriental pied hornbills, storm’s stork, etc. If the weather is good, we can do a night trekking to explore nocturnal animals such as tarantula and species of birds. Lunch, dinner and staying overnight at houseboat. (B,L,D)
Day 03 TANJUNG PUTING NATIONAL PARK – BANJARMASIN – BARITO RIVER
Breakfast at houseboat and cruising the Sekonyer river while exploring the wildlife and birds on riverside and then return to Kumai port to catch the car for driving to Pangkalan Bun airport for your flight to Banjarmasin. Arrive in Banjarmasin and directly driving to hotel for check in. In the afternoon, we will cruise downward the Barito River to the estuary for exploring the fascinating mangrove forest which is inhabited by proboscis monkeys, silvery langurs, long tailed maccaques, and many birds. Afterwards, return to hotel while birding with slow boating across beautiful rice field, bushes, mangrove forest, and remote villages. (B,L,D)
Day 04 FLOATING MARKET – RINDU ALAM – SERONGGA VILLAGE
Early in the morning, we will cross the Banjarmasin River into floating market for exploring the unique culture of Banjarese that trade commodities from boat to boat. We will have opportunity to spot birds on riverside including green pigeons, munias, bul-buls, sunbirds, tailorbirds, kingfishers, babblers, etc. Next, driving across villages, lowland, rainforest, mountainous landscape, and beaches to reach the Rindu Alam Forest to spot the Javan White-eye and other bird species. We will then proceed to the limestone hills near Serongga Village to spot the Black-Browed Babbler. Afterwards, driving to the local hotel in Serongga Village for overnight. (B,L,D)
Day 05 SERONGGA VILLAGE – LIMESTONE HILLS – PETUNG
Early morning, we proceed to the limestone hills to spot the Bornean black-browed babbler and other bird species. Afterwards, we will drive across rainforest and mountainous landscape to reach Petung town for overnight at a local hotel. Lunch and dinner will be served at local restaurants en route. (B,L,D)
Day 06 PETUNG – SUNGAI WAIN RESERVE
After breakfast, we will drive to Sungai Wain Reserve and check in to the homestay. We will then trekking to the forest to do birdwatching with hope to see Bornean peacock-pheasant, Bornean ground-cuckoo, Malaysian honeyguide, blue-headed pitta, bristlehead, bornean wren-babbler, grey-breasted babbler, yellow-rumped flowerpecker, red bearded bee-eater, banded woodpecker, hornbills, Asian paradise flycatcher, etc. Return to the homestay for overnight. (B,L,D)
Day 07 SUNGAI WAIN RESERVE – BUKIT BANGKIRAI
Full day birdwatching with hope to see the exotic birds such as Bornean peacock-pheasant, Bornean ground-cuckoo, Malaysian honeyguide, blue-headed pitta, bristlehead, bornean wren-babbler, grey-breasted babbler, yellow-rumped flowerpecker, red bearded bee-eater, banded woodpecker, broadbills, hornbills, Asian paradise flycatcher, etc. Afterwards, driving to Bukit Bangkirai for check in to a cottage. (B,L,D)
Day 08 BUKIT BANGKIRAI – LOA JANAN – MAHAKAM RIVER
Early morning, we will trek and climbing the canopy bridge to explore the rainforest from above as well as spotting birds such as hornbills, Borneo magpies, velvet-fronted nuthatch, leafbirds, malkohas, Asian paradise flycatchers, woodpeckers, blue-crowned hanging parrots, barbets, etc. We will then return to the cottage for packing up our stuff and then leaving to Loa Janan for boarding the houseboat to start the exciting adventure of Mahakam River. During the boating, we can explore the river civilization and spotting birds such as; herons, egrets, kingfishers, barned swallow, shrikes, oriental pied hornbill, bee-eaters, changeable hawk, brahminy kite, pigeons, coucals, etc. Lunch, dinner and overnight at houseboat. (B,L,D)
Day 09 MUARA MUNTAI – OHONG RIVER – MANCONG – MAHAKAM RIVER
In the morning, we can have sightseeing the villagers daily activities from the long wooden bridge which is made of iron wood. Next, proceed to Jempang Lake by motorized canoe to explore the waterbirds such as herons, egrets, darter, black winged stilt, waterhen, common moorhen, lesser adjutant, whistling ducks, fish eagle, whiskered terns, and storm stork if you are lucky. We will then entering the Ohong River to reach Mancong village to explore an exotic longhouse. The Ohong River is habitat of proboscis monkeys, monitor lizards, golden ringed snakes, reticulated python, and some beautiful birds such as blue eared kingfishers, pittas, broadbills, woodpeckers, green leafbirds, racket tailed drongo, asian paradised and blue flycatchers, blue tailed bee-eater, etc. Afterwards, return to houseboat for cruising downward the Mahakam River. Lunch will be served en route, dinner and overnight at houseboat. (B,L,D)
Day 10 MAHAKAM RIVER – KABO VILLAGE – KUTAI NATIONAL PARK
After breakfast at houseboat, we will be driving to Kabo village for crossing up the river into Prevab camp of Kutai National Park, during the boating we will have opportunity to sight some birds such as oriental pied hornbill, coucals, brahminy kite, kingfishers, broadbills, etc. Arrive at the national park and then trekking to the jungle to spot orangutans and birds as many as possible such as; kinds of bulbul, chestnut bellied and raffless malkohas, brown and red throated barbets, sunda pygmy and banded woodpeckers, hornbills, fiery minivet, leafbirds, babblers, scarlet backed flowerpecker, crimson sunbirds, bornean blue flycatcher, hooded and blue headed pittas, red bearded bee-eater, Bornean bristlehead, spider hunters, oriental dwarf kingfisher, trogons, violet cuckoo, hornbills, white rumped shama, black and red broadbill, hill myna, scoop owls, green imperial pigeon, crested fireback, etc. In the evening, we can do night trekking to explore tarantula and other animals such as insects, sleeping birds, frogs, etc. Lunch will be served en route, dinner and staying overnight at the jungle guesthouse. (B,L,D)
Day 11 KUTAI NATIONAL PARK
Full day birdwatching with hope to see birds as many as possible such as; kinds of bulbul, chestnut bellied and raffless malkohas, brown and red throated barbets, sunda pygmy and banded woodpeckers, hornbills, fiery minivet, leafbirds, babblers, scarlet backed flowerpecker, crimson sunbirds, bornean blue flycatcher, hooded and blue headed pittas, red bearded bee-eater, Bornean bristlehead, spider hunters, oriental dwarf kingfisher, trogons, violet cuckoo, hornbills, white rumped shama, black and red broadbill, hill myna, scoop owls, green imperial pigeon, crested fireback, etc. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and staying overnight at the jungle guesthouse. (B,L,D)
Day 12 KUTAI NATIONAL PARK – DELTA SANGATTA – BALIKPAPAN
Early morning, we will do birdwatching to spot as many as possible such as; kinds of bulbul, chestnut bellied and raffless malkohas, brown and red throated barbets, sunda pygmy and banded woodpeckers, hornbills, fiery minivet, leafbirds, babblers, scarlet backed flowerpecker, crimson sunbirds, bornean blue flycatcher, hooded and blue headed pittas, red bearded bee-eater, bristlehead, spider hunters, oriental dwarf kingfisher, trogons, violet cuckoo, hornbills, white rumped shama, black and red broadbill, hill myna, scops owls, green imperial pigeon, crested fireback, etc. Next, we will cross downward the river into Delta Sangatta to spot estuarine crocodile, proboscis monkeys, as well as the birds such as; white bellied sea eagle, dollarbirds, collared kingfisher, brahminy kites, little green pigeons, plovers, etc. Afterwards, proceed back to Balikpapan for overnight at hotel. (B,L,D)
Day 13 BALIKPAPAN – BERAU – TANJUNG BATU – MARATUA ISLAND
Breakfast at hotel and free at your own leisure till the proper time for transferring to airport for your flight to Berau. Arrive at Berau airport and directly driving to Tanjung Batu port crossing bushes, mountainous landscape, rainforest, farmland, and villages. Afterwards, crossing the Sulawesi Sea to reach Maratua Island for check in to the cottage. In the afternoon, we can do birding to spot species of birds such as; Pink-necked Green Pigeon, Nicobar Pigeon, Grey Imperial Pigeon, Pied Imperial Pigeon, Black-naped Fruit Dove, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Maratua Shama, Maratua Bul-bul, Rainbow Bee-eater, Blue-naped Parrot, Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot, Kingfishers, Frigate Birds, etc. (B,L,D)
Day 14 MARATUA ISLAND – KAKABAN – SANGALAKI – MARATUA ISLAND
After breakfast, we will proceed to Kakaban island for snorkeling on the wondrous lake with 4 different species of jelly fish that can be found by thousands. Next, proceed to Sangalaki for snorkeling on the site which is called as the Capital of The Mantas Rays, including kinds of exotic fish, such as; Napoleons, purple sea horses, tunitates, dwarf scorpion fishes, and not to forget the coral sea garden which is fascinating. Afterwards, return to the cottage for overnight. (B,L,D)
Day 15 MARATUA ISLAND BIRDING
Full day birding to spot species of birds such as; Pink-necked Green Pigeon, Nicobar Pigeon, Grey Imperial Pigeon, Pied Imperial Pigeon, Black-naped Fruit Dove, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Maratua Shama, Maratua Bul-bul, Rainbow Bee-eater, Blue-naped Parrot, Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot, Kingfishers, Frigate Birds, etc. (B,L,D)
Day 16 MARATUA ISLAND – TANJUNG BATU – DEPARTURE
Early morning, we can do birdwatching to spot birds such as; Pink-necked Green Pigeon, Nicobar Pigeon, Grey Imperial Pigeon, Pied Imperial Pigeon, Black-naped Fruit Dove, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Maratua Shama, Maratua Bul-bul, Rainbow Bee-eater, Blue-naped Parrot, Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot, Kingfishers, Frigate Birds, etc. Afterwrads, proceed back to Tanjung Batu port to catch our car for driving to Berau airport for your afternoon flight to next destination. (B)
Included:
- AC land transportation
- Private houseboats in Tanjung Puting National Park & Mahakam River
- Motorized boats
- Accommodation based on twin share:
02 Nights at houseboat in Tanjung Puting National Park
01 Night at 3 stars hotel in Banjarmasin
01 Night at Loksado Lodge
02 Nights at local hotel in Petung
01 Night at homestay in Sungai Wain
01 Night at cottage in Bukit Bangkirai
02 Nights at houseboat with communal cabin in Mahakam River
02 Nights at Jungle Guesthouse in Kutai National Park
03 Nights at Borneo Cottage in Maratua Island - Entrance fee, donation & refreshments
- English speaking guide
- Meals as stated on program, indicated as (B: Breakfast, L: Lunch, D: dinner)
Excluded:
- Airfares
- Airport taxes and extra baggage fees
- Travel insurance
- Expenses incurred due to Force Majeure
- Personal expenses
