Kalimantan Birdwatching Tours

Duration: 07 Days/06 Nights

Grade: Easy

blue headed pitta Borneo is the third largest island in the world, home to an amazing diversity of tropical life, including 688 bird species of which 59 are endemic that cannot be found anywhere else, including Bornean Peacock Pheasant, Bornean Bristlehead, Bornean Ground Cuckoo, Bornean Frogmouth, Bornean Barbet, Bornean Banded Pitta, Bornean Crested Fireback, Bornean Wren-babbler etc. The island is laying on the equator, its rainforests are the oldest and most complex in the globe. More tree species occur in just a few hectares of lowland dipterocarp forest. There is an equally diverse range of invertebrates, frogs, reptiles, and mammals that can make the visiting birders will see a variety of extraordinary wildlife in addition to birds. Coastal areas and offshore islands support their own range of birds and time spent in these habitats will add significantly to the species counted in forests.

Day 01 ARRIVAL IN SAMARINDA – KABO VILLAGE – KUTAI NATIONAL PARK

Arrive at Samarinda airport with morning flight and directly driving across villages, rainforest, and mountainous landscape to reach Kabo village for crossing up the river to 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. (L,D)

Day 02 KUTAI NATIONAL PARK

Early morning, we will do birdwatching to spot 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. We can also trek to spot more wild orangutans and other wild animals. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and staying overnight at the jungle guesthouse. (B,L,D)

Day 03 KUTAI NATIONAL PARK – DELTA SANGATTA – SAMARINDA

Early morning, we will do birdwatching to spot 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, we will catch our car to drive back to Samarinda for overnight at hotel. (B,L,D)

Day 04 SAMARINDA– MAHAKAM RIVER – MUARA MUNTAI

After early breakfast, we proceed to boat station for cruising the Mahakam River with public houseboat, here you can explore the local people way of life, the riverside civilization that certainly different with our normal life on land. The houseboat is public wooden boat with two decks, the first deck carrying goods and economy class with capacity about 100 passengers and the second deck is the executive class with capacity of 75 passengers. At the back side, there are Borneo style toilets and canteen providing Indonesian food, tea, coffee, and snacks. The boat stop sometimes to pick and drop passengers or loading supplies. During the boating, we can explore some birds on riverside such as; herons, egrets, kingfishers, barned swallow, shrike, oriental pied hornbill, bee-eaters, changeable hawk, brahminy kite, pigeons, coucals, etc. Arrive at Muara Muntai and directly check in to the homestay. (B,L,D)

Day 05 MUARA MUNTAI – JEMPANG LAKE – OHONG RIVER – SAMARINDA

Early morning, we proceed to the bush and farmland nearby the village to spot some birds such as; pink necked green pigeons, spotted dove, flycatchers, starling, coucal, bee-eaters, tailorbirds, flowerpeckers, sunbirds, spiderhunters, etc. 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, proceed to Kuyung village to catch our car for driving back to Samarinda for overnight at hotel. (B,L,D)

Day 06 SAMARINDA – 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 – BALIKPAPAN – DEPARTURE

Early morning, we will do 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, we will be driving to Balikpapan airport to catch your afternoon flight to next destination. (B)

Included:

  • AC land transportation
  • Public houseboat in Mahakam River
  • Motorized boats
  • Accommodation based on twin share:
    01 Night at local hotel in Sangatta town
    01 Night at Jungle Guesthouse in Kutai National Park
    02 Nights at 3 stars hotel in Samarinda
    01 Night at homestay in Sungai Wain
  • 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

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