Into Borneo’s Wild Orangutan River Cruise and Sebangau National Park

May 28 – June 5, 2019

Cruising by air-conditioned riverboat along Kalimantan’s meandering rivers is the best way to travel

through the forested landscape of Borneo, with its wealth of ecological and cultural treasures, and to

experience Borneo’s iconic and endangered orangutans. As we explore the rivers, we’ll pass islands

managed by Borneo Orangutan Survival (BOS) Foundation to see orangutans in their natural habitat.

We’ll also visit a small village along the route, giving the opportunity to experience the culture of the

indigenous Dayak people firsthand. This trip culminates with two days exploring Sebangau National Park,

one of the last remaining peat swamp forests in Borneo. In addition to our local English-speaking guide,

we’ll have an expert birding guide join us for the river cruise to maximize our wildlife sightings along the

way.

ITINERARY Day 1 (Tues, May 28) – Arrival to Jakarta

Upon arrival to Jakarta, one of the world’s megalopolises and the capital of Indonesia, we’ll be met for our

private transfer to our hotel close by. There’s time to rest this evening after our journey. For those interested in

exploring from the get go, Jakarta is a dynamic city that showcases the diversity of cultures Indonesia has on

offer.

Accommodations: Bandara International Hotel

Meals: None

Day 2 (Wed, May 29) – Palangka Raya – Start River Cruise

Transfer back to the airport in time for our 2-hr flight to Palangkaraya. Our river cruise starts at Palangkaraya

harbor. Kalimantan’s riversremain the best way to travel through the forested landscape. We’ll spend the

next three days exploring the river on our private riverboat with our expert guides. The orangutans are sure to

be a highlight, but we’ll also search for diverse wildlife along the river’s edge and learn about the Dayak

culture. This evening, enjoy canoeing across a shimmering black water lake with a stop at Kalaweit Island for a

stroll. Keep an eye out for proboscis monkeys, hornbills and Brahmini kites. We’ll return to the riverboat in time

for a quiet dinner in the midst of the forest.

Accommodations: Rahai’i Pangun II

Meals: Lunch and Dinner

Rahai’i Pangun II ~ The Rahai’i Pangun II is a 22x6 m traditional Kalimantan river boat known as a bis air, which

was converted into a beautiful riverboat designed for orangutan cruising. The boat’s design and specifications

were implemented by teams of Indonesian master boat designers and engineers and built by local craftsmen.

Meals are served on the upper deck as the scenery glides by. Enjoy Rahai’i Pangun cuisine prepared by your

on-board chef. Local guides introduce you to Sebangau National Park, to the black water lake systems, and

the Dayak culture in villages along the route as the Rahai’i Pangun II navigates the broad Katingan River. For

this scheduled group departure, we’ll have Rahai’i Pangun II on a private basis along with an additional local

birding guide.

Day 3 (Thurs, May 30) – Bapallas Island – Sei Gohong

The boat moves up the Rungan River as you enjoy breakfast. On arrival to Bapallas Island, take a motorized

canoe to observeorangutans. Then continue to the BOS Foundation Education Centrewhere adult

orangutans are waiting to be placed on the pre-release islands. Learn about BOS Foundation’s rehabilitation

programs. Leisurely lunch onboard while cruising to Sei Gohong, a tinyriverside village on the Rungan River.

We’ll be welcomed by the village elder with a Dayak Ngaju welcomingceremony followed by a stroll around

the village with a local host to seehome gardens, rubber field & rubber tapping demonstration, and other

traidtional ways of life. Continue to Tangkiling Hill to see traditional Dayak spirit houses. Our day ends with a

cruise to Lake Tahai.

Accommodations: Rahai’i Pangun II

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 4 (Fri, May 31) – Sei Gohong/ Muara Rungan

Optional dawn birding walk and canoeing in the black water lake. Full day of river cruising for wildlife viewing

and visits to orangutan pre-release islands.

Accommodations: Rahai’i Pangun II

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 5 (Sat, June 1) – Muara Rungan/ Palangka Raya

Return to Palangka Raya to disembark the Rahai’i Pangun II. Afternoon transfer to our hotel. Palangka Raya is

the capital of Central Kalimantan, also famously known as Central Borneo. Most of the area around Palangka

Raya is still forested and protected. Central Borneo is known as the lung of the world for its vast and fertile

tropical jungles and forests. It’s also slated to become the next capital city so conservation efforts in the region

are vital.

Accommodations: Swiss-Belhotel Danum Palangkaraya

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Sebangau National Park ~ Located in Central Kalimantan, Sebangau National Park is one of the last remaining

peat swamp forests in Borneo. The vast national park covers approximately 568,700 hectares and is home to

over 6,000 orangutans, forming one of the world’s largest populations in the wild. It’s also home to other iconic

species such as the Malayan sun bear, gibbons, hornbills, clouded leopard, and many more. Amidst the peat

swamp forests, the Sebangau also offers beautiful scenery of pristine hills.

Days 6-7 (Sun, June 2 & Mon, June 3) – Palangka Raya/ Sebangau National Park

We have these two days to explore Sebangau National Park. On our first day, we’ll drive by car to Kereng

harbor to enter the national park. Accompanied by national park rangers, we’ll continue our journey by

motorized canoe across the beautiful black water Sebangau Lake and up the Sebangau River. This is a trip of

approximately 40 minutes. From here, we continue by smaller canoe to pass slowly through the dense Nipa

Forest labyrinth to the starting point of our trek. The journey by boat will depend on the river depth.

Walking through swamp forest is a challenge, especially when water levels are high. The walk wil l take about 2-

3 hours. We’ll be accompanied by a local guide who can point out the endemic vegetation as well as keeping

an eye out for local species such as hornbills, monitor lizards, and more. If we’re lucky, we may even spot more

orangutans.

We’ll explore another area of the national park on our second day.

Accommodations: Swiss-Belhotel Danum Palangkaraya

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 8 (Tues, June 4) – Palangka Raya/ Jakarta

We’ll transfer back to the airport for our flight to Jakarta where we’ll spend our final night in Indonesia. Share

trip highlights with fellow travelers during our farewell dinner.

Accommodations: Bandara International Hotel

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Day 9 (Wed, June 5) – Departure

Transfer back to the airport in time to connect to your morning flight home.

Meals: Breakfast

Price: $3395* per person based on double occupancy. Single accommodations – subject to availability.

Package includes accommodations, Rahai’i Pangun II on a private basis in air-conditioned rooms, meals as

listed, all land transportation and airport transfers in air-conditioned vehicle, guided excursions as listed, expert

local English-speaking guide on private basis from Days 1-8, expert local Indonesian-speaking birding guide

from Days 2-7, and full-time guide/trip host from R2R (Sheridan Samano). A donation to support BOS

Foundation’s conservation efforts will be made on behalf of all participants.

Exclusions: international airfare, passport and visa fees, travel insurance, health preparations, drinks, gratuities,

taxis, and items of a personal nature.

*A 3% discount will be applied to payments by check.

Photo credit: Rahai’i Pangun II – WOW Borneo