Traditional Floating Market and Bamboo Rafting

5 Days from

$1,250 USD

> Land Tour

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Dates

2025

Available

Highlights

• Lots of very special and unique birds and wildlife, including astounding mammals, from Orangutans to Proboscis Monkeys

• Excellent reserves and birding areas at National Park, lowland rainforests, and along marvelous rivers

Tour Overview

Embark on an unforgettable birding journey through the heart of Borneo, exploring the rich avian diversity from South Kalimantan to Central Kalimantan. This tour will take you deep into the tropical rainforests, wetlands, and river systems that make this region a prime destination for bird enthusiasts.

Starting in South Kalimantan, you'll explore lush forest reserves and expansive peat swamps that provide a home to a variety of rare and endemic species. Here, you might spot the critically endangered Bornean Ground Cuckoo, the elusive White-crowned Shama, or the striking Black-winged Starling. South Kalimantan is also home to the vibrant Proboscis Monkey, which can often be seen alongside exotic bird species.

As you travel northward to Central Kalimantan, you’ll encounter even more remote and pristine habitats. This area is known for its vast tropical rainforests and the unique wetlands of the Tanjung Puting National Park, which is famous for its Orangutan sanctuaries. The region is rich in bird species like the Bornean Pitta, Storm’s Stork, and Rufous-crowned Babbler. The Central Kalimantan Rainforest, with its unique flora and fauna, offers excellent opportunities to catch sight of both migratory and endemic species.

The tour will also include scenic boat trips along rivers and lakes, where birdwatchers can enjoy sightings of waterfowl like Kingfishers, Herons, and Ibis while taking in the breathtaking landscape of Borneo’s rainforests. With each stop, you'll gain insights into the local conservation efforts and the importance of protecting these critical habitats for the future of the region’s birdlife.

This tour promises an unparalleled adventure through one of the world’s most biodiverse regions, where every moment spent in nature offers the thrill of discovering new species and appreciating the beauty of Kalimantan’s wildlife. Whether you're a seasoned birdwatcher or a beginner, this experience will immerse you in the splendor of Borneo’s natural treasures.

Included

• Ground transportation

• All meals and accommodation

• Cruise boat

• EET guide plus a local guide with 4 - 8 participants

• All park, conservation and entrance fees

• Gratuities to local guides and drivers

  Excluded

• Flights to and from start/end location

• Travel Insurance

• Items of a personal nature

• Alcoholic beverages

What to Expect

Food

We usually have early breakfasts and some before-breakfast birding since it is best to begin birding at daybreak. Some lunches will be picnic style to maximize our time in the field. In the evenings, we eat at the hotel or lodge where we are staying and review the list of birds and other wildlife that we have encountered, as well as discuss the following day’s activities.

Accommodation

During the tour we stay in moderate to excellent accommodation.

Walking

Walking conditions will be generally easy to moderate. Time permitting, there may be an optional steeper walk to higher altitudes on the Mount Kinabalu trail for the friendly warbler. Trails anywhere may be muddy depending on how recently it has rained.

Boat trips

We will take boat trips along the Kinabatangan River.

Climate

Be prepared for hot, humid and sunny weather at low altitudes, with showers in the afternoon. It is recommended to take a light rain-jacket or poncho, although we try to avoid birding in any rain worse than a light drizzle. It will likely be cool at higher elevations on Mount Kinabalu.

Bring mosquito repellent or mosquito-proof clothing because bugs can be a problem, especially at low elevations in moist humid conditions. Leeches can be a nuisance, but can usually be deterred with insect repellant. You will need to bring a hat and sunblock, especially on the boat trips on the Kinabatangan River.

Day 01: BANJARMASIN (--D)

Upon arrival at Banjarmasin airport, short meeting service, and transfer for about 1 hour to Banjarmasin town, check in at hotel, evening free at own leisure, dinner at local restaurant

Day 02: BANJARMASIN, FLOATING MARKET, CEMPAKA, MARTAPURA, PANDAK DAUN, LOKSADO (BLD)

Early in the morning, we will visit the floating market of Banjarmasin as being part of Kalimantan ’s river-life, here we can explore the unique culture of Banjarese who trade commodities as fruit, and vegetables from boat to boat. Afterwards we return to the hotel, for Breakfast, afterwards by car via Cempaka village to explore traditional diamond digging and polishing where people take material out of the ground then shake them on the pan of wood for finding raw diamond, visit the Martapura traditional gem stone market, Lunch, continue to Pandak Daun stilt build swamp village where we can observe the unique activity of the buffaloes farmers, during late afternoon when the water buffaloes swim return to the stall. We can enjoy the romantic sunset outlook over the swamp water-land, before we continue to Loksado for overnight at Meratus Resort.

Day 03: LOKSADO, MERATUS MOUNTAINS RAINFOREST TREKKING (BLD)

Breakfast, before we proceed to the foot of the Meratus Mountain from where we start our jungle trek to Dayak villages, the trek lead us to primary and secondary rainforest, over hills and passing waterfalls, we will cross hanging and suspended bamboo bridges between the farmlands, over the rivers and cascades, to meet the local Dayak tribe in their longhouses. In the afternoon, we will continue our trek to return to Loksado lodge over a different trail of rain forest. Lunch will be served en route, dinner and overnight at Loksado lodge.

Day 04: LOKSADO, BAMBOO RAFTING, BANJARMASIN HOTEL (BLD)

Early Morning we have our breakfast at the Lodge, where a new adventure awaits, we will cruise downstream the Amadit River by a handmade Bamboo raft, crossing the beautiful landscape of tropical rain forest along the river bank to end up at Muara Tanuhi, where the car will wait us for the drive to Banjarmasin, Lunch en route, Dinner at Local Restaurant, Overnight at Banjarmasin Hotel

DAY 5. HOTEL - AIRPORT

After breakfast transfer out to Airport for your next destination

Rate Include :

Hotel swissbell 2 nights, Loksado Meratus resort 2 nights, Transfer in Banjarmasin Airport to hotel, visit floating market by klotok boat, return to hotel, by car via Cempaka and Martapura to Loksado passing Pandak Daun, Jungle trek Meratus Mountain, Bamboo Raft Amandit River, by car to BanjarMasin hotel, transfer by car to airport

Rate Exclude :

Airfares to and from Kalimantan, Insurance, Soft & Alcoholic drinks, Personal expenses, Everything which is not mentioned in the itinerary