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The Cross Borneo
trip is a special trekking programs which have been admitted by our past guests
who did this trip before, as the most challenging and the most enjoyable trekking
trip they ever had: Trekking cross Borneo Island from West to East. The
ultimate challenge - crossing one of the most rugged islands on earth from East
to West. Using roads, rivers and feet we traverse the jungle of Kalimantan (Indonesian
Borneo). You must have a good level of fitness and adventurous spirit and a strong
sense of determination, as conditions and accommodations are challenging.
We will use busses, public house boat, chartered motorized canoes to access the
jungle for a rugged days of trekking. We sleep in the simple houses of the villager
with basic facilities and on the house boats. The trekking is tough and often
wet, the only way to appreciate the primeveral jungle of Kalimantan and the most
traditional Dayak Tribes settlements as well as the wildlife. The
rough and uncharted terrain and has made this Borneo traverse trip is one of the
toughest and the most challenging trekking programs in the world.. The unpredictable
weather and river conditions made this trip an exploratory adventures "
To enjoy this trip, you need to be prepared to accept whatever the jungles
and rivers serve up! A good fitness level, a strong sense of determination and
a flexible attitude are essential. The rewards are the romance of the journey
itself, the mix of river travel including long stretches of rapids, the experience
of jungle trekking and contact with the local Dayak peoples.
Descriptive
day to day itinerary:
DAY 01. JAKARTA ARRIVAL
Upon arrival in Jakarta Soekarno
Hatta Internatinal Airport, we will transfer you to hotel at down town in Jakarta.
Free program all meals on your personal leisure.
DAY 02. JAKARTA PONTIANAK
Transfer to Cengkareng Airport to catch your flight to Pontianak. Upon arrival
in Pontianak . Accomodation at hotel Santika Pontianak. There are a lot of things
to do while we are there. We can explore the riverbank area of Pontianak by the
wooden boat, from where we can observe the old and the new Pontianak from the
different perspective. We can do Pontianak sight seeing with this way. Among the
highlights of the sightseeing trip is Pontianak harbor, Beting Permai water village,
and the huge Kapuas bridge. We can do this for about 2 or 3 hours.
DAY
03. PONTIANAK - PUTUSSIBAU (AVAILABLE ON Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday,
Saturday. )
Departure by DAS (Dirgantara Air Service) at 09.00 arrival Putussibau
at 11.00 (please recheck again the flight schedule). This flight use small plane
with capassity of 24 passenger but only possible for 22 seat only as they have
to refill the gasoline. This flight use propeller and little bit noisy. Ear plugs
is recommended. They allow extra luggage for 10 kg maximum so please only bring
the very important things when you start this expedition . They provide a glass
of mineral water with snack. They have no luggage cabin and all the stuffs will
put on the back. Stay at simple hotel in Putussibau.
DAY 04. PUTUSSIBAU
- KAPUAS RIVER
You will start your adventure expedition from here. After breakfast
at hotel in Putussibau towards to the headwaters of the Kapuas by long boat. The
long boat is about 1 ½ - 2 meter wide and 6 - 8 meter long with capacity
for 4 - 5 passengers. The long boat without any roofs so it will be hot and also
little noisy. Needed all necessary supplies, estimate day, as far upstream as
possible. It is recommended to wear your water sport sandals (TeVa) or rubber
shoes and bring ear plugs, hat, long sleeve, short pants, extra snacks & drinks
and dry bags. You will take this journey with our porters as well as our guide's
team. On the way may be the boat will be stop for toilet, cleaning the propeller,
refill gasoline or fix the engine. You will pass some Dayak Village in the river
side and their unique daily river life as well as some birds such as Eagle, King
Fisher, Long Tailed Parakeet etc. Lunch on the way. Dinner and overnight at the
riverside at tents or local house (B,L,D).
DAY 05. KAPUAS RIVER - BUNGAN
RIVER
After breakfast, continue our journey by long boats as far as up stream.
On the way we may stop at the Dayak village to see the long house . We will also
pass some rapids, slash and burn agriculture (shifting cultivation) as well as
the local people looking for gold, some by traditional way and some by machine
along the river side. In certain places we have to go down to the river to push
the boat as the level of the water in the dry season s is too shallow. Here you
will experience how amazing the boat man and what we call "the Stone Man"
the boat crew who knows exactly where is the rock and how to get away from the
rapids. It's a great challenge of adventure you will experience. If the rapids
too challenging we have to walk along the rock, slash and burns trash barrier
in the river side and the boat will pick us up. It's tough here. Lunch on the
way. Dinner and overnight in the river side at tents or temporary house or local
house. (B, L, D).
DAY 06. BUNGAN RIVER - TANJUNG LOKANG
Continue
our journey after breakfast. It's more and more challenging here with rapids.
Go down boat, push the boat, walk on the rocks, or slash and burn trash barrier
in the river side while the boat passing the rapids will give you more challenging
experience. On the way you will see the tropical rain forest of Kalimantan, shifting
cultivation, traditional gold mining in the river, temporary huts, till you reach
Tanjung Lokan. Tanjung Lokan is small villages located inside Betung Kerihun National
Park. If you are a handy craft collector you may find some nice basket, "Mandau"
traditional machete, "Sumpit" blow gun, "Tangguy" traditional
farmer hat etc. Lunch on the way, dinner and overnight at the local house. The
guide teams will packing the stuffs to bring alng the expedition and divided between
them so they will have the same weight to carry (B, L, D)
PS :
The
duration of the long boat journey is depend on what happen in the fields. Normally
the journey started after breakfast till in the mid day for lunch. Then the long
boat will stop before dark to set the tents and prepare meals. Sometimes we have
to continue the journey longer to catch the best places to stay overnight. Here
we need your flexibility so you will enjoy the journey more.
DAY 07. TANJUNG
LOKAN - BOBO/SEI BULIT (SUNGAI BULET)
After breakfast, start the trek across
up Land Ladang "slash and burn, long fellow dry rice field through the forest.
The first 2 hours we will high up the hill then another about 2 ½ hours
passing the jungle and dry small river. After lunch on the way close to the river
side, the trek will be high up and down again crossing the dry small river, and
Nyinyit Cave (the local people collect the swallow nest that cost so expensive
and very good to support their life inside the cave). Before dark we set the tent
in the river side of Sei Bulit for dinner and overnight. The guides team will
cook for you. Ultimate/rubber shoes is recommended. (B, L, D)
DAY 08.
SEI BULIT - BUNGAN RIVER
After breakfast, crossing the river, up and down
passing the jungle, crossing small rivers, and cave. You may see exotic flora
and fauna of Borneo. After lunch on the way in the river side, then crossing jungle,
up and down passing the dry river, cave and temporary huts that the local people
using it while they do shifting cultivation or hunting deer, wild pig, birds,
and even sometimes clouded leopard. Before dark, set the tent close to Bungan
River for dinner and overnight. (B, L, D)
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Duration:
20 Days/19 Nights
Grade: Very Challenging
Starts/Ends:
Jakarta or Bali 
DAY
09. BUNGAN RIVER - BUNGAN LEA RIVER
Now you need to prepare for the challenging
trek. The trek is also varied but tougher. After breakfast crossing the big river
about ½ - 1 meter deep. Wee will have lots of deal with water, walk on
the cliff of the river side and rock. After lunch on the way in the river side,
continue the trek up and down the cliff of the river. Overnight and dinner in
the river side of Bungan Lea River. (B, L, D)
DAY 10. BUNGAN LEA RIVER
- PIANG LO'ONG
This is the longest and the toughest trek. After breakfast,
crossing up and down passing the rivers, cliff of the rivers and the river side.
After lunch continue the trek then started to trek almost the same like before
lunch. The trek is so challenging and need more of adventure spirit and energy.
Set a campsite close to the river for dinner and overnight. (B, L, D) DAY
11. PIANG LO'ONG - MULLER RANGE
This is what the traveler will feel so different
crossing the border of West & Esat Kalimantan! After breakfast, walked about
two hours up and down river till reach the foot of Muller Range. It started from
the altitude of 500 M ASL till reach the border of West and East Kalimantan at
1000 M ASL. The path is not so difficult only high up hill passing the jungle.
It takes about 1 - 1 ½ hours depend on your ability. No need to rush as
the jungle view is fantastic. After reaching the"TUGU PERBATASAN" (BORDER
MONUMENT), you need to put one of some your belonging you wear for this expedition
such as shocks, cloth or else in the stick around the border for offering to the
spirit. After lunch on the way, the trek is easier down the hill until you reach
the campsite in the river side. Dinner and overnight at the Muller Range. (B,
L, D)
DAY 12. MULLER RANGE - MUARA CUTING.
After breakfast the trek
is almost the same before and after lunch passing the rivers - jungle - and rivers.
On the way the Dayak will show you how to survive the jungle, collecting the rotan,
hunting, catching the fish, set a trap and you may involved with them. Lunch on
the way, overnight at tent in the river side of Muara Cuting. (B, L, D)
DAY
13. MUARA CUTING - SAITE
This is the shortest trek. You will trek about only
3 hours to reach Saite so you will have lots of time for relaxing, swimming, take
a break or else after hard trek. The trek passing the jungle and river. Breakfast,
lunch and dinner at the river side. Overnight at Saite. (B, L, D)
DAY
14. MUARA SAITE - TIONG OHANG
After breakfast then trek crossing the river
and jungle to reach the mouth of the Mahakam River for 3 hours walk. You will
pass slash and burn agriculture before reaching the river side. Upon arrival,
the long boat or locally call Cest then take you to Tiong Ohang Village for about
6 - 7 hours journey. Lunch on the way. You will pass some temporary hut as well
as slash and burn agriculture and jungle. Dinner at the local simple restaurant
and overnight at the local simple house at Tiong Ohang. This is the first village
you encounter after long days in the jungles. You may also find more handy craft
from Kalimantan with the best quality. (B, L, D)
DAY
15. TIONG OHANG - LONG BAGUN
After breakfast at the local restaurant, continue
the journey by long boat for 8 - 10 hours. On the way stop at the local restaurant
for lunch. You will pass some big rapids, so you need to walk on the rock but
it's not so difficult and the boat will pick you up. The views along the rivers
so fantastic and you can walk around to see the long house and their unique daily
life. Dinner and overnight at the local simple house. (B, L, D)
DAY 16.
LONG BAGUN FOR CULTURAL PERFORMENCES/BOARDING THE BOAT
As the Mahakam River
has a unique characteristic river so you have to be aware about the tide of the
river. In the dry season the level of the water could be so shallow so sometimes
you have to leave Long Bagun earlier or otherwise you could not get the house
boat when the level of the water is not reliable. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
at the boat or Long Bagun. Overnight on boat or Long Bagun (B, L, D)
DAY
17. LONG BAGUN - SAIL ON THE HOUSE BOAT
The boat will start normally at 10.00
but could be change without prior notice. Am. Both sail one day before or this
day you will arrive at the same day as the boat has to stay overnight. But better
leave earlier if the water is not reliable. The house boat is public traditional
wooden boat with two deck, the first deck for carry the stuffs and economy class
with capacity more about 100 passengers and the second deck is for executive with
capacity 75 passengers. The economy room is more open both sides and no mattress
while the others served mattress, luggage room below the bed but all is open no
private room and no AC. There is Indonesia style toilet and simple restaurant
that provide Indonesian meals, tea, coffee, and snacks in the first deck. The
boat will stop sometimes for passengers and loading the stuffs. During the sailing
trip you will explore and learn the local way of life "river side civilization"
which is much different from what we have normally in the dry land area. Breakfast,
Lunch, Dinner and overnight on the house boat (B, L, D)
DAY 18. HOUSE
BOAT - SAMARINDA
Arrival at the house boat I the afternoon about 10.00 Am
- 12.00 Pm depend on the schedule. Upon arrival transfer by car to your hotel
in Samarinda that takes about 20 - 30 minutes away. The rest of the day is free
for your own activity and dinner will be served on your personal account. (B,
L)
DAY 19. ONE EXTRA DAY
This is an extra day. We shall use it at
place during the trek where we may need it or just because we want to spend the
time there. But it will be during the trek only.
DAY 20. SAMARINDA - BALIKPAPAN
Breakfast at hotel then transfer to the appropriate time drive to Balikapapan
Airport to catch your flight to the next destination. It takes about 3 hours from
Samarinda to Balikpapan Airport (120 km ) depend on the traffic. Tours End. (B) > BORNEO
GENERAL INFORMATION
> ORANGUTAN
TOURS
> ORANGUTAN
AND DAYAK TRIBES
> MAHAKAM
RIVER ADVENTURE I
> MAHAKAM
RIVER ADVENTURE II
> BORNEO
DAYAK TRIBE & BAMBOO RAFTING
> CROSS
BORNEO - WEST TO EAST |
