The Katingan River & Sebangau National Park Adventure

Journey 4 or 5 days through Central Kalimantan’s remote wilderness aboard the Spirit of Kalimantan. Trek Sebangau National Park for wild orangutans, explore blackwater lakes, and visit authentic Dayak villages. Experience traditional cooking classes, nighttime canoe expeditions, and cultural performances in territories rarely reached by tourists. Each day brings wildlife discoveries and genuine cultural connections

About The Spirit of Kalimantan Boat

Journey onboard the Spirit of Kalimantan in the luxury of comfortable sofas in the screened saloon, in steamer chairs on the covered deck, or climb to the roof for unimpeded river and forest views. Meals are served in the saloon as the scenery glides by. 4 air-conditioned and ensuite cabins are comfortably fitted out below deck. Our fabulous cuisine, well known on the Rahai’i Pangun, is prepared by your on-board cook. English speaking guides introduce you to the Sebangau National Park, to the black water lake systems, to the Dayak culture in the villages along the route as the Spirit of Kalimantan navigates the broad Katingan River. Scheduled trips depart Saturdays and Tuesdays. No other tourists are here. Come and enjoy it before it is discovered!

4 Days 3 Nights The Katingan River & Sebangau National Park

Day 1: PULAU KAJA – KASONGAN

On arrival in Palangka Raya, we pick you up from the airport in our air-conditioned car. From here we travel to Sei Gohong village and board a simple local canoe to see the beautiful orangutan island, home to rehabilitated orangutans before their release into the wild. The island is managed by the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation or BOSF. We travel by road to board the Spirit of Kalimantan for a welcome drink and lunch as the boat heads downstream to find a quiet mooring for the night near the Sebangau National Park entrance.

Day 2: SEBANGAU NATIONAL PARK – KLARU

The Spirit of Kalimantan cruises to the mouth of the Punggualas Canal, where canoes are waiting to make the transfer into the National Park. Make sure you wear your walking shoes and bring mosquito repellent. We take a 40 minutes canoe ride along the canal into the dense forest.

Alighting, if conditions permit, we then make a short trek deeper into the forest with an experienced guide to spot some of the wildlife that makes this forest home. Observations of orangutans, various monkey species and proboscis are possible but cannot be guaranteed.

After the exertion of trekking through the Sebangau Forest, we make the short return canoe trip to the Spirit of Kalimantan for a cool drink. As a delicious lunch is served, the boat cruises downstream 3 hours along the wide muddy river with forested riversides and passing tiny, subsistence villages, to our southernmost destination – the Klaru River. At the river mouth, we are joined by some local canoes to explore this beautiful black water lake system. We pass RMU’s Katingan Mentaya Project forest rehabilitation area, and learn more about their REDD+ project as we quietly cruise upstream to a site to watch birds, proboscis monkeys and a variety of other wildlife. Marvel at the reflections here, especially during the rainy season.

Return to the boat, which will find a quiet mooring place for the night.

Day 3: KLARU – TAMPELAS

On arrival, receive a warm welcome from the villagers. Walk around the village and meet the people. Visit the school and then stop at the village garden to pick some vegetables. We then walk back to the jetty for a cooking class and delicious lunch ‘from the forest and river’ with the villagers. After resting onboard, at 3pm we join canoes for a magical ride to the nearby Nusa River for a special bird-watching experience. Return at dusk for dinner onboard.

Dinner and overnight on board the Spirit of Kalimantan.

Day 4: TAMPELAS – PAKAHI

Optional canoe very early morning (5am and on the way back the boatman will check his fish traps for our lunch). Today we travel upstream to Pakahi port. Rest and relax as the scenery passes. Enjoy your last lunch on board. On arrival in Pakahi, transfer to Palangka Raya by car (4 hours) arriving between 6 and 7pm).

Tour Price

Cabin Type	Price per person
Superior Large Cabin	Rp. 26,810,000 / USD 1,600

5 Days 4 Nights The Katingan River & Sebangau National Park

Day 1: ORANGUTAN ISLAND – KASONGAN

On arrival in Palangka Raya, we pick you up from the airport in our air-conditioned car. From here we travel to Sei Gohong village and board a simple local canoe to see the beautiful orangutan island, home to rehabilitated orangutans before their release into the wild. The island is managed by the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation or BOSF. We travel by road to board the Spirit of Kalimantan for a welcome drink and lunch as the boat heads downstream to find a quiet mooring for the night near the Sebangau National Park entrance.

Day 2: SEBANGAU NATIONAL PARK – KLARU

The Spirit of Kalimantan cruises to the mouth of the Punnggualas Canal, where canoes are waiting to make the transfer into the National Park. Make sure you wear your walking shoes and bring mosquito repellent. We take a 40 minutes canoe ride along the canal into the dense forest.

Alighting, if conditions permit, we then make a short trek deeper into the forest with an experienced guide to spot some of the wildlife that makes this forest home. Observations of orangutans, various monkey species and proboscis are possible but cannot be guaranteed.

After the exertion of trekking through the Sebangau Forest, we make the short return canoe trip to the Spirit of Kalimantan for a cool drink. As a delicious lunch is served, the boat cruises downstream 3 hours along the wide muddy river with forested riversides and passing tiny, subsistence villages, to our southernmost destination – the Klaru River. At the river mouth, we are joined by some local canoes to explore this beautiful black water lake system. We pass RMU’s Katingan Mentaya Project forest rehabilitation area, and learn more about their REDD+ project as we quietly cruise upstream to a site to watch birds, proboscis monkeys and a variety of other wildlife. Marvel at the reflections here, especially during the rainy season.

Return to the boat, which will find a quiet mooring place for the night.

Day 3: KLARU – TAMPELAS

On arrival, receive a warm welcome from the villagers. Walk around the village and meet the people. Visit the school and then stop at the village garden to pick some vegetables. We then walk back to the jetty for a cooking class and delicious lunch with the villagers. After resting onboard, at 3pm we join canoes for a magical ride to the nearby Nusa River for a special bird-watching experience. Return at dusk for dinner onboard.

Day 4: TAMPELAS – PAKAHI

Optional canoe very early morning (5am and on the way back the boat man will check his fishtraps for our lunch). Today we travel upstream to the Punggualas River for another visit to the Sebangau National Park – this time to experience an amazing nighttime canoe expedition.

Day 5: SEBANGAU NATIONAL PARK – PALANGKA RAYA

Very early morning we have a bird watching experience in the Sebangau Park. We then cruise to the village of Jahanjang for a walk and to meet the people there. Return to the boat for your final lunch onboard as we make the final short cruise. On arrival in Pakahi, transfer to Palangka Raya by car (4 hours) arriving at 5pm).

Tour Price

Cabin Type	Price per person
Superior Large Cabin	Rp. 32,200,000 / USD 1,950