Travel type

Expedition grade

Duration
Days
Accomodation

FROM
$ (AUD)

EXPEDITION OVERVIEW

This specially crafted expedition combines the unique experience of visiting the Tanjung Puting National Park with a Palangkaraya Rungan River cruise aboard a fabulous riverboat to see the orangutan release islands.

From wonderful boats to small dugout canoes, wide rivers to deep forests, and small fishing towns to traditional Dayak villages, the Central Borneo adventure has it all. Be immersed in local culture and all facets of life in Borneo as you gain a greater understanding of the orangutan™s plight. 

After Borneo, we head back to Jakarta. For those that want an adventure on the way back, we will be offering an action packed extension to Krakatau and Java or perhaps to see Komodo dragons. If you are interested in adventure and giving back to the world at the same time, then you have got to be part of this expedition.

Your special guest host. You will be joined on this tour by Kylie Bullo - Conservation Project Manager for The Orangutan Project. With a background in primate zoology, specialising in orangutans, Kylie has worked alongside Founder of The Orangutan Project, Leif Cocks for more than twenty years. Together they trained and released the first zoo-born orangutan to ever be released into the wild. Her book ˜Reaching for the Canopy™ describes her journey with zoo-born Sumatran orangutan ˜Temara™ to the jungles of Sumatra. All participants on this tour will receive a copy of this inspiring book. 

Kylie has spent extensive time in both Borneo and Sumatra, working with staff and providing guidance and training in orangutan behaviour and rehabilitation training. Kylie will travel with you throughout the journey and share her orangutan knowledge and experiences with you. She will also explain how The Orangutan Project works to conserve orangutans and their rainforest habitat.

Kylie Talks Tours
"I™m really looking forward to leading this tour and meeting people who are passionate about orangutan conservation. I greatly enjoy sharing my understanding and insights on orangutans with others as I have been so fortunate to spend so much time with our ˜orange cousins.™ I hope to see you in Borneo!"

EXPEDITION GOALS
Our goal is to provide our guests with a unique experience, to observe wild and semi-wild orangutans in their natural habitat. We will provide you with a safe platform to observe other wildlife Borneo has to offer including proboscis nose monkeys, gibbons and more. We will also provide you with comprehensive information about the destination you are in so that you are fully informed of your surrounds. Further, Orangutan Odysseys has partnered up with The Orangutan Project which supports conservation programs in Borneo and Sumatra.

PROJECT FUNDRAISING OBJECTIVES
Participants in this expedition will raise funds (a minimum target of $1,000 AUD per participant) by getting friends, family and colleagues to fundraise via your own customised fundraising page, especially designed to direct these monies straight to The Orangutan Project. Details of how to achieve this goal and further information will be sent once you have booked. Participants in this expedition will also be contributing to the survival of the orangutans and their habitat by adopting an orphaned orangutan (costs included in your trips fare).

HIGHLIGHTS

ITINERARY

ITINERARY - 17th to 24th October, 2021
*Subject to changes due to local conditions

Day 1 - 17th October: Arrive in Jakarta
Today you will be met at Jakarta airport and transferred to your Jakarta hotel (FM7 Resort Hotel) for your overnight stay. This evening the group will meet for a tour briefing and details about tomorrow's departure. 

Day 2 - 18th October: Jakarta to Pangkalan Bun - Tanjung Puting National Park
Early this morning you will fly from Jakarta to the Central Borneo town of Pangkalan Bun. On arrival you will be met at the airport by our local OO guides. You will then be taken to the Port of Kumai where you will board our klotoks (river boat) and start your journey up the Sekonyer River into the National Park. We will continue to cruise slowly up along the river in search of orangutans and other amazing wildlife, possibly a crocodile or storm stork, until we reach our overnight parking spot near crocodile lake. (B,L,D)

Day 3 - 19th October: Crocodile Lake -  Pesalat - Rimba Lodge
This morning we will wake to the sounds of the jungle and enjoy breakfast on the peaceful river. We then start cruising slowly back down the river in search of more of the jungle's wildlife and hopefully some wild orangutans. It's then off to Pesalat Plantation station, where you will get to plant some trees to help the Friends of the National Park Foundation to regenerate the forest. From there, you will be back on the boat for lunch followed by check in at Rimba Lodge. This afternoon we take a walk through the local Tanjung Harapan village to see what village life is like. We will then head back to the boat and travel along the river, stopping along the way to watch the fabulous proboscis monkeys in action on the riverbanks. Overnight in Rimba Lodge. (B,L,D)

Day 4 - 20th October: Tanjung Puting - Kumai - Airport - Palangkaraya
This morning after breakfast we will board the boat once more and cruise our way back out of the National Park, stopping along the way to see more wildlife. We will reach Kumai around lunchtime where our cars will be waiting to transfer us to the airport for our flight to Palangkaraya (capital of Central Borneo). In Palangkaraya we will be met by our local guides and be transferred to the Rungan Sari Resort for our overnight stay. (B,L,D)

Day 5 - 21st October: Palangkaraya - River Cruise
After an optional early morning walk in the adjacent forest, you will be transferred to our magnificient riverboat to start your river cruise. We will journey up the Rungan River to our first stop at the village of Kanarakan, where we will meet local villagers, to learn about dayak life and try a cup of their traditional spiced coffee. Enjoy lunch back on-board as we cruise downstream for our second stop, Sei Gohong. Take a local canoe to closely observe the orangutans on Kaja Island, a BOSF orangutan pre-release island that is home to over 50 individuals. In the late afternoon, you will be driven to nearby Tangkiling Hill. Here you have the option to walk up to the top (around 250 stairs) to see the sunset, stopping along the way to see the colourful Dayak spirit houses and the huge boulder, Batu Banama, and hear about its legend. Afterwards it™s back to the boat for dinner and overnight. (B,L,D).

Day 6 - 22nd October: Cruise Day 2: Bapallas Island - Sei Gohong
This morning we start with a leisurely cruise downstream to another of the BOSF pre-release islands. On arrival to Bapallas Island, you will take a motorised canoe to observe orangutans. You will then continue on to the BOSF Information Centre where orangutans are waiting to be placed on the pre-release islands. You will also learn about the BOSF rehabilitation programs from one of the staff. After returning to the boat, we move downstream and in the early evening, take a canoe through the shimmering black water lakes. Keep an eye out for proboscis monkeys, hornbills, brahmini kites and possibly wild orangutans. Return to the boat for a quiet dinner in the midst of the jungle. (B,L,D)

Day 7 - 23rd October: Cruise Day 3: Sei Gohong - Muara Rungan - Palangkaraya
This morning you will enjoy breakfast on board as we continue to cruise downstream stopping at Katimpun village. We will walk along the boardwalks of this tiny town and visit the small library foundation, Ransel Buku. Learn about the activities here and watch a performance by the children. Upon returning to the boat, we will cruise down the Rungan River into the muddier Kahayan River at Muara Rungan to Palangkaraya. In the afternoon you will leave the river boat and be transferred to the Swiss Bel Hotel for your overnight accommodation. (B,L)

Day 8 - 24th October: Palangkaraya - Jakarta
This morning you will be transferred to the airport for your flights back to Jakarta. In Jakarta you will transfer to your connecting flights home or onward travels. Tour ends. (B)

TRIP EXTENSIONS
Why not think about seeing more amazing locations in Indonesia after your orangutan expedition? For more details about some of the exciting trip extensions on offer to other parts of Indonesia please contact us: hayley@orangutanodysseys.com

Please note: Additional accommodation can be arranged for day 8 in Jakarta should you require it. Please ensure that if departing for home or onward travels on day 8 that all departing flights are booked for early to late PM to allow enough connecting time from your Palangkaraya flight.

INCLUSIONS / EXCLUSIONS

INCLUSIONS

*All meals provided during the tour are vegetarian only.

EXCLUSION