BORNEO, THE JUNGLE BOOK: ITINERARY & DETAILS

Always curious how the Jungle Book story might have look like in reality? Now you can discover it by yourself.

With this adventure, you will experience living for 8 days on luxury riverboat, on which desk you will explore mighty jungle of Borneo. Visit some traditional settlements, see how people live and work in these isolated communities – forget the world as you know it. This is only a little part of adventure which awaits just for YOU!

WELCOME IN BORNEO

After arriving to the airport of Palangkaraya (yes, we know it’s hard to pronounce), you will meet your local guide and be driven to the town’s harbor. First up is your accommodation in a private cabin aboard a luxury riverboat where the week’s cruise will take you through the 3rd biggest rainforest in the world! The first day of the cruise will bring you to the floating houses of the provincial capital and continue upriver along the jungle coastal line, passing villages and orangutan islands. End the day by returning to the boat for dinner and enjoy a quiet one in the midst of the jungle. This is only the beginning.

LOCAL VILLAGES

Until midday, relax on the sundeck while the riverboat makes its way up the Rungan River, passing the orangutan release island of Kaja, to the Kanarakan village. Wander through the village with a local host to get a glimpse of how the locals live and work in these isolated communities. Later on, partake in some more canoeing on the lakes or just enjoy some downtime on the boat’s deck. Dinner will be served on board for tonight and the boat will be anchored near the village so you can always come back and spend more time with the villagers.

ORANGUTANS

The boat makes its way down river, again passing the orangutan island until reaching Pallas Island. The small canoe will transport you to BOS Orangutan Foundation Center in Nyaru Menteng. Here you can see the dedicated work of volunteers and experienced biologists re-adopting abandoned or previously captured orangutans to their original natural environments. In the afternoon a transfer by canoe will take you to Tumbang Tahai, and later onwards to Tangkiling Hill, where the village’s “patahu” (the spirit house) on the sacred Batu Banama Rock can be seen. Witness the sunset atop the hill with a stunning view of the vast, flat flood plains below, definitely a major postcard picture taking opportunity. This night’s activity ends with mooring along the river and dinner served on deck.

DAYAK’S CULTURE

Today you can relax until noontime when the boat arrives to Bukit Rawi. After lunch is served, the local guide will take you for a tour through this historic town where you will have a chance to learn about animism, Dayak’s ancestral bone houses, the tradition of tattoo making and funeral customs. Today’s tour will end in the evening and return to the boat for dinner.

LONG HOUSES

The journey continues upriver now until reaching Kampung Lauk. Here lunch will be served in a restaurant specializing in seafood and grilled fish. Later, the drive will bring you to the authentic Dayak village of Tumbang Manggu where you will be accommodated in the original Long House shared with your Dayak hosts. Now please, watch your manners – Dayaks use to be fearsome headhunters and invincible warriors. Take some time to sit around campfire with the village elders and delve into their thrilling stories about the old times. After dinner with your hosts, you will spend a special night in the Long House deep in the jungle.

RITUALS AND TRADITIONS

Once breakfast is finished, take an outing by canoe and see the Dayaks during their everyday activities. Join the villagers working on a rubber tree plantation, collecting jungle fruits or hunting with famous blowing pipes and poisonous darts. We can arrange a picnic on the riverside to help boost your energy after jungle trekking. Later we will show you the “dark side” of living among the Dayaks: you will see the “Sandungs” or “Bone Houses” dedicated to the spirits of dead and you will learn about the Dayak’s death rituals. In the evening, accept our invitation for a special dinner where, as guest of honor, traditional dances and songs will entertain you. We strongly suggest that you not drink too much arak and keep the entire village awake all night!

TIME TO GO BACKU

Up and early in the morning and a drive back to Palangkaraya, a nap is recommended along this 5 hour journey. Upon arrival to the airport of Palangkaraya, check-in for your flight back to Jakarta, Bali or other destination begins as well as your reemergence to the outside world. Welcome back…!