On arrival in Palangka Raya, we pick you up from the airport in our air-conditioned private charter 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 BOS. After observing orangutans in their island habitat, we then transfer to BOS’s nearby Education Centre in Nyaru Menteng for more information on their activities. We have lunch in a permaculture vegetable and coffee garden cafe before the 2.5 hour drive to Pakahi port on the Katingan River. Here we board the Spirit of Kalimantan for a welcome drink and snack as the boat heads upstream to the village of Jahanjang. On arrival, the village will welcome you in traditional Dayak fashion, and then we walk through this delightful village to the beautiful Danau Bulat to watch the sunset. Returning to the boat, we find a quiet mooring for the night near the Sebangau National Park entrance. (LD)

The Spirit of Kalimantan cruises to the small Tehang Tuan River, 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, 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, sun bears, wild boar or clouded leopard 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 2 to 3 hours along the wide muddy river with forested riversides and passing tiny, subsistence villages, to our southernmost destination – the village of Telaga. Here we take a walk through this isolated and surprisingly busy outpost. Learn how they survive with such a simple lifestyle and visit their busy fish market. Buy some of their giant river prawns for dinner (if there are any available). Return to the boat, which will find a quiet mooring place for the night. (BLD)

After breakfast this morning, we cruise to the nearby 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. Enjoy your final lunch on board as we make the 3 hour cruise to Jahanjang, where we transfer to cars for the return journey to Palangka Raya. (BL)