Palangka Raya lies in a floodplain once surrounded by swamp forest. Patches of primary swamp forest still remain south of the city in Sebangau National Park, but much of the surrounding area is now degraded secondary forest and savannah. So, when our guests want to see truly enormous trees and spend a night or two in genuine tropical rainforest, we usually have to travel quite a long way up into the Busang valley (2 days) or the upper Joloi valley (1,5day) and naturally, also the same distance back to Palangka Raya.
Now, however, we’ve opened up a new area much closer to Palangka Raya: the region around Bukit Monan. Its highest point reaches 1,200 meters above sea level — quite an elevation for this part of southwestern Borneo. These mountains also form the watershed between the Kapuas and Barito river systems. To the north, the small Tabulus River flows into the Joloi, which in turn joins the Barito at Muara Joloi. Just a few hundred meters to the south, the Kapuas River rises and flows approx. 600km all the way down to the Java Sea.
Rainforest: We can promise our guests a few “wow” moments! This is primary rainforest — protected forest that safeguards the river headwaters and the ecosystem as well as prevents erosion on the steep hillsides.
Water: Crystal-clear mountain streams, spectacular natural scenery and waterfalls. And, we hope, soon the chance to scout out more white-water routes for our inflatable canoes on both, the Kapuas as well as on the Tabulus river.
A rainforest chorus: The rainforest is never quiet. Animals make sounds around the clock, creating a constant — sometimes surprisingly loud — backdrop. Cicadas can become painfully loud before a storm. And before dusk, gibbons sing to mark their territory.
Trekking: One of the most enjoyable ways to explore is to follow the streams uphill or downstream. Once you enter the dense rainforest, the going gets more challenging. There are also mountain peaks and steep cliffs, with views across dozens of square kilometres of forest. We can tailor the trek to suit you: a real challenge for the especially active, or shorter, gentler walks for those who prefer to take their time.
Camping: We spend the night deep in the rainforest in a bivouac we build ourselves. It’s an open-air experience in every sense: washing and bathing in the stream, cooking on the open fire, who knows, maybe even grilling a fresh hunt from our Dayak guides, the insects and other little creatures, the sounds of the night, rain on the tent, and the smell of a campfire…
For nature lovers: We can simply provide the basic logistics — transport, translation and a camp — allowing you to explore the forest, nature, streams, and mountains at your own pace, accompanied by expert Dayak guides. You can easily spend several days up on Bukit Monan, setting up camera traps to see if any animals — large or small — are captured as they pass by…
This tour focuses more on nature and forest than on culture and interaction with the Indigenous Dayak people. Even so, we can put together a full itinerary for three — or, better still, four days. The drive takes around five to six hours before we reach the outback. Along the way, there’s plenty to learn about Kalimantan’s landscape and how it has changed through mining, logging and the development of oil palm plantations.
Fancy a detour into genuine rainforest in the heart of Borneo? The drive is shorter than on our other Heart of Borneo tours in the upper Joloi and Busang valleys, but we’re still only about 50 km southwest of Borneo’s geographical centre. For an island roughly 1,000 by 1,200 km across, that’s pretty central, wouldn’t you say?
Getting to the headwaters of the Kapuas River doesn’t require a high level of fitness. You do need to be comfortable spending around six hours in an old Land Rover. In dry weather, expect some dust; in the rain, expect damp and mud. The Land Rover’s powerful V8 engine will take us up to around 900 meters above sea level, without you having to break a sweat.
From there, you can choose a more demanding trek or a relaxed outing. Just let us know what you have in mind. We can also arrange special-interest trips, for example with a focus on birdwatching or hunting. Get in touch and tell us what you’d like to do.
There are a few spots on the cliffs with very good mobile phone reception, so you won’t feel quite as cut off from the world as you might at our Villa Corona or in Tumbang Tronoi.
Interested? Get in touch for a quote!
PS: pictures taken during smoke season from wildfires autumn 2026
