Journey deep into Borneo’s untouched wilderness with Bukit Raya Tours&Travel by car, speedboat, and canoe to reach the remote upper Joloi River Valley. Navigate jungle rivers and creeks, trek through pristine rainforest, and stay at the secluded “Villa Corona.” Experience authentic Dayak culture in riverside villages, engage in social activities, and discover hidden waterfalls. This adventure requires endurance and agility, but rewards with breathtaking nature and cultural immersion. Are you ready for the wild? Then read on…
Bukit Raya Tours & Travel is one of the very few tour operators that venture deep into the heart of Borneo. The journey begins in Palangka Raya, the capital of Central Kalimantan, and takes one full day by car (7h), by speed boat (3h) and 4×4 jeep (2h) to reach the upper Joloi River Valley.
The upper Joloi River Valley is a kind of huge “bowel”, surrounded by significant mountains. It covers approximately 5,000 km2 of mostly pristine tropical rainforest, 3 villages with around 1’500 inhabitants and one main river. The canyon leading out of this huge “bowel” has 5 major rapids, which have never been conquered by the local Dayak community. Therefore, the development of this special valley was totally different from most other remote areas in Central Kalimantan, because all kinds of human activities and trade had to be done crossing the mountains surrounding the valley.
The journey to the Joloi Valley is already an unforgettable experience. But the real jungle tour begins on the second day. We choose small, motorized canoes, per 2 guest we need one so called “Jis”. We travel upstream for a long time, upriver, deeper and deeper into the jungle. At the beginning, trees line the banks, and you’re still exposed to the hot tropical sun right at the equator. The further you venture into the outback, the more the trees close the canopy over the river, and you travel through the jungle like a tunnel. The watercourse narrows, and you must navigate around rocks, trees, and sandbanks in the riverbed. Later, the river becomes so small that the boat repeatedly runs aground, especially tree trunks and branches of large trees lying in the riverbed, obstructing free passage. Depending on the water level, you must get out of the boat repeatedly, push, pull, and sometimes walk short distances in the water. After a long day, rocks and a few small huts come into view. We are now close to “Villa Corona.”.
This small hut got its name when Thomas and Beatrice waited out the first COVID-19 lockdown there for two months in 2020. The hut is located in a small forest clearing, surrounded by bizarre karst rocks that protrude from the jungle. Small but beautiful. The next day, we can recover from yesterdays long way up on the river and explore the surrounding area as we please. We’ll stay at Villa Corona for two nights.
Depending on the water level, the canoe trip downstream to the mouth of the Tohan River can take between 4 and 12 hours. Either way, we’ll set up a bivouac somewhere along the shore. Depending on the guests’ wishes, strength, and stamina, this peaceful and leisurely river trip can be continued for another 2 days. Some would consider the hours floating on the river as boring. Others enjoy this part of the tour as relaxing, slowing down and inspiring listening to the sounds of the water and the forest along the riverbanks. In the villages where the river flows, we’ll go ashore, visit people, have tea or coffee with the locals, and gain insight into life in the riverside village. The coming up is powered by engines and therefore very loud and noisy. But the coming down is pure relaxation and meditation and you may not even interact with other human beings for hours while floating downstream. And that’s basically characterizing this tour.
If time permits, we offer our tour participants the opportunity to visit the local elementary school in one of the villages. In the school or kindergarten, our guests are always very welcome to teach a few words of English to the local children, show them a few pictures of their hometown, make some social games with the children or help out with repairs somewhere in the village. Also collecting waste and bringing it out of the valley is one of the possible social activities.
Jln. Batu Suli 5D,
Gang Bersama no. 2,
Palangka Raya 73112,
Central Kalimantan,
Indonesia
