PROJECT! – Heart of Borneo along the equator from West- to East Kalimantan

This is a project – not a finished tour offer

For years, we have had the idea of offering a long and challenging tour more or less along the equator from west to east. We know some of the sections of such a tour very well, but to bring the whole thing together into one big thing has remained a dream so far. But there are still some sections waiting that are still unknown on our own Borneo map.

The idea:

Start in Palangka Raya by land and on the river to the upper waters of the Katingan River. Intensive road construction work is currently being done on the future road to West Kalimantan. This line is part of the large project of the new Trans-Kalimantan connection in the middle. Known in Indonesia as “Trans Kalimantan Poros Tengah”.

From Tumbang Kajamei we go to a logging camp and a logging road that leads to West Kalimantan north of Nanga Pinoh on the Melawi River. From the Logpond PT SBK we continue our journey either by car or boat upstream to Nanga Serawai. This is the last major city on the upper reaches of the Melawi. We have already made it up to Nanga Nalai years ago on exactly this route.

Then we go more and more into the mountains of West Kalimantan. A dream destination would be the waterfalls of Nayan, the “Nokan Nayan”. But we continue into the mountains until we cross the Schwaner-Müller Mountains in a walk of several days and penetrate the area of the Posu and Joloi rivers in Central Kalimantan. We have already navigated the Posu and the Joloi with our rowing boats. This is familiar terrain without surprises. In 3 days, we should be able to reach Tumbang Tabulus with our canoes.

From there it goes rought through 5 huge rapids, which have never been conquered by the locals. In 2023, a British group of students navigated this canyon with their kayaks, so far the first people to literally navigate this canyon. At the mouth of the Joloi River lies Muara Joloi. From there it goes upstream either by land or on the river through the Barito River. From Kalasin you can only continue on the river to the last village on the Barito, Tumbang Topus.

From there the adventure continues over a very steep pass to East Kalimantan and down to Long Bangun on the Mahakam River. This pass is often climbed because it is easier and shorter for the inhabitants of Tumbang Topus over the pass than from Central Kalimantan travelling upriver.

From Long Bangun we go downstream on the Mahakam to Melak and from there by car via Muara Teweh back to Palangka Raya.

Fancy a little adventure with lots of question marks? Then you’ve come to the right place. We bring the local knowledge, long term experience with jungle adventures and connections to the local people to the team. Time need? Well, I would think that with all the preparations it should take almost 2 months for such a project… The less pressure we have, the more we can see!