Bukit Raya Tours & Travel offers a challenging journey into the heart of Borneo. The tour starts in Palangka Raya and leads through a human-influenced and mostly destoyed environment on the first day, then through harvested rainforest on the second day, and then through pristine rainforest on the third day. Participants will learn about the culture of the indigenous Dayak and Punan people.
The trip is a true adventure! You travel by car and 4×4 jeep, hike, and boat through dozens of rapids. You spend the night outdoors and in simple shelters, surrounded by nature.
From the third day onwards, things become truly challenging, both physically and mentally. Participants must adapt to the challenges of the tropical rainforest.
A highlight of the tour is the opportunity to experience the local way of life. You eat what the forest and river provide and sleep like the locals when they are out in the forest.
During the trip, there will be in-depth discussions about the use of natural resources, globalization and rainforest conservation, religion, and life issues.
Does this sound like an adventure you’d like to experience? đ
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 two full days by car and 4×4 jeep to reach one of the most remote valleys in the province.
At the last village on the Busang River, Tumbang Tronoi, we launch our boats and travel through pristine primary rainforest to reach Tumbang Jojang in a first day on the water.
On day five, depending on the water level, we navigateâor bypass on footâthe 12 large rapids leading to Parahau Lama. That night, we bivouac again somewhere along the Busang River, using an improvised shelter.
The journey continues through calmer waters before reaching the next major canyon, where we encounter dozens more rapids. Depending on the water level and participants’ skills, some can be navigated, while others require portagingâcarrying boats and equipment overland. Our goal is to camp at the former PT KAJR logging camp, where we can rest, fish, hunt, and dry gear.
On day seven, we travel downstream to Muara Joloi, again navigating numerous rapids. In Muara Joloi, the toughest part of the journey endsâoffering a comfortable guesthouse, good food, and a chance to rest.
On the eighth day, we board a large motorized wooden boat to tackle the long, powerful rapids between Muara Joloi and Batu Ampar. From Batu Ampar, we switch to a speedboat, reaching Tumbang Lahung by afternoon. From there, we drive back to Palangka Raya.
This tour is physically, mentally, and psychologically demanding. By Day 3, you reach the point of no returnâthere are no more villages, no communication, and even the indigenous Punan Kareho rarely navigate these rapids. There are no roads, and the rainforest can feel like a âgreen hell.â
Guests will experience the way of life of the indigenous Dayak and Punan people. We travel as they doâon foot and by canoe, eating what the forest and river provide: fish, game, and gathered food. We sleep in the same way they do when they travel in the jungle.
Deep discussions will cover topics such as natural resource use, globalization, international trade, rainforest conservation, and indigenous agricultural systems. We will also encounter the animist and Christian beliefs found deep in the rainforest.
Such vast, untouched rainforest can now only be found in the most remote parts of the world. We will cross the equator at least twice, and the jungle will never be silentâthe rainforest is alive 24/7.
We would love to offer you a customized itinerary for this extraordinary adventure!
Jln. Batu Suli 5D,
Gang Bersama no. 2,
Palangka Raya 73112,
Central Kalimantan,
Indonesia
