A Luxury Cruise to the indigenous Dayak settlements along the Mahakam River of East Kalimantan is an ideal way to experience the incredible culture, where village elders practice traditional medicine and mark their status with intricate body tattoos and remarkably heavy ear adornments, we will be warmly welcomed guests in their traditional longhouses. East Kalimantan ’s dense jungle and wide terrain of wetlands have traditionally kept the region isolated from all but the adventurous travelers, you will experience the rich Dayak Culture along Borneo 's Mahakam River and enjoy a sightful grand diversity of exotic flora and wildlife from black orchids to fresh water dolphins.
Day 01: BALIKPAPAN (--D)
Upon arrival at Sepinggan airport in Balikpapan meeting service then transfer by car to check in Hotel, for dinner and overnight.
Day 02: BALIKPAPAN, BUKIT BANGKIRAI, BLACK RIVER, MAHAKAM RIVER (BLD)
Breakfast at hotel, free at own leisure, transfer for about 1 hour to Bukit Bangkirai hard wooden hill top, climb the brigde at the roof of the rain forest for an impressive view over Kalimantan's emerald jungle, canoe the black river as part of the Balikpapan Bay river system know of it's wild proboscis monkeys, and many bird species, afternoon continue to Samarinda, a trade business town at the huge Mahakam River which connect the heart of Borneo with the outside world, board your luxury private cruise boat to cruise upstream Mahakam River, dinner and overnight on board.
Day 03: MUARA MUNTAI, MANCONG, TANJUNG ISUY, MUARA PAHU (BLD)
Short sight seeing at Muara Muntai Wooden village, then crossing Jempang Lake by motor canoe to Mancong. During the cruise you could see Rain forest and wildlife at Ohong creek like monkey’s and birds, Upon arrival at Mancong, welcomed with a traditional ceremony by the Dayaq Benuaq, one of the Oldest Dayak Longhouse of East Kalimantan can be found here, Late afternoon by motor canoe to Tanjung Isuy for sightseeing and continue to Houseboat for dinner and overnight. Houseboat will cruise up to Muara Pahu.
Day 04: MUARA PAHU, KEDANG PAHU RIVER, MOUNT BAYAN, TERBISAK, UPSTREAM (BLD)
Arrive at Muara Pahu, cruise upstream the Kedang Pahu River by canoe for more then one hour to Mount Bayan to visit Terbisak Dayak village known of it’s Longhouse of the Benauq Dayak tribe which is still habituated by about 100 Dayak people living in their community house, and traditions of dry rise fielding and hunting, continue downstream by canoe, along the river bank, we will enjoy the exotic nature, and wildlife as otters, leave monkeys, endangered proboscis monkeys and birds, before we move to the delta of the Belowan river as a black water peat swamp forest land, with opportunities to spot the fresh water dolphins in the colliding stream of the Kedang Pahu and the Bolowan River. Afternoon, return to houseboat for continue upstream to Melak.
Day 04: MELAK, EHENG, OMBAU ASA, TERING (BLD)
Arrive in Melak then drive to Eheng by Jeep / Minibus passing beautiful highland to reach the old longhouse of Dayak Tunjung. Afterwards visit Kersik Luway and explore the forest, if lucky the famous black orchid can be seen. Afternoon to Ombau Asa waterfall, an exciting place for swimming. Return to houseboat and continue upstream Mahakam River ( if water level allows ).
Day 05: TERING, RUKUN DAMAI, DATA BILANG (BLD)
Breakfast, Cruising the mighty Mahakam River which becomes narrow the more we cruise into the head waters to Rukun Damai village as a Dayak Kenyah and Kayan tribal's Settlement with longhouse, art full statutes, and totems, and traditional culture, tattoos, and long ears, surrounded by tropical forest. Lunch, downstream to Data Bilang village, which is a Dayak tribal village of the Migrated Dayak Kenyah of the isolated Kayan Region, with their color full longhouse and mystic believes of kaharingan as a mix of the Hindu religion and natural spiritual believes. Data Bilang district is also home to the native Dayak Bahau tribe, famous of it's Hudoq mask ceremony for harvest and planting, dinner and overnight at Cruise boat
Day 06: DATA BILANG, MELAK, MARATUA NABUCCO ISLAND RESORT(BLD)
Breakfast at Cruise boat while haboring at Melak, transfer to Melak airport to board the flight which will fly us to Maratua Island as part of the Derawan Archipelago at the coast of East Kalimantan, by speed boat transfer to Nabucco Island resort to check in at your beach cottage under the palm trees, dinner at Nabucco Restaurant.
Day 07-09: NABUCCO ISLAND RESORT (BLD)
Relax Breakfast with a beautiful scenery over the crystal blue lagoon sea, from your cottage at the white palm beach, possibility to swim or snorkel, or chilling at this bounty paradise island resort, lunch and dinner served.
Day 10: NABUCCO ISLAND RESORT, BERAU (B--)
Breakfast at resort, free at own leisure, until transfer time by speedboat to Berau harbor, and transfer to Berau airport where you can catch your flight to connect to your next destination.