Overview

Day 1: Pangkalan Bun – Kumai Port – Tanjung Harapan
Arrive at Pangkalan Bun Airport on the island of Borneo, known locally as Kalimantan. Upon arrival, your guide will be waiting to greet you. From there, you'll transfer to the port of Kumai, just a 15-20 minute drive, where your exciting adventure begins! Once at the port, you'll board our speedboat. Your guide will reconfirm with the crew that everything is set, and then you'll start your journey up the famous Sekonyer River.

If your flight arrives early (before 11:30 AM), you’ll have the opportunity to visit the Tanjung Harapan Rehabilitation Center, where at 3:00 PM, the national park rangers feed the orangutans, allowing you to have your first close encounter with these amazing creatures. The name "Tanjung Harapan" translates to "Cape of Hope." This camp is situated in a wetland area, so be sure to apply plenty of mosquito repellent, especially in the afternoon when mosquitoes are more prevalent.

At Tanjung Harapan, you can also take part in reforestation efforts by volunteering to plant a tree, leaving a lasting contribution to conservation. After visiting the ranger camp, you’ll continue your journey upstream, relaxing on the boat while keeping an eye out for wildlife along the Sekonyer River. In the afternoon, it's common to spot groups of proboscis monkeys or other monkeys jumping between the treetops, as well as crocodiles and large lizards lounging in the shallow waters along the riverbanks. A picnic lunch will be provided during the tour. After your river exploration, you’ll be transferred to your hotel for check-in and an overnight stay in Rimba Eco Lodge​.

Day 2: Tanjung Harapan Village – Proboscis Tour – Camp Leakey
After breakfast, you'll head out to visit Tanjung Harapan Village, located within the national park. Here, you'll get a glimpse of local life and the activities of the villagers. After your visit, you'll board the speedboat again to continue cruising up the Sekonyer River. As you journey along, you'll enjoy the lush vegetation lining the riverbanks, including Nipa Palm, Pandanus, and various tree species. Along the way, keep an eye out for wildlife such as birds, macaques, proboscis monkeys, and even orangutans. You'll also notice the changing color of the river and have the chance to spot crocodiles and large monitor lizards basking in the sun.

Your journey will take you to Camp Leakey, a renowned orangutan research and rehabilitation center that has been in operation since 1971. Founded by UCLA student Birute Galdikas, the camp is named after her mentor, paleoanthropologist Louis Leakey. Over 200 orangutans have been rehabilitated and released back into the wild through the center's efforts. Since 1995, the Indonesian government has prohibited the introduction of new orangutans, allowing the existing ones to adapt to life in the wild. Today, Camp Leakey continues to be a hub for studying orangutan behavior and feeding.

With your guide, you'll have the opportunity to explore the jungle, searching for wild orangutans and other animals. At 2:00 PM, you'll witness the orangutans' feeding session. You can also visit a small museum created by Dr. Birute Galdikas, showcasing her pioneering work with orangutans. After your visit, you'll return to your hotel to rest and unwind. Overnight stay in Rimba Eco Lodge​.

Note: The Birute Galdikas Museum at Camp Leaky is currently closed for maintenance purposes. Regrettably, visits to this site will not be possible until further notice. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and will keep you updated on the reopening of the museum.

Day 3: Pondok Tanggui – Camp Leakey – Boat
After a delicious breakfast, you'll head to Pondok Tanggui Camp to witness the orangutan feeding session at 9 AM. As you watch, you’ll see the treetops begin to stir, and soon the silhouettes of orangutans will emerge as they make their way to the feeding platform. Pondok Tanggui was once a release camp for young orangutans that were rehabilitated, and food continues to be provided daily to ensure they don’t leave the area in search of food. Without it, they could venture beyond the National Park, where they risk falling into traps set by settlers or getting caught in palm oil plantations.

Once the feeding session concludes, you'll board the speedboat once again and head further up the river to Camp Leakey. This is a unique opportunity to spend more time observing orangutans and discovering additional wildlife in the area.

After observing the orangutans at Camp Leakey, and if weather and conditions allow, you’ll take a short trek through the jungle on your way back to the speedboat, searching for wild orangutans and other animals. Along the way, our local guides—many of whom were born in the jungle—will share their knowledge of identifying animals and plants, or simply offer stories about their life in this rich ecosystem. The Borneo jungles have sustained local communities for generations, providing food, water, medicine, and much more. Overnight stay in Rimba Eco Lodge​.

Remember: never put anything in your mouth without the guidance of your expert guide. After the trek, return to your hotel to relax and unwind.
Note: The Birute Galdikas Museum at Camp Leaky is currently closed for maintenance purposes. Regrettably, visits to this site will not be possible until further notice. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and will keep you updated on the reopening of the museum.

Day 4: Hotel – Pangkalan Bun
After breakfast, our team will meet you and, depending on your flight schedule, accompany you to the airport.