A port city on South Kalimantan’s Barito River Delta, former headquarters for the Dutch VOC, seat of Banjar Sultanate and his Dayak army, guarding control over nutmeg, cinnamon and others spices prized throughout the world.
This tour is a historical, cultural and ethnobotanical exploratory, currently being reccie’d to include several (optional) days biking on the roads between Loksado and Banjarbaru.
You can book this tour with or with-out bikes.
The mountains of Loksado are a refreshing change to the lowland Peat Forests of Central Kalimantan, which is a wonderful add on to this tour.
Tour highlights
Rumbia Riverside Lodge, Mangrove Ecology, Shrimp Market, Curiak Island Proboscis Research Centre, Bakut Island Panoramic peak, Meratus Mountains, Loksado Trekking and Dayak Village Stay, Dayak ethnobotany, Bamboo Rafting, Dayak Long houses, Low Bain Floating Markets.
DAY 1: Arrive Banjarmasin. Transfer by car and boat to Rumbia Lodge (D)
From Syamsuddin Noor Airport, a 30-minute car ride takes you to Banjarmasin and from there a 20-minute boat ride along the Barito River brings you to your riverside lodge. Relax into the quiet beauty of your surroundings. Dinner features local fare, fresh fish, caught from the river. Rest for the night with the music of the delta.
DAY 2: Proboscis Island, Kandangan Island panoramic viewpoint, ascent from rivers to Meratus Mountains – Dayak Village of Loksado (B,L,D)
An early boat ride takes you to the Shrimp Market, where fishermen showcase their catch. Breakfast back at the lodge, then head by boat to Curiak Island, a research center for the Longnose Proboscis monkey. The proboscis is endemic to Borneo, preferring mangove forests, near river edges for resting and sleeping.
Bakut Island, a little further along has a wooden through the mangroves to an observation tower, providing a panoramic view of the river and its lush surroundings.
In the afternoon its a 3.5 hour drive to Kandangan, a journey through rolling hills and small villages. Stop for lunch at a local restaurant before continuing for another hour to Loksado, a cultural hub for the Dayak people. Check into your lodge and enjoy dinner at a village restaurant before resting for the night.
DAY 3: Loksado Trekking – Waterfall – Dayak Longhouse (BLD)
Cinnamon and candlenuts are grown amidst orchids, fungi, and to what an outsider might call wild jungle. There are macaques, hornbills, and the occasional orangutans. Dayak botanical medicines include Jempinis sap for wounds and Kelor leaves for nutrition, and local guides share insights into these plants’ traditional ethnobotanical uses.
Trek to a water fall, for a refreshing swim, then visit a Dayak Longhouse, to hear the stories of the people who reside there.
In the afternoon return to the Loksado Lodge observing daily life as you relax into the hospitality of the Loksado Dayak.
DAY 4: Bamboo Rafting – Cultural Houses – Return to Banjarmasin (B,L,D)
After breakfast, check out and prepare for bamboo rafting on the Amandit River. This leisurely ride lasts 1.5 to 2 hours, allowing you to cover around 5 kilometers, as you take in the view of lush jungle landscapes and rural life along the banks.
After arriving at a village, drive approximately 30 minutes to Kandangan for lunch. Then, take a scenic 3-hour drive to visit traditional houses that showcase local craftsmanship. Sip tea and enjoy the ambiance before returning to Banjarmasin, where you’ll check into your hotel for the night.
DAY 5: Floating Market – Departure (Breakfast Included)
Lok Baintan Floating Market is one of Southeast Asia’s most authentic floating markets, and best experienced at sunrise when colorful wooden longboats fill the Martapura River, showcasing a spectacle of traders and goods. Its the women, mostly, who sell an array of fresh produce and traditional snacks, which are an opportunity for an incredibly memorable breakfast for those who like a truly immersive experience.
Have second breakfast back at your hotel and extend or transfer to the airport for your departure at your leisure.
