In Collaboration with Rangers
New since 2023!
Go deep into the Borneo jungle with rangers and immerse yourself with nature far away from the crowd.
Working out the itinerary has been challenging since nobody offers it and it requires close alignments with the jungle community. This tour is especially interesting if you want to avoid the crowd or to take pictures of the wild nature.

Itinerary
Note: The below itinerary (in particular the chronology) is subject to change, depending on weather circumstances and client wishes.
DAY 1: PANGKALAN BUN – KUMAI – TANJUNG HARAPAN (L D)
Included: pick-up by car, police registration, entrance fee, boat, guide & boat staff, meals as mentioned
It takes about an hour to get from the harbor in Kumai to the entrance of Tanjung Puting National Park. The first stop is at Tanjung Harapan where the orangutan feeding takes place at 15h. We continue the cruise as the jungle is at its noisiest. We hear Proboscis monkeys, Macaques, Silver Langurs and colorful birds. Finally, it is time for a candle light dinner, and an exciting night in the jungle.
DAY 2: Pondok Tanggui – Camp Leakey – Nipa Area (B L D)
Included: entrance fee, boat, guide & boat staff, meals as mentioned
After breakfast, we cruise through the habitat of the Proboscis monkeys and the crocodiles as we go to Pondok Tanggui. We visit the orangutan feeding here at 9 am. Then, we continue the cruise, turn in a junction of the river where the water color changes and gives a surreal dark reflection of the jungle. We arrive at Camp Leakey, a research- and rehabilitation center for orangutans. The feeding takes place at 2 pm. After Camp Leakey, we cruise down slowly to the Nipa Palm Area, where we may see fire flies in the evening depending on the weather. We will have candle light diner. After diner we go for a night trek to see the night animals and glowing mushrooms. We spend the night in this area.
DAY 3: DEEP JUNGLE TREK AROUND CAMP LEAKEY (B L D)
Included: entrance fee, boat, guide & boat staff, day trek, night trek, meals as mentioned
We return to the research facility center of Camp Leaky, which is empty at this time. While this has not been offered since the Covid lockdowns anymore, we will together with a ranger go for a deep jungle trek into the unpaved rainforest for 6-7 hours. We search for wild animals, including orangutans. You can’t get further away from the crowd.
DAY 4: DEEP JUNGLE TREK AROUND PONDOK TANGGUI (B L D)
Included: entrance fee, boat, guide & boat staff, meals as mentioned
We continue our jungle journey around Pondonk Tanggui. A ranger that is born in this jungle will assist us into the unpaved rainforest (ca 6 hours) where we will again search for wild animals. This is an absolutely stunning and off-the-beaten path area of the usually so crowded Tanjung Puting National Park.
DAY 5: TANJUNG HARAPAN – NIPA AREA (B L D)
Included: entrance fee, boat, guide & boat staff, long trek with ranger and canoe, meals as mentioned
After breakfast, we prepare for another exciting jungle trek deep into the jungle with a ranger which takes ca 6 hours. At the end, we get into a canoe and take a exciting cruise in the small jungle river back to our boat in the Sekonyer river. We have a well-deserved lunch, and then visit the feeding at Tanjung Harapan for the 2nd time.
DAY 6: NIPA AREA – KUMAI – PANGKALAN BUN (AIRPORT) (B)
Included: entrance fee, boat, guide & boat staff, drop-off by car, meals as mentioned
Booking
Unlike with our other tours, the 6D5N Orangutan Tour cannot be booked online because of the limited availability.
Please contact us for bookings.
Recommended Accommodations
FAQ on Tanjung Puting
Where to stay in Pangkalan Bun?
It is common for visitors to start the tour upon arrival at the airport, and to fly out on the same day the tour ends. In order to start the tour rested and to accommodate the risk of a delay of your flight, you could consider to start the tour on the day after your arrival and spend the night at a good hotel in Pangkalan Bun.
Because the tour ends early on the last day, there is no need to stay overnight at the end of the tour, except if you would like to rest and enjoy a hot shower before flying to your next destination.
Recommended hotels in Pangkalan Bun in the top, middle and budget segment are the Grand Kecubung Hotel , Arsela Hotel and Hotel Bahagia , respectively.
How to get to Tanjung Puting National Park?
Fly to Pangkalan Bun. If you start the tour on the same day of your arrival, we will simply pick you up at the airport and start the tour right away.
There are direct flights between Pangkalan Bun and Jakarta, Semarang and Surabaya.
What time does the tour start/end?
Start. We will align the exact pick-up time with you ahead of the tour. Ideally, we pick you up in Pangkalan Bun between 9 am and 10 am, although we could also start a little bit later. In order to see the feeding at Tanjung Harapan - which starts at 3pm - we need to leave Pangkalan Bun latest at 11:30 am.
In case you arrive in Pangkalan Bun on the same day that your tour starts, we pick you up at the airport and start the tour immediately. Any arrival time in the morning is fine. We can also accommodate (but not advice) an arrival in the afternoon, but then you obviously will have less time in the park.
End. The tour ends after breakfast on the last day. We will leave Tanjung Puting National Park around 9 am, and you will be dropped at your hotel or at the airport latest around 10 am. In case you have an early flight to catch, no worries, we will make sure that you will arrive at the airport on time.
What is the best period to visit Tanjung Puting National Park?
You can visit Tanjung Puting throughout the year. The temperature is rather constant and while it is often raining in Kalimantan, historically the most dry period has been July-September and the most wet period has been January and February. However, in recent years the rainfall has been more unpredictable, so the above should not be delt with too strictly.
Partly for the above reason, the most popular period to visit Tanjung Puting among travelers is July and August. However, besides the weather advantages of this period, there are several downside of doing your tour in the period July - September:
- It is very crowded, which obviously spoils for some the experience.
- It is relatively expensive.
- Under the event of a force majeure (such as a break-down of the boat engine) it becomes difficult for any tour operator to hire another boat (which can easily be done for months outside July-September). We will then hire a quite expensive speedboat and let clients stay overnight in the Rimba Lodge. Despite the high cost of this scenario (which we take on us), it also not a satisfactory experience for clients, which makes it a lose/lose situation.
Considering the crowds and the value for money, in our opinion the best time to visit Tanjung Puting is in the shoulder months September - October and April - June.
Most travelers however do not have much flexibility and are restricted to the high season period. As long as you manage your expecations that it will be crowded, you will still have a wonderful experience!
Should I take the 3D, 4D or 5D tour?
3D2N. We advice to take the 3D2N tour if you want to see as much as possible in as little time as possible. It is fantastic value for money as you get to see all feeding stations in Tanjung Puting. Unfortunately, you will not have any time for a short trek, or a night trek.
4D3N. The 4D3N tour we advice to anyone who would like to take the time in Tanjung Puting and is especially interested to combine visiting the feeding stations with short jungle treks, a night trek, and visiting a reforestration site as well as the Sekonyer village.
5D4N. The 5D4N tour we advice to anyone that is more adventurous, is into a long jungle trek, together with rangers in a very remote and untouched jungle. At the end of the jungle trek, we return to our boat by a canoe through a small river in the dense jungle. There are no other activities in Tanjung Puting that will take you further away from the crowd than this trek, but be prepared to get a little bit dirty.
What meals are served during the tour?
This is one of the things we try to stand out with!
Our goal is to spoil our guests with mouthwatering, delicious meals. Every meal should be another bombshell of creativity, because we realize that nothing is as good as having a delicious meal in the heart of the jungle after an exciting trek.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner are served in the top deck on the dining area, while the fingerfood, snacks and drinks are served throughout the day, typically in the lounge area where you sit. You’ll have access all day to tea and coffee.
Do you have any dietary wishes? No worries, we have that all the time. Just let know about it and we'll take care of it!
What are the facilities on the boat?
The boat is a traditional Klotok wooden river boat.
We use only very comfortable Klotoks, with Western toilets and a shower, as opposed to an Indonesian toilet or a basket of water to shower in.
There is a top deck exclusively for you, with a dining table in the back, a lounge area in the front and mattrasses under a mosquito net that will be prepared for you in the evening. The crew is in the bottom deck.
For individuals and couples the classical Klotok dimension of 12m (long) x 2m (wide) is used. For group sizes from 3 to 6 people, the very comfortable boats with the dimensions 17m x 3m boats are used.
Can I get seasick on the boat?
That is highly unlikely.
The river is quite still, and small waves are only occasionally created by passing boats.
We have never had sea sick clients on our boats. But in case you are concerned about it, we advice you to book the big boats as these are even more steady than the smaller ones. Please notice that this comes with a surcharge; send us an email for more information.
Will I get wet on the boat when it rains?
No. Although the boats are on default open on the sides to allow visibility towards the forest, in case of rain they will be closed completely with removable tarps.
Which animals live in Tanjung Puting National Park?
The main reason people visit Tanjung Puting is because of the Orangutans, the park is also home to the bizarre looking proboscis monkey with its “Jimmy Durante” nose as well as seven other primate species. Clouded leopards, civets, and Malaysian sun bears cavort in the park, as do mouse deer, barking deer, sambar deer, and the wild cattle known as banteng.
There are over 230 species of birds, including hornbills, deep forest birds, and many wetland species. Tanjung Puting is well known for its “bird lakes,” seasonal rookeries for a half a dozen species of endangered waterbirds, including the only known Bornean nesting grounds for white egrets.
There are two species of crocodiles (you may spot one while cruising!), dozens of snakes and frogs, numerous threatened species, including the fortune-bringing and highly endangered “dragon” fish also known as the Arwana (bony-tongue).
Among the most flamboyant of these animals are the many species of colorful birds, butterflies, and moths found in the Park.
How much should I tip the staff?
Tipping is common in Indonesia, and the staff will be extremely happy and flattered if you decide to do so, but it is of course voluntary and not expected.
There is no rule for how much to tip, as it really depends on how satisfied you are with the service and on your budget. Some clients really insist to get an indication, so we will give the rule of thumb that for every day you may consider tipping your guide 100.000 IDR per day and 50.000 IDR per day to your cook, captain and boat helper.
Please consider this very indicative, and deviate from it as you wish or depending on your budget. In the end, any amount is really appreciated.
Orangutan tours in Borneo vs Sumatra
Among the best places in the world to see orangutans, are Gunung Leuser National Park (Sumatra) and Tanjung Puting National Park (Kalimantan). We offer tours in both places with certified, local guides.
Both are quite well accessible by air from Jakarta. Which of the two is better, depends on your personal interests and on your budget.
Generally speaking, orangutan tours in Bukit Lawang are suitable for adventurous travelers that like relatively long treks, are in shape, would like to combine it with other activities (volcanoe treks, relaxing at Lake Toba, visiting villages, etc.) and/or have a lower budget. The transportation is by foot and the accommodation is typically in basic jungle camps.
In contrast, the orangutan tours in Tanjung Puting are by boat as you cruise through the river, and the occassional treks are very easy and short, and the accommodation is typically on the boat. Although this cruise is still relatively cheap for Western standards, it is 2 to 3 times more expensive than the jungle treks in Bukit Lawang. Also, there are fewer activities around Tanjung Puting National Park, than around Gunung Leuser National Park.
For more information about the jungle treks in Bukit Lawang as well as the tour packages we offer there, click here
Are there any general tips?
Here are a few additional tips that you may enhance your tour experience:
1. Although Indonesia is famous for its coffee, in our experience, tourists do not like the standard coffee served at homes or in the boat, which is basically hot water with filter coffee, but then unfiltered. So if you drink coffee, we recommend to bring your own instant coffee (or French Press).
2. You may want to consider to bring your own alcoholic drink to optimally enjoy the beautiful and romantic setting from the Klotok. If you are lucky, you can store these in the fridge of the staff, but chances are that you can only drink it warm. Alcoholic beverage is not sold in Pangkalan Bun and therefore needs to be bought before arriving here.
3. In case you have time, you will appreciate staying overnight in Pangkalan Bun before (and/or after your) tour. You'll start your tour all rested, finish your tour with a hot shower, stay longer in Tanjung Puting National Park, and don't need to stress about flight delays. The best hotel in town is the Grand Kecubung Hotel .
4. Although there are plug sockets aboard, we do not recommend to use these to charge expensive gadgets (smartphones, tablets, etc.) because the power engine of the boat does not supply a constant voltage (this holds for ALL boats). Please consider to bring an external battery charger, which can be bought at any outdoor store.
5. If you have a hammock, bring it! The ultimate chill experience is to lay down in your hammock in the klotok as you cruise through the lush jungle!