Vacation to Kalimantan: Tourist Attractions in Kalimantan that You Must Visit
Experience Authentic Borneo
'Adventure' is the most appropriate word to describe Kalimantan as a tourist destination. Tropical forests, winding rivers, inland mountains and wildlife are authentic Borneo experiences that you can find in Kalimantan.
But Kalimantan is not just about that – this beautiful tourist spot is also the perfect destination to do many things such as diving, interacting with local people, exploring remote parts of Indonesia, getting to know authentic Kalimantan culture, enjoying Borneo specialties, and more.
There are so many tourist attractions in Kalimantan and fun activities that you can do in Kalimantan, what are they? Let's read on.
Tourist Attractions in Kalimantan that You Must Visit
Enjoy the charm of the Derawan Islands, an exotic island at the tip of Borneo
One of the tourist destinations in Kalimantan that you must visit. The Derawan Archipelago consists of 31 small islands, the most famous of which are Derawan Island, Maratua Island, Sangalaki Island and Kakaban Island. The Derawan Islands are one of the best tourist destinations in Indonesia.
Its small islands are the perfect tropical paradise for you to spend your holiday, enjoy the beauty of nature, and explore the richness and beauty of Indonesia's underwater life.
It is difficult to describe this tropical paradise in a few sentences, because each island has its own uniqueness and beauty to offer. The Derawan Islands also have many of the best spots for diving because these islands are part of the “coral triangle” which is the center of underwater life in the world.
Take your time to snorkel with turtles, swim with jellyfish (not dangerous), or even go around the small islands of the Derawan Islands by bicycle. Add the Derawan Islands to your travel bucket list and experience the tropical paradise of Indonesia.
Experience a world-class wild adventure, Cross Borneo Trek
Are you ready for adventure? Experience an authentic Borneo adventure with the Cross Borneo Trek. Kalimantan is the perfect place to go for a truly authentic adventure experience. This island is a paradise for adventurers because Kalimantan offers natural beauty and natural and wild adventure destinations.
If you are a true adventurer, you must try the Cross Borneo Trek experience. Just as the name suggests, this adventure will take you across Kalimantan from east to west (or even from west to east) – crossing the Mahakam river, exploring the dense rainforests typical of Borneo, and conquering the challenging Muller mountains.
This adventure usually takes about 7-17 days, bringing you to the authentic experience of living and crossing Kalimantan from east to west. This Cross Borneo Trek will give you an unforgettable experience. Cross Borneo Trek is one of the most popular wild adventures in Indonesia or even in the world.
But before joining this adventure, make sure you have previous trekking experience, because this adventure will lead you to difficult and complicated terrain. You are even advised to have a professional and reputable guide.
Feel the dynamics of a unique traditional market typical of Borneo, Banjarmasin Floating Market
A vacation to Kalimantan is not complete if you haven't visited the Floating Market in Banjarmasin. Kalimantan is a very tropical region, so it will be very easy to find beautiful rivers that connect one region to another. The existence of these rivers affects the activities of its inhabitants. One of them is the emergence of many traditional markets on the river – otherwise known as floating markets.
Actually, you can find many floating markets in Kalimantan, but the Muara Kuin Floating Market in Banjarmasin is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Kalimantan. The floating market is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Kalimantan. Visitors can see buying and selling activities on the river using a unique and distinctive jukung (boat).
This floating market phenomenon is a unique thing that you must visit when on vacation to Kalimantan. The atmosphere of a very authentic Kalimantan traditional market becomes very unique when the market floats on the river. Also take the time to taste the delicious and authentic Borneo food and drinks.
Enjoy the beautiful panorama of the giant monolith rock, Bukit Kelam
The beauty of Kalimantan is endless, there will always be a natural charm that will amaze anyone who sees it. Bukit Kelam is one of the exotic tourist attractions in West Kalimantan. This giant monolith stone which is one of the largest monolith stones in the world offers an amazing natural panorama.
At Bukit Kelam, you can find natural caves inhabited by thousands of bats, beautiful waterfall views, and cliffs that are more than 600 meters high. Bukit Kelam is perfect for adventurers and cave lovers because it offers exotic caves to explore.
If you are a hiking lover, then you must make this Dark Hill as your next destination. Puncak Bukit Kelam is one of the best places to watch the sunrise and sunset in Kalimantan. You will also not find it difficult to climb the Dark Hills because some parts of this hill are already available via Ferrata, making the climbing process easier.
As a recommendation, a short itinerary that you can do in Bukit Kelam is 2 days: climbing this international-class monolith rock cliff, entering and exploring caves, observing rare flora, and witnessing the natural beauty of Borneo from the top of Bukit Kelam.
Experience an outdoor adventure at Tanjung Puting National Park
Yep, Kalimantan is home and the main habitat for orangutans and Tanjung Puting National Park is the center of the world's orangutans, which makes it one of the best choices for tourist destinations in Kalimantan. Not only does it act as a rehabilitation and conservation center for orangutans, but its vast territory makes Tanjung Puting National Park a home for various types of flora and fauna typical of Indonesia.
Tanjung Puting is a tourist destination in Kalimantan that is right for those of you who like outdoor adventures. There are several ecosystems in Tanjung Puting National Park, including mangrove forests, swamp forests, coastal forests and tropical forests.
But orangutans are certainly the prima donna and the main highlight in Tanjung Puting National Park. However, what visitors must always know is that Tanjung Puting is a national park, and its inhabitants, including orangutans, are not an attraction that is presented to entertain visitors or as an attraction.
Make Tanjung Puting National Park your tourist destination and get the opportunity to explore one of the most biodiverse places in Indonesia – even in the world.
Holiday Tips to Kalimantan
Kalimantan is the most appropriate natural tourist destination. Beautiful natural scenery, rich flora and fauna, dense tropical forests, many beautiful islands that are still remote, varied trekking destinations make Kalimantan the best tourist spot in Indonesia.
Kalimantan is one of the areas in Indonesia that rains all year round. And the best time for a vacation to Kalimantan is around June to September which is the best time for trekking or just exploring the beauty of Kalimantan.
For those of you who vacation in Kalimantan without a tour agent or guide, maybe you will get some challenges such as language (fun fact: besides Indonesian, there are at least 74 languages in Kalimantan), how to interact with local people, compiling itineraries, and others. But challenges like that will lead you to experience the true authentic Borneo.