Orangutan Samboja Lestari & Sungai Wain Exploration [PICTURES] (4D/3N)

Our favourite time for travel in Indonesia is between April to October, although Indonesia is a great year-round destination, offering memorable experiences for all kinds of adventures. July to August are the peak summer months. In West to Central part of the weather is delightfully warm and it’s a popular time for travellers to visit for holidays, whilst if you wish to travel from October to April, the Eastern part Indonesia, like Banda and Raja Ampat, would be the best option.

If you wish to have a relaxing journey in Indonesia with less crowds, the shoulder months of April to June and September to October are ideal and slightly more economic. If you must travel in ‘high season’ but want to avoid the crowd, worry not, there are numbered of unbeaten track in Indonesia ready to be explored.

The tropics is a warm and often sweaty place, especially if you have Borneo or Sulawesi included in your travel. Check out our suggestion on What to Wear:

• Comfortable and light shirt and at least a pair of long sleeves
• Comfortable walking shoes or trekking shoes if your trip include some trekking
• Shorts and long pants
• Couple of pairs of socks
• Waterproof Jacket/Raincoat

Depends on the type of travel, you may also need these in your What to Bring list:

Underwater Trip:

• Dive Insurance
• Dive certificate
• Certificate of Nitrox (for those who are using Nitrox)
• Dive equipment except Tanks and Weights. Please consult your travel expert to find out if the equipment is inclusive or not in your booking
• Swimsuit/Dive suit
• Adaptor DIN or INT
• Flashlight
• Sunscreen SPF +40
• Waterproof bags

Landtour and Trekking:

• Small backpack for daily important item
• Travel Insurance, which covers trekking and sport risk
• Trekking shoes (check with your travel expert if you need a Goretex or simply a walking shoes)
• Pullover (as in some area like Mt Bromo and some other places at high altitude, the temperature can get as low as 0 degree)
• Hats
• Small flashlight or head flashlight
• Towel (preferably quick dry microfiber towel)
• Flight tickets (keep the soft copy in your mobile)
• Valid passport with Valid Visa (or check if you are eligible for Visa Free Entry)
• Travel/Dive Insurance
• Personal medication (include contact lenses)
• Waterproof bag to put all important documents
• All documents for your trip: vouchers, tickets, contact numbers
• Credit card (in some major cities, credit card are widely accepted in restaurants and shops. Small charge might be applied)
• Cash in Euro or USD (you may change into local currency Rupiah when you arrive here)
• Camera, Battery and Charger
• Adaptor (220V is used in Indonesia)
• Toiletries
• Sunscreen and Sunglasses
• International driving license (if you plan to drive on your own)
• Mosquito Repellent with DEET
• Hygienic travel kits (mask, disinfectant or anti-virus spray, etc, etc)

Balikpapan is easily reached from all major cities in Indonesia. Most airlines have flights to Balikpapan, including from Jakarta, Surabaya, and Makassar. Besides Garuda Indonesia and Lion Air, other domestic low-cost carriers to Balikpapan are Sriwijaya Air, Citilink, Indonesia Air Asia. Internationally, SilkAir flies direct to Balikpapan from Singapore. 

We have classified our tours in 3 different classes. Always check which one suitable for your condition. If you have any doubt, you may consult to our travel expert.

Easy: Suitable for most people in good health. These trips can include short walk for days with around 2–3 hours in good paths and at low altitudes.

Medium: A reasonable level of fitness or technique is required, as these trips can require sustained endurance levels as the trip may include longer days of approximately 5-6 hours of activity or/and in higher altitudes, or snorkelling in strong current.

Hard: These trips are physically demanding and best suited for people with a high endurance level, good level of fitness and exercise regularly. Days can be long around 7-8 hours of activity, often at high altitudes, in remote regions and sometimes without a support vehicle nearby. Travellers may be required to carry their backpack, trip with trekking overnights without access to normal toilets or accommodations.

The program is run at Samboja Lestari, and it was the first reintroduction program established by the Borneo Orangutan Survival (BOS) Foundation in 1991. It specifically provides care and rehabilitation for displaced or orphaned orangutans rescued from areas of habitat loss.

Formally known as Wanariset, the project was relocated in 2006 due to insufficient space and was renamed Samboja Lestari. The program is currently located about 38 kilometers from Balikpapan, in East Kalimantan.