Central Kalimantan offers a range of discoveries: peatland ecosystems, rivers and Dayak heritage each provide their own perspective on the destination. In Sebangau National Park, wildlife shares the stage with the distinctive landscape, while historic betang houses, museums and regional dishes reveal other facets. As you plan your trip, consider whether you are particularly interested in wildlife watching, cultural history, outdoor activities or local cuisine.

Peatland Ecosystems and Wildlife

Sebangau National Park encompasses a peatland ecosystem and is home to wild orangutans. It is also home to endemic birds, reptiles and mammals. Visitors can observe wild animals at close range there. Sebangau thus brings both its ecosystem and the diversity of its wildlife into focus.

Tanjung Puting National Park is also a natural habitat for orangutans. Another place associated with this species is Nyaru Menteng: the orangutan reintroduction center is located near Palangka Raya. These places offer different perspectives—from a national park habitat to a center dedicated to reintroduction.

River Trips and Getting Your Bearings

You can travel along the Sungai Sekonyer in a traditional klotok boat and observe orangutans, proboscis monkeys and exotic birds in their natural habitat. River cruises from Palangka Raya pass through Borneo’s natural landscapes and offer glimpses of the wildlife there, including orangutans. The two descriptions offer different points of reference for a river trip: a specifically named river and klotok boat, and trips departing from Palangka Raya.

For a trip on the Sebangau River, Dermaga Kereng Bangkirai pier in Palangka Raya is an important landmark. It is a main access point to Sebangau National Park; from there, visitors can travel along the river by klotok boat. For Tanjung Puting, information about Pelabuhan Kumai is relevant: the port, located in Central Kalimantan, is a gateway to the national park and Camp Leakey.

The Nyaru Menteng Arboretum is located in Desa Tumbang Tahai, Kecamatan Bukit Batu, in Palangka Raya and can be reached by rental car or public transport. Check local conditions before setting out.

Dayak Heritage in Houses and Museums

Betang Tumbang Anoi, also known as Betang Damang Batu, is a historic site and traditional Dayak house in Desa Tumbang Anoi, Kabupaten Gunung Mas. The Tumbang Anoi Peace Meeting took place there in 1894. The site therefore connects a traditional house style with a specifically named historical event.

Another betang house is Betang Toyoi in Desa Tumbang Malahoi, Kecamatan Rungan, Kabupaten Gunung Mas. It is estimated to have been built between 1817 and 1896. Betang Konut in Desa Konut, Kecamatan Tanah Siang, Kabupaten Murung Raya, is a traditional house of the Dayak Siang that is about 160 years old and a cultural heritage site. The estimated construction period of Betang Toyoi and the approximate age of Betang Konut provide two different time references for historic houses.

In the traditional Dayak village of Tumbang Manggu, you can visit betang houses and see Dayak crafts. The Balanga Museum in Palangka Raya offers a different way to explore Dayak culture and heritage; its collections reflect the cultural diversity of the Dayak. The village, houses and crafts thus offer a different kind of encounter with Dayak culture than a museum collection does.

Hiking, Landscapes and More to Discover

If you enjoy exploring on foot, you can hike up Bukit Tangkiling. The views stretch across expansive floodplains, peat swamp forests and rare rock outcrops. At Air Terjun Batu Mahasur waterfall, a trekking trail runs around the falls. Both descriptions put walking in the foreground, but refer to different landscapes.

Near Bukit Tangkiling, Taman Alam is a wildlife park whose main attraction is crocodiles. In Nanga Bulik, Penangkaran Rusa Lamandau is described as a recreational and educational destination for children; dozens of sambar deer (Cervus unicolor) live there. A wildlife park focused on crocodiles and a destination with sambar deer thus offer different options for exploring nature and wildlife.

Regional Dishes

The local cuisine offers more discoveries. Juhu Umbut Rotan is a traditional dish made from young rattan shoots, cooked with coconut milk and spices. Kalumpe is a vegetable dish typical of the Dayak, made with cassava leaves. Kue Gagatas adds a traditional snack to these savory examples: it is crisp and sweet. The three foods differ significantly in their ingredients, preparation and flavor—useful guidance if you are interested in regional cuisine.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Palangka Raya, North Barito, Mentawa Baru/Ketapan, East Barito, Pahandut, West Sumatra, East Kalimantan, Jambi.

Go to the main travel overview: Indonesia.