Spirit of Kalimantan
A private river eco-retreat through the blackwater rivers and peat-swamp forests of Central Kalimantan, slow, restorative, and close to the wild heart of Borneo.
Best Season
Year-round, two distinct seasons
Party Size
A departure for up to 8 guests
Pace
Immersive
Booking Lead
Private charters are limited, so it is worth enquiring early to secure the dates that suit you.
Why This Trip
Two orangutan encounters, honestly different: rehabilitated individuals on a Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation island, and completely wild, unhabituated apes deep in Sebangau, over 6,000 of them, but never guaranteed on any given trek.
The Experience
A slow, private passage along the Katingan River aboard the Spirit of Kalimantan, a traditional-style klotok with four Superior ensuite, air-conditioned cabins, the whole vessel chartered to your party. This is an eco retreat, not a test of endurance: off-grid, unhurried, and low-impact, moving through the blackwater rivers and peat-swamp forests of Central Kalimantan at the river's own pace. Run by Wow Borneo, founded in 2008 by Gaye Thavisin and Lorna Dowson-Collins around conservation and community. Your charter funds that work directly, donations to the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation and local Dayak communities are included, and the route passes the WWF-partnered Katingan Mentaya Project. Year-round, with two characters: dry season (May to September) for easier trekking; wet season (November to March) for dramatic weather and mirror reflections on the blackwater lakes.
A close encounter with a wild Bornean orangutan in the canopy, the quiet centre of any passage through these forests.
The peat-swamp forests of Central Kalimantan at first light, mist, water and canopy, moved through by river.
The clouded leopard is among Sebangau's rarest residents, glimpsed only by great fortune, never promised.
The rhinoceros hornbill, Borneo's iconic canopy bird, regularly sighted on canoe excursions along the Nusa River.
A Superior ensuite cabin aboard the Spirit of Kalimantan, air-conditioned and screened against the river night.
Each cabin opens to the moving river, the forest close enough to hear from your bed.
A deck breakfast of freshly harvested tropical fruit, eaten slowly as the river carries you deeper in.
Wild fern shoots and forest produce, cooked simply by the crew from the day's market.
A wild orangutan in the high canopy, observed at a respectful distance, never staged or guaranteed.
Practical Details
- Genuine wilderness trekking is part of this experience. Expect muddy trails, leech exposure, and physically demanding conditions on forest treks; reasonable fitness is required.
- A minimum age of 12 is recommended for this cruise.
- A minimum of 2 guests is required to run a private departure.
- Palangka Raya (Tjilik Riwut Airport) is the gateway. From there, transfer by private car to the boarding point, roughly three hours by road, before boarding the vessel.
Possible Activities & Highlights
Every stay is shaped around you, below are some of the experiences and highlights available during your time here. Nothing is fixed; everything is flexible and tailored to your interests, pace, and the conditions on the ground.
- A visit to an island managed by the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation, home to rehabilitated orangutans prior to release
- Guided forest treks into Sebangau National Park in search of genuinely wild orangutans, proboscis monkeys, and other wildlife
- Canoeing across Klaru Lake, a blackwater lake with striking mirror reflections of the surrounding forest
- Learning about the Katingan Mentaya Project, a real WWF-partnered forest conservation initiative, directly from the crew
- A visit to Tampelas village, including a welcome from the local community
- Sunset by canoe at Danau Burung Lake
- Birdwatching by canoe on the Nusa River
- A nighttime canoe expedition to spot nocturnal wildlife
- Learning traditional fishing methods from the boat's crew, including visiting a local fish market
The Spirit of Kalimantan is operated by Wow Borneo and offered to you as a private charter arranged on your behalf by Edgeland Society, not an exclusively represented Edgeland Society product.
What's Included
- ✓Private charter of the Spirit of Kalimantan klotok for your party, never a shared departure
- ✓Four Superior ensuite, air-conditioned cabins, each with its own private bathroom, proper bedding, fresh linens, and toiletries
- ✓All meals onboard, prepared by the boat's chef, with drinking water, tea, and coffee throughout
- ✓A full boat crew, captain, guide, cook, and deckhands, devoted solely to your charter
- ✓Guided forest treks into Sebangau National Park and the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation island visit
- ✓All canoeing excursions, including the nighttime wildlife expedition
- ✓Private airport and hotel transfers (pickup and drop-off) at both ends of your charter
- ✓A direct donation to the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation, included in your rate
- ✓A direct donation to local Dayak communities, included in your rate
- ✓All park and conservation fees for the duration
Every local transfer and internal flight is arranged for you, seamlessly. International flights can be arranged on request, wherever your journey begins.
Pricing
Rates on enquiry
Trip Character
Pricing
Rates on enquiry
Length of stay tailored to you
Every local transfer and internal flight is arranged for you, seamlessly. International flights can be arranged on request, wherever your journey begins.
Trip Character