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Trans-Borneo Expedition
offered by supplier M06501 (view this supplier profile)
Key Information:
Tour Duration: 25
day(s)
Group Size: 7
- 12
people
Destination(s):
Indonesia
Specialty Categories:
Rainforest
Season: September - November
Airfare Included: No
Tour Customizable: No
Minimum Per Person Price: 1500 US Dollar (USD)
Maximum Per Person Price: 1500 US Dollar (USD)
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The journey is unlike most other ‘Adventure holidays’ because there is not a set / daily schedule - that’s because we are totally governed by the weather (rivers are not navigable after rains), native festivals and harvests (no guides or boats for onward travel). The concept is to gel completely with the customs encountered, avoiding the upsetting influence of strict timetables. This has been allowed for in the 25 day time frame.
Highlights:
10 day rainforest journey, trekking under a 100-150ft canopy the whole time; visiting remote tribal villages; 4-6 days white-water rafting in nothing more than simple dug-out canoes: wildlife - freshwater dolphins, proboscis and various other primates, vast array of birdlife, culture - longhouses and traditional art work.
Headhunters
Officially this doesn’t exist in Kalimantan, but occasional beheading is still reported. It was believed that the dried skulls contained the most powerful magic in the world, vital transfusions of energy, and that a good head could save a village from plague, produce rain, ward off evil spirits and increase crop yield. When embarking on a headhunting expedition, men would awaken Bali Akang, the spirit of courage to assist them. On their return to the village with a head, there were great celebrations before the brains were extracted from the heads through the nostrils and the fresh heads (ulu) were put into plaited rattan nets and smoked-cured over fires.
They believed a persons spirit would still live in their head after death, so heads were offered food and lighted cigarettes so that the person’s spirit would forgive, forget and be happy in it’s new home. Some tribes believed that a head’s power increased over time and skulls were handed down, generation to generation. Other tribes believed that a head’s power diminished with age, creating constant demand for fresh heads.
Fitness
The main physically demanding section we encounter is our journey between the headwaters of Borneo's two great river systems, The Kapaus and Mahakam. During this period all project members are required to carry their backpack (15-18kg at the beginning) on & off longboats and for the entire duration of the trek, approx. 6 hours a day (excluding breaks), in high humidity over, difficult terrain. To accomplish this a good sense of balance & co-ordination is by far the main attribute required.
Food
From Pontianak to Putussibau, we eat in hotels or local restaurants, (B), (L), (D) are included in the price. After that we cook our own food, or are cooked for, in the villages we pass through and aboard river boats. These will be fresh fish, meat, fruit and vegetables wherever possible. When crossing the Muller divide, we cook in our camp, using the supplies we're carrying; (pasta, rice, noodles, soup, canned & dehydrated food, cereal, coffee & tea).
Accommodation
Pondok: Our camp, as we cross the rugged jungle section, consists of waterproof sheeting erected over timber supports in an "A" frame design. Once the ground sheet has been laid, our home resembles a large tent without walls. Our guides call it by the traditional name of "pondok"; the shape of which has remained unchanged from the ancient, foliage version used by all nomadic jungle-dwelling tribes.
Last but by no means least - there is a real sense of urgency to visiting this part of the world sooner rather than later. Man’s want for gold - found in Bornean rivers is having an affect on remote tribal encomies, shifting their reliance on the forest to reliance on goods which can be purchased with 'yellow metal'.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Also see tour packages in:
Asia
Indonesia
Rainforest
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