Samarinda Jump Off Point for Mahakam River Cruise Tours
Samarinda serves as the capital city of East Kalimantan province. It is strategically situated along the Mahakam River, and it spans an area that covers about 167 square kilometers. The city is home to approximately one million people.
Its origins trace back to 1668 when a group of Buginese settlers arrived from Sulawesi, led by a leader named La Mohang Daeng Mangkona. These settlers originally came from the regions of Wajo and Parepare and moved further north, settling along the Mahakam River's coastal line in Borneo Island. On January 21, 1668, they officially established a small settlement that gradually grew into a village. By 1730, this village had developed into a city named Samarinda, and today it stands as the provincial capital of East Kalimantan. This date is recognized as the city's official birthday and is celebrated each year with special tourism events. For visitors exploring inland, Samarinda features a domestic airport that connects to Bali, Java, Sulawesi, and other parts of Kalimantan. It also serves as the starting point for exciting Mahakam River cruises, allowing travelers to experience the rich Dayak culture in longhouse villages deep within the rainforest. Additionally, it acts as a gateway to the Kutai National Park, home to wild Orangutans, located just to the north. The city has become a crucial trade hub and an important sub-urban region for the new capital city of Indonesia, which is planned to be located near Samarinda. A toll road connects this new capital with the current Indonesian capital in a matter of minutes.
Mahakam Delta & Samarinda
Surrounded by several rivers, Samarinda is well-connected by its river system connection to the hinterland.The Karangmumus River runs to the east of the city, while the Karangasem River flows from the west, meeting the Mahakam River. These rivers play a vital role in the city's transportation network. Motorboats still navigate the Mahakam River, offering water taxi services that connect different parts of the city. Recently, three bridges have been built to link the city's two sides: Samarinda Kota and Samarinda Seberang. Boats of all sizes, from agile vessels to large barges, ferry goods and people from the inland areas, making the Mahakam River a crucial trade route for Kalimantan's resources. One unique characteristic of Samarinda is that it is likely the only city in Indonesia with a city forest, covering almost 200,000 hectares.
“ NUSANTARA City (new Indonesian Capital)”
Nusantara new capital city was in 2019, announced by the President of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, to relocate the center of the Indonesian government from Jakarta at Java island to to East Kalimantan.
The new capital is named "Nusantara" and will replace Jakarta, which is located on Java Island. Jakarta faces significant traffic congestion, causing substantial economic losses, and also experiences issues like waterlogging and sinking. Nusantara is designed to be a smart city embedded within the rainforest, integrating natural greenery and renewable energy sources to tackle climate change and contribute to a sustainable future. The construction of Nusantara will take about 25 years, with completion planned by 2045. The government departments, including the president's palace, are expected to move to this new capital by 2024. The city is strategically located between two major cities in East Kalimantan: Balikpapan and Samarinda, on hilly land along the Balikpapan Bay and Handil Bay. The city's design, as a smart city within the rainforest, has already become a tourist attraction. It promises to significantly boost tourism in Borneo in the near future.
Citra Niaga Shops
is a pleasant shopping center located in the heart of Samarinda. It covers an area of 2.7 hectares and features a clean, artistically designed open space. The center offers a wide range of souvenirs and other goods for tourists.
Sarong Samarinda
Samarinda is famous for its high-quality sarongs, which are woven in local home-based cottage industries using premium silk.
These sarongs are well-known and appreciated throughout Indonesia for their fine craftsmanship.
Islamic Center Samarinda
The Grand Mosque in Samarinda is located along the Mahakam River. Standing at a height of 107 meters, it is a prominent landmark visible from various parts of the city. It is the second-largest mosque in Indonesia and is itself a major tourist attraction.
Pampang Dayak Kenyah village
Pampang Dayak Village, particularly the Kenyah Dayak community, is a transmigrated village situated 40 kilometers to the north of Samarinda.
This village is home to the Apokayan Dayak people who have been relocated there. It regularly hosts cultural ceremonies featuring the unique art and traditions of the Dayak people, including intricate body art and vibrant longhouse designs.
Samarinda & Mahakam River Travel Information Guide
Tour Destination :Samarinda, Mahakam River, East Kalimantan Indonesia
Main Interest & Tour Activities :
Cruise up the Mystic Mahakam River which is rich of Dayak mystic Culture and Longhouse and Dayak Culture mosaic art villages surrounded by Jungle and tropical Rainforest.
Small Dayak settlements along the almost upper part of the Mahakam River, for a jungle trail hike exploration to the isolated Dayak tribal villages in the rain forest to learn the animism believes and their survival in the jungle of Borneo, recommended visit time is 1 or 4 days
Pampang village near Samarinda is a Dayak Transmigration project for Apokayan Dayaks.
Sarong traditional Weaving at Samarinda Seberang can been visited, as it is home industry.
Mahakam Dayak Villages are Tanjung Isuy, Mancong, Eheng, Data Bilang, Rukun Damai, Long Apari, the Mahakam River is also the entry for a trekking to the Apokayan region or cross the Muller Mountains to the Kapuas River at West Kalimantan.
Kutai National Park Reserve can be reached from Samarinda by road to the north, here Orangutans and exotic wildlife and flora & fauna can be found, just at a 5 hours distance.
visit Nusantara City as the New Capital of Indonesia as a green smart Rain Forest future city
Culture :
Dayak, Javanese, Buginese and Banjarese
Flora & Fauna :
Low Land Rainforest
Tour Starting Point :
Balikpapan, or Samarinda airport East Kalimantan, Indonesia
Tour Transport Possibilities :
by Public Bus or car from Balikpapan to Samarinda, for Mahakam River Safari Tour cruises continue by Houseboat or public ferry to Long Iram, and then by motorcanoe cruise up to the upper Mahakam River, estimated travel time to reach Upper Mahakam River is 2-3 days.
Tour Ending Point :
Balikpapan, also possible to Trek via the Muller Mountains to Pontianak
Travel Distance to entry point :
125 Km to from Balikpapan Airport, Samarinda airport, East Kalimantan
Tour Duration :
Short Get Through Visit 1 to 10 Days
Tour Grade :
Moderate till challenging
