About the expedition
$5,250 USD per person
Limited capacity: 10 divers
Líder de expedición: Ricardo Castillo
A unique expedition to carry out 30 dives in one of the most biodiverse seas on the planet, where in addition to the large amount of marine life in the area we have the possibility of seeing Giant Mantas and Thresher Sharks. We will also spend 4 days interned in one of the largest jungle reserves in Borneo tracking Orangutans alongside local experts who are dedicated to protecting these fantastic animals that live freely within the reserve.
Borneo (Malay: Pulau Borneo, Indonesian: Kalimantan) is the third largest island in the world and is located in Southeast Asia. It is located in the center of Insulindia. Administratively, the island is divided between Brunei, Malaysia and Indonesia. Indonesians refer to the island in the Indonesian language as Kalimantan. However, for people outside of Indonesia, Kalimantan is the area that Indonesia occupies on the island of Borneo. The Malaysian region in Borneo is called East Malaysia or Malay Borneo. The independent nation of Brunei occupies the rest of the island. Brunei is the richest nation on the island.
At least 52 new species of animals and plants have been found in recent years in Borneo’s forests, with the total number of new species identified on the island being more than 400 since 1994, according to a report by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF ). These recent discoveries include 30 species of unique fish, two species of tree frogs, 16 species of ginger, three species of trees, and one species of plant with long leaves.
Requirements and conditions
Part 1
We will explore alongside locals who have spent most of their lives in the deep jungle and rivers of Borneo and who grew up in the fields learning the skills to be wildlife and cultural tour guides, people who have a deep knowledge of the land they inhabit. This expedition has been correctly designed to raise awareness about ecotourism, taking into account safety and the impact on the environment.
Día 1
At arrival, after a short 20 minute drive we will board a private boat on the Klotok River and we will be taken to register with the local police. The boat is a traditional wooden boat from the Klotok River, about 17m by 3m, with an upper deck from where you can see the rainforest as we move along the river. In the afternoon, we will explore the lazy river in Klotok while observing wildlife along the river bank such as long-nosed monkeys, long-tailed macaques, and birds.
Día 2
After breakfast, we board the klotok and cruise upriver to the orangutan rehabilitation center at lunchtime. Once the feeding time is over, we will continue sailing along a side stream where we will see the magnificent reflection of the riverside vegetation in the tea colored water. We may be lucky enough to see freshwater crocodiles and other wildlife attractions along the riverbank. We will visit a research center for orangutans and one of the places where the oldest orangutans are reintroduced into the jungle. We will take a short hike through the rainforest, looking for wildlife and tropical jungle plants. We then return to the boat for lunch, another visit for lunchtime at 02:00 PM, when the older rehab orangutans receive additional food. That night there is a night walk to observe nocturnal animals and look for the blowing mushroom (depending on the weather). If conditions allow we can see fireflies.
Día 3
We will sail along the river to visit the other orangutan rehabilitation camps arriving in time for the morning feeding of the rehabilitated orangutans. Then, we will stop downstream at a camp to see the forest rehabilitation project where we will learn about the reforestation project and the work they are doing to keep nature and wildlife safe. In the afternoon, we will visit the orangutan care center and see the afternoon feeding schedule. Then we will visit the small town near the national park and meet the locals.
Día 4
In the morning, right after breakfast, we will sail upriver back to visit a new camp where we can interact with orangutans who are more used to people. We will have the opportunity to interact with the resident orangutans and learn from the researchers working on this project. We will return to the airport to leave.
Part 2
This little paradise on the islands has been built in function and respect for the exuberant vegetation of the island, the constructions were carefully inserted in nature. The bungalows are built on the west side of the island on a white sand beach overlooking the lagoon. The restaurant and the dive center are located on the northeast side of the island. The heart of the island is made up of native vegetation and fascinating coral stone sculptures. The wooden jetty connects the island’s bungalows with the restaurant and the diving center. Ecological considerations greatly influenced the construction. The island has a SPA where various traditional massages are offered to relieve stress and fatigue, there is a special hot stone massage or other relaxing treatments.
The incredible virgin reefs of this area are right in front of the islands that we will explore, approximately 4 km long with multiple sites to explore. Due to the complexity of reaching this remote and little-known place, we will be one of the few divers who explore these reefs. The reef area is extremely healthy with more than 150 species of hard coral and almost a thousand species of fish where we can also see turtles, rays, sharks, jacks and many macro creatures, a paradise for photographers.
Most of our dives will be light to moderate downstream dives full of marine life around stunning coral gardens and walls. We also have the possibility to do day explorations to different sites around the atolls in the area where mantas can often be seen and we can visit a jellyfish lake. We have a huge environment where in addition to the usual macro life, we also have a great opportunity to see thresher sharks, mantas and other species of sharks.
Day 1
We arrive in the north of Borneo where we are taken from the airport to the pier where we will take a boat that takes about 3 hours to approach the Islands where we will spend the next 11 days. We will settle in, fill out forms and have our equipment ready for the next day to go diving.
Day 2 - 10
Our diving schedules for 3 dives per day are 08:30 am, 11.00am, 3:30 pm, we can also do some night dives. (The most remote dive sites may have an extra charge for fuel).
Day 11
We leave the islands until we arrive to an atoll where we will board a plane that will take us back to Borneo in order to leave on another flight to Jakarta.
Specifications
Included
- Flights Jakarta – Borneo – Jakarta.
- 4 Days – 3 Nights.
- Double occupancy accommodation.
- All meals.
- Borneo Airport Transfers.
- Activities inside the natural reserve.
- Boat expedition.
- Park Fees.
- Tour Guides.
- 10 nights and 11 days.
- One way transfer by boat from Borneo to the Celebes Sea.
- Flight from Celebes Sea – Borneo.
- Nitrox.
- Tanks and weights.
Not included
- The unspecified.
- Alcoholic drinks.
- Tips.
- Meals outside the natural reserve.
- Diving gear and equipment.
- Hotel nights the 4th, 8th and 19th.