Travel to Kalimantan with travel insurance from Essential Travel

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Information on Kalimantan with travel insurance from Essential Travel

Travel to Kalimantan

The northern region of Borneo (Kalimantan), the worlds third largest island, includes the Malaysian states of Sarawak and Sabah, and the newly independent state of Brunei Darusalam. The rest of its landmass forms the part of Indonesia known as Kalimantan. Although its attractions are varied, Kalimantan is famous for its many different ethnic groups and the mystique of its jungles.

Getting there

There are flights from Malaysia to Indonesia’s Sepinggan Airport in Balikpapan twice a week. The airport, Borneo’s second busiest, also has three connections a week from Singapore and regular domestic flights from other Indonesian destinations such as Makasar, Denpasar, Semarang, and Jakarta.

Key Attractions

Borneo is one of the most bio-diverse places on earth and apart from Sumatra, it is the only place left where you can still find orang-utans in their natural habitat.

A highlight for most visitors is the mighty Mahakam River, which winds thousands of kilometres through one of the world’s largest tropical rainforests. The rainforests are home to the Dayak tribes, once feared as head-hunters, and the famous pods of freshwater dolphins that often accompany boats along the river.

Out and about

In central Kalimantan lies the Tanjung Putting National Park, 415 hectares of ecologically diverse wetlands, lowlands, swamps and hardwood rain forest. Banjarmasin, the capital city of South Kalimantan, is an attractive town with busy waterways laden with rice barges and sampans.

Leisure options

Popular activities in Kalimantan include guided river rafting trips and trekking in the rainforest. Make sure you know what you’re getting yourself into when you book one of these tours, some tourists have found them not to be for the weak hearted.

For those who would rather stay out of the jungle, Batu Payung beach in western Kalimantan boasts sandy, white beaches with good water sport activities. Kalimantan also has a few nearby islands only two or three hours by boat. They make ideal getaway spots if you are looking for peaceful paradise beaches.

Safety

Always be alert for pickpockets when travelling, especially at night and around busy areas. Jungle adventures, where the potential for illness or injury is greatly increased, may leave you with more than just happy memories. We strongly recommend you take out travel insurance for you and your family before visiting Borneo.

Weather

The best time to visit this fascinating island is during the months of September and March, where temperatures are much cooler around 27°C with pleasant sea breezes. Light clothing is advisable throughout the year, as its equatorial location means it can get quite hot and sweaty!

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