Kalimantan Tourist Information and Tourism

(Kalimantan, Indonesia)



Often referred to as an island, Kalimantan is in fact the southerly Indonesian region of Borneo, which is actually the world's third-biggest island and also includes both East Malaysia and Brunei. Kalimantan occupies around two-thirds and is often described as being tropical and exotic, offering endless tourism, particularly along its coastline and top beach resorts, such as those around Mempawah, Nunukan, Pontianak and Singkawang.

Holiday makers regularly pass over Kalimantan in favour of more familiar tourist destinations in Indonesia, and as a result, the island's tall mountains, meandering rivers, lush forests and historical villages appear almost undiscovered and as virgin territory. Tourist information centres are usually easy to find around Kalimantan, being located in the main cities and towns, such as Balikpapan, Banjarbaru, Banjarmasin, Palangka Raya, Sambas and Singkawang.





Kalimantan Tourist Information and Tourism: Top Sights

There are endless highlights and tourist attractions spread around Kalimantan, many of which appeal to different types of visitor. Holiday makers often favour the coastline and isolated beaches located directly to the north of Pontianak, as well as the tropical islands surrounding Pulau Derawan. Others prefer to venture into South Kalimantan, spending time trekking around the Pegunungan Meratus mountains and sailing along the rivers around Loksado on simple bamboo rafts. Motorised river canoes (klotok) are the perfect way to explore the Tanjung Puting National Park, where you are quite likely to glimpse wild orangutans in their native habitat. Dawn canal trips around the energetic floating markets of Banjarmasin are also recommended to sightseers. More information about Kalimantan Tourist Attractions.

In West Kalimantan, the main landmarks tend to be based within Pontianak and include the Kadriyah Palace (Istana Kadriyah), the Abdurrakhman Mosque (Mesjid Abdurrakhman) and the Equatorial Obelisk (Tugu Khatulistiwa), the latter of which denotes the actual line of the planet's equator. Sights to see in South Kalimantan are in good supply around the sprawling city of Banjarmasin, where the Great Mosque of Sabilal Muhtadin (Masjid Raya Sabilal Muhtadin) is almost impossible to overlook. In East Kalimantan, both Berau and Samarinda contain additional mosques, such as the Agung Baitul Hikmah Mosque (Mesjid Agung Baitul Hikmah) in Berau and the Raya Darussalam Mosque (Mesjid Raya Darussalam) in Samarinda. More information about Kalimantan Landmarks and Monuments.

If your are searching for local information about Kalimantan, then the island's museums are sure to quench your thirst for knowledge. In the city of Palangka Raya, the insightful Museum Balanga is a real highlight and has a collection of Indonesian treasures, which relate to native cultures and ceremonies. Close to the Kutai National Park and within Tenggarong (east Kalimantan), the Mulawarman Museum celebrates all aspects of sultanate history and houses some exquisite regal paraphernalia. Further dependable museums await visitors in Banjarbaru, Banjarmasin, Berau and Pontianak, amongst other tourist destinations. More information about Kalimantan Museums.

If have time to partake in a spot of Indonesian island hopping, then Kalimantan really is surrounded by some interesting tourist destinations, particularly to the east, west and south. However, the distance that you will need to travel from Kalimantan is often a little prohibitive for ferries, meaning that planes are much more sensible, although more pricey. Popular excursions include the islands of Bali, Bangka, Belitung and Java, the latter of which is home to the Indonesian capital of Jakarta, as well as the cities of Bandung, Semarang, Solo (Surakarta), Surabaya, and Yogyakarta. More information about Kalimantan Attractions Nearby.

More Kalimantan Information / Fast Facts and Orientation