East-Borneo.NET :: The art, culture and knowledge of east borneo.

Located along Mahakam River, this Long Iram Subdistrict, has traditional and unique arts and handicrafts produced by the people of Dayak Bahau Tribe.

Facilities: traditional home stays called lamin.

Popular traditional ceremony: Lamelan Tenan, Laliqilgal, Hudoq Apah.

This place can be reached by river-boat (samarinda Tering). 

Located at Tenggarong, about 45 Km from samarinda and about 110 Km from balikpapan. This Museum was officially declared on November 25, 1971 by Governor of East Kalimantan (Bapak H.A. Wahab Syahranie), handed over the department of Education and Culture on February 18, 1976.

Collection: Jewelry of kutai Kingdom, ceramic from Hindu and Islam period old spears, gamelan, throne, world sweep cannon, and collection of Sultan bulungan, Sultan pasir, Sultan Sambaliung, and Sultan Gunung Tabur.

Open: daily: (Monday-Thursday: 08.00-14.00), (Friday: 08.00-11.00), (Sunday: 08.00-16.00).

Tenggarong, up the Mahakam river from samarinda, is the capital of the kutai regency and was once the seat of the Kutai sultanate. The Sultan's palace on the riverside is now a museum where the old royal paraphernalia are kept, as well as an excellent collection of antique Chinese ceramics. Dayak statues can be admired in the yard. A curious thing about the royal paraphernalia is that they display a strong resemblance with Java's court traditions.

Each year on 24 September, the former palace becomes a stage of dance and music performances given to celebrate the town's anniversary. 

These Villages are located along Wahau River, Muara Wahau Subdistrict. This Village becomes a Cultivated Village of Citizen Resettlement in 1974. the citizents are from Apo Kayan. This Village is rich with arts as well as handicraft, such as mandau (borneo sword), statue etc.

Facilities: traditional home stays (lamin)

This place can reached by boat river, from samarinda-Long Noran/Long Segar, until Wahau Subdistrict.

Located at Km 54 balikpapan-samarinda broad way, it is about 70.000 ha wide. This area was declared as the location of Research Forest by the Departement of Forestry. East Kalimantan, for provisioning the scare tress and the homoge of forest dweller. This location is good for camping and cross country.

Facilities: hall mess, office.

To get in this location, we must get the permission from the official at the location.

Kersik Luway is a desert in the heart of a dense, tropical forest.

The desert of Kersik Luway is located in the hinterland of East Kalimantan, in the heart of borneo. It is actually a plateau on the upper reaches of the Mahakam river, about 300 kilometres to the West of samarinda.

White soft sand covered by shrubs and tall grass. Clumps of trees with yellowish leaves blanketed in the afternoon mist. This is Kersik Luway Nature Reserve from a distance. Kersik Luway is similar to a green oasis in the middle of a desert, which could be found in Africa and in the Middle East. The most beautiful scene is the spread of natural and unique orchids grown under the clumps of trees. Kersik Luway is home to hundreds of East Kalimantan's wild orchids which are now on the verge extinction as forests succumb to deforestation and forest fires. As you enter the reserve you will be struck with amazement at its beauty.

Sanga-sanga is about 30 Km from samarinda. We can go there by land route. The taxi being one of historical town, this is popular with “Merah Putih” (red and white) Event (January 1947) marked by monument. This area also has on old oil refinery, inheritance of the Dutch.

Facilities: home stays, stalls, taxies, boats

Rukun Damai lies along Mahakam Rivers, Long Bangun Subdistrict. This village is settled by Dayak Kenyah Lepo Tau Tribe, coming from Apo Kayan. They live traditional life, living in long houses. The arts is still original, having characteristic of other Dayak Kenyah Tribe. This Village is settled by Dayak Bahau

Tribe, Dayak Penihing Tribe, consequently the culture is different from Dayak Tribe.

This Place can be reached by river boat (samarinda-Long Bangun-Ujuh Bilang) for 3 days.

Mencimay Village is located at Barong Tongkok and is the center of the art of Dayak Tunjung Tribe. There is a museum built by the people funded by a Japanese tourist.

Jantur Gemuruh water Fall is located about 10 Km from Mapan Village water fall is the temples, the inheritance of Hindu Kingdom, well know with Batu Begulur (Begulur Stone). This place also han an underground trall with stone layer 50 m long. This location needs to be explored by archeologist.