Borneo: Across the Wallace Line in 2012

Day 1 Tawau, Malaysia

Tawau is the third largest town of the state of Sabah. It is a relatively new town in Malaysia, boomed in early 1980s for its lumber and cocoa farming industry. Today Tawau is a bustling town where it is a transit point from the rest of the world and your welcome to your voyage.

Day 2 Pulau Derawan, Kalimantan

The Derawan Islands are located in a global biodiversity hotspot, featuring over 2,000 species of reef fishes and 507 reef building corals. There are two inhabited islands, namely Derawan (1 village of 1,259 people) and Maratua (4 villages of 2,704 people) with fishing as the main income generating activity for the community. We will visit the main island of Derawan.

After clearance procedures into Kalimantan from Sabah we will make our way to Derawan Island. Our Zodiacs will carry us up the river into Derawan Village where we will meet local guides who will show us insights into life on Derawan. In the late afternoon we will serve cocktails and canapes on the beach. All going to plan a local cultural performance will entertain us on the beach before sailing to the next islands.

Day 3 Pulau Kakaban & Sangalaki, Kalimantan

Kakaban and Sangalaki are both located just off the coast of the Kalimantan portion of the mainland of Borneo. Kakaban has an unusual lake filled with non-stinging jelly fish. As well as snorkelling in the amazing reef system you can also snorkel in the lake and observe the hundreds of unusual jelly fish. The ship will relocate over lunch to Sangalaki for more great in water experiences. Sangalaki has a large number of mantarays off shore and normally snorkelling with these magnificent creatures is possible.

Today will be split between the two islands with swimming and snorkeling available all day. Access to the lake on Kakaban for snorkeling with the jelly fish is possible, and the expedition team will coordinate trips to snorkel with the mantarays (where possible) off Sangalaki. Snorkeling for beginners to advanced is available today.

Optional Excursion: Sangalaki SCUBA Dive. Please contact us for rates.

Day 4 Sangatta River, Kalimantan

Many species of animals exist in this national park, such as orangutans, Proboscis Monkeys, deer, crocodiles and at least 300 bird species. The Kutai National Park extends over an area of 2,000 km², part of the former Kutai Game Reserve which has been protected since the 1970's. However this status did not prevent the logging of a third of the forest in subsequent years. In an attempt to prevent further deforestation the Kutai National Park was established in 1982. Nevertheless, the great Borneo fires of 1982/83 destroyed another 60% of the forest. Thus only 30% of the primary growth forest remains.

The principal vegetation types include coastal mangrove forest, freshwater swamp forest and kerangas forest. There have been 900 species of vegetation identified in the park. The park provides habitat to a wide range of mammals including orangutan, Malayan Sun Bear, Sambar deer, Banteng, Maroon Leaf Monkey, White-fronted Leaf Monkey, Hose's Leaf Monkey, Proboscis Monkey, Bornean Gibbon, Clouded Leopard, Black Flying Squirrel, Marbled Cat, Flat-headed Cat, Yellow-throated Marten, Otter Civet, and Smooth-coated Otter.

We will use the Sangatta River to access the National Park today. We will not be making landings today, but ample opportunity for watching primates and birdlife from our Zodiac fleet.

Day 5 Samboja, Kalimantan

The mighty Sungai Mahakam skirts Samarinda like a giant muddy flood. Here the river is a highway in its own right, peppered with houseboats and fishing vessels, boats lugging timber and tugs pulling demonic loads of coal. Along the banks, the city follows the water via a green esplanade, with two spectacular mosques dominating the view. Although it’s another important trading port, Samarinda has retained far more of its Indonesian character than Balikpapan, and visitors will get a dose of East Kalimantan culture in between the business blocks. Meandering through the stalls of the lively Citra Niaga market will fill the nostrils, ears and eyes with all the heady activity of Southeast Asia.

Day 6 Lampuko Mampie Wetlands, Sulawesi

The "Samboja Lestari Project", roughly translated as the "everlasting conservation project of the Samboja district" is a 2000ha reserve operated by BOS (Borneo Orangutan Survival) Indonesia. Since 2001, the once barren land has been planted with more than a million trees covering more than 1000 different species. With the growth in the forest, the density and diversity of wildlife has returned. So far 137 bird species and nine primate species have been recorded. Air temperature has fallen by 3 to 5 degrees centigrade, cloud cover increased by 12% and rainfall by 20-25% with the forest cooling the atmosphere and attracting rain clouds.

The Orangutan Reintroduction Project at Wanariset has now moved to Samboja Lestari with around 200 orangutans now living there. Several Forest Schools provide natural, educational playgrounds for the orangutans in which to learn forest skills before returning to cages to sleep at night. Samboja Lestari is also the home to 52 Malaysian sun bears.

Days 7-8 Pare Pare (for overnight land trip to Tana Toraja)

We will disembark the ship to travel inland to Tana Toraja, staying overnight in Rantepeo. With majestic panoramas, captivating villages and dramatic ceremonies, Tana Toraja is the undisputed highlight of any journey to Sulawesi. This unique culture, the scenic beauty, cool climate and gentle people are the main reason that Toraja is gaining popularity as a tourist destination.

Tana Toraja, often referred to as the "Land of the Heavenly Kings" is home to an ethnic group who believes that their forefathers descended from heaven onto a mountain some twenty generations ago. The Torajas have a unique culture based on animistic beliefs. Known for their grand burial ceremonies on cliffs or hanging graves, they practice an ancestral cult even today where death and afterlife ceremonies are great feasts when buffaloes are sacrificed in the final death ceremony, after which the deceased's remains are placed in a coffin and interred in caves hollowed out in high cliffs. The mouth of the cave is guarded by lifelike statues, looking out from a "balcony". "Tongkonan" (family houses) are built on stilts with roofs on each end rising like the prows of a ship, representing the cosmos.

We have two action packed days starting out from Pare Pare focussing on the area of Tana Toraja. We will use the two days to explore the history and culture of Tana Toraja and during dinner we will witness a special cultural performance.

Day 9 Makassar, Sulawesi

Makassar is the provincial capital of South Sulawesi and the largest city on the Island. From 1971 to 1999, the city was formally named Ujung Pandang, after a pre-colonial fort in the city, and the two names are often used interchangeably. Ujung Pandang had an important role as the gateway to the former kingdom of Gowa and now to the whole province because of its natural harbour. The most important landmark is ‘Ujung Pandang fortress’ that faces the sea front. One of the eleven fortresses of the kingdom built in 1545 during the reign of Tuni Pallanga, the 10th Gowa sultan. When Gowa capitulated to the colonial forces under the treaty of Bungaya in 1667, the fort was renamed Rotterdam by Admiral Spellman who constructed bastions and buildings of typical Dutch architecture making it the centre of the civilian government. You have the opportunity to visit fort Rotterdam, the state museum as well as experiencing the eclectic mix of cultures in this cosmopolitan city.

Day 10 At Sea

At Sea

Day 11 Benoa, Bali

The Indonesian island of Bali represents an oxymoron. The city center of Denpasar is crammed with hotels and tourist activity. It is renowned for its highly developed arts, including dance, sculpture, painting, leather, metalworking and music.

The countryside is picturesque incorporating rice paddies flooding the hillsides and volcanoes reaching to the skies. The rain-forests are lush and tropical, and the beaches are washed by the warm waters of the Indian Ocean. The island is home to the vast majority of Indonesia's small Hindu minority.