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Plan your ultimate trip to Tanjung Puting National Park, Borneo’s most iconic orangutan sanctuary. Discover activities, costs, travel tips, and everything you need to visit with confidence.
If you’ve ever watchied orangutans swing through the jungle canopy in their natural habitat on the documentary video, Tanjung Puting National Park might be one of the location of the video.
This guide covers everything you need to know before visiting Tanjung Puting: what to expect, what to do, how much it costs, and how to get there without losing your mind (or your luggage) along the way.
Why Tanjung Puting Is the Ultimate Orangutan Destination
Tanjung Puting spans over 415,000 hectares of protected lowland tropical rainforest, peat swamp, and coastal forest along the southern coast of Borneo. It was declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1977 and has been one of Indonesia’s most celebrated national parks ever since.
What makes it special? The park is home to the world’s largest population of wild Bornean orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus), one of only two orangutan species on Earth and critically endangered. Beyond the orangutans, the park shelters proboscis monkeys, clouded leopards, sun bears, and over 200 bird species. Coming here means stepping into one of the richest ecosystems on the planet.
The park is also the base for the Orangutan Care Center and Quarantine (OCCQ) founded by Dr. Birutė Galdikas, a legendary primatologist who has studied orangutans here since 1971. Yes, that’s over 50 years.
Why Tanjung Puting Is the Ultimate Orangutan Destination
Klotok River Cruise
The signature way to explore Tanjung Puting is by klotok, a traditional two-deck wooden riverboat. You eat, sleep, and travel on this boat as it slowly moves through the Sekonyer River into the heart of the park.
Most tours last 3 to 4 days, giving you time to reach the deeper feeding stations and experience the rainforest at different times of day.
- You sleep on the upper deck under the stars (mosquito net included)
- Meals are prepared on board by your crew
- You stop at ranger stations for guided walks and wildlife viewing
Feeding Stations
Tanjung Puting has three main ranger stations where semi-wild orangutans come for supplementary feeding:
- Camp Leakey — The most famous and historically significant. Founded in 1971, this is where Dr. Galdikas’ research base is located. Feeding is at 2:00 PM daily.
- Pondok Tanggui — Morning feeding at 9:00 AM. Fewer crowds than Camp Leakey.
- Tanjung Harapan — The first stop for most klotok tours. Feeding at 9:00 AM.
At these stations, you might see orangutans descend from the trees for bananas and milk from the rangers (sometimes with babies clinging to their backs). Bring your camera, but leave the selfie stick behind. Park rules require you to stay at least five meters away from the orangutans, and rangers take this seriously.
Jungle Trekking
Between station visits, your guide can take you on walks through the forest. These trails give you a different perspective on the ecosystem — mossy forest floors, towering dipterocarp trees, and the occasional surprise encounter with a proboscis monkey (they look perpetually disappointed about something, which is relatable).
Nighttime Boat Cruises
After sunset, the Sekonyer River transforms. Crocodiles surface near the banks, fireflies light up the riverside vegetation, and the sounds of the jungle night fill the air. Many klotok tours include a short evening cruise — genuinely one of the most atmospheric experiences Tanjung Puting has to offer.
How Much Does It Cost?
Here’s an honest breakdown. Prices vary by season and operator, but these are solid estimates as of 2025:
Klotok Package (Per Person)
Package | USD | IDR |
Budget (shared boat, 3D/2N) | $150–$200 | Rp 2.4–3.2 juta |
Private boat (2-4 people 3D/2N) | $400–$600+ | Rp 4.5–7.0 juta+ |
Additional Fees
Item | USD | IDR |
Camera fee (DSLR/Mirrorless/handycam) | ~$5 | ~Rp 80.000 |
Commercial / professional camera / drone | Higher rate (varies) | |
Trip falls on a Sunday or national holiday | $2,75 – $5,50 | ~Rp 50.000–100.000/person |
High season (July–September) | Some operators add a seasonal surcharge | |
Most reputable klotok packages bundle park fees, meals, accommodation, and guide into one price. Always confirm what’s included before booking.
How to Get to Tanjung Puting
Getting here takes a bit of effort — but that’s part of the adventure.
Step 1 — Fly to Pangkalan Bun
The gateway city to Tanjung Puting is Pangkalan Bun, the capital of Kotawaringin Barat regency. You can reach it via domestic flight from:
- Jakarta (Soekarno-Hatta) — flights with Garuda, Batik Air, or Wings Air; ~1.5 hours; The cheapest tickets generally range between IDR 2,100,000 – IDR 3,300,000 ($116 – $182 USD) for a round-trip route.
- Surabaya — ~1 hour ; The cheapest tickets generally range between IDR 2,300,000 – IDR 3,900,000 ($127 – $215 USD) for a round-trip route.
Step 2 — Travel to Kumai Port
From Pangkalan Bun, take a short taxi or ojek (motorbike taxi) to Kumai, the port town where all klotok boats depart. The ride takes about 12 -30 minutes and costs around $8,80 (Rp 160.000). The orang utan trip cost may include pick-up costs from Pangkalan Bun Airport to Kumai Harbor.
Step 3 — Board Your Klotok
Most tour operators are based in Kumai and can arrange everything from here. If you haven’t booked in advance, there are operators at the port — though pre-booking, especially during peak season (June–September), is strongly recommended.
Best Time to Visit
Tanjung Puting is open year-round, but the dry season from May to September offers the best conditions. Rivers are easier to navigate, trails are less muddy, and orangutan sightings at feeding stations are more reliable.
The wet season (October–April) brings heavier rain and occasionally higher rivers, but visitor numbers drop significantly — which means fewer people at the feeding stations and a more intimate experience with the wildlife.
Practical Tips Before You Go
- Pack light. Klotok storage is limited. A soft duffel bag is easier than a hard-shell suitcase.
- Bring insect repellent. Lots of it. DEET-based formulas work best.
- No bright colors. Dark greens, browns, and neutrals help you blend into the forest environment — and won’t startle the wildlife.
- Cash is king. Card payments are limited in Kumai. Bring Indonesian rupiah in small denominations.
- Respect the rules. Don’t approach the orangutans, don’t feed them outside official stations, and if one approaches you — stay calm, don’t run, and let it pass
Tanjung Puting is the kind of place that stays with you long after you’ve left. The image of a wild orangutan watching you with intelligent, amber eyes from the riverbank — that doesn’t leave your memory quickly.
And if your trip to Indonesia sparks a deeper curiosity about the country, its culture, and its language, why not take that curiosity further? BASANTARA is an Indonesian language institution dedicated to helping learners — from complete beginners to advanced speakers — build real proficiency in Bahasa Indonesia. Whether you want to connect more meaningfully with the communities you visit, or you’re simply fascinated by one of the world’s most widely spoken languages, BASANTARA has a program for you.
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Indonesia is waiting. So is the language that unlocks it.
