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South
Kalimantan the Land of
the Thousand Rivers
Indonesia province South
Kalimantan is made up
by Meratus mountain ranges up to 2000 meters above sea level. The
Barito River
cascade down from the highlands, and is a crucial infrastructure
channel between the coast and the deep interior. The river highways
attract tourists who wants to travel into the jungle regions, and visit
the traditional living Banjarese tribes
Big and
small rivers, wide swamps and lowlands are
characteristic of this Indonesian southern Kalimantan province. Some of
those
rivers, such as the Barito, Martapura and Negara mark the boundary
between South Kalimantan and the neighboring province of Central
Kalimantan.
Banjarmasin
Banjarmasin is the capital of South Kalimantan province. The town lies
at the estuary of Barito and Martapura rivers, and inhabited by about
half a million people. It occupies an area of about 72 square
kilometers embracing four district: East Banjar, West Banjar, North
Banjar and South Banjar. The town has 50 villages.
The town has always lived in the shadow of the jungle, and most of the
daily activities take place along the river only. Up to the middle of
the 20th century few newcomers were willing to stay here. In the 1960s,
however, there was an influx of loggers, who came to top the riches of
surrounding forests.
This capital and gateway to South Kalimantan is rather unique in
several aspects. For one thing, it lies 0.16 meters below sea level.
During high tide, the sea water floods the surrounding marshes, and the
Barito river water becomes salty. In the dry season, when the river
water decrease, the wells and ponds are filled with sea water, and also
become salty.
The Barito river environment, however, gives this old town an appeal
that is all its own. Rivers surround it and bring life to the town. The
busiest trading centers are found in the center of the town, such as at
Pasar Baru, Kuripan Market and some modern markets such as the Antasari
Shopping Center.
Floating Market
The Floating Market of Banjarmasin is a traditional market at the
estuary of the Kuin river, a tributary of the Barito. From daybreak
boats come from villages around the rivers Tabuk, Jelapat, Anjir and
Selapat, bringing vegetables, fruits and other daily needs and
household utensils. Buyers and sellers come to the market in small
boats and close their transactions on the water. All daily needs can be
obtained at this market.
As the day proceeds, the atmosphere becomes more cheerful. The number
of buyers increase, and more boats gather. At a little past noon, the
market quietens down. The now empty boats leave. The number of buyers
dwindles, and finally everything is quiet again on the river. The best
time to see market in action is in the early morning, between 6 a.m and
7 a.m.
Pulau Kadap
Pulaukadap is swampy region grown with thousands of hectares of swamp
vegetation. This area is difficult to reach. It lies on the boundary
between the Tapin and Barito Kuala regencies, and may once have been
inhabited by Biaju people.
Barabai
Barabai is the capital of the Hulu sungai Tengah regency, located about
30 kilometers from Kandangan. The town is surrounded by green hills and
forests.
Marabahan
Marabahan is the capital of the Barito Kuala regency. This town lies at
the side of the Barito river and can be reached in four hours from
Banjarmasin.
Barito
The Barito is the longest river in South Kalimantan. Its length is 600
kilometers. at several places near the
estuary, the river is three kilometers wide and 10 to 30 meters deep.
Barambai
The water of Barito River is muddy because it carries silt and rubbish
from the hinterland. Flotsam is everywhere along the lower reaches of
the river. Barambai is a village of transmigrants, who till the
irrigated
rice fields that lie all around.
Beyond Marabahan, the Barito river splits into two branches one is a
tributary coming from Negara village, Amuntai and Tanjung. The other
branch comes from the west, and has its head waters near the Central
Kalimantan border.
DE'GIGANT
TOURS™
With the Kalimantan
Responsible Tourism Principe, We have a commitment
to Sustaining the exotic Rainforest Flora & Fauna of Borneo's
and indigenous Dayak culture, funding rehabilitation projects for
Orangutan, Fresh Water Dolphins, and other wild life of Kalimantan.
Save rivers clean water and Environment, develop environmental
awareness and educate locals, conservation groups and indigenous
communities to increase awareness and encourage protection of the
environment, wildlife and host cultures for Conservation and Tourism.
Each client who will do a reservation with us will plant a tree for
free, to help the re-forestation and protect the earth from the global
warnings.
De'gigant Tours™ as a Kalimantan Tour Operator in Indonesia,
is able to
serve your Holiday with Traveling Routes to the Deep interior of Mystic
Borneo /
Kalimantan Island, to make your vacation a real holiday, for
Backpackers till exclusive deluxe tour itineraries. From Jungle
trekking, of the beaten track forest trails, to Dayak indigenous
Culture, Adventure trips, River Cruise Safari, in area's as the
Apokayan, Kayan River, Mahakam River, Barito River, Rungan
River, Kahayan River, Katingan River, Kapuas River, Mount Meratus,
Kutai National Park, Samboja Sungai Wain Orangutan & Sun Bear
Reserve, Kayan
Mentarang Reserve, Tanjung Puting National Park, visit Camp Leakey
Orang Utan
Rehabilitation Center, Orangutan tours, Tangkiling National Park,
Gunung
Palung National Park, Danau Semantrum National Park, Kersik Luwai
Orchid Reserve, Diving at Derawan Islands, Longhouse Tours, Dayak
Hunting Tours, Mahakam Dolphin Tours, Safari tours to Sabah,
Sarawak etc, etc.
Also
Hotel bookings &
Reservation, Taxi / Car rental service, Boat
rental, Flight bookings and a lot more can be arranged. Our goal is to
make your experience at Borneo
as memorable, personal and amazing as your wish! We will always be
chasing
this aim, to change our programs in order to meet all of your
tourists / business needs, but we will never change our services!
Should you
have any questions or further queries, please don't
hesitate to contact our professional and friendly staff for your
questions.
We will give you the best quotation for the competition and we assure
you
that the extraordinary variety of tours, friendly service, attention to
detail and excellent value you have come to know and expect from
De'gigant Tours™,
Travel Service.
Group, Private Tailor Made, or Special Interest
Tour Programs
Our
Tailor
Made programs for the individual or small group size,
honeymoon trip, research expeditions, or film teams with special
interest can be made upon your wishes, all you have to do is sent us an
e-mail with your “detailed” request, and we will
make a program as personal and memorable for you, we will never change
our service as you can expect from us, and will always chaise this aim.
For Tailor made programs, special request, or private small group size
tours, please visit our Kalimantan Tourism
Destination Guide
site, or navigate direct for
more detail tour and travel information of a specific Kalimantan
destination at the left table (below) on this site, which can help
to create your own Kalimantan tour program. If you still have
questions, please don't hesitate to contact us, at the address as you
can find at the
bottom of this page.
Our
Regular Group Tour
Programs Covering Whole Indonesian Borneo.These
Programs are for the minimum group size of four (4) persons. The main
category of the Programs are Culture, Nature, and Adventure or a
combination of it. Our standard programs can be found at
Tour Programs
Site from where you
can choose a Kalimantan tour package or make
a combination of two or more Kalimantan packages. Our Kalimantan Tour
Packages covering whole Borneo.
For information
crossing the
borders between Sabah or Sarawak and
Indonesian Borneo, please see our Get There site
where you can find information on how
and where to
cross the border, or just sent us a request e-mail, we can help to
arrange itineraries and permits for crossing the Malaysian to
Indonesian border.
May our site be
helpful for
you, we couldn't tell and write you all
here, there is much more to explore, if you need more Information for
traveling at Kalimantan , we will help you to find the solution, as we
know that each traveler is different.
If you have any
inquiries or
questions,
please feel free to
contact
us
by Phone or M@il For more Information or a Reservation.
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Borneo Adventure