The Heart of the Jungle: Trekking Borneo

We arrived in Jakarta and made the 1-hour transfer to The Hermitage Hotel, a beautiful, historic-feeling property that felt like a calm oasis after a long travel day.

As the sun dipped, we met on the rooftop for sweeping sunset views over the city—a perfect introduction to Indonesia’s capital.

With the time change catching up to us, the rest of the night was intentionally slow. An early evening, good food, and some much-needed rest set us up for the days ahead.

Our free day in Jakarta gave us the chance to explore at an easy pace.

We started with the Wayang Puppet Museum, learning about Indonesia’s rich storytelling traditions and the cultural importance of these intricate puppets.

From there, we stopped by the Jakarta sign before heading to lunch at House of Tugu, where history, art, and cuisine come together beautifully.

Back at the hotel, a classic massage helped us fully reset before heading out for dinner.

That evening, we dined at Social House, a popular Jakarta hangout located near the mall—and “mall” doesn’t quite do it justice. It was massive, lively, and unlike anything we’d ever seen, offering a glimpse into modern Jakarta life.

Into the wild

An early morning flight took us from the city to Pangkalan Bun Airport in Borneo, followed by a transfer to Kumai. Along the way, we learned that Kumai is known for being the world’s largest producer of bird’s nest soup, spotting the distinctive sparrow houses used in its production.

From there, the adventure truly began. We boarded a klotok, a traditional riverboat, and met our guide and his family—who would be hosting us for the week. A 2-hour cruise carried us deep into the jungle to Rimba Lodge, an eco-lodge that balanced rustic charm with comforts like hot water and incredible meals.

Along the river, we spotted our first orangutan in the wild, far off in the trees. At the time, we had no idea just how close and personal the next few days would become.

Day four was the reason we came.

We set out early to see orangutans, and the jungle delivered in ways we couldn’t have imagined. Along the river, we encountered proboscis monkeys, instantly recognizable by their oversized, comical noses.

We visited both Pondok Tangy Camp and Camp Leakey, witnessing feeding times and learning how vital these camps are to conservation efforts. While food is offered, the orangutans remain fully wild and not dependent on humans.

Seeing them—babies clinging to their mothers, juveniles swinging overhead, and massive males moving effortlessly through the trees—was surreal. They ran, climbed, and played all around us, completely at ease. It was one of those rare travel days that leaves you quiet, humbled, and deeply grateful.

We returned to the lodge that evening for dinner, exhausted in the best possible way.

On our final morning, we checked out of the lodge and cruised the two hours back to the mainland. Even on the return journey, the jungle gave us a few parting gifts—more proboscis monkeys and additional orangutan sightings from the boat.

From there, we caught our onward flight, ready to continue exploring more of beautiful Indonesia—but carrying with us memories of the rainforest that will stay forever.

From rooftop sunsets and historic museums to drifting through jungle rivers and locking eyes with orangutans in the wild, this trip was a powerful reminder of how diverse and extraordinary our world truly is.

Indonesia didn’t just show us its beauty—it let us feel it.