Cruise through the tangle of Kalimantan’s wild jungles and lush rainforests as you search for orangutans in the heart of Indonesian Borneo.
This labyrinth of river systems is a trove for incredibly exotic and rare wildlife. Fringe the Tanjung Puting National Park as we visit Camp Leakey, home to the endangered orangutans, founded by primatologist Dr. Biruté Galdikas, a protégé of legendary paleontologist Louis Leakey in 1971. Visit the feeding stations in the forest at Camp Leakey as you learn the significant contribution this former research station has made to save the orangutan from extinction through rehabilitation and habitat preservation. With our unique access, you will encounter semi-wild orangutans.
Overnight in a local home of the Dayak tribe, a culture who traditionally live along the riverbanks. They live by complex religious practices which involve numerous local spirits and omen animals. Interacting with these local tribe’s people offers a rare opportunity of cultural exchange as you help increase their understanding of conservation as well as providing a platform for them to teach you about their ancient ways of life.
This is truly a journey of discovery, education and enrichment – perfect for those with a wild and generous heart!
Download this tour’s PDF brochure and start your planning offline!
Private Departures 
Welcome to Pangkalan Bun, the main entry point to central Kalimantan in Indonesian Borneo! Upon arrival at Pangkalan Bun Airport, our guide and driver will meet and transfer you to Kumai Port. At the port, board a local klotok boat for a scenic journey along the Kumai and Sekonyer Rivers.
Begin your cruise heading along the Kumai River. After approx. 20 minutes, enter the much smaller Sekonyer River, which marks the border of Tanjung Puting National Park. The lush vegetation along the river bank first consists of Nipa palm and is slowly replaced by Pandan trees. Lunch is served on board.
While cruising through Tanjung Puting National Park, take note of its variety of tropical animals. The area is renowned for its spectacular ecological and biological diversity, and contains mangrove swamps, rainforest and dense jungles filled with rare primates such as orangutans, proboscis monkeys and macaques.
Enjoy dinner this evening on board the boat surrounded by the beauty of nature. (L,D)
Overnight – Deluxe Houseboat
After breakfast on board the klotok boat, start cruising up the Sekonyer River towards Camp Leakey. The cruise turns off the Sekonyer River and enters a narrower branch of the river where the water changes colours. In addition to being a fascinating natural spectacle, this area is also full of wildlife. The guide will point out the various types of animals seen here; kingfishers, broadbills and hornbills are almost a guaranteed sighting!
Continue navigating for about two hours to reach Camp Leakey with lunch is served on board just before arriving. Housing the largest population of orangutans in the world, it is the most famous place for orangutan research. Over the years as many as 200 orangutans have been reintroduced to the wild here. Today, the camp only operates as a feeding platform, but orangutans are still fed and medically monitored by the local rangers. There are only three feeding platforms in Tanjung Puting providing supplementary food to the orangutans to limit their reliance on feeding and to encourage them to forage in the jungle.
Around 13:30, disembark at Camp Leakey for a 30-minute walk along a wooden platform. Continuing into the jungle there is a chance to spot gibbons, long tail macaque and wild pigs. Make it in time to a feeding platform (14:00) to witness the rangers offering bananas and other fruits to the orangutans. Sitting with the park rangers (10 meters from the feeding platform), enjoy the opportunity to get up close with these amazing animals. Return to the boat at around 16:00 and start cruising again.
At this time of the day, many proboscis monkeys, found only in Borneo, can be seen gathering in large groups around the banks of the river creating an excellent photo opportunity. There is also a chance to spot a few orangutans in this area as they come to pick up fruit from the pandan trees in the late afternoon.
Dinner is served onboard the boat. (B,L,D)
Overnight – Deluxe Houseboat
After breakfast on the boat, disembark for a 5 hour transfer by private car to Lopus Village. Tonight, you will be staying in a local house, where a spring bed will be provided. Please bring a small bag for your goods/clothes needed for this one night including a simple towel. Your main luggage will be dropped off at the hotel for the following day. Lunch will be served enroute at a local restaurant
Upon arrival in Lopus Village, enjoy sightseeing around the village. Your afternoon is free at leisure.
In the evening after dinner, you will be welcomed by the Dayak Tomun with their Bagondang ceremony. The Dayak are a tribe who worship nature. The ceremony includes beating of traditional drums where you will have the chance to dance with the Dayak people who also will serve you rice and wine often served in a horn. Enjoy the ceremony before returning back to the longhouse. (B,L,D)
Overnight – Local home
After breakfast, drive to Kudangan Village to see another longhouse and jurung (rice storage building).
After your visit, begin the five-hour drive back to Pangkalan Bun. Lunch is served en route at a local restaurant. Arrive in the late in the afternoon in Pangkalan Bun and check in to your hotel. Dinner tonight will be at a local restaurant. (B,L,D)
Overnight – Swissbel Hotel or similar
After breakfast at the hotel, enjoy the rest of the morning at leisure until it is time to transfer to Pangkalan Bun airport for your onward flight. (B)
Download this tour’s PDF brochure and start your planning offline!
Contact our team to learn more or subscribe to our newsletter to learn more about our upcoming tours.
**Please note that this tour can be organised on request for private departures.
* Pricing is subject to change at anytime until full payment has been received.
* A minimum of 2 adults is required to guarantee this departure.
A non-refundable deposit of $1000 AUD per person is required to secure your place. Final payment is due no later than 60 days prior to departure. Travel insurance is mandatory for travelling with Crooked Compass. For full terms and conditions, please click here.
Small group tours providing intimate connections to gain a deeper understanding and emotional connection to the community, tribes, cultures and lands explored.
Exploring the world’s most remote reaches and challenging destinations requires a high level of expertise which can only be learned from first-hand experience. We know because we go.
In an ever-changing global landscape of rules, regulations and restrictions, rest-assured you are being looked after by those in the know. Given the remote regions that we explore, our passengers safety is our top priority.
Stay up to date with the latest travel trends and new destinations opening up. To be the first to go, you need to be the first to know.
Travel professionals are welcome. For partnerships or agent enquiries, we recommend contacting us directly.
This category of tours involves light trekking, walking, cycling, rafting or kayaking for a few hours each day with a small amount of inclines and declines. You will require a reasonable level of fitness and good health to participate. It is important to note that due to the nature of some of our trips, they may take place in remote areas (with basic facilities) and can involve long travelling days on various modes of transport.
Suggested preparation : At least 3 months prior to departure, it is recommended that you undertake aerobic exercise (this may include jogging, cycling or fast walking) for 30 minutes, three times a week. It is also advised to walk on variable terrain and in variable weather conditions. For a cycling adventure, road cycling twice a week is recommended and for adventures which involve paddling and kayaking, it is important to gain confidence and rhythm rather than speed prior to departure.
This category of tours involve trekking, kayaking and cycling for period of 6 to 8 hours a day at a fairly consistent pace. Ideal for people looking to slightly increase the heart rate. For our moderately rated tours, you must have a good level of fitness and also be in good health. It is also important to be prepared for variable weather conditions. Altitude may also come into play. This category of tours may involve visiting remote areas where facilities can be quite basic. Accommodation may also involve camping, homestays or basic accommodation where facilities may not be considered of western standards. To enjoy this style of travel, it is suggested for travellers to have a reasonable level of fitness and health, a positive attitude, as well as a fairly active lifestyle. An open mind is also required.
Suggested preparation: At least 3 months prior to departure, it is recommended that you undertake 45mins – 1 hour of aerobic exercise, three to four times a week. Some potential exercises that could be beneficial include hill walking with a backpack on over variable terrain and weather conditions, as well as running and cycling dependent on the activity you plan on undertaking.
This category of tours involves trekking, kayaking, cycling or other adventure activities in remote areas for up to 8 to 10 hours a day. It is important to note that with the remoteness of some regions comes a variety of other challenges such as variable weather conditions, accommodation as well as facilities. You must have an excellent level of fitness and good health to be able to partake in this category of tour. You must have confidence in your own ability and be in good physical condition. Includes extended periods of endurance.
Suggested preparation: At least 3 to 4 months of strenuous exercise, four times a week. When preparing for treks it would be beneficial to participate in hill walks with a weighted day pack (approximately 5-8 kg) once a week for aerobic fitness and strengthening of leg muscles. It is also important to do this on variable terrain to prepare for challenging adventures. When preparing for cycling adventures, regular bike riding (at least 4 to 5 times a week for 1-4 hours is essential). It is also important to cycle on uneven surfaces or even participate in other aerobic exercises such as running or swimming to build up strength and stamina. Altitude may also be a factor in these tours.
This category of tour often involves extreme trekking, cycling or other extreme adventure activities. It is important to expect remote and poorly defined tracks and to be prepared for variable weather conditions for 10 to 12 hours per day (may sometimes be more depending on weather and altitude). These adventures are suitable for travellers who have prior experience in strenuous travel and activities, are extremely fit and have excellent health. It is also important to note that some of the terrain on these adventures will involve trekking in snow, at high attitude levels and may require technical equipment.
Suggested preparation: It is important to note that physical fitness should be an ongoing activity, commencing around 5-6 months prior to departure, or even before if you have no prior fitness. Exercise should focus on building maximum endurance and stamina. Four to five hard sessions of 40-60 mins per week should be completed and can include exercises such as going to the gym, running, swimming or cycling to focus on building aerobic stamina. It could also be beneficial to prepare by hiking on rough terrain, in extreme weather conditions or partake in altitude training.
Our Signature Tours are the cornerstone of the Crooked Compass journey: meticulously designed small-group itineraries that balance authenticity, comfort, and ease. These are destinations where travel can be complex—from navigating evolving logistics to reaching places far from the usual tourist path—yet our expertise ensures your experience feels smooth, effortless, and deeply rewarding.
From the moment you arrive, every detail is handled with care. You’re welcomed personally on arrival and met for a private transfer to your accommodation, where you’ll join the rest of your group. Your guide will walk you through an orientation, helping you understand the rhythm of the journey ahead and settling you in with clear, practical insights from the very start.
Accommodation is selected for both comfort and character, reflecting the richness of its locality through thoughtful design, creative ingenuity, and a genuine sense of place. Whether it’s a boutique property, a sustainable lodge or a homestay, each choice is made to connect you meaningfully with the destination.
Cultural integration sits at the heart of our approach. Every itinerary is crafted with respect for local communities, aligning sensitively with their values and protecting the authenticity of their culture. Through this, travellers experience a deeper connection —stories shared firsthand, traditions encountered in their true context, and moments that shift perspectives long after returning home.
With a maximum of 12 travellers and our most trusted local partners, you explore with confidence, guided by teams who combine deep regional knowledge with an intuitive understanding of Western traveller expectations. Through the powerful medium of storytelling, our journeys inspire personal reflection and spark genuine emotion, turning travel into something transformative.
For travellers seeking even more flexibility or personalisation, our Tours By Design journeys are crafted with the same care — mindfully designed around your interests for a more tailored experience.
Why travellers love our Signature Tours:
More about our Tour Styles.
Our Founders Tours are rare, one-of-a-kind journeys personally hosted by Crooked Compass founder, Lisa Pagotto. Designed for the traveller who seeks more than just adventure, these exclusive small-group expeditions uncover places few have ever seen – experiences not featured in our regular collection, chosen for their depth, beauty, and story.
Each itinerary is hand-crafted by Lisa to offer meaningful connection and unique access built through years of trust and collaboration with local communities. Travelling alongside her gives you an unparalleled perspective into the world of ethical exploration – from the behind-the-scenes partnerships that shape our journeys, to the human stories that inspire them.
With an intimate group size and seamless support from our expert team, a Founders Tour is less a trip, and more a masterclass in discovery.
Why travellers love Founders Tours:
More about our Tour Styles.
Set sail on a rare journey across remote islands, wild coastlines, and untouched ecosystems aboard a small, luxury expedition vessel. Travelling by sea unlocks access to places few travellers ever reach – from isolated villages and pristine reefs to dramatic landscapes that can’t be accessed by land – while each evening, you return to the comfort of your beautifully appointed cabin.
These voyages blend adventure with refinement. Expert-led excursions bring you face-to-face with raw nature and vibrant cultures, while exceptional onboard dining, service, and comfort allow time to unwind and reflect.
To complete your experience, Crooked Compass can seamlessly craft pre- or post-cruise land extensions, ensuring your journey flows effortlessly from sea to shore.
Why travellers love our Expedition Cruises:
More about out Tour Styles.
Our Tours by Design experiences are private journeys curated exclusively for you by the Crooked Compass team. Whether you’re drawn to one of our existing itineraries, wish to adapt a small-group tour for private travel, or want to design something entirely new, we’ll craft a journey that reflects your pace, passions, and sense of discovery.
Why pay for inclusions that don’t fit? With Tours by Design, every detail is intentional – from the destinations and experiences to your style of travel and choice of accommodation. Each itinerary is hand-built through our deep local partnerships and expertise, ensuring authenticity, comfort, and connection in every moment.
Why travellers love Tours by Design:
More about our Tour Styles.
Our Partner Tours are carefully chosen group journeys operated by our long-standing, in-country partners — experts who share our values of authenticity, cultural respect, and meaningful connection. These departures, averaging between 17 and 22 travellers, are designed and delivered by our partners, while Crooked Compass manages your booking and provides full support from start to finish.
Enjoy the reassurance of booking through an Australian-based company, delivering our same personalised service and attention to detail you expect from Crooked Compass. We take care of the logistics, so you can focus on what matters most – the journey itself.
Why travellers love our Partner Tours:
More about our Tour Styles.
Back to Asia
