East Kalimantan's two main cities are a way into Borneo that needs no jungle expedition. Between them they hold a giant mosque by the Mahakam River, a water village built on stilts, an old sultan's palace, hand-woven sarongs, and orangutans and sun bears in forest that is regrowing.
Balikpapan's easy-going seafront promenade, where families stroll, kids play on the sand and food stalls open as the day cools. It is the simplest way to feel the city's relaxed, oil-port character after a day of travel.
Best time: Late afternoon into evening
Tip: This is a city beach for strolling and snacking rather than a swimming spot, so judge the water by what you see. Evenings and weekends are busiest.
A neighbourhood of wooden houses on stilts over the bay, linked by plank walkways, where daily life happens on the water. Colourful walkways, boats tied up at the doorstep and a view across the bay make it a favourite for photos.
Best time: Morning or late afternoon
Tip: People really live here, so keep your voice down, ask before photographing residents and stay on the walkways. Planks can be slippery after rain, so wear flat shoes with grip.
Mangrove areas on the edge of Balikpapan Bay, where raised wooden boardwalks lead you among the tangled roots. They protect the shoreline and shelter birds, crabs and, with luck, proboscis monkeys - the long-nosed monkey that lives only on Borneo.
Best time: Early morning or late afternoon
Tip: Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed. Go early or late when it is cooler, wear insect repellent and watch your step on wet boards. Which mangrove spots are open and how to enter varies, so check before you go.
A conservation area run by the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation, where former rainforest is being replanted. Rescued orangutans live on forest islands and sun bears have their own sanctuary - a chance to learn about Borneo's wildlife and how it is protected.
Best time: Morning
Tip: These are rescued animals, not a zoo: visits are set by the organisation and may need to be arranged in advance, with limited days and group sizes. Check the current visiting rules for your dates before planning around it.
A long, open beach on Balikpapan's eastern side with a wide sandy shore, shady trees and picnic spots. It feels more spacious and local than the city seafront, and fits a relaxed half-day.
Best time: Weekday mornings
Tip: Weekends and holidays get crowded with local families. Currents and waves can be strong, so check with staff or locals before swimming and keep children close.
One of the largest mosques on Borneo, with a grand dome and a very tall minaret beside the Mahakam River. The river is the heart of Samarinda, and the mosque is the city's best-known landmark.
Best time: Late afternoon, sunset
Tip: Visitors are welcome outside prayer times; dress modestly and remove shoes where asked. Whether the tower or inner halls are open to tourists changes, so check before you go.
Across the Mahakam lies Samarinda Seberang, an older quarter known for its hand-woven sarongs, a craft long tied to the Bugis community here. Visit a weaving house, watch the wooden looms at work and bring home a sarong as a souvenir.
Best time: Morning to early afternoon
Tip: Weaving is not always in progress when you arrive, so ask your hotel or a local guide to arrange a time. Check the quality and the price before buying, and be polite about photographing the weavers.
The riverside town that was the seat of the Kutai Kartanegara sultanate. The Mulawarman Museum, in the sultan's former palace building from the Dutch period, keeps royal heirlooms and tells the story of the old kingdom.
Best time: Morning
Tip: The Erau festival, a traditional Kutai ceremony, is held in Tenggarong every year, but the dates vary - check them for your trip. Museum opening days and any closures also change, so confirm them first.
A boat trip on the upper Mahakam to look for the pesut, the rare freshwater Irrawaddy dolphin, with a glimpse of riverside village life along the way. Seeing one is a special moment, but it is a matter of luck.
Best time: Morning
Tip: Sightings are not guaranteed and depend on water level and weather. Choose a boat operator that keeps its distance and a slow speed, and check the trip details for your dates. It is a long day, so start early.
Both cities are good for fresh seafood, especially crab and prawns, cooked simply or in rich sauces. Look for amplang, the crunchy fish crackers the region is known for, and for dishes from the Banjar and Bugis communities that live here.
Best time: Evening
Tip: Ask about the price before ordering seafood sold by weight. Most food is halal but some Chinese-run eateries serve pork, so ask first. Amplang makes an easy gift to bring home.
It is about 5 km in a straight line from Balikpapan & Samarinda.
It is about 106 km in a straight line from Balikpapan & Samarinda.
Taxi and scam advice for this country is on the Indonesia page
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
Driest months: Aug, Sep, Oct. Wettest months: Mar, Apr, Dec.
Prices here are about 29% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Balikpapan's Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman Sepinggan Airport (BPN) is the main gateway to the region, usually with the most flights, and Samarinda has a smaller airport (AAP) with fewer routes. Balikpapan and Samarinda are about 2-3 hours apart by road depending on traffic, so most travellers fly into Balikpapan and drive to Samarinda, or the other way round.
Borneo is hot, humid and green all year, and rain can come at any time. The months from roughly June to September are usually somewhat drier, which helps with boat trips, mangrove walks and forest visits. Plan outdoor sights for the morning or late afternoon and carry a light rain jacket.
Cover shoulders and knees at mosques and the palace museum, and ask before photographing people, especially in the water village and weaving houses. Keep your distance from wildlife, never feed it and follow rangers and boat crews. Most local food is halal and prayer rooms are easy to find, but some Chinese-run eateries serve pork, so ask first.
In both cities use ride-hailing apps or taxis for short hops. Samboja Lestari, Tenggarong and the Mahakam villages are spread out, and boat trips need advance arrangements, so a car with driver is the easiest way to combine them. The Derawan islands and the new Nusantara capital area are far from here and need their own trips.
112 - general emergency (free, works from any phone where the service is live). 110 - police. 118 / 119 - ambulance and medical emergency. 113 - fire. 115 - search and rescue (BASARNAS). English is understood in the main tourist areas; elsewhere ask your hotel to call for you.
Report a lost passport to the nearest police station (get the police report), then contact your embassy or consulate for an emergency travel document. Keep a photo of your passport in your e-mail or phone - it speeds everything up. The official embassy list linked here shows where to find your country's embassy or consulate.
Big cities and Bali have international-standard private hospitals (e.g. Siloam, BIMC in Bali, Mayapada, RS Pondok Indah in Jakarta). Public referral hospitals are cheaper but busier. Ask your hotel or travel insurer for the nearest suitable hospital.
local government
Helps with: Indonesia's national tourism ministry. Its contact page lists a call centre, a WhatsApp contact centre, an email address and its office in Jakarta for tourism enquiries.
Who qualifies: Anyone travelling in Indonesia or planning a trip there.
Phone: 021-3838000
Email: info@kemenpar.go.id
Address: Gedung Sapta Pesona, Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat No.17, Gambir, Jakarta Pusat, Jakarta 10110
un agency
Helps with: The UN migration agency, operating in Indonesia since 1979. It works with governments and partners on migration management and crisis response.
Who qualifies: Migrants, governments and partners working on migration. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.
Phone: +62 21 57951275
Email: iomjakarta@iom.int
Address: Sampoerna Strategic Square North Tower 10th Floor, Jl. Jend. Sudirman Kav 45-46, Jakarta 12930
ngo
Helps with: The ICRC says it works with the society on training first responders in pre-hospital care, reuniting separated families and emergency preparedness. No contact details are given, so use the society's website.
Who qualifies: The page does not say who can use it. It names the society as the ICRC's partner in Indonesia.