BORNEO Kalimantan Jungle Trek This is an Open Challenge itinerary; you can take part on the dates shown and raise money for a charity of your choice. Itineraries for bespoke trips (run for sole charities) may differ slightly, and will have different dates and pricing schedules. Duration: 10 days / 9 nights Trip Grade: Tough Dates: 26 May 4 Jun 2012 10 Nov 19 Nov 2012 25 May 3 Jun 2013 9 Nov 18 Nov 2013 Payment Options: 2012 2013 Fundraising: Registration Fee Fundraising Target Self Payment: Registration Fee Trip Cost 3500 1400 3600 1440 Please note Registration Fee is in addition to Trip Cost / Fundraising Target The third-largest island in the world, Borneo is known for its vast tracts of ancient rainforest and high biodiversity, harbouring many endangered animals including the orang-utan. Indonesian Kalimantan occupies almost three-quarters of Borneo and is a land of mountains, thick jungle and rivers; its remoteness is legendary. track. We trek through dense, steamy jungle, surrounded by the incredibly atmospheric sounds made by a myriad of insects, animals such as gibbons, hornbills and tree frogs, and the all-pervasive dripping foliage. Staying in local Dayak villages, we gain a privileged insight into their ancient culture. You won t have many home comforts, but this is an unforgettable challenge in an untamed environment a true adventure in every sense. ITINERARY Day 1: Depart UK Day 2: Jakarta Banjarmasin On arrival in Jakarta, we clear immigration before transferring to our internal flight to Banjarmasin. After checking into the hotel there will be a full trip briefing when we ll meet our local guides. After dinner we ll need to pack our bags in preparation for our challenge! Night hotel. Day 3: Banjarmasin Tanhui Village Our challenging trek takes us truly off the beaten After a good breakfast, we load up the buses and transfer to our trekking area near Loksado, stopping on the way for lunch. In the afternoon we will trek for about four hours on a good path into the heart of the rainforest. Depending on time, there may be an opportunity to bathe in the local river. This will be our first night in the rainforest and you ll
be amazed at the volume of noise that the myriad animals and insects make, especially the tree frogs! Overnight local houses. Drive approx 4 hrs; trek approx 10-12km / 4 hrs Day 4: Village Dayak Longhouse Heading deeper into the rainforest, we soon leave the good paths behind us, following smaller, narrower paths through thick vegetation, with some steep sections up and down hills. You will soon get used to avoiding the trailing roots and vegetation as you negotiate the often-slippery paths! As the day goes on, the heat and humidity will increase with a good chance of an afternoon shower making the going even tougher. This will be the norm most days: you don t get to appreciate one of the most remote eco-systems on the planet without some discomfort! There are a few rivers and streams to cross throughout the day and, depending on how much rain has fallen, we may need to don our sandals and wade across. The final section is fairly even as we arrive into the Dayak community, where we re warmly welcomed by our hosts. Night traditional longhouse (basic facilities). Trek approx 15-17km / 8-9 hrs Day 5: Dayak Longhouse Homestay After a good breakfast, we pack up our kit and say goodbye to our wonderful hosts. Our day starts with a short walk along the valley floor; we then start to climb up the hillside before reaching a ridgeline which offers us magnificent views of the surrounding forest. We head along the ridge before dropping steeply down into the next valley and to a river. Our route follows the stream bed for a while before a steep climb takes us onto a tree-covered ridge and up to the hill summit. After a rest, we descend the far side of the hill and traverse another stream bed before climbing away from the river through bamboo forest. This is a tough day, but well worth the effort. There may be an opportunity to visit a waterfall for a swim in the afternoon, time dependent. The last 1½ hours are spent gradually ascending on easier paths to our night s stop. Night homestay. Day 6: Homestay Homestay After another night in the rainforest we head out for our last full day of trekking. Today is a day of two halves; the first a long, steady and sometimes steep ascent which allows us to appreciate the dense understory of the rainforest. It will take us approx four hours to reach the top of the ridge. From there we have a long, gradual descent towards Loksado. Towards the end of the day the forest thins out as human influences, in the form of farming, become more prevalent. The heat intensifies as we lose altitude, but the trekking becomes less challenging! Night homestay. Trek approx 20-22km / 8-10 hrs Day 7: Homestay Loksado Banjarmasin This morning sees a short trek to the finishing point of our challenge! After celebrating our massive achievement and taking some group photos, we load up onto the buses and transfer back to Banjarmasin and the luxury of a hotel shower! Tonight you re free to explore the city. Night hotel. (Dinner not included) Trek approx 4-5km / 1-2 hrs; drive approx 4 hrs Trek approx 13-14km / 7-8 hrs
All accommodation is included as well as all flights and transfers, internal air taxes, and all meals except 3 as specified in the itinerary. Experienced Discover Adventure leaders and doctor (depending on final group size) are also included, along with a local support crew of porters, guides, cooks and drivers. Day 8: Free day Banjarmasin For those of you able to face an early start, we have the wonderful opportunity to visit Banjarmasin s traditional floating market, which is where most local people buy goods such as fruit and vegetables. The market is very authentic and untouristed, and it s a real visual delight as well as a wonderful insight into local life on the waterways. The rest of the day is free to soak up the atmosphere of the waterways and stilted houses of this small river city. Night hotel. (Lunch and Dinner not included) Day 9: Depart Banjarmasin We fly via Jakarta and board our international flight home. Day 10: Arrive UK For details of our once-in-a-lifetime Orang-Utan Rehabilitation Extension trip (4 extra days), please contact us. Discover Adventure reserves the right to change the route or itinerary for safety reasons should local conditions dictate. GENERAL INFORMATION TOUR COST It does not include personal travel insurance, airline fuel supplement if charged by the airline, three meals as specified, tip for local crew or international departure tax. It also does not include any entrance fees to any optional sites or attractions. Costs in Borneo We recommend you budget for the following costs incountry: - Tips for Local Crew (see below): US$25-35 - Meals not included: US$25-35 - Indonesian entry visa (see below): 35 - Airport departure tax: Rp 150,000 (approx US$16) Remember to allow extra for drinks, souvenirs & other personal expenses. This recommendation is a guideline only. Please note that costs may fluctuate and we have no control over any changes. We strongly recommend you carry a credit card in case of personal emergency. FLIGHT INFORMATION Group flights leave from London Heathrow or Gatwick and are booked through Discover Adventure Ltd under ATOL licence 5636. By travelling with Discover Adventure you are protected by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). We are most likely to fly with Singapore or Malaysian Airlines; internal flights will most probably be with Garuda. However, we don t always use fly with the same airline so this is a guideline only. You will usually receive confirmed flight details several months before departure. Our itineraries are always based on current flight schedules and are therefore subject to change by the airline.
Connecting Flights If you book flights to Heathrow or Gatwick, it is your responsibility to allow plenty of time to connect to the group flight and to cope with any flight schedule changes. Please be aware that the best deals allow little flexibility if you need to change them. We regret that we are unable to book connecting flights for you. Transit Stops When booking group flights we endeavour to find the best flights that match our itinerary. There are often no direct flights to our destination, so do be prepared for transit stops: bring a good book or chat to your fellow trekkers! Airlines that offer direct flights rarely offer competitive rates for groups. Please remember that the main purpose of our trips is to raise money for charity! Flying Separately If you prefer to book your own flights please ask us for a land-only cost. You will be responsible for making your own arrangements for meeting the rest of the group, though we can advise you. We need to know if you do not require our group flight as early as possible; please complete the form in the information pack you ll be sent with your booking. ACCOMMODATION We stay in hotels, local village homestays and, for one night, a traditional Dayak longhouse. The hotel in Banjarmasin is 2-3* clean and comfortable with private facilities, but please do not expect the same standards as you would in a tourist hotel in the UK! On the trek facilities are basic as you would expect in the middle of a rainforest. This is not a tourist route; we stay in the very authentic homes of friendly local people. We will bed down side-by-side on the floor, usually in one large open room. Washing facilities are limited to natural water sources where available you will not be able to wash every night. This is a real cultural experience and is all part of the challenge! FOOD All food is included when trekking. The food is good and there is plenty of it. 3 meals as detailed in the itinerary are not included. Dietary Requirements Being vegetarian or having other dietary requirements is not usually a problem provided you let us know well in advance. Please do not expect as much variety as you would have access to at home we will be in rural areas and among people of a different culture who may not understand your requirements, however willing they are to help. If you know there are plenty of foods you cannot eat you may wish to bring extra snacks from home so you can top up your energy supply. Please feel free to ask us for advice. Other Meals Any meals not included are listed in the itinerary and are generally when we are in towns or cities and you are free to explore and try other culinary experiences! There is always something to suit every budget. ENJOY THE EXPERIENCE! For most people, the main attraction of travelling to a PASSPORT, VISA & VACCINATIONS different country is to see new sights and enjoy new experiences. Sometimes those new experiences can A valid ten-year passport is essential for travel in Borneo make life harder or more inconvenient than you may and must be valid for at least 6 months after entry into the like, such as toilet hygiene or different food, or simply a country. Visas are required for British passport-holders; different attitude to solving problems. This is all part of we recommend obtaining it in advance from the the challenge you are signing up for! Indonesian Embassy in London. Visas for UK passportholders, as well as some other nationalities, can be We are very privileged to live in a country with a high obtained upon arrival at Jakarta airport but queues are standard of living, and travelling exposes us to different notoriously long and challenges all of which help broaden our horizons. slow, and we do not We can guarantee that coming face-to-face with recommend you rely on experiences outside your normal comfort zone will help you bond with your fellow trekkers and provide Discover you with Adventure plenty Ltd of things Throope to laugh Down about! House A Blandford sense of Road Coombe Bissett Salisbury Wiltshire SP5 4LN humour and sense of adventure are two of the most important things to bring with you!
this option. Other nationalities should check with the embassy. We insist that you have had a tetanus injection in the last 10 years and highly recommend vaccination against hepatitis A, typhoid and polio. You will need a yellow fever vaccination certificate if coming from an infected area and we recommend malaria prophylaxis. You should always check with your GP or travel clinic for up-to-date travel health advice as it does change. TREKKING INFORMATION Terrain at any stage. Weather It will generally be hot and humid, day and night, though as you gain height in the mountains expect temperatures to cool, especially at night. Weather in Banjarmasin (average min-max temp) and approx rainfall (mm) per month: Feb / Mar 24-30 C 310 May / Jun 25-31 C 166 Nov 25-30 C 239 We follow some firm dirt or concrete paths, but the Clothing & Equipment majority of our trails in the rainforest are narrow and We are travelling through very remote regions, where we overgrown, on sticky clay or rock, both of which can get could be exposed to extremes of weather at any time. The very slippery. We also walk alongside or in stream-beds at information above gives you an idea of the climate, but be times, and will be crossing numerous watercourses. Some prepared for all weathers and temperatures. Weather crossings have bridges, varying from planks to wellconstructed conditions can change quickly. We provide you with a rope bridges. There are some very hilly detailed packing kit-list on registration, as well as details sections. It is hot and humid on useful discounts you are entitled to as a Discover trekking in the dense rainforest Adventure customer. We are always available if you need as little air comes through the advice. tree canopy. We are travelling through TRAINING WEEKENDS: 129 SPECIAL OFFER remote areas and whilst every Only when you book online at the same time as precaution is taken to ensure registering for your main challenge the safety of the group, please Discover Adventure Training Weekends in Snowdonia be aware that this is a remote National Park are designed to help you prepare for your and adventurous challenge. challenge. Whether you use the weekend to gauge your Trekking Distances fitness, get your training back on track, boost your You will trek approximately 70km on this trip overall. confidence, get advice or meet other trekkers, you re Because of the varied terrain and lack of accurate maps, bound to find it incredibly useful! it s impossible to give accurate daily distances. It s also much more useful when training to think about the hours For dates and further information see our brochure or you need to walk for it s your time spent trekking each website. day and the terrain that you need to focus on! Fitness Levels We are always happy to talk through the trip in more detail with you if you are worried about your fitness Our challenges attract people of all levels of experience and fitness, all ages and backgrounds. We expect all participants to train hard in advance to achieve this FITNESS WARNING: DESIGNED TO BE challenge, but we respect everyone s limits. We design CHALLENGING! our challenges so that everyone can go at their own pace: This trek is designed to be challenging for those of good this is not a race. health and fitness, and is achievable for most people For logistical and safety reasons we sometimes need to provided they train well in advance. We will supply you re-group, so the front-runners will find themselves waiting with a thorough training guide when you have registered. Training for the challenge is all part of the preparation Discover and requires Adventure commitment! Ltd Throope Without Down House it, you Blandford will find the Road Coombe Bissett Salisbury Wiltshire SP5 4LN Tel trek 01722 less 718444 enjoyable Fax 01722 and we 718445 want you info@discoveradventure.com to have the time www.discoveradventure.com of your life!
for the slower ones. Please relax, and remember that this is a team effort that enables people to achieve their personal goals and earn sponsorship. TRIP SUPPORT Discover Adventure Crew Your trip will be led by experienced Discover Adventure leaders. Our leaders are selected for their experience in harsh wilderness environments, knowledge of travel in remote areas, friendliness and approachability, sense of humour and ability to safely and effectively deal with any situation that arises. You are in very safe hands with a Discover Adventure leader. All our leaders are from the UK or other English-speaking countries. Most work for us on an ad-hoc basis and have real jobs in-between trips! We never send our leaders to the same destination for months on end we want them to be as enthusiastic about your trip as you are. Although our leaders are trained in expedition first-aid, they are accompanied by an expedition doctor or medic (dependent on group size), who is there to look after the well-being of the whole group and deal with any incidents. They help the leaders to ensure the trip runs smoothly and encourage you when things get tough. The number of crew looking after you will depend on the final size of your group, but an average-sized group in Borneo would be led by one or two leaders and a doctor. At Discover Adventure we pride ourselves on our high leader: trekker ratio and believe it leads to greater trip enjoyment as well as excellent trip safety. Local Support Crew Our local support crew is made up of local guides, porters, cooks and drivers. Your local guide knows the local area well, and is a great source of knowledge about local customs and lifestyles. Drivers, cooks and porters rarely speak more than a few words of English but are very friendly and approachable. The Discover Adventure crew work closely with the local crew to ensure your trip runs smoothly and safely. Tips for Local Crew Your leader will arrange a collection of tips for the local support crew at the end of your trek. Tipping is not obligatory, but once you see how hard they work on your behalf you will be happy to donate something! See Costs in Borneo above for a guideline amount; your leader will let you know if there is any change to this guideline. All our local crew are paid wages, but bear in mind that the average wage in this country is far below what you would spend on a normal night out. Luggage Vehicles take the group to the start of the trek and pick us up at the end. All luggage, food, water and equipment is carried by vehicles or boats. Space is limited and hard-sided luggage is not suitable, so it is essential that your kit is packed in a soft sailing bag, rucksack or expedition kitbag. Ask us about our specially-designed low-cost kitbags if you don t have one already. You should also bring a small daypack to carry for items needed during the day as you will not have access to your main luggage until the evening. Bags should be waterproofed or lined with plastic bags to protect the contents. Trip Safety Your safety, and that of the rest of the group, is our highest priority. Our trips are designed and planned with safety in mind. Your crew will be equipped with radios and emergency satellite phones, extensive medical kit and other safety apparatus where necessary. They always have access to our 24-hour emergency back-up in the UK. Our leaders are responsible for safety on the trip, and will make any changes to the itinerary they deem necessary should local conditions dictate. Pre-trip administration such as compulsory medical questionnaires and travel insurance is all done with your safety in mind.
WORLDWIDE SUSTAINABLE TOURISM Long before Responsible Tourism became a recognised phrase, we designed and ran our trips to ensure they made minimum impact on the environment and a positive impact on the local communities we pass through. AITO, our Trade Association, has recognised the work we do in this area and has awarded us 5 stars as a Responsible Tour Operator. Discover Adventure Projects We are supporting a tree-planting project in Peru and a children s home in Tanzania on a long-term basis. If you would like to give something back please consider donating 5 to our projects when you sign up. Please see our website for more details. Carbon Offsetting We encourage all our customers to offset emissions connected with their trip. You can offset at any time in the lead-up to departure by visiting Climate Care via our website and making a donation to a worthwhile project supported by them. Alternatively, if you wish to take more practical action in the UK you can volunteer for a day with BTCV and work on an environmental project local to you. Work may include construction footpaths, dry stone walling, creating wildlife habitats or planting trees in your community. Make your volunteer pledge by going to www.btcv.org/dapledge Please contact the Discover Adventure office with any queries, using the contact information at the foot of this page. Copyright Discover Adventure 2007 / Updated 2011