East Kalimantan

East Kalimantan covers the northeastern part of Kalimantan (Borneo) in Indonesia. Administratively it consists of the provinces of East Kalimantan (Kalimantan Timur, Kaltim) and North Kalimantan (Kalimantan Utara, Kaltara). Best known for the beautiful beaches along its east coast, it stretches from the Celebes Sea near Malaysia into the Makassar Strait.

Understand

Geography

East Kalimantan is on Borneo, a large island shared with Malaysia and Brunei. In the east, it is separated from West Sulawesi and North Sulawesi by the wide Sulawesi/Makassar Strait.

People

East Kalimantan is one of Borneo's most sparsely populated regions. With a population of only 3 million people and a land area of 204,534 km2 (78,971 sq mi), the population density is only 17 inhabitants per km2. Most of the population are Javanese. The indigenous Kutai people traditionally inhabit the southern part of East Kalimantan. Another recognized minority is the Dayak people. In recent years, immigration, in particular from the other Indonesian province, has increased greatly.

East Kalimantan is formally an Islamic province.

Economy

East Kalimantan is the centre of Indonesia's timber, oil and gas industries. As you might guess, the stripped coastal areas are not a pretty sight, but the province's more interesting sights lie far upriver in areas untouched by the voracious logging machines.

Cities
  • 🌍 Samarinda – the capital city of East Kalimantan
  • 🌍 Balikpapan – the industrial, transportational, commercial, and financial center of Kalimantan (Indonesian Borneo)
  • 🌍 Bontang – an energy industrials city near Kutai National Park
  • Derawan – an offshore island with diving and marine attractions
  • 🌍 Nunukan – an inshore island and town in the far north of the region
  • 🌍 Tarakan – an inshore island and city in the northern part of the region

Other destinations
  • Apo Kayan - remote highland plateau inhabited by Dayak tribes
  • Labuan Cermin Lake - with layer of fresh water on top and salt water beneath.
  • Mancong and Tanjung Issui - these two villages are inhabited by Dayak Banuaq living in a long-house. Most visitors take a house boat on Mahakam River beginning from Loajanan, the area just before Samarinda City from Balikpapan.
  • Tering Village - further up Mahakam River, Tering Village where Dayak Tunjung and Kenyah with long ear woman are worth to visit. Next to Tering is Melak Village, the location of Black Orchid garden.

Get in
Orangutan in Kutai National Park

By plane

Balikpapan's Sepinggan International Airport (BPN IATA) has frequent flights from Jakarta, as well as commercial services from Surabaya, Banjarmasin, Tarakan, Palu, Makassar, Yogyakarta, Semarang and Denpasar, as well as numerous smaller airports in Kalimantan. There are also international flights from Singapore operated by SilkAir 6 times a week and from Kuala Lumpur operated by Air Asia 3 times a week.

  • 🌍 Kalimarau Airport (BEJ  IATA Berau Airport).  

By boat

You can access East Kalimantan province from Tawau in Malaysia. From Tawau there is a boat to Tarakan. From there another one to Nunukan in Berau district. You need a visa to enter Indonesia at that port (visa on arrival is not available) but there is an consulate in Tawau which seems to do visas quite quick.

Get around

See

Visiting Mahakam River hinterland and orangutan or exploring Kutai National Park are the best attractions.

Do

Diving

There is quite good diving on the east coast.

Eat

Drink

Stay safe

Go next

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