Tanjung Puting National Park

As this is a wildlife experience, we're extra careful. The first thing we looked for were hosts with good wildlife practices. We visited Tanjung Puting many times and spoke with conservationists to understand which hosts treat wildlife responsibly.

We also looked for houseboats that offered something more differentiated - whether that’s the itinerary, boat comfort, or giving back to conservation and local communities. The houseboats you see here are the ones we trust most in Tanjung Puting.

Choose based on comfort level, and your host.

• Comfort level: Most houseboats (klotoks) are basic, with fairly similar facilities. Only a few have air-conditioning.
• Host: The main thing to look at is the host - they shape the entire experience. Choose a host whose mission you connect with, whether that’s conservation, reforestation or supporting local communities.
• Activities: Boats usually visit the same orangutan sites, but some boats include extra activities like village visits or cooking.

Most visitors do a 3D2N river cruise, which is enough to visit the main orangutan feeding stations and experience the jungle. If you have time, we’d recommend 4D3N - it feels less rushed and gives you more time to cruise deeper along the river, spot wildlife and hear cute orangutan stories!

If you’d also like to visit a Dayak village, plan about 6 days to travel further upriver and spend time with the community.

Most trips can start the day you fly in and end on the day you fly out.

The dry season (June–September) is peak season here, with better weather and good wildlife spotting. If you go then, book your houseboat in advance!

If you want fewer crowds, try March–May. This is often fruiting season, when orangutans gather near the river to feed so it's easier to spot them!

The rainy season (December–February) can be very wet, but you can still see orangutans, and there are far fewer visitors.