Review Author: Jialin

Review Date: 30 Jun 2025

Review Body: One of the best wildlife/nature trips I've done in Southeast Asia!! 12/10 experience. We went during end May and saw 40 orangutans in 4 days! As well as so much other wildlife like rare birds, proboscis monkeys, macaques. Our Seek Sophie guide Guh was the BEST - he was so knowledgable and could answer any questions that we threw at him, and of course, was so good at spotting wildlife. We learnt so many things during these 4 days - like how orangutans are actually solitary creatures, and have a complex social hierarchy. It was sooo interesting (and sometimes funny) to see it all play out - like watching a Nat Geo documentary live! Because we did a 4 day Seek Sophie slowboat instead of the usual 3 days, we were able to go to the feeding stations earlier (to get a good spot) and leave later (to have higher chances of spotting more wildlife). And we got super lucky on our last day - we spotted a huge male orangutan up in the trees while still on the boat! It was extra special because unlike the feeding platforms, sightings like this when you're on the boat are way less guaranteed. Besides spotting a ton of wildlife, we really enjoyed chilling on the boat. No motion sickness because the boat moves really slowly! And because there's no signal, it was a good time to disconnect and just enjoy nature. The boat is not fancy by any means, but it was decently comfortable. The toilet even had a rain shower. Food was also yummy. And the boat crew took the best care of us! Other things that we got to do like tree planting and canoeing down the river in a sampan (small wooden boat) was very peaceful. Appreciated that the tree planting here is legit and not greenwashing - they plant native trees to restore the orangutans' habitat and saw 8 orangutans come to feed in this area! Loved that this whole trip was done super ethically - no touching, feeding or getting close to orangutans. Just observing them in their natural habitat. And we learnt so much about the conservation efforts too. Pro-tip: the sun and mosquitos are relentless so make sure to cover up. I personally wore a sleeveless sports crop top + layered with a thin breathable long sleeve + covered pants + socks + shoes + wide bucket hat + polarised sunglasses.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Ky

Review Date: 26 Jul 2026

Review Body: This cruise was one of the highlights of our trip to Indonesia. We navigated on a small klotok that was absolutely clean and spotless, which isn't always the case on boats and was immensely appreciated. The boat was comfortable, with a clean shower (even the shower head was spotless!) and a cozy bed with a mosquito net on the upper deck. The crew was fantastic. The captain was very skilled, spotted animals along the way and was always smiling. His assistant was helpful and efficient and kept the boat in perfect condition. The cook, Ira, was very talented : we had some of the best food of our entire trip on board (special mention to the pandan cakes and the sweet potato fritters with brown sugar, which were unforgettable!). Our guide, Tiyo, was energetic, positive and incredibly knowledgeable. He could spot countless animals during the cruise and the different activities, was always enthusiastic and engaged, answered all our questions and did everything he could to help us whenever needed. He was also very patient with my fear of heights and my dislike of some of the bugs we encountered in the jungle :) We met many orangutans, including wild ones, and also saw crocodiles, proboscis monkeys, macaques, spiders, scorpions, snakes and even a tarsier. The evenings on board were peaceful and relaxing, and we loved watching the star-filled sky. The canoe ride through the jungle was absolutely beautiful, surrounded by the sounds of nature. We also took an evening stroll in a nearby village with Tiyo, which we really liked for its peaceful atmosphere. Planting a tree on the last day also felt like a meaningful way to end the experience. A huge thank you to Arif, the entire crew and Tiyo for this unforgettable adventure ! We wish you all the very best.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Tammy Ascher

Review Date: 25 Sep 2026

Review Body: My husband and I booked a private 4D/3N Klotok boat trip in Indonesian Borneo through Seek Sophie. They arranged our tour with Orangutan Applause and we explored Tanjung Puting National Park. This trip exceeded every expectation! The entire experience was seamlessly organized from booking, pickup, and drop-off thanks to Seek Sophie and Arif & Dessy! Life on the boat was exciting and comfortable. We saw an abundance of wildlife, including spectacular close-up views of orangutans at the feeding platforms (and the cutest babies), and also wild orangutans in the trees along the river (including an alpha male). We also saw countless Proboscis Monkeys and Long-tailed Macaques (they were very entertaining), a few crocodiles, snakes, lizards and a wide variety of birds. Our guide, Vera, was fantastic! She was knowledgeable, attentive, and passionate about the animals and forest conservation. Even though, as a wildlife guide she sees the animals daily, her enthusiasm remained high, and her excitement was contagious. She’s one of the best wildlife guides we’ve ever had! The boat crew was equally fantastic! Our captain, Ian (Eyon sp?) and deckhand, Danu kept us safe and always positioned the boat perfectly for wildlife viewing. Chef Lili prepared delicious local Indonesian meals. We especially loved the whole fish and pumpkin soup! There was literally more food than we could eat! This was truly an unforgettable trip! Thank you to the entire teams at Seek Sophie & Orangutan Applause for making our trip so special!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Erfy Arriany

Review Date: 30 Jun 2025

Review Body: When I decided to go on a 4D3N slow boat cruise through Tanjung Puting National Park, I honestly didn’t expect to fall in love with the place. It wasn’t the most comfortable or luxurious trip (we were sweating buckets most of the time, and even a cold towel felt like a five-star treat), but if you love disconnecting and being in nature, this trip is such a treat. And I really appreciated being off-grid - no signal, just the sounds of the jungle and the river! One of the biggest highlights for me was of course the orangutans. My last encounter with them was at the zoo. So to see them in the wild, where they truly belong, was surreal. You’re not guaranteed to see one of the dominant males, but when I saw King Roger calm, powerful, and completely at home in the trees — I was like… daaaamn. What a privilege it is to see him in his natural habitat. Honestly, the more time I spent in the park, the more I was reminded of how important it is to be mindful about the companies and organisations we support when it comes to eco-tourism. Coexisting means learning to respect space, set boundaries, and accept that animals deserve a home just like we do. And big shout out to the boat crew! Always making sure we were well-fed, and pampering us with little touches like cold wet towels and a bottle of Coke after our wildlife walks (which were very well needed and appreciated). It's those thoughtful details that really made the experience extra comfortable.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Yun Hua

Review Date: 30 Jun 2025

Review Body: I honestly didn't expect to enjoy this trip as much as I did, especially since it’s not usually the kind of adventure I’d go for, but I wanted to try something different. And it turned out to be such a great experience! My favourite parts were definitely the peaceful river cruises and just chilling on the boat. Tree planting was also a meaningful highlight - we even got to personalise and name our own tree, which was a nice touch. And of course, seeing wild orangutans and monkeys up close was super cool. You really feel like you're in their world. Sleeping on the boat was actually way better than I expected. It was cool at night, the mosquito nets worked well, and I managed to get good rest. I was pleasantly surprised food-wise. The meals were tasty and filling for a houseboat. Also, I usually get motion sickness pretty easily, but the boat was stable and moved slowly along the river, so it was very manageable. Our Seek Sophie guide was fantastic too — knowledgeable, friendly, and made the trip smooth from start to end. If you’re thinking of going, just be prepared that it’s a bit of a “roughing it out” kind of experience. No signal, cold water for showers, limited power for charging. Would also recommend bringing a small fan for the hikes. But if you're up for an adventure, it's well worth it. Definitely recommend!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Natasha & Alex

Review Date: 27 Sep 2026

Review Body: Amazing must do experience! We loved every minute of the trip! I booked and was worried about the comfort of the klotok and safety in the jungle, but everything was way above our expectations. The klotok was spotless, bathroom had everything we needed, shower is cool water and refreshing. Food is amazing and varied, our chef Tarmi is so talented. After excursions, we would come back to cold towels, cold cokes and snacks. The bed sheets we changed everyday. Sleeping was comfortable, not too hot and you’re covered with mosquito net. Our captain (Halim) stopped the boat multiple times when wildlife was spotted. Our guide Tiyo was very knowledgeable and fun. He also prioritized safety and was prepared when I wasn’t feeling well, even had an oxygen monitor on board to monitor vitals. Of course the wildlife was the star, it’s very special to see them in their natural habitat and see how much the locals care for them. There were active forest fires in the national park on our last night, the team kept us safe and handled it well. - Bring: bug spray, sunscreen, anti-nausea meds (boat rocks), travellers diarrhea meds - we went in September: very dry season, no need for leech socks or rain jacket because of el niño. guide said almost no malaria.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Lina

Review Date: 20 Apr 2025

Review Body: I have visited a few places around South East Asia where you can see orangutans (Leuser National Park in Sumatra, Kinabatangan River in Sabah and Semenggoh in Kuching) and this place by far was the most impressive in terms of abundance of wildlife. Not only did we see orangutans at the feeding platforms where it's a fairly high probability, but also loads along the river banks. In addition to orangutans we also saw loads of proboscis monkeys and macaques. Plenty of hornbills and kingfishers and even a quick glance of a crocodile. I would also highly recommend Dessy's and Arif's team for this trip as their company focuses on slow cruising letting visitors enjoy wildlife in their natural habitat. We ended up seeing more orangutans eating in the trees than we could count! We did get lucky with fruiting season as it was happening during our visit in mid April (but it can vary!) The guides are incredibly knowledgable, full of stories of the local orangutan lives and behaviours. The crew is super friendly and the food is very good! Do be prepared for the boat trip. Although relaxing, it is exposed to the elements so do bring bug spray, sun protection and change of clothes (for hot, wet and cooler weather). Highly highly recommend!!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Sean O’Reilly

Review Date: 01 Oct 2026

Review Body: This was one of the most incredible things I’ve ever experienced. We did 4D3N and expected it to be great, but it exceeded those expectations. We were greeted by our guide Uri at the airport who helped us into our taxi, and from that point forward everything was taken care of. They brought us to the boat where we met our crew and had a delicious breakfast waiting, showed us our bed and accommodations, then we set sail shortly after. Within the first day we saw many orangutans, monkeys, snakes, and bugs. That only continued throughout the next few days. The bed was comfortable, the boat was very well laid out for relaxation and sight seeing, and the food was phenomenal. Seriously it’s like we had a 5 star chef, we actually gained weight throughout the stay. A few recommendations if you choose this: - power banks for keeping electronics charged - binoculars (we used them so often) - strong bug spray - good hiking shoes and hat for protection - portable battery powered fan (it can get hot, you’re in the jungle after all) Overall this was a 10/10 experience and I will be recommending it to all of my friends family. Thank you Uri and crew for an amazing time.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Paula

Review Date: 20 Apr 2025

Review Body: What a beautiful experience!!! Can’t say enough about this trip. Communication with the owner and staff was second to none. We were treated meticulously from start to finish, picking us up at the airport at the beginning to personally taking us to our hotel on our return. Our guide Vera was so friendly and enthusiastic and so much fun by giving us her “fun facts on birds, crocodiles, primates and bird nest houses to mention a few. We learned so much not only about the orangutan but Indonesia and their culture. The food was some of the best we have had in the country and many courses and snacks. More than enough for us. The captain and his right hand managed the riverboat safe and smooth. Staff were always looking for wildlife to show us. They truly love their job and it shows! We saw wild orangutan not only at the feeding stations, went on a night walk which was amazing. The ranger was very kind and knowledgeable about the forest and its inhabitants. The bed on the boat was comfortable and the loungers worked great for spotting with our binoculars. Thanks so much to the owners for giving us the trip of a lifetime!! Mike & Paula from Canada.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Alex and Layla

Review Date: 28 Oct 2025

Review Body: An experience of a lifetime! We had the most amazing trip last week, we could not have asked for more. Our tour guide Teguh was brilliant - he was so knowledgeable and was always eager to share facts and stories about everything that we saw. The rest of the crew were also superb, the food was amazing, the boat was always clean and the captain was very good at stopping in the perfect spot to view wildlife along the river. The Seek Sophie reps that were there to greet us on arrival and wave us off at the end were very welcoming. The activities were nicely spread out across the 4 days so that there was plenty of time to relax and cruise along the river but also lots for us to do and see. We were super lucky with the wildlife that we saw and a lot of that was down to the crew spotting them from the boat - they are all so talented. The whole national park is set up with the welfare of the orangutans in mind and the tourism provides a large chunk of the funding for the national park. So there is no uneasy feelings about the animals, they are being really well looked after. 100% book this trip if you are having any doubts!!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Paul

Review Date: 17 Jul 2025

Review Body: We have just finished a 4d3n river boat tour with Orangutan Applause, which was incredible. We are a family of 4, 2 children aged 11 & 13, and were slightly worried how they would cope saying goodbye to creature comforts, but the boat was brand new, the food was excellent, and the crew did a fantastic job of making it as pleasant as possible! Our guide Guh was very impressive, with a high standard of English, his knowledge of the Orangutans was excellent, being able to identify all of them individually, but he also knew so much about the rainforest in general. Doing the 3 night tour meant we were able to take the trip at a relaxed pace, taking time to spot wildlife as we cruised up the river to the national park feeding stations, which felt like a real advantage. The night walk through the rainforest and canoeing down one of the tributaries were real highlights. The trip was very well organised, with the company being really helpful over some last-minute changes to our travel plans due to illness. I have only got good things to say about this trip, if you’re thinking of booking it, do it!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Paul Pan

Review Date: 30 Jun 2025

Review Body: This was an amazing and rewarding adventure that I thoroughly enjoyed. We were incredibly lucky with wildlife sightings — over 40 orangutans, including massive alpha males! Honestly felt like we were on a live David Attenborough episode. Big shoutout to our Seek Sophie guide, Guh, and the boat crew. They were such a huge part of what made the experience special. Super passionate, knowledgeable, and always went the extra mile. The food on the boat was another unexpected win — tasty and varied, especially considering it was all cooked on a tiny houseboat kitchen. And while the setup is definitely basic, sleeping on the boat was surprisingly comfy. Mosquitoes and flies were manageable (though there were quite a few flies during dinner at night which can't be avoided because you're in the wild) Canoeing into the quieter parts of the river was a peaceful highlight, and I’m so glad we ventured deeper into the national park — it felt like we were truly off the beaten path. My personal tip for photographers/videographers: charging ports are limited on the boat, so pack extra battery packs

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Peggy C

Review Date: 24 Sep 2025

Review Body: I absolutely loved this trip! Best part of my month-long visit to Indonesia. The guide and crew of the boat were fantastic - knowledgeable and helpful with everything. And the cook - best food I've had in a long time. Orangutan Applause runs a professional operation from start to finish - good communication about logistics and an amazing team for the trip itself. Seeing the orangutans at the feeding stations was amazing and my guide made sure we arrived in a timely way to see all the action. But we also saw totally wild orangutans from the boat as we cruised down the river, as well as proboscis monkeys and other wildlife. The guide and the crew were always looking and pointing them out to me. And just being on the river itself was amazing - I love being on the water and it was relaxing (even when we got a bit of rain). And I would 100% recommend doing the 4 day/3 night trip as you really get to relax and enjoy things, as well as spend more time on side excursions. Again, do not hesitate - book this trip today!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Håkon da Silva Hyldmo

Review Date: 23 May 2026

Review Body: We (family of seven with my parents 70 years old and children aged 9 - 16) had an absolutely amazing experience with Orangutan Applause. From the moment we were met at the airport by our lovely guide Vera, we were incredibly well taken care of and looked after. Vera was absolutely wonderful, kind, smart and extremely knowledgeable about the areas we visited, as was the rest of the crew on the boat. We had fantastic meals and everything about the trip was so well planned out. Seeing the orangutans at multiple sites, including completely wild orangutans, was great, but the real highlight for my family and I was to see all the wildlife along the route as we travelled along the rivers and canals, including multiple crocodiles, snakes, countless groups of different kinds of monkeys, and lots of birds, including the Rhinoceros Hornbill. We are so grateful for the experience - and I'd recommend the trip to everyone. (Attached photos are just a small part of everything we saw, copyright and photographer: Tor Hyldmo)

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Katie

Review Date: 20 Apr 2025

Review Body: Wow, simply wow. My husband and I had the most fabulous time on our 3D/2N tour with Dessy’s team. Everything was extremely professional, the boat was very comfortable, and the meals were so delicious. Even as a couple of city slickers from the US, this trip was a true highlight of not just our time in Indonesia, but in all of our 6 months in Asia. What made our time especially beautiful was our guide Alan, who brought so much knowledge, charisma, and passion every day. Alan always took care of us, lending us muck/rain boots when it down-poured, and his fans when it was especially buggy. He really made the trip memorable as he’s so much fun to be around and is always sharing information and context, which we noticed many other groups’ guides do not. The rest of the boat team were spectacular and we were so humbled by how special they always made us feel. We really felt like we picked the best tour group and we cannot recommend it enough. Thank you to the entire team for such a memorable life experience.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Juliet

Review Date: 29 Aug 2026

Review Body: Quite simply one of the best things I've ever done in my life! Our guide Pung was so knowledgeable and took time to explain all the different species to us. The food on the boat is plentiful, varied and so tasty. We tried such a range of bornean fruits! We were lucky to see 33 orangutans in total at 3 different feeding stations plus totally wild (hanging in the trees on the left side of the river where there's no human contact). On top of that we spotted a civet cat, mouse deer and tarantulas on our night walk. And during the boat tour we saw four different monkeys, over 20 different types of birds including kingfishers, rare herons, and hornbills. The boat is so comfortable and on the last night you see trees covered in fireflies, like they're literally up for Christmas. A dream come true. Thank you to all the boat staff for making this such a comfortable stay. If you're coming in summer remember sun cream and a hat.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Uta Musick

Review Date: 22 Sep 2025

Review Body: Diese Reise hat uns von der Begrüßung bis zur Verabschiedung total begeistert. Was wir gemeinsam mit dieser tollen herzlichen Crew erlebt haben, übertraf unsere Vorstellungen. Das Boot war sauber, das von Mamri in dieser primitiven Küche stand einer Sterneküche in nichts nach. Es war noch besser, da eine so fleissige Frau sie mit so viel Herzblut zubereitet hat. Der Captain war Weltklasse, wir hatten immer den besten Platz und sahen so viele Tiere. Die Crew war stets um unser Wohl bedacht und wir hatten viel Spaß miteinander. Wir haben uns einfach willkommen geheißen. Und nicht zuletzt unser Guide Gordon. Er wusste unheimlich viel obwohl er erst 27 Jahre jung war. Er war ein hervorragender Tier- u. Pflanzenbeobachter. Er sah und fand alles im noch so besten Versteck. Wer diese Reise nicht bucht, verpasst was in seinem Leben! Vielen Dank an alle, die dieses traumhafte Erlebnis für uns möglich gemacht haben 👏😍

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Henry

Review Date: 27 Jul 2026

Review Body: We had an absolutely amazing experience on the 4D3N Tanjung Puting tour and can't recommend it enough. The boat itself was clean and comfortable and we loved the views. The crew all went above and beyond to make sure we were well looked after and the canoeing and guided walks were really well organised. The food was amazing and the chef even made a special meal to celebrate my birthday. Our guide Husni was exceptional and explained so many things about the wildlife and Indonesian culture too. We were lucky to see so many orangutans as well as proboscis monkeys, snakes, birds and other wildlife. On our last day we had booked a later flight so we really appreciated being taken on a tour of the local sights and arranging a hotel for us to relax in. The excellent organisation, communication and extra details from the company were really appreciated too. An incredible, memorable and truly unique experience.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Kate

Review Date: 02 Jun 2026

Review Body: We loved this trip (May 2026, 4D3N). We saw 62 orangutans (mostly wild) and hundreds of monkeys. It’s definitely worth doing the longer trip as it allows for spontaneous wildlife spotting without rushing and spending more time at the feeding platforms. Don’t get an air conditioned boat because the generator goes all night and you don’t get to enjoy the best bits eg sounds of the jungle at night, dusk and dawn (and watching monkeys go to sleep/wake up). Our guide (Sam) was a fantastic, enthusiastic wildlife spotting expert and our cook Juriah was lovely - the healthy and fresh cooked food was a real highlight. We appreciated good communication with Arif before and after the trip too. On the last night we were no longer in the jungle but among Nipah palms at the park entrance and would have loved to spend one more night in the jungle proper.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Andy & Angela Ritchie

Review Date: 28 Apr 2026

Review Body: From the moment we stepped aboard Orangutan Applause till the moment we left, everything was just seamless. It was a true adventure. Our crew, especially our guide Husni, went over and above every minute of the day to make sure we had the most memorable time possible. If there was an opportunity to stop and see an animal in its natural habitat, the crew did everything possible for us to see it and stopped for extended periods of time until we were ready to leave. Time was never a constraint which we were extremely grateful for. We had many sightings of wildlife over the few days which was always exciting. The food on board was delicious and fresh with a variety of dishes to try. Our bed on deck was comfortable and the rain at night was not a problem. Thankyou Applause for one of the most memorable experiences possible!

Review rating: 5

Itinerary Day 1

Itinerary Summary: Wildlife cruise, orangutan feeding & night walk in Tanjung Puting National Park

Itinerary Description: 8:00AM Pick up from Airport and drive to the harbour in Kumai where the houseboats are docked 8:30AM Board the houseboat and set off for Tanjung Puting National Park and start the day with a satisfying breakfast 9:00AM Enter the national park area and cruise slowly through the national park, enjoying the wildlife along the way 12:00PM Lunch is served while you cruise, but also possible to anchor if time permits 1:30PM Dock at Tanjung Harapan, the first station with one of the feeding platforms and take a short walk through the jungle 2:00PM Arrive at the feeding platform and enjoy watching all the orangutans come out of the jungle to feast on fruits 4:30PM Head back to the houseboat and prepare for canoeing (a motorised long boat) 5:00-6:00PM River cruise, wildlife spotting, and sunset hunting 6:30-7:30PM Head back out into the forest to explore the critters of the night during a short night walk 7:30PM Dinner on the boat 8:30PM Relax for the night

Itinerary Day 2

Itinerary Summary: Cruise, short trek, Camp Leakey visit, and candlelit dinner on the houseboat

Itinerary Description: 8:00AM Breakfast is served while you start cruising down the river to watch for wildlife, today is all about taking it slow along the river 11:30AM Lunch is served along the river on the boat 12:30PM Arrive to Camp Leakey station and disembark to start a short, low intensity 5km trek, which takes about 1.5 hours 2:00PM Arrive at the Camp Leakey feeding station and observe the orangutans coming in for their lunch 3:00PM Head back to the houseboat and relax the rest of the evening on the boat as you cruise toward the docking spot for the night 5:00PM Arrive to the docking spot for the night, observe the environment around you 7:00PM Enjoy a candle lit dinner on the boat and unwind for the night

Itinerary Day 3

Itinerary Summary: Orangutan viewing, village visit, canoeing, wildlife cruise & sunset with fireflies spotting

Itinerary Description: 07:00AM Start the day with a delicious breakfast and start cruising 08:30AM Arrived in Pondok Tanggui and having a short jungle walk to Orangutan Observarion site 09.00-11:00AM Orangutan observation in Pondok Tanggui 11.00-12:00PM Having a short jungle walk and planting trees in Pondok Tanggui. Heading back to the boat for Lunch. 12.00-02.00PM Heading downstream to Sekonyer Village. Lunch is served while cruising down the river and looking for wildlife 02.00PM-03.00PM Visiting Sekonyer Village 03.00-05.00PM Canoeing into small inlet, a black water river sungai buluh sekonyer accompanied by local villager motorist 05.00-07.00PM River cruising, wildlife spotting, sunset hunting. Finding out of fireflies tree. 7:00PM Enjoy dinner and relax for the evening

Itinerary Day 4

Itinerary Summary: Early return to Kumai and depart for the airport

Itinerary Description: 5:00AM/6:00AM Arrive back to Kumai and head to the airport. Early breakfast is served while the boat cruising 5:30AM/6:30AM Arrive to the Iskander Airport Pangkalan Bun for your 7:30AM or 8:00AM flight