Derawan Islands is popular with its underwater world beauty and marine life such as whale shark, sea turtles, manta ray and also the stingless jellyfish.
Are you keen on joining this trip but you don’t have friends to go with? You can always check our group tour calendar.
You would prefer to go with your group of friends or on your preferred travel date? You can always request for a private tour.
INTRODUCTION
Kalimantan is the Indonesian portion of Borneo, comprising 73% of this lush, tropical island. In Indonesian, the term “Kalimantan” refers to the whole island of Borneo. Kalimantan is divided into five provinces: West, South, East, Central and North Kalimantan.
The Derawan Islands must be everyone’s dream of the perfect tropical paradise: warm, isolated islands with soft white sand beaches fringed with waving palm trees, pristine seas that change color from green to deep blue, and amazing underwater life of giant turtles, dolphins, manta rays, dugongs and barracudas, stingless jellyfish and sometimes, whales. Derawan is indeed one of the world’s richest areas in biodiversity.
Located just away from the mainland of East Kalimantan in the district of Berau, the Derawan archipelago comprises 31 islands, most well known among these are the islands of Derawan, Maratua, Sangalaki, and Kakaban. Here is Indonesia’s largest nesting site of the rare and endangered giant green turtles and hawksbill turtles, where one can daily watch turtles lay their eggs in the sand or swim to sea with the turtles. The entire marine conservancy region covers a total area of no less than1.27 million hectares.
Derawan is a fishing island about three hours by speedboat from Berau that has developed as a dive resort. Stilted guesthouses suspended over turquoise water, manta rays with seven-metre wingspans and friendly locals are all part of its charm: this is an island that time forgot.
Kakaban island is a large coral atoll in the Derawan Archipelago in the district of Berau, off the east coast of East Kalimantan, covering 774 hectares of uninhabited terrain. It’s most distinctive feature is a huge land-locked lake, which makes up almost two-thirds of the island. This brackish lake is alive with several species of endemic marine life, including millions of stingless jellyfish that only exist in one other place on the planet. The island is surrounded in a tangle of dense mangrove forests, right down to where the water meets the earth. There are very few sections of beach, as most of the Kakaban’s circumference ends in a rocky wall of sheer limestone cliffs, some sections dropping hundreds of feet to the choppy waves below.
This paradise island is situated within the fabled Coral Triangle, with all the richness and beauty within its exotic underwater landscapes that one would expect from such a location. Over 20 dive spots across the Island allow visitors the opportunity to immerse themselves amidst the bountiful treasures which lay tucked neatly beneath the sapphire waters. Maratua’s garden under the sea proudly exhibits an abundance of colorful coral reefs populated with a variety of species of fish, green turtles, manta rays and other marine life.
Unlike some of the other Derawan islands which are uninhabited, Maratua has a population of about 3,000 people and is divided into 4 villages, most of which come from the Bajo Tribes. The Bajo people, or Sea Gypsies as they have often been called, are a landless tribe that is sustained completely and exclusively by the ocean. But not only do they survive solely on marine resources—they actually live in the ocean as well. Entire villages are built on stilts and connected by wooden bridges over large expanses of coral reefs and rocks in the middle of the open sea.
Blowing winds, clean seawater, soft sands, warm sun, beautiful waves, coconut trees, and beautiful afternoons complete the excitement of your diving. Sangalaki‘s underwater scenery fascinates everyone who sees it. Manta Alfredi (Pari Hantu), which only exists in Derawan, Barracudas, Stingrays, giant squids, and starfish are only part of the underwater paradise of Sangalaki. There is a sea turtle conservation on the island, too!
Pulau Bawan, as the Orangutan Island in the Lesan River.
Dayak Kayan village, The Dayak arts of Benua Baru are extraordinary and vibrant designs, statutes and the characteristic flowing geometrical used in portraying scenes of jungle life comes from Chinese and Vietnamese Dong Son influences.
Kakaban island is part of the Derawan island, situated on the east side of Borneo. It’s a 774 hectares limestone island covered with dense jungle. It’s a protected and inhabited island.
Visit the green turtle hatchery, dive or snorkel into the seawater to admire the pristine coral reef, and swim with the magnificent manta rays.
Enjoy the underwater where many corals and fish are seen. Derawan is also a turtle’s heaven because we can spot them easily wherever we go around the island.
Manta rays swim freely around Sangalaki island within Derawan islands.
Witness with our own eyes the largest fish in the ocean.
The less popular area with hidden gems. One of them is the sea turtle point.
An island with a pristine beach and great snorkelling spots.
DAY 1: BERAU – MERASA(L,D)
Upon arrival at Berau airport, meeting service, and transfer by car/minibus for about 2 hours to Merasa village, possibility for sightseeing in village to explore traditional local live, evening free at own leisure, dinner at local restaurant, overnight at Guesthouse Merasa.
DAY 2: MERASA JUNGLE TREK – LESAN RIVER – BENUA BARU DAYAK VILLAGE – DERAWAN ISLANDS (B,L,D)
After breakfast at local guesthouse Merasa, we head up to the Lesan River to catch a motor-canoe upstream for about 2 hours. Enjoy the scenery of the river banks filled with tranquil greenery of lowland and towering dipterocarps trees which remark as the start of getting into the dark Borneo Jungle. During the cruise, we might spot various wildlife from otters, monkeys to birds species. We will visit Pulau Bawan as the Orangutan Island in the Lesan River, afterwards a short jungle trek, upon the field condition, possibility to the waterfall, old Dayak grave and limestone cave.
Late morning return by canoe to Merasa village to continue by car for about 1 hour to Benua Baru Dayak Kayan village. The Dayak arts of Benua Baru are extra ordinary and vibrant designs, statutes and the characteristic flowing geometrical used in portraying scenes of jungle life comes from Chinese and Vietnamese Dong Son influences. Woman with the Long Ears and tattoo’s can be found here as one of the last memorable Dayak Culture signs, in the rapidly changing Kalimantan development.
After that, lunch en route at local restaurant and continue our journey to Tanjung Batu Harbour to cross to Derawan Island. Check in. Free programme after that.
DAY 3: DERAWAN – MARATUA – KAKABAN (B,L,D)
Today we will go explore Maratua Island, one of the beautiful site is just right at Maratua Paradise Resort where the water is simply crystal clear. From there, we will continue to Kakaban Island for the stingless jellyfish lake.
DAY 4: DERAWAN – SANGALAKI – MANTA POINT – GUSUNG (B,L,D)
After breakfast, we will head to Sangalaki island to see the turtle conservation area. After that, we will go to Manta Point near to Sangalaki Island and stop by at Gusung Island sandbar that only emerge at low tide. Head back to Derawan after that.
DAY 5: DERAWAN – LABUAN CERMIN (B,L,D)
Set off early morning to the Whale shark point during their feeding time. We can watch or swim with them within safe distance. Whale shark is a gentle giant that feed on planktons. From there, we will have a break at Manimbora Island. Enjoy the island with white sandy beach. After that, we will go to Teluk Sulaiman. And if we are lucky, we will get to see many sea turtles swimming when we visit the sea turtle point. Then, we will go snorkeling at Pulau Kaniungan Besar and Kecil before heading back to Derawan.
DAY 6: DERAWAN – AIRPORT (B)
Check out and transfer back to Tanjong Batu Harbour by boat. Drop off at the airport.
• All land and sea transportation
• 5 nights accommodation
– 1 night at local guesthouse in Merasa Village
– 4 nights on Derawan Island (Derawan Dive Lodge or similar, twin-sharing)
• All permits and entrance fees
• Local Guide
• Meals as stated in the itinerary
• Snorkeling gear (advised to bring your own)
• Flights
• Travel insurance
• Optional tours or activities which are not stated in the itinerary
• Personal expenses
• Gratuity for guides
When you make a booking with us, you are deemed to understand our terms and conditions
The above departure and return information are tentative and it will be confirmed at the time of reservation.
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