MERATUS MOUNTAINS FAMOUS JUNGLE TREK
Meratus Mountain lies from southern to the northern of South Borneo with the highest peak is on Mount Besar, the area is covered by lush tropical rainforest, rivers, mossy stones, and tremendous waterfall. The range is inhabited by the Bukit Dayak ethnic, most of them are still maintaining the ancestor belief and tradition, such as; nomadic farming, animals hunting, and ritual ceremonies as part of their lives. They are living on longhouses as the center of ritual ceremonies and community. The longhouse here is rather different with other longhouse in all places of Borneo; it is a rectangle building where sleeping rooms all over the building surrounding the communal veranda in the middle.
The Meratus mountains are home to the “Orang Gunung” or Mountain People, an ethnic group collectively referred to as the mountain Dayak. In times past the Dayaks lived a semi-nomadic lifestyle in small longhouse communities scattered throughout the ranges. They engaged in rotational farming, cultivating a wide range of crops including rice, candlenuts, nutmeg and cinnamon and collected forest products such as honey, bamboo and rattan which they traded with lowland and river Dayaks.
Loksado Village is the gateway to the Meratus Mountains and an excellent base for exploring the surrounding region. Nestled in a narrow valley among the trees alongside the Amandit River, a delightful gurgling river swathed with hanging bridges, the village is picture postcard perfect. It is surrounded by twenty-odd Dayak villages connected by well-worn paths perfect for trekking. Bamboo rafting, a long tradition among the mountain Dayaks, is a favorite activity among visitors and can be combined with trekking through the jungle, Dayak villages and waterfalls. If you’re not sure your backside can handle bumping over rapids whilst sitting on a bamboo bench, try rubber rafting instead.
Loksado located about 158km and 3.5 hours drive north of Banjarmasin, Loksado is easily accessible by private car or public transport. The village has clean but basic lodge or homestay accommodation. Evening meals are available from a couple of warungs and there is a little shop (toko) just across the hanging bridge opposite the lodge that sells snack-type food and a very small range of basic supplies.
If you’re planning on a homestay or doing any overnight trekking you’ll need to take a sleeping bag and we are combining your trek with rafting, be sure to place everything in plastic bags to keep it dry, even inside your pack. If you have one, a waterproof camera is a good idea for your bamboo raft ride.
Due to the multitude of tracks crisscrossing the Meraus Mountains, it’s very easy to get lost, so engaging a local guide is virtually essential, even if you’re only planning a short trek to one or two nearby villages
Various of interest :
Canal sightseeing, Lok Baintan floating market, Meratus Mountain crossing hills, forest, shifting cultivation, Sungai Karuh waterfall, while exploring vegetation and animals, Jumantir crossing dense primary forest, mossy trees and orchids, visit Haratai Waterfall, Cempaka traditional diamond digging. Bamboo Rafting Adventure, explore Riam Kanan Lake and Nagara.
Condition:
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- Grade : Medium
- Transport : Land transport, bamboo rafting and trekking.
- Accommodation : Local hotel, local house and bivouc.
- Meals : Full board meals during on the trip, exclude in hotel.
- Schedule : Available on requests.
