Kapuas Hulu Rivers, West Kalimantan : Into The Dayak's Territory

Kapuas Hulu is a regency in the eastern part of West Kalimantan, where the upstream of Kapuas River, the longest river in Indonesia, is located. Creeks, like Utik and Embaloh, empty at the Kapuas River. Up the stream, these creeks directly border with the betung Kerihun National Park, not far from Putussibau, the Kapuas Hulu capital. Kapuas Hulu (Upper Kapuas River) is a regency of West Kalimantan, Indonesia. The region is the home to a diversity of indigenous groups, including the Iban and the Silat. Towns along the Kapuas River include Sintang, Nanga Lebang, Nanga Ketungau, Nanga Silat, Semitau, Nanga Bunut, and Putussibau. The population of the regency was 221,952 at the 2010 Census.


The climate is warm and very humid, with the average annual precipitation ranging from year to year between 2,863 and 5,517 mm, and the number of rainy days between 120 and 309; the largest precipitation was observed in 1976 (120 rainy days) and the wettest in 1988, with only 184 rainy days^. The temperature is rather stable with a typical minimum of 24 °C (75 °F) and maximum of 32 °C (90 °F) through the whole year.

With a boat we can move down to the creeks that go deeper into the forest. Along the way, well maintained longhouses of Dayak Tribe can be found on the riverside as well as in the Dayak Iban's and Dayak Embaloh's tourism village. To spend the night, visitors may stay at the camps in the National Park at the Embaloh river's upstream or at local villager's longhouses.

The best time to visit is either during the Dayak Iban's New Year on June 1 or during the fruit season between August and November when red-fleshed durian's grow aplenty. To reach Kapuas Hulu, visitors can take the one and a half hour flight using ATR 72, serving four daily flight from Pontianak to Putussibau. The upstream can be reached by car in two hours.