Indonesia · Borneo · Palangka Raya · Kahayan River
8 guests · 4 cabins · Cabin from $1,270 / person · Private from $2,554 / day
A 72-foot traditional Kalimantan riverboat rebuilt by local craftsmen for the Kahayan River. Four ensuite cabins carry up to eight guests into Dayak villages and orangutan islands that sit well off the usual tourist track.
The Rahai'i Pangun is a 72 ft by 20 ft traditional Kalimantan riverboat, a bis air converted into a liveaboard for Central Kalimantan's jungle rivers. Master boat designers and local craftsmen set the lines. Four wood-lined cabins sit on the lower deck, each with air-conditioning, an ensuite bathroom and wall-to-wall windows. The upper deck is the living room of the ship: sofas, deck chairs and fusion Indonesian meals cooked from fresh local ingredients, with the forest moving past on both sides.
Cabins
Operator cabin notes sit below. Ensuite bathrooms and air-conditioning are standard on this riverboat.
Life onboard
Days balance wildlife and Dayak culture. Canoes reach Pulau Kaja, a Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation island. The Kahayan carries the boat past peat-swamp lakes, grey-sedge weaving cooperatives and villages that still keep painted sandungs. English-speaking guides stay with the group. Routes move with river levels.
How to book: charter or cabin
Rahai'i Pangun can be booked as a shared cabin sailing or as a private charter for the whole riverboat. Published cabin rates start at $1,270 per person, double occupancy. Private charter starts at $2,554 per day. Dates are confirmed on inquiry.
Day 1Meet in Palangka Raya. Canoe to Pulau Kaja to observe orangutans with the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation. Lunch, then Sigi sandungs and a village mushroom farm before boarding and mooring overnight.
Day 2Morning canoes on Lake Bagantung. Cruise to Tumbang Nusa for purun weaving, then past Selat and Badak Islands. Quiet overnight on the Kahayan.
Day 3Walk in Pilang for a tampung tawar welcome, kacapi music and rattan weaving. Lunch on board and return to Palangka Raya.
Day 1Pulau Kaja orangutans, Sigi and boarding downstream from Palangka Raya.
Day 2Lake Bagantung by canoe and Tumbang Nusa village livelihoods.
Day 3Pilang welcome, then upstream past the orangutan islands to Tanjung Pusaka for a village performance and rubber tapping.
Day 4Bereng Bengkel canoe yard and farms. Final cruise to Palangka Raya, arriving around 16:00.
Planning with us
Check the Availability for Rahai'i Pangun
Vhana is a full-service travel agency and part of Virtuoso Consortia. Send us your dates and the number of people. We then work directly with the boats for the best price guarantee.
Cabin tripsFrom $1,270 / person
Private charterFrom $2,554 / day
We work directly with the boats for the best price guarantee
We are a full-service agency and happy to customize your holiday
Cabin on a shared sailing or the whole riverboat on a private charter
All meals on board
Daily excursions as listed
English-speaking guide
Airport or hotel pickup in Palangka Raya as published
Exclusions
Flights to Palangka Raya
Gratuities
Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages
Travel insurance, visas and medical evacuation
Personal extras
Cabin rates
Published starting rates
Shared cabin rates are per person, double occupancy, from the operator. Private charter is the whole riverboat by the day. Flights sit outside. We reconfirm the figure before a deposit.
Cabin tripsFrom $1,270 / person
Private charterFrom $2,554 / day
Layout
Deck plan and details
Three levels on a converted bis air: cabins below, a wide viewing deck for meals and wildlife, and an open bow.
All decks
Upper deck
Dining, sofas and deck chairs with an open view of the river.
Bow terrace
The forward Superior Cabin opens onto a private terrace.
Cabin deck
Four ensuite cabins, wood-lined, with air-conditioning.
TypeKlotok riverboat
Guests8
Cabins4
EmbarkationPalangka Raya
Length72 ft
Questions
Rahai'i Pangun FAQ
Can I book a cabin instead of the whole ship?
Yes. Shared cabin sailings start at $1,270 per person, double occupancy. The whole riverboat is also available as a private charter from $2,554 per day.
How many guests sleep on Rahai'i Pangun?
Eight guests across 4 cabins: two Superior Cabins and two Double Cabins.
Where does she sail?
The Kahayan River from Palangka Raya in Central Kalimantan, with orangutan islands managed by the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation and Dayak villages along the route.
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