My partner and I travel a lot and despite the many amazing trips this had to compete with, this was hands down our favorite travel experience we've ever had and definitely the highlight of our monthlong trip to Indonesia. We saw too many Orangutans to count plus so many other types of wildlife. Aside from the wildlife, our crew was spectacular! My partner and I are still raving about some of the dishes Julia, our chef, prepared for us. We thought the food on the boat was amongst the best meals we had during our entire month long trip to Indonesia and we appreciated how accommodating the team was to our particular dietary restrictions. Augoos and JD, the deckhand and ship captain, guided the boat expertly, whenever we spotted wild orangutans on the river they'd skillfully rush to position the boat with the best possible viewpoint of the orangutans. Arif and Dessy, our trip organizers and the owners of Orangutan Applause, were so friendly and prepared and paid very close attention to our return travel logistics to ensure we made our return flights. Arif even met us at our boat launch to help us get oriented and was waiting for us when our boat returned, welcoming us back with a bag of treats. Best of all was our guide, Jeff, who we'd strongly suggest you request for your trip. Jeff is from a nearby village of just 200 people so he's intimately familiar with and deeply knowledgable about the nature you're exploring. He gives the perfect balance of providing information and context and letting you have a bit of time on your own to relax and take in the scenery. The boat itself was super comfortable, having seen a few other riverboat companies operating on the river, I definitely thought the boats from Orangutan Applause were the comfiest and best designed, especially because the boat we rode on had a roof deck with outstanding views and it seemed like most of the other companies' boats did not. All in all, I can't recommend this experience enough! If you're going to come all the way to Borneo to go on a river boat, Orangutan Applause is definitely the best tour company to go with!
We had a fantastic trip of 3 days and 2 nights, were in 3 camps to see the orangutans and sailed through the national park quietly. The guide, Jeffrey, spoke English like a native and the crew was very friendly. The food during the crossing was amazing. All very well organized, with airport pickup included. Recommended 100%.
Highlight of a one-month trip to Indonesia! My husband and I had the privilege of going on a 2 night, 3 day tour with Orangutan Applause on May 25-27, 2024. It was one of our the most amazing experiences of our lives and we were overwhelmed by the kindness, professionalism and service of the staff (a guide, captain, boat hand and cook). Dessy went above and beyond to help us adjust our plans after a flight cancellation (she was actually the one who notified us when my husband reached out to check in and she was incredibly helpful and accommodating and adjusted our dates so we could still fulfill our other itinerary of going to Mt. Bromo afterwards). Guh, our guide, was knowledgeable, conscientious and totally attentive - he scanned the riverbanks for monkeys and birds, showed us fireflies and even provided entertainment (played traditional guitar in Indigenous dress and provided an act that surprised and delighted us). Guh was our guide through the park and each station and ensured we had an amazing, personalized experience. His respect and reverence for the park and all its creatures was beautiful and enhanced our experience. Seeing so many orangutans in the wild, along with macaques and a gibbon was an incredible experience. We were amazed by the length of time we had to observe these beautiful creatures, and how many babies we saw. It totally exceeded our expectations and was more than we had hoped for. Guh is also an excellent photographer and took some great photos of us together which we really appreciate. The boat was lovely and comfortable and we were surprised to be the only 2 guests - we enjoyed the upper level of the boat with a comfortable bed (enclosed by mosquito net), table for 2 facing the front of the boat, an open area and 2 lounge chairs at the very front opening of the boat where we lounged in comfort. It was incredibly peaceful and beautiful and a totally unique experience. Ratna, the cook, is a talented chef and prepared delicious meals - each one was a feast with a great variety of delicious, beautifully presented, traditional foods, many of which we had not tasted before. The crew served our generous meals 3 times a day, including 2 candlelight dinners. They also thoughtfully provided cool cloths and ice-cold beverages when we returned from excursions into the park and in all ways, attended to our comfort. Orangutan Applause provided a one of a kind, totally unique experience of a lifetime. They adjusted the itinerary to ensure we could get back in time to catch our flight and everything worked out perfectly. We wholeheartedly recommend it and wish Orangutan Applause and Tanjung Puting National Park continued success in their important work. With heartfelt appreciation and gratitude, Michelle and Jan Jensen, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.