Balikpapan Walking Tour
Balikpapan, Indonesia
Why Walk Balikpapan
Balikpapan is East Kalimantan's main city, built on oil wealth and set on a hilly coastline overlooking the Makassar Strait. The city is the gateway to Samboja Lestari, a large orangutan and sun bear rescue center, and to the Derawan Islands, an archipelago with manta rays, whale sharks, and jellyfish lakes. The new Indonesian capital, Nusantara, is being built nearby.
Free Balikpapan Walking Tour with Roamee Pro
Roamee Pro offers a free Balikpapan walking tour with audio narration. Explore Samboja Lestari, Manggar Beach, Bekapai Monument, plus hidden gems like Derawan Islands and Nusantara (IKN), without booking a group tour.
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Must-See Stops in Balikpapan
- •Samboja Lestari — a Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation rescue center with orangutans and sun bears in forest enclosures
- •Manggar Beach — a long public beach on the city's eastern coast with seafood stalls
- •Bekapai Monument — the city's landmark, a replica offshore oil platform symbolizing Balikpapan's petroleum heritage
- •Bukit Bangkirai — a rainforest canopy walkway 58 meters above the forest floor in the Kutai area
Hidden Gems in Balikpapan
- •Derawan Islands — an archipelago offshore with manta rays, sea turtles, and a lake filled with non-stinging jellyfish
- •Nusantara (IKN) — the construction site of Indonesia's new capital city, visible on tours from Balikpapan
Walking Tip
Samboja Lestari is a half-day trip. Derawan Islands require a boat journey — plan at least two nights. The canopy walkway at Bukit Bangkirai is not for those with vertigo.
Best Time to Visit
March through October for drier weather. Derawan diving is best April through September.
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