Must-see hotels in Kalimantan

  • Hotel Gran Senyiur

    Balikpapan

    Unique in Kalimantan, this old-world Asian luxury hotel proves to the younger generic business hotels that experience and wisdom count. Fine woodwork…

  • Bukit Raya Guesthouse

    Kalimantan

    A gorgeous palm- and tree-filled garden, spotless timber cabins with lofts and a rough-hewn treehouse make this one of Kalimantan's most inviting and…

  • Rimba Lodge

    Tanjung Puting National Park

    The only upmarket jungle resort near the park, Rimba is still pretty rustic for the price but manages to hit most of the ecoresort notes, with comfortable…

  • Nabucco Island Resort

    Kalimantan

    At the edge of the Maratua lagoon, this compact island dive resort packs plenty into a tiny manicured space. Surrounding a central common area, the…

  • Majid Hotel

    Kalimantan

    Across from the boat dock in Kumai, Majid Hotel has six small but very clean air-con rooms; the more expensive ones have hot water. Helpful English…

  • Kost Samarinda

    Kalimantan

    You can't beat the price at this excessively accommodating family guesthouse: a clean, cheap, friendly, no-frills place strategically located close to the…

  • Canopy Center Hostel

    Pontianak

    Pontianak's only traveller hostel, Canopy is a great place to hang out and meet other travellers. Downstairs is an architecturally designed coffee shop,…

  • Aston Samarinda

    Kalimantan

    Samarinda's best city-centre hotel is where you come for pampered luxury. The colonnaded pool with its two-storey waterfall may be ostentatious, but the…

  • Villa Bukit Mas

    West Kalimantan

    The most satisfying stay in Singkawang is at this sophisticated hillside hotel with wooden floors, private porches and a refined seclusion. The best rooms…

  • Rumah Kedaung

    Kalimantan

    Located in a quiet neighbourhood between the airport and Tanjung Redeb, this rustic guesthouse in a palm-filled garden is easily the most pleasant stay in…

  • Hotel SAS

    Kalimantan

    A delightful find off a quiet side street, this hotel is built around an imposing Banjar home with towering roof and central stairs. The 13 mandiangin …

  • Hotel Ibis Balikpapan

    Balikpapan

    One of Balikpapan's great bargains when you consider that you can use the considerable amenities (pool, gym) of the adjoining five-star Novotel. The cosy,…

  • My Home Hotel

    Pontianak

    This new budget-boutique hotel is an absolute steal, with midrange cleanliness and service, spring beds, spotless amenities, hot-water showers and good wi…

  • Wisma Duta

    Kalimantan

    This converted country home is a rare and welcome find. Rattan walls in the entry lounge are a nice touch, even when adorned with assorted glass armaments…

  • Virgin Cocoa

    Kalimantan

    Linked to Nunukan Island by a 1km-long boardwalk, Virgin Cocoa is Maratua's latest luxury offering. More a luxurious retreat than a dive resort, it has 18…

  • Swiss-Belhotel Danum

    Kalimantan

    This luxury property with resort intentions is the best in Palangka Raya, though it's 5km northwest of the centre (almost opposite the local nine-hole…

  • Mahkota Kayong Hotel

    West Kalimantan

    Built on piles over the water, this grand anomaly dwarfs everything in town except the adjacent mosque. It's often empty outside of weekends and…

  • Sangalaki Resort

    Kalimantan

    Reopened in 2017, this resort is a surprising find on an otherwise pristine marine-park island. It's still fairly low key with 14 standalone cottages …

  • Aston Pontianak

    Pontianak

    This central oasis of old-school luxury and sophisticated decor is a good deal at regularly discounted and weekend rates. Superiors are spacious, while…

  • Wisma Alya

    Kalimantan

    This two-storey guesthouse has just five bare wooden rooms and a fine balcony hanging over the rushing Sungai Amandit. Expect little more than a bed, a…

  • Maratua Paradise Resort

    Kalimantan

    Just south of the main village and jetty, Maratua Paradise is a popular choice for its beachfront and overwater villas – the only ones on the main island…

  • Mountain Meratus Resort

    Kalimantan

    Located 800m downriver from town, Mountain Meratus is Loksado's best accommodation, with a collection of well-crafted timber rooms with open-air stone…

  • La Pauta

    Kalimantan

    Beside the main jetty and with a relatively clean private beach, this is one of Derawan's best-value resorts, with well-designed timber rooms and cottages…

  • Nunukan Island Resort

    Kalimantan

    From the long jetty welcoming you across the 4km house reef, to the common areas hovering over razor-sharp limestone, there is nothing typical – and…

  • Kecubang Homestay

    West Kalimantan

    Warm, English-speaking hosts Yayat and Wenny make this the go-to homestay in Sedahan village. You'll get a thick mattress on the floor of a spare room,…

  • Arut Riverside Guesthouse

    Kalimantan

    Pangkalan Bun's most atmospheric backpacker stay consists of nine basic riverside rooms in converted shophouses, some on stilts over the water. Owner Ryan…

  • Green Nirvana

    Kalimantan

    Mainland Maratua's newest resort is a stylish collection of villas orbiting a pool and deck overlooking a gorgeous stretch of coast and a long pier. The…

  • Swiss-Belhotel Borneo

    Kalimantan

    The rooms at this midrange business hotel are all the same size. An upgrade in price gets you touches such as a river view and face towel. The executive…

  • Derawan Dive Resort

    Kalimantan

    The largest dive resort on Derawan, this well-run place has 27 cottages scattered around a private beach, along with a snaking jetty and overwater…

  • Maratua Guesthouse

    Kalimantan

    Nestled in a forest between the island's prettiest beach and an inland tidal pond, and with a house reef out front, this rustic place offers a commanding…

  • Aquarius Boutique Hotel

    Kalimantan

    A rooftop pool with a view. A 2nd-floor restaurant with a waterfall. A three-storey lounge, dance club and karaoke complex. This central four-star hotel…

  • Derawan Dive Lodge

    Kalimantan

    A small enclave of 10 comfortable, individually designed rooms, with a cosy outdoor cafe and private beach, at the west end of the island. If you want to…

  • Derawan Beach Cafe & Cottages

    Kalimantan

    Towards the end of the village strip, this group of waterfront cottages, including two premium overwater bungalows, boasts one of the longest jetties on…

  • Aston Balikpapan

    Balikpapan

    Geared towards families and long-stay residents looking for a bit of luxury, the spacious rooms have a kitchenette and dining table, though the design is…

  • Arsela Hotel

    Kalimantan

    This architecturally compelling building houses a main-street boutique hotel with lots of class. Rooms feature supercomfortable beds, wood accents, rattan…

  • Samboja Lodge

    Balikpapan

    This stunning jungle lodge at the Samboja Lestari orang-utan reserve offers an immersive experience. The lodge is designed and built using local material…

  • Penginapan Polewali

    Kalimantan

    This mountain lodge with traditional furnishings is the best hotel on the upper Mahakam and a breath of fresh air after the concrete boxes downriver…

  • My Home

    Balikpapan

    Optimistically billing itself as a boutique guesthouse, My Home has a good location near the Ruko Bandar restaurant strip. Rooms – like the guesthouse…

  • Hotel Mitra

    Kalimantan

    Clean, with friendly staff, Mitra is Berau's best budget choice with the feel of a large guesthouse. Staff are accustomed to dealing with foreigners,…

  • Hotel Monita

    Kalimantan

    Easily Melak's most comfortable hotel close to the river, but still about 1km uphill from the kapal biasa dock. It's popular with mining clients, but the…

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