Samarinda, Indonesia Hotels, Vacations, Tourism

Some 120km north of Balikpapan, the tropical port town of SAMARINDA is 50km upstream from the sea, where the Sungai Mahakam is 1km wide and deep enough to be navigable by ocean-going ships. It has become increasingly prosperous since large-scale logging of Kalimantan Timur's interior began in the 1970s, its western riverfront abuzz with mills. There's not much to see here, but as the source of Sungai Mahakam ferries it's a good place to stock up for trips into Kalimantan's wilds. Hemmed in by hills, the bulk of Samarinda occupies the north bank of the Mahakam. Most services are near the river in the … more »