Borneo – Meratus Mountains and Merabu Village

Note upfront: This blog post will be a bit longer and filled with photos — we wanted to spend days deep in Borneo’s jungle, far off the tourist trails, wild and challenging. There were moments when we thought, “What the hell have we gotten ourselves into?” but in hindsight, the sweat and altitude fears faded away. Even the bite from a supposedly deadly snake on our guide’s shoe now makes us smile. The nature, wildlife, and the soundscape while wild camping — indescribable, a dance between fear and wonder. We chose two spots in eastern Borneo: Loksado and the Meratus Mountains in the southeast, and Merabu Village with its surrounding peaks in the northeast.

Loksado & Meratus Mountains:

An Adventure in the Forest

The Meratus Mountains tempted us with stunning limestone formations, densely wrapped in primary and secondary forest — our starting point was Loksado. Along the way, we passed tiny villages cut off from the world, accessible only by foot or motorcycle. Crossing rice fields, we ventured deeper into the jungle, early on greeted by a snake encounter that made us furrow our brows. Our goal: the Haratai waterfall, where we camped. With just a thin sleeping mat, the nights were tough, but the return journey on a homemade bamboo raft to Loksado was an adventure, rough and unforgettable. After three nights in the wild, the worn-down hotel felt like luxury — even the cold shower was a delight, a contrast between hardship and relief.

To be continued below…

001 borneo meratus mountains - Borneo – Meratus Mountains and Merabu Village

002 borneo meratus mountains - Borneo – Meratus Mountains and Merabu Village

003 borneo meratus mountains - Borneo – Meratus Mountains and Merabu Village

004 borneo meratus mountains - Borneo – Meratus Mountains and Merabu Village

005 borneo meratus mountains - Borneo – Meratus Mountains and Merabu Village

006 borneo meratus mountains - Borneo – Meratus Mountains and Merabu Village

007 borneo meratus mountains - Borneo – Meratus Mountains and Merabu Village

008 borneo meratus mountains - Borneo – Meratus Mountains and Merabu Village

009 borneo meratus mountains - Borneo – Meratus Mountains and Merabu Village

010 borneo meratus mountains - Borneo – Meratus Mountains and Merabu Village

011 borneo meratus mountains - Borneo – Meratus Mountains and Merabu Village

012 borneo meratus mountains - Borneo – Meratus Mountains and Merabu Village

013 borneo meratus mountains - Borneo – Meratus Mountains and Merabu Village

014 borneo meratus mountains - Borneo – Meratus Mountains and Merabu Village

015 borneo meratus mountains - Borneo – Meratus Mountains and Merabu Village

016 borneo meratus mountains - Borneo – Meratus Mountains and Merabu Village

017 borneo meratus mountains - Borneo – Meratus Mountains and Merabu Village

018 borneo meratus mountains - Borneo – Meratus Mountains and Merabu Village

019 borneo meratus mountains - Borneo – Meratus Mountains and Merabu Village

020 borneo meratus mountains - Borneo – Meratus Mountains and Merabu Village

021 borneo meratus mountains - Borneo – Meratus Mountains and Merabu Village

022 borneo meratus mountains - Borneo – Meratus Mountains and Merabu Village

023 borneo meratus mountains - Borneo – Meratus Mountains and Merabu Village

024 borneo meratus mountains - Borneo – Meratus Mountains and Merabu Village

025 borneo meratus mountains - Borneo – Meratus Mountains and Merabu Village

026 borneo meratus mountains - Borneo – Meratus Mountains and Merabu Village

027 borneo meratus mountains - Borneo – Meratus Mountains and Merabu Village

Merabu Village: At the End of the World

After two flights and five hours by car, we found ourselves at the edge of the world — Merabu, deep in the jungle of northeastern Borneo. The journey painted a sad picture: worn-out trucks laden with palm oil passed by. Merabu is surrounded by plantations, yet the village fights fiercely to protect its forest. They are aiming for UNESCO World Heritage status — a process that takes years — but in the meantime, they won special rights to govern over an area exceeding 8,000 hectares, a vast territory considering their commitment. Curious about this strength, we were warmly welcomed by the village, and soon after, our first hike began.

Our destination was a limestone cave filled with ancient cave paintings and even coffins — a striking contrast between past and mystery. The next day brought a greater challenge — a boat trip deep into the jungle, camping by a deep blue lake, swimming, and at 4 a.m., the climb to catch the sunrise. Man, that was sweat-inducing, but the view from the summit made every drop worthwhile! The drone footage crowned the experience — a final touch from above, raw and majestic.