Muara Muntai is a village lying on the banks of the lower part of the Mahakam River, or the Lower Mahakam. It is situated in a stunning region between three large lakes.
This stretch of the river is particularly intriguing, not only because of the lakes, but because it is relatively accessible. The three lakes near to Muara Muntai are Lake (danao) Melintang, Lake Jempang and Lake Semayang. The small village of Melintang lies between Melintang and Semayang lakes.
Muara Muntai or Melintang makes for a good base for exploring the nearby tropical rainforest with its abundance of wildlife, while freshwater dolphins can often be seen in the lakes. Be sure to check out the fishermen’s houses on Lake Jempang and the buffalo pens on Lake Melintang. There are also many other beautiful lakes in this region.
Getting There & Away
The nearest major airport to Muara Muntai is Sepinggan International Airport in Balikpapan, although Samarinda Airport receives direct flights from Jakarta and Singapore and is better placed. Access to Muara Muntai from Samarinda is via the small town of Loa Janan, from where boats can be chartered for the 150km journey.