Tering, also known as Tring, lies on the middle section of the Mahakam River in southern East Kalimantan. Tering presents good access to the lowland rainforest of the region proper, along with its unique plants, animals and tribal people.
This area of the Mahakam River is much less touristy than that of the Lower Mahakam, although it also a lot tougher to get to, with boat travel being the main form of getting about. Many people arrive here on a multi-day boat tour from Samarinda.
Long Bagun is north of Tering and is the start of the Upper Mahakam, while Muara Pahu is southeast and is the end of the Lower Mahakam. Attractions within Tering include the many villages of the Dayak people and their interesting longhouses. If you are not on a tour staying in a houseboat then you’ll invariably end up in one of these communal houses.
Getting There & Away
It’s a two-day journey from Loa Janan (near Samarinda) by boat to Tering, or shorter if you take a bus to Tenggarong and then a boat from there. Samarinda receives flights from Jakarta (2 hours) as well as from Balikpapan, the main airport in East Kalimantan.
Things to Do
Tering Attractions
- Tering boating
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There are some fantastic sections of river between tering and long iram, with miles of trekking and hundreds of species of birds.
Side trips from Tering
- Kersik Luwai Reserve
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A nature forest that features the elusive black orchid.
- Eheng
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This small village near tering features a fine example of a traditional tunjung dayak longhouse that houses many families.