East Kalimantan

East Kalimantan (Kalimantan Timur, Kaltim) covers about 129,000 square kilometres of eastern Borneo. With about 3.8 million people, it is sparsely populated for its size but disproportionately important economically — it has been the largest coal-mining region in Indonesia for decades and now hosts Nusantara, the country's new national capital under construction since 2022. The province is also home to the Mahakam River basin and substantial Dayak communities (Kenyah, Bahau, Benuaq, Tunjung, Kutai).

Geography

The province has a long coastline on the Makassar Strait facing Sulawesi, with the Mahakam River draining a large inland basin. The interior rises into the Müller and Schwaner mountain ranges on the international border with Sarawak (Malaysia). Substantial offshore oil and gas production around the Mahakam delta.

Nusantara — the new capital

Indonesia's national capital is being relocated from Jakarta to a new planned city, Nusantara, in northern East Kalimantan (Penajam Paser Utara regency). Construction began in 2022. The initial phase (Phase 1A) was meant to be operational by 2024 with key government functions; the timeline has slipped.

The reasoning for the move:

• Jakarta is sinking (parts at 10 cm/year due to groundwater extraction)
• Jakarta is over-congested with massive air pollution
• Java holds 60% of Indonesia's population but only 7% of its land area; the move shifts the centre of gravity
• Kalimantan is central to the archipelago; symbolically and geographically important

The project has been controversial: cost overruns, environmental concerns (deforestation), uncertainty about international investment, and questions about whether civil servants will actually relocate. As of 2025-2026 the partial relocation is underway but not complete.

For visitors, Nusantara is not yet a substantial tourist destination — most of the area is construction zones.

Samarinda

The provincial capital (population about 800,000) sits on the Mahakam River. Working city: provincial government, university, and a major transit point for upriver Dayak country. Notable:

• Islamic Center Mosque: large central mosque, distinctive architecture
• Mahakam River cruises: from Samarinda upriver to Tenggarong (former Kutai sultanate capital), Kota Bangun, and beyond
• Mulawarman Museum in Tenggarong: the former Kutai sultanate palace, now a substantial regional museum

Balikpapan

Balikpapan (population about 700,000) is the oil town and major airport hub, on the south coast. Built around the Pertamina refinery and the Mahakam-area oil and gas industry. More expat-friendly than Samarinda due to the oil-industry presence. Notable:

• Beaches (Manggar, Lamaru): south of the city
• Mangrove tours at Margomulyo
• Sun bear sanctuary near the airport
• The expat-friendly restaurant scene along Klandasan and Sepinggan

Upriver Dayak country

The Mahakam River system gives access to substantial Dayak country in the interior. Multi-day trips upriver from Samarinda visit:

• Tenggarong: the former Kutai sultanate
• Kota Bangun, Muara Muntai: river towns
• Muara Pahu, Long Bagun, Long Pahangai, Long Apari: progressively further upriver, into traditional Dayak Kenyah and Bahau areas
• Mahakam Lakes: the inland lake system

These trips have become harder as the river infrastructure has changed — speedboat services have replaced some traditional river travel; roads now reach many places that used to be river-only.

Practical

• Airports: Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman Sepinggan International Airport (Balikpapan), Aji Pangeran Tumenggung Pranoto International Airport (Samarinda)
• Nusantara access: nearest airport is APT Pranoto in Samarinda or SAMS in Balikpapan
• Best time: dry season April-October
• Climate: hot, humid, equatorial
• Industry: substantial oil, gas, coal, and palm oil
• Cost level: higher than most Indonesian provinces due to oil-industry presence

East Kalimantan is changing rapidly as Nusantara grows. Currently it's a business-and-resources destination rather than a tourism one, but its profile is rising.