The diverse indigenous peoples of Borneo's rivers and forests.
'Dayak' is a broad name for hundreds of indigenous groups in the interior of Borneo, including the Ngaju, Kenyah, Kayan and Iban. Many traditionally lived in longhouses along the rivers.
Dayak arts include intricate beadwork, carved shields, hornbill imagery and dances with long feathers.
Good to know
- Hundreds of distinct groups
- Longhouse traditions
- Hornbill as a sacred symbol
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Connected to Dayak Peoples
Where to experience itSee all in Kalimantan →
DestinationKalimantan
Tanjung Puting
Central Kalimantan
Drift upriver on a klotok boat to see orangutans in the Bornean rainforest.
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DestinationKalimantan
Derawan Islands
East Kalimantan
Green turtles, manta rays and a lake of stingless jellyfish off Borneo's east coast.
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Lake Toba
North Sumatra
The largest volcanic lake on Earth, with Samosir Island rising from its centre.
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Food to trySee all in Kalimantan →
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Soto Banjar
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Rendang
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Beef slow-cooked for hours in coconut milk and spices until dark, rich and tender.
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Nasi Padang
West Sumatra
Steamed rice with a table full of Minangkabau dishes — you pay for what you eat.
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Culture to understandSee all in Kalimantan →
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Wayang
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Shadow puppet theatre that has told epic stories through the night for more than a thousand years.
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Batik
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The wax-resist textile art whose patterns carry meaning, rank and regional identity.
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Gamelan
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Shimmering bronze ensembles of gongs and metallophones at the heart of Javanese and Balinese music.
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