The appealing city of Samarinda, the capital of Indonesia’s East Kalimantan province in Borneo, will always be a fascinating place to experience. During your visit to this entrancing city, you will have the opportunity to enjoy stunning landscapes, a distinctive culture and delectable foods. Should you only have one weekend to experience this captivating destination, you could still visit many of its important attractions and some suggestions for making the most of your trip are provided below.

Image via Wikimedia Commons - Y. Bagus Raditya, Desa Budaya Pampang, CC BY-SA 4.0

You may commence your weekend in Samarinda by taking an enjoyable cruise on the Mahakam River. On your cruise at the time of sunrise, you will have the chance to experience the sight of the city coming to life in the morning from a marvellous vantage point. If you have a camera with you, you could capture the entrancing images of a myriad of interesting sights, such as traditional local floating markets, fisher folk in their sailing vessels and even perhaps the rarely spotted Irrawaddy dolphins.

After enjoying a hearty local breakfast, your next destination will be the enthralling Pampang Cultural Village. At this absorbing attraction, you could experience the way of life and the culture of the tribe known as Dayak Kenyah. Here, you could admire the traditional longhouses, observe elaborate beadwork and listen to the sounds of the local sape, which happens to be a traditional musical instrument. You will also have the opportunity to join the people of the tribe in their form of dance.

After the sun has set, you could take the chance to visit Pasar Malam, a vibrant night market. As you approach this market, you will notice the tantalizing aromas of freshly made pisang goreng (banana fritters) and grilled satay (skewered meats). At Pasar Malam, you may savour these culinary delights and converse with the good-natured vendors. In this way, you could sample the local foods and also gain an insight into the way of life of the people of the area.

Your first experience on your second day of exploring Samarinda would be to rise early and make your way to Bukit Soeharto to observe the stunning sunrise. The sight of the sun emerging over the forest’s lush canopy will undoubtedly be a spellbinding spectacle. Experiencing this moment of tranquillity is a marvellous way to commence a day of enjoying the local attractions.

In the afternoon, you may take the opportunity to visit the picturesque Lake Semayang which would be a wonderful place at which to enjoy some leisure time. You will have the chance to paddle a boat, go fishing or simply unwind amidst the appealing surroundings. Visiting this expansive lake will be a marvellous respite from the lively activity of the urban environment while providing the ideal chance to enjoy relaxation and recreation in equal measure.

If you want some retail therapy, a great way to conclude your weekend at Samarinda would be to visit the popular Samarinda Central Plaza, an attractive shopping mall. Here, you may browse through the fashion apparel and perhaps purchase some attractive mementoes of your visit to this locality. After strolling through the mall, you could also enjoy a movie at its cinema, a great way to end the day.

Keep in mind that if you really desire to do justice to the diverse attractions in Samarinda, you should undertake a more extensive stay. If you seek one of the top hotels in Samarinda for a quick getaway or longer stay, an accommodation choice to consider would be the centrally located Fox Lite Hotel Samarinda from which you can easily visit the above-mentioned mall as well. Of course, the eventful weekend described above would be a great introduction to this multi-faceted destination in Indonesia and is bound to make you want to visit again!