Nusantara, Indonesia’s new capital under construction in East Kalimantan on the island of Borneo, has begun welcoming a limited number of eco-tourists as part of a deliberate effort to position the city as a model for sustainable urban development and nature-integrated travel.
The Nusantara Capital Authority launched its first structured visitor programme earlier this year, offering guided tours that combine access to the construction zone - where the government superblock, botanical gardens, and initial residential precincts are taking shape - with excursions into the surrounding rainforest, one of the most biologically diverse landscapes on earth.
What the Nusantara Visit Looks Like
The current tourism offer is centred on two distinct elements: the smart city experience, which takes visitors through the architectural vision and sustainability systems being built into the city’s infrastructure; and the forest experience, which uses the city’s green buffer zones and neighbouring Bukit Soeharto Nature Reserve as the setting for guided walks, wildlife spotting, and river boat trips.
Proboscis monkeys - an endemic Bornean species - have been spotted in forest areas adjacent to the development zone. The Mahakam River, one of Borneo’s largest, runs within reach of the capital area and provides access to freshwater river ecosystems distinct from the marine environments more typically associated with Indonesian tourism.
Electric bus tours connect the city core with forest access points. The visitor numbers are currently restricted to avoid overwhelming the early-stage infrastructure, with most tour slots pre-bookable online through the Nusantara Authority platform.
Who Is Visiting
Regional visitors from Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and other ASEAN countries have made up the majority of early arrivals. The proximity - a two-hour flight from Singapore or Kuala Lumpur to Balikpapan, followed by a land transfer to the capital zone - makes Nusantara accessible for short regional breaks in a way that would not apply to long-haul travellers.
For international visitors already planning time in Kalimantan, Nusantara adds a new dimension to itineraries that would previously have focused primarily on orangutan rehabilitation centres at Sepilok or river expeditions from Samarinda. The capital’s proximity to Balikpapan - where flights connect from Bali, Jakarta, Makassar, and several international points - makes it a logistically practical addition rather than a detour.
Context
The decision to open Nusantara to tourism before the city’s core functions are fully operational reflects Indonesia’s broader approach to the project: high visibility, internationally positioned, with an emphasis on the green city credentials that distinguish the Nusantara concept from a conventional capital relocation.
Whether the tourism offer remains at its current scale or expands as construction progresses is uncertain. For now, it provides a rare opportunity to visit a capital city while it is still being built - a category of experience that by definition is available for only a finite period.
For more on planning a trip to Indonesia combining Borneo and the archipelago’s established highlights, browse tours across Indonesia or see our Indonesia tours guide and our trekking in Borneo guide for context on the wider Kalimantan and Sumatra wildlife experience.