Gunung Palung National Park is a nature conservation area with very high biodiversity value and a variety of ecosystems, including mangrove forest, swamp forest, peat swamp forest, freshwater swamp forest, lowland tropical forest and montane forest, always shrouded in mist.

This Park is the best and most extensive Dipterocarp tropical forest in Kalimantan. About 65% of the area is still primary forest, undisturbed by human activity, and it is rich in plant and wildlife communities.

Like many other parts of West Kalimantan, this Park is inhabited by jelutung (Dyera costulata), ramin (Gonystylus bancanus), damar (Agathis borneensis), pulai (Alstonia scholaris), rengas (Gluta renghas), kayu ulin (Eusideroxylon zwageri), Bruguiera sp., Lumnitzera sp., Rhizophora sp., Sonneratia sp., ara (a strangling plant), and medicinal plants.

One unique plant in this Park is the black orchid (Coelogyne pandurata), which can be seen on the Matan river, in particular from February to April. The attraction of the black orchid lies in the shape of its flower, which is marked by green with black spots in the centre. The blooms last for five to six days.

One hundred and ninety species of bird have been recorded and 35 species of mammals, which play an important role in dispersing seeds throughout the forest. All the families, and probably even most of the species, of bird in Kalimantan are to be found in this Park.

Among the animals commonly found in the Park are the proboscis monkey (Nasalis larvatus), orangutan (Pongo satyrus), helmeted hornbill (Rhinoplax vigil), four-striped ground squirrel (Lariscus hosei), barking deer (Muntiacus muntjak pleiharicus), sun bear (Helarctos malayanus euryspilus), pig-tailed macaque (Macaca nemestrina nemestrina), slow loris (Nyticebus coucang borneanus), Muellers Bornean grey gibbon (Hylobates muelleri), western tarsier (Tarsius bancanus borneanus), banded leaf monkey (Presbytis femoralis chrysomelas), larger Malay mouse deer (Tragulus napu borneanus), rhinoceros hornbill (Buceros rhinoceros borneoensis), blue-banded pitta (Pitta baudii), red junglefowl (Gallus gallus), siamese crocodile (Crocodylus siamensis), Malayan giant turtle (Orlitia borneensis), and loggerhead turtle (Carreta carretta). Another interesting thing to note is the existence of canary squirrels (Rheithrosciurus macrotis) which are endangered and very rarely seen.

Interesting locations/attractions:

Pulau Datok Beach and Lubang Tedong hill: marine tours and swimming.
Mt. Palung (1,116 m asl.) and Mt. Panti (1,050 m asl.): climbing, waterfalls, observing plants and animals and camping.
Cabang Panti: research centre complete with a research station, accommodation and a library.
Matan and Simpang Rivers: kayaking/canoeing, observing animals and historical sites.

Best time of year to visit: June to September.

How to reach the Park: Pontianak-Ketapang by plane, 1.5 hours; or by motor boat for 6-7 hours, then proceed to Sukadana by four-wheel drive, 2 hours. From Sukadana to the Park: by longboat (bandong) up the Meliya River, about 4 hours. Pontianak-Teluk Batang by speedboat, 4 hours, then to Teluk Melano by motorcycle, about 1 hour. Pontianak-Teluk Melano by speedboat, 9-10 hours.