Samarinda is the capital town of East Kalimantan and located about fifty kilometers upstream from the mouth of the Mahakam River. The town occupies a space of about 167 square kilometres and has a population of approximately half a million people.

The city started as a small village of Bugis settlers who, in 1668, arrived from Sulawesi, led by La Mohang Daeng Mangkona. These first settlers came from Wajo to Parepare, from where they proceeded to Muara Pasir and Kutai. There, on January 21, 1668, they founded the settlement which is now the city of Samarinda. The date is commemorated annually as the official birthday of Samarinda.

Samarinda is surrounded by rivers. The Karangmumus flows to the east of the town, and the Karangasem river to the west. All of them empty in the Mahakam river mouth area.

Those rivers are important to the people of Samarinda. Besides serving as avenues for transportation, they also meet the people's need for sanitation, and other facilities. Motorboats plying those rivers are popularly called water taxis, and it is mostly these noisy, agile vessels that cause the hustle and bustle on the riverside. The Mahakam, at this point, is about 430 meters wide, and the water-taxis are everywhere. The river splits the town into two parts, known respectively as Samarinda Kota and Samarinda Seberang .

One unique feature of this provincial capital is that it is probably the only one that has a forest, 212,000 hectares in size, in the center of town, more than half of which is a production forest.

There is an attractive shopping center in Samarinda, called Arena Promosi Citra Niaga, covering an area of 2.7 hectares. Shopping at the Citra Niaga is pleasantly relaxing. The center is clean and artistically designed. There are shows and exhibitions on Saturday night on the open plaza.

Sarongs from Samarinda are very well known throughout Indonesia. Samarinda sarongs are woven in cottage industries, and usually use high-quality silks.

Tanah Merah Indah Lempake, 16 kilometers from the center of Samarinda, is a popular recreation park with a waterfall and playgrounds for children. There are also facilities for camping, fishing and swimming, and an art market where souvenirs are sold.

For inland tourism, Samarinda is the starting point for exciting adventures down the Mahakam River! The lower half of The Mahakam River is populated by Malay and Kutai tribes, the upper half by the native Dayak tribes. Your journey will take you through impenetrable tropical forest and dense undergrowth draped in For inland tourism, Samarinda is the starting point for exciting adventures down the Mahakam River! The lower half of The Mahakam River is populated by Malay and Kutai tribes, the upper half by the native Dayak tribes. Your journey will take you through impenetrable tropical forest and dense undergrowth draped in giant orchids, mangrove flowers and lianes. You’ll notice that much of the jungle is secondairy growth or has been clearcut. The wildlife is unusually diverse, monkeys, gibbons, wild ox, wild cats, flying lemur, martins, weasels, fresh water dolphins, orang utans, sun bears, leopards, snakes, hornbill birds, parrots, parakeets, and crested fireback pheasants. You may also spy many kinds of beautiful butterflies and metallic beetles, poisonous polypods, brightly colored millipedes & giant walking sticks. To get an impression of the different Dayak cultures & lifestyles, head up the river’s tributaries.

Come see what we mean when we say that hospitality and comfort are more than just words at the Swiss-Belhotel Borneo Samarinda. We offer 183 rooms which are divided into 54 Superior Rooms, 90 Deluxe Rooms, 29 Executive Club Rooms, 9 Suites and a Presidential Suite. No matter which you pick, you will find the rooms tastefully furnished, with a wide array of amenities to make your stay with us the most delightful one possible.


All our rooms come with the following amenities for your convenience and pleasure:

- 32 inch LCD TV
- Wireless Internet access
- Swimming Pool & all room internet
- 42 inch LCD TV (for Suite Room)

Guests with young ones will be pleased to know that there is no charge for children under the age of 12 who wish to share a room with their parents, for a maximum of up to 2 children. Pets are allowed within the grounds of the hotel.

Have a fine dining at our Mahakam Restaurant, which opens for breakfast, lunch and dinner, or mingle with dynamic businessmen and family groups alike in our Lobby Lounge as you enjoy the live music nightly!

Here at Swiss Belhotel Samarinda, we want to cater to our guests’ every need, be it for their indulgence, their health or their peace of mind. Our full range of facilities and services are a testimony to that!