Brunei Itineraries
Most visitors to Brunei spend less than a week here but for those with more time on their hands a fascinating array of outstanding natural and manmade attractions lay in wait. The best way to get the most out of your trip is to plan what you want to see in accordance with your main areas of interest.
How Long
Most visitors to Brunei are content to spend a week exploring the country. However, those who want to really get to know the country can easily spend several weeks or even a month in Brunei.Tips to Save Time
Those on a time limit can save a bit of time by hiring a guide, who will be able to give advice on the quickest ways to travel and best times to visit each attraction.What You Can See in One Week
Those with a week to explore Brunei will want to spend a couple of days in the capital city of Bandar Seri Begawan, taking in the historical attractionssuch as the Royal Palace and magnificent mosques. Take a daytrip to the Kampung Ayer stilted village before taking a two-day tour though Ulu Temburong National Park. Spend a day on Muara Beach before heading back to Bandar Seri Begawan and flying home.
Two Weeks
Travelers with an extra week to spend exploring will be able to spend a few days in the Temburong district, using the city of Bangar as a base and exploring the beautiful Temburong National Park. Spend an extra day or two chilling out on the beach before heading back to the city of Bandar Seri Begawan where you can take the time to explore the city’s numerous historical sites and attractions.
One Month
With a month to spend exploring this rich and interesting land the possibilities are limitless. Visitors may want to spend the first two weeks as outlined above. However, with so much time to spend there is no need to rush and those who enjoy soaking up the sun on the beach may want to extend their time on the shoreline to a week. There are a good number of beaches in Brunei, and those with a month to spare will have time to see them all or simply stick to one. There are plenty of exciting adventure activities to take part in such as white water rafting, while those who want to see the jungles in a gentler way can take a two or three-day jungle rafting tour along the many flowing rivers and winding tributaries.
Highlights
It takes about four days to cover the main highlights as most of Brunei’s famous attractions such as the Jame'Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque and Royal Palace can be found in the capital city of Bandar Seri Begawan, while one of the most stunningly beautiful parts of the country is Ulu Temburong National Park.
Beaches and Islands
Brunei’s stunning beaches stretch the length of the county’s coastline and sun worshippers will be able to choose a good number of stretches of sand on which to lay back and soak up the sun.
Located less than 30kms from the capital city of Bandar Seri Begawan, Muara is one of Brunei’s most popular beaches and features a good number of amenities. Nearby is Meragang Beach, which is also referred to as Crocodile Beach. However, there are no crocodiles in the area and this is a good place for practicing water sports such as windsailing and kayaking.
Just a 10-minute drive from Maura is Serasa Beach, which is also popular with those who enjoy water sports. It is possible to hire equipment at the shops which line the beach and some of the most popular water sports include jet-skiing, kayaking, windsurfing and water skiing. Brunei’s other stunning beaches include Pantai Seri Kenangan and Lamut.
For the History Buff
Anyone interested in history will want to start their vacation with a visit to the Brunei Museum in Bandar Seri Begawan, which contains an interesting collection of Bornean and Malay artifacts. Next on the agenda should be the nearby Jame'Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque, while the Royal Palace has to be seen as it features 1,788 rooms and is the largest occupied palace in the world. Also worth a visit is the Royal Regalia Centre, which contains a lavish collection of royal ceremonial costumes and provides a rare insight to the wealth of this ancient sultanate.
Venture just outside the city to the traditional water village of Kampong Ayer, which allows visitors to get an idea how Brunei’s traditional fishing communities have evolved.
For the Adventure Traveler
Those with a strong sense of adventure can take part in a number of adventure activities such as white water rafting, rock climbing, mountain biking and reef diving in the South China Sea. One of the most adventurous activities available is riding a local longboat up rapids to the nation’s various national parks. Visitors have the chance to learn to raft either on white water or a more tranquil jungle river.
Take a two-day hiking and trekking tour through the jungle and camp overnight in order to witness the early morning misty rivers, chattering birds and the noise of wildlife waking in the morning light.
Scuba diving is a great option in Brunei as deep within the depths of the crystal-clear waters lurk beautiful coral reefs and sunken shipwrecks. Other water sports such as sailing, water-skiing, windsurfing and snorkeling are also available.
For the Nature Lover
Brunei features some of Asia’s most stunning and best managed nature reserves and field study centers, which are simply teeming with rare and interesting animals and plants. One of the best known beauty spots is Ulu Temburong National Park, which is full of interesting trails through the jungle as well as a canopy walkway, allowing visitors to observe the rainforest's surprisingly diverse treetop ecosystems.
Another area of intense natural beauty is Temburong National Park, which also features a rainforest canopy walk and has plenty of places for visitors to spend the night in log cabins in the heart of the rainforest.
Animal lovers will want to visit Bukit Patoi Recreational Park for the chance to see a good range of animals in close quarters, while those interested in insects should visit the Kuala Belalong Rainforest Field Studies Centre.
