Brunei Tours and Travel

Day 1 – Arrival in Bandar Seri Begawan

• Arrive at Brunei International Airport, which has regular connections from regional hubs including Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Kota Kinabalu, and Manila, at your own convenience.
• Transfer to hotel and overnight in Bandar Seri Begawan.

Day 2 – Bandar Seri Begawan

Morning

• Breakfast in the hotel.
• After breakfast, we’ll start the day at Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque, often considered one of the most beautiful mosques in Asia, with a striking golden dome, marble minarets, and a lagoon that reflects the mosque perfectly. Non-Muslims can enter outside prayer times, and robes are provided.
• Next, we’ll visit the Royal Regalia Museum, where you’ll see an impressive collection of gifts presented to Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, one of the world’s longest-reigning monarchs, who has ruled Brunei since 1967.
• The gifts come from a wide range of countries, reflecting Brunei’s diplomatic ties with nations such as Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, China, Malaysia, Thailand, and the United States. Many of these presents are culturally significant and include Middle Eastern carpets, British ceremonial items, Chinese artworks, and Southeast Asian handicrafts.
• After the museum, we’ll visit one of the highlights of the tour, Kampong Ayer. It is the largest floating village in the world and is often called the “Venice of the East.” This is home to thousands of Bruneians, with schools, mosques, and shops all built on stilts above the water. Wooden walkways connect different parts of the village, and water taxis are the main way to get around, which we will use to explore the area.

Afternoon

• After exploring the village, we’ll have lunch at a local restaurant by the river, where you can try the national dish of Brunei, ambuyat; a sticky, sago-based dish with a glue-like texture, traditionally rolled onto a stick and dipped into a variety of flavourful sauces.
• After lunch, we’ll visit Jame’ Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque, the largest mosque in Brunei, known for its 29 golden domes and impressive courtyards. It also features a private escalator used by the Sultan, allowing him direct access into the mosque.
• Next, we’ll stop at Istana Nurul Iman, the Sultan’s residence and the largest residential palace in the world, with over 1,700 rooms, multiple banquet halls, and its own mosque. While it is closed to the public for most of the year, it opens during Eid al-Fitr, when thousands of visitors are welcomed inside.
• Afterward, we’ll head to the nearby Tasek Lama Recreational Park for a short walk through this rainforest that’s located the city, where the trails lead to a small waterfall and viewpoints overlooking Bandar Seri Begawan.
• In the evening, we’ll take a river cruise along the Brunei River, where you may spot proboscis monkeys, monitor lizards, and even crocodiles, while enjoying views of the city and Kampong Ayer at sunset.
• Finish the day with dinner at Gadong Night Market, where you can sample a wide range of local street food while mingling with the locals.
• Overnight in Bandar Seri Begawan.

Day 3 – Ulu Temburong National Park and Bandar Seri Begawan

Morning

• Breakfast in the hotel.
• After breakfast, we’ll head out of the city to visit Ulu Temburong National Park, often referred to as the “Green Jewel” of Brunei. The Temburong district is physically separated from the rest of the country and is effectively landlocked by Malaysia. To get there, we’ll drive across the impressive Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Bridge, the longest bridge in Southeast Asia, connecting the two main parts of the country across Brunei Bay.
• Ulu Temburong National Park is one of the most pristine rainforests in Borneo and offers a complete contrast to the somewhat modern capital. Inside the park, we’ll explore on foot, crossing suspension bridges and walking through dense jungle trails surrounded by towering rainforest. A highlight is the canopy walkway, where you climb above the treetops for sweeping views over the endless green jungle.

Afternoon

• After returning from the rainforest, we’ll stop for lunch in Bandar Seri Begawan.
• After lunch, we’ll visit the Malay Technology Museum, which showcases traditional Bruneian life, including water village construction, boat building, and indigenous craftsmanship.
• Next, we’ll visit Jerudong Park, once one of Southeast Asia’s most ambitious amusement parks, built during Brunei’s oil boom. Although much quieter today, it remains an interesting stop that reflects the country’s unique modern history.
• Afterwards, we’ll continue to The Empire Brunei, a luxury resort known for its grand architecture, marble interiors, and oceanfront setting. Originally built as a state guesthouse, it is now one of the most impressive hotels in Southeast Asia.
• For the final evening, we’ll have dinner here at The Empire Brunei, enjoying a relaxed meal by the ocean.
• Overnight in Bandar Seri Begawan.

Day 4

• Breakfast in hotel, tour concludes.