![\"Sunshine](\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.my\/stories\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/GettyImages-160826746-2.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Perhaps best known internationally for the wealth of its royal family, this tiny country encircled by the Malaysian state of Sarawak offers up a rich bounty of things to do for the active, inquisitive and adventurous traveler. Here are some of the top things to do in Brunei.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
What better way to start your day than with a quick round of golf? Brunei<\/a> might be small but it still boasts no less than five eighteen-hole courses, making it a\u00a0mecca\u00a0for golf fans.<\/p>\n The pick of the bunch? Definitely,\u00a0The Empire Hotel & Country Club<\/a>\u00a0course, which was designed by legendary player, Jack\u00a0Nicklaus. Set right on the coast, it\u2019s 7029 yards of demanding but beautifully landscaped fairways, with many of the holes offering stunning views over the South China Sea. It can be difficult to get a tee time (tip: staying there helps) and it\u2019s certainly not cheap, with an 18-hole round starting at\u00a0BND$170, but it\u2019s a truly impressive course.<\/p>\n If you don\u2019t fancy getting caught in the sun then they also put on special night golf sessions where you can play under giant spotlights every Wednesday.<\/p>\n Thick tropical\u00a0rainforest\u00a0still covers more than 70 per cent of the country making it a great destination for nature lovers. One of the highlights has to be a trip to the 212 square miles of\u00a0Ulu\u00a0Temburong\u00a0National Park.<\/p>\n Established in 1991, just getting there is an adventure in itself. It\u2019s located in the sparsely populated enclave of\u00a0Temburong, a sliver of Brunei that\u2019s cut off from the rest of the country and is reached by a 45-minute water taxi ride from\u00a0Bandar\u00a0Seri\u00a0Begawan\u00a0to\u00a0Bangar, before you transfer to traditional long boats for a scenic cruise up river to the park centre.<\/p>\n Extensive conservation efforts have seen the creation of a network of more than seven kilometres of boardwalks, stairs and bridges to explore. The real highlight is the vertigo-inducing canopy walkway, which is set almost 50 metres above the forest floor. The views over the densely clad mountains are spectacular and it\u2019s a good location for spotting some of the park\u2019s abundant wildlife. Keep an eye out for\u00a0Mullers\u00a0Bornean\u00a0gibbon, delicate-looking pygmy squirrels and deadly\u00a0Wagler’s\u00a0pit vipers. The park is also home to more than 400 species of butterfly and 100 different species of birds, from\u00a0hornbills\u00a0to kingfishers.<\/p>\n Many tour operators offer day trips from\u00a0Bandar\u00a0(normally lasting around 8 hours) for approximately\u00a0BND$160, but if you really want to experience the sounds of the jungle at night, check in to the\u00a0Ulu\u00a0Ulu<\/a>. This\u00a0eco-conscious resort consists of just 17 charming wood huts that take their cues from 1920s Malay architecture. It offers all-inclusive packages covering up to three nights and includes canopy walks, waterfall climbs and kayaking.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n If you want to see some local wildlife but don\u2019t have a day to spare, simply head down to\u00a0Jalan\u00a0McArthur, which overlooks the famous\u00a0Kampong\u00a0Ayer,\u00a0or Water Village (see below). At the quay you\u2019ll find a host of local water taxis willing to take you on a trip around the nearby mangrove forests in search of the endangered proboscis monkey. As you head upstream, the vegetation seems to close in around you and the hustle and bustle of the quay is quickly replaced by the rustles and squawks of the forest. There\u2019s a good chance you\u2019ll see monitor lizards, crocodiles and snakes, as well as a plethora of birdlife.<\/p>\n Of course the real highlight are the monkeys. They\u2019re normally spotted feeding on fruit or flowers in the riverside trees and are instantly recognised by their protruding fleshy noses. It\u2019s a magical experience to sit there bobbing away in a simple wooden long boat surrounded by lush greenery as a troop of these intriguing creatures go about their business unperturbed. Trips take between one to two hours and prices start at around\u00a0BND$50, depending on your negotiating skills.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n If you want to get an insight into how more than 30,000 of Brunei\u2019s total population live, then make the time to stop off here. The 42 individual villages consist of a chaotic looking jumble of brightly coloured wooden homes, schools, restaurants, mosques and even a fire station. All are interlinked via a series of canals and\u00a0crisscrossed with wooden walkways and bridges. It was first dubbed the \u2018Venice of the East\u2019 by a visiting Italian explorer way back in the 1500s, but is believed to have been around since the 1300s.<\/p>\n A good place to start is the\u00a0Kampong\u00a0Ayer\u00a0Cultural Centre, which offers a decent insight into the different communities that call this unique spot\u00a0home. It also has a good observation deck that gives you a more elevated perspective over the whole community. You can just rely on a taxi driver to steer you around but you\u2019ll get more out of an organised tour.\u00a0Urban Adventurers<\/a>\u00a0are one of many that offer this service, with prices starting at around US$75. If you go it alone you could get there and back for around US$25.<\/p>\n Once you\u2019re done with sightseeing, there is the option to have some more simple fun at what was once Southeast Asia\u2019s most expensive amusement park. Originally opened in 1981,\u00a0Jerudong<\/a>\u00a0was a gift from the government to the people of Brunei. Featuring a whole range of free amusement rides, it played host to concerts by the likes of Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston at its peak. It was dying a slow death back in the early 2000s, but new investment has seen the addition of a mini golf course, an extensive water park, a Ferris wheel, a double-decker\u00a0carousel and more. It\u2019s certainly no Universal Studios, but with adult tickets costing just\u00a0BND$8 (BND$4 for kids) it\u2019s also a whole lot cheaper.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n [tabs]<\/p>\n [tab title=”Best Time to Visit<\/strong>” icon=”entypo-light-up”]Brunei\u2019s weather is reassuringly consistent: hot and steamy all year round. A good time to visit is around the Sultan of Brunei\u2019s birthday (15 July) as huge tributes to the venerated ruler are erected all over the country, while the actual day is celebrated with lots of pomp and circumstance, concerts and fireworks.<\/p>\n The end of Ramadan,\u00a0Hari\u00a0Raya\u00a0Aidil\u00a0Fitri,\u00a0is also a great time to visit as this is when the gates of the astounding Istana Nurul Iman palace are swung open to the public and there\u2019s a chance to see the Sultan and members of the royal family.[\/tab]<\/p>\n [tab title=”Where to Stay<\/strong>” icon=”entypo-suitcase”]The Empire Hotel & Country Club<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0oozes\u00a0bling, from the soaring heights of the gold-clad lobby to the seemingly endless lagoon pool overlooking the ocean. There\u2019s the obligatory spa and, of course, access to that impressive golf course.<\/p>\n For a mid-range option,\u00a0The Brunei Hotel<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0makes a great base in the heart of downtown\u00a0Bandar\u00a0Seri\u00a0Begawan and it\u2019s\u00a0close to the Water Village. Established in 1957, but last refurbished in 2011, the 65 rooms are simply decorated but spacious and facilities include an in-house restaurant. If you can, try and get a room overlooking the neighbouring\u00a0Tamu\u00a0Kianggeh\u00a0open-air market.<\/p>\n There are limited options for those on a budget but you could do worse than Baitul Wajihah Homestay. Located around 30 minutes from the capital and surrounded by paddy fields, here you will get to experience home life Brunei-style. Rooms are basic but clean and Mr\u00a0Haji\u00a0and his family offer a range of activities during your stay, from cultural tours of the Water Village to cooking demonstrations.<\/p>\n [\/tab]<\/p>\n [tab title=”Getting There<\/strong>” icon=”entypo-address”]Royal Brunei Airlines, Malaysian Airlines and Air Asia offer\u00a0direct flights\u00a0to and from\u00a0Kuala\u00a0Lumpur<\/a>\u00a0to Brunei International Airport (BWN). You can also travel overland by public bus from either\u00a0Sabah\u00a0or Sarawak. The two main checkpoints are at Sungai Tujuh (Sabah) and Kuala Lurah (Sarawak) and are open from 6am to 10pm daily.<\/p>\n [\/tab]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [tab title=”Visa Requirements” icon=”entypo-book”]Malaysian citizens do not need a visa for visits of less than 30 days. This is also the case for nationals of the United Kingdom, Germany and Singapore.<\/p>\n [\/tab]<\/p>\n [\/tabs]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/h2>\n
Jungle Adventure<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.my\/stories\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/GettyImages-185311917-2.jpg\")
<\/p>\nMonkeying<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>Around<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"Gibbon](\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.my\/stories\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/GettyImages-471496208-2.jpg\")
<\/p>\nWater Village<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"Brunei's](\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.my\/stories\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/GettyImages-185168168-2.jpg\")
<\/p>\nPark Life<\/strong><\/h2>\n