Sunshine Borneo Tours and Travel

Top 10 Things to Do in Brunei

1. Enjoying the sights of Kampong Ayer – One of the most important heritage sites as 500 years ago..the water village is Brunei Darussalam. The palace was on water and the Sultan stays in the water village. Today, the Brunei government has built a Water Village Cultural Centre with good variety of information and displays. You can also walk around the water village to soak in the unique environment. You need to go on a ‘water taxi”’.

2. Sampling local food at Night Market in Gadong -Nightly, you can experience a wide variety of local fruits and vegetable stalls as well as food stalls that sell Bruneians’ desserts, ‘nasi katok’, barbecued chickens, curries and kebabs.

3. Wildlife search in Tutong River Cruise -You can see the elusive Proboscis monkey which is endemic to Borneo and crocodiles if you are lucky! The environment here is truly serene and pristine.

4. Visiting Brunei ‘s top tourist sites; Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque, Brunei Museum, Istana Nurul Iman and Royal Regalia Museum – Examine the artistic design of the worship place, Brunei’s exciting history and the opulent collections of royal regalia used during the Sultan’s coronation – that have been the hallmark of this Muslim Sultanate. Istana Nurul Iman is the largest residential palace in the world with 1788 rooms. It will be a photo stop at the exterior gates unless you are here during the Idul Fitri open house where you can actually visit the palace and meet His Majesty the Sultan!

5. Exploring Ulu Temburong National Park– A truly MUST Do activity as this national park is one of the most accessible pristine rainforests in the world. It takes only 2 hours from Bandar Seri Begawan and you are in an untouched rainforest – ideally viewing it from the amazing canopy walkway. Highly recommended to do an overnight stay but if you are short of time, take this tour with Ulu Ulu Resort or Sunshine Borneo Tours because ONLY they can provide the day trip where you stay in the national park for the whole tour. With other tour operators, you only stay a max if 1.5 hours of the whole tour in the national park.

6. Experiencing the Iban people’s lifestyle in a Long house – Brunei is on the island of Borneo, where the famed Iban people nicknamed “head hunters of Borneo” resides. Why not visit their long houses in Temburong and learn about their culture, lifestyle and taste a simple Iban lunch.

7. Discovering Brunei’s Oil Field in Seria – Brunei. being an oil producing country, this is something you may not have seen or experience – seeing the “nodding donkeys” and visiting the Oil and Gas Discovery Centre (OGDC).

8. Relaxing at the Empire Hotel Golf & Country Club – If you are not staying at this amazing hotel, it is strongly suggested you have high tea there from 4pm-6pm and stay for the sunset as the lobby where high tea is served offers the best sunset in the country.

9. Admiring Brunei’s masterpieces at the Arts & Handicraft Training Centre – Admire at the impressive local artworks including woven costumes, mats, baskets, Malay dagger (keris) and hand-tooled silver jewelry. Do buy some home as souvenir items.

10. Exploring morning market ‘tamu’ at Kianggeh – Check out the Kianggeh market in early morning where an extensive array of vegetables, fruits, medicinal herbs and handicraft are sold. See how the customers and vendors perform their bargaining at this lively market in Bandar Seri Begawan.

All the above activities are our recommendations which you can do yourself but we highly recommend you arrange with a local tour operator such as Sunshine Borneo Tours & Travel as we have experienced local guides and comfortable vehicles. Rest assured you will have a greater experience here in Brunei. Since you come all the way to Brunei, why not get yourself the best experience through a guided tour.