There are two worlds in Brunei - one of development and modernisation and one of tradition. On this Brunei tour, you'll have glimpses of the former and get to fully experience the latter, immersing you deep into local tradition and culture in Brunei.
Your Brunei tour will start with a typical form of local transportation: hailing a water taxi to cross the river. On the other side is the Water Village Cultural and Tourism, museum where you will be taken on a guided tour of the various galleries and given background information on the Brunei water villages you'll be visiting later in the tour.
After this water village introduction, we continue our Brunei tour with more of a river tour by taking another water taxi to get to the water village. Along the way, see the lesser-known side of the Istana Nurul Iman, the biggest residential palace in the world. The palace has up 1,788 rooms and is the official home of His Majesty, the Sultan of Brunei.
Our next stop is the Brunei Water Village, the largest of its kind in the world and a preserved national heritage site. It's an absolute must for anyone wanting to see and experience authentic local life in Brunei.
The village is home to 30,000 residents and has been around for over 1,000 years. Stretching about 8km, it is a self-contained community with schools, police stations, fire brigades, and mosques. The village is actually a cluster of smaller villages, each with their own leader or chief, known as Ketua Kampung. The villages are connected by a complex web of walkways and bridges.
We'll take you on a walking tour of the water village where you can mingle with the locals as they go about their everyday lives. We'll stop and for tea at a local café, which is the best place to really get to know the village and the people who live here.
During the afternoon, the scene at the jetty bustles with life as school children and adults come home from work on water taxis. Join the throngs of people and board a water taxi to return to the city and the port as you finish your ultimate Brunei village experience.
Take a 45 minutes boat ride from the jetty in Bandar Seri Begawan to Temburong town through the mangrove channels. Arrives at the small town of Bangar and proceed to the river terminal at Batang Duri for safety briefing and issuing of equipment before going upstream in a longboat called ‘temuai’. Upon arrival at the National Park headquarters at Kuala Belalong, proceed to registration before going for the canopy walk. Trek back to the base of the park before continuing for a nature trek to the waterfall, you may go for a swim or just relax in the forest surrounding. This National Park is a virgin jungle and an exciting destination for naturalists and ordinary tourists alike. Return to the terminal for lunch. Later transfer to Bangar to catch your boat back to Bandar Seri Begawan.
Time to get up close and personal (well, not too close!) with the legendary Proboscis monkey, one of Brunei's most distinct inhabitants.
After picking you up, our Brunei river tour starts at the boat jetty in the heart of Bandar Seri Begawan, where you'll board an open deck wooden boat and cruise along the river sightseeing from the water level.
As we float along, you'll get a view of two different worlds: on one side you'll see the modern developing capital city of Brunei, and on the other side of the river, you'll see the traditional style water village, the biggest of its kind in the world.
Your Brunei tour will also pass the biggest residential palace in the world, Istana Nurul Iman. With an immense 1,788 rooms, the palace is the official residence of His Majesty, The Sultan of Brunei, and a favourite Brunei tourism highlight.
After passing the Royal Palace, we continue our wildlife tour in Brunei as we cruise slowly under the mangrove trees and get a close up look at the marine life that lives here. See mudskippers, monitor lizards, and with luck spot blue-throated or red kingfishers. The white egret and night heron are also common sights in the mangroves.
Keep an eye out for the rare, endangered Proboscis monkey, which usually comes to the water in the early morning and evening, and can provide some perfect Borneo wildlife travel pictures! The monkeys are very distinctive with their odd, brightly coloured nose, and can only be found on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra in Indonesia. Hopefully you will see at least five to ten families of around 20 monkeys per family.
After a visit with the Proboscis monkeys, we'll head back to the jetty in Bandar Seri Begawan and we'll transfer you back to your hotel in Brunei.
Explore the wonderful scenery of Brunei Darussalam with a full day tour of this amazing country. Short ride in a water taxi around the largest Malay water village in the world, and visit to a local home where you can observe the daily livelihood of a typical villagers living in houses on stilts on the Brunei River. Light local refreshment will be served. Tamu or Open Market where most local produce are found. Royal Regalia Museum where visitors can get a glimpse of the Sultan’s full royal regalia, including the crown and royal chariot, along with a vast collection of opulent treasures. Brunei Museum, with its elaborate displays of antique cannons and intricate daggers, Borneo ethnographic displays and treasures unearthed from shipwrecks off Brunei’s coasts.
Sultan Omar Ali Saifudden Mosque also known as ‘mini Taj Mahal’. Built in 1958 as a symbol of the Sultanate's faith, it features resplendent marble and granite floors, stained glass and chandeliers from all over the world. Jame Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque, grand and opulent, with shimmering golden domes and intricately ornamental minarets set in a landscape of gardens and fountains. Istana Nurul Iman, the official residence of His Majesty the 29th Sultan of Brunei, is glittering example of Brunei’s majestic royal heritage, it is the Sultan’s lavish home in the capital and is the largest residential palace in the world.
Travel through two vastly different worlds in one journey and enjoy the contrasts between the world’s largest palace and water village. We start our tour in Brunei with a transfer from your hotel to the boat jetty in the heart of Bandar Seri Begawan. Board an open-deck wooden boat and cruise along the river sightseeing from the water level. This Brunei travel experience will give you a view of two different worlds – on one side; you will see the modern developing capital city of Brunei and on the other side of the river, you will see the traditional-style water village.
The village stretches over 8km and is home to some 30,000 people. In the company of an expert local guide, wander along boardwalks, see the locals in action and take tea with them.
Your river safari will also pass the biggest residential palace in the world, Istana Nurul Iman, with a modest 1,788 rooms. The palace is the official residence of the Sultan of Brunei, and a top tourist attraction. We continue our cruise slowly under the mangrove trees, getting a close-up look at the marine life. See mudskippers, monitor lizards and, with luck, spot blue-throated or red kingfishers. Keep an eye out for rare endangered proboscis monkeys, which are very distinctive with their odd, brightly coloured nose and can only be found on the island of Borneo and Sumatra in Indonesia. Hopefully you will see at least five to 10 families of about 20 monkeys per family.
Seria is at the epicentre of Brunei's wealth from oil and gas. It was not until 1931 that the first commercial well delivered oil, and now Seria remains the centre for onshore as well as off shore drilling. This tour will introduce you to Brunei's significant natural resources. The gas and oil that underpins the country's financial stability, as well as the forest resources that are so carefully managed. The tour involves an approximately 1.5 hour drive to Seria (about 65 km from Bandar Seri Begawan). Stop at the billionth barrel monument shaped like a ring or dome, this monument commemorates the production of the billionth barrel of oil by Seria oilfield.
A "Nodding Donkey" actively pumping oil from underground, whereas for the oil platforms they are visible from the shore. Lunch at a local cafe before visiting the Oil and Gas Discovery Centre, an interactive science centre set up that is aimed to stimulate interest in the petroleum industry and also to spur new explorations into science and technology.
On the return journey to Bandar Seri Begawan, visit the Brunei LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) Plant in Lumut. Completed in 1972, the plant was the first in the Western Pacific and this project pioneered the large-scale liquefaction and transportation of natural gas, helping to establish LNG as a global energy source.
Time to get up close and personal (well, not too close!) with the legendary Proboscis monkey, one of Brunei's most distinct inhabitants.
After picking you up from your hotel, our Brunei river tour starts at the boat jetty in the heart of Bandar Seri Begawan, where you'll board an open deck wooden boat and cruise along the river sightseeing from the water level.
As we float along, you'll get a view of two different worlds: on one side you'll see the modern developing capital city of Brunei, and on the other side of the river, you'll see the traditional style water village, the biggest of its kind in the world.
Your Brunei tour will also pass the biggest residential palace in the world, Istana Nurul Iman. With an immense 1,788 rooms, the palace is the official residence of His Majesty, The Sultan of Brunei, and a favourite Brunei tourism highlight.
After passing the Royal Palace, we continue our wildlife tour in Brunei as we cruise slowly under the mangrove trees and get a close up look at the marine life that lives here. See mudskippers, monitor lizards, and with luck spot blue-throated or red kingfishers. The white egret and night heron are also common sights in the mangroves.
Keep an eye out for the rare, endangered Proboscis monkey, which usually comes to the water in the early morning and evening, and can provide some perfect Borneo wildlife travel pictures! The monkeys are very distinctive with their odd, brightly coloured nose, and can only be found on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra in Indonesia. Hopefully you will see at least five to ten families of around 20 monkeys per family.
After a visit with the Proboscis monkeys, we'll head back to the jetty in Bandar Seri Begawan and we'll transfer you back to your hotel in Brunei.
This Brunei travel experience will give you a view of two different worlds –on one side you will see the modern developing capital city of Brunei and, on the other side of the river, you will see the traditional style water village, the biggest of its kind in the world.
We start our tour in Brunei with a transfer from your hotel to the boat jetty in the heart of Bandar Seri Begawan. Board an open deck wooden boat and cruise along the river sightseeing from the water level.
Your river safari will pass the biggest residential palace in the world, Istana Nurul Iman. With 1,788 rooms, the palace is the official residence of His Majesty, The Sultan of Brunei, and a favourite Brunei tourism highlight. After passing the Royal Palace, we continue our Brunei nature tour as we cruise slowly under the mangrove trees and get a close up look at the marine life. See mudskippers, monitor lizards and with luck spot blue throated or red kingfishers. The white egret and night heron are also common sights in the mangroves. Keep an eye out for the rare endangered proboscis monkey, which usually comes to the water in the early morning and evening, and can provide some perfect Borneo wildlife travel pictures! The monkeys are very distinctive with their odd, brightly coloured nose and can only be found on the island of Borneo and Sumatra in Indonesia. Hopefully you will see at least five to ten families of around 20 monkeys per family.
Our Brunei tour ends with transfer back to your hotel. Pick up/Meeting point:Hotels in Jerudong area and Bandar Seri Begawan area
Duration: 3 hours
Start or opening time:7.15 am to 7.45am, 3.00pm to 3.30pm. Please contact Brunei Urban Adventures to confirm your tour 24 hours prior to departure.
Others: Dress standards are conservative throughout Asia, especially outside major cities. To respect this and for your own comfort, we strongly recommend modest clothing. This means clothing that covers your shoulders and knees. Loose, lightweight, long clothing is both respectful and cool in the predominantly hot Asian climate.
After a dinner at a local restaurant, you will enjoy a 15 minutes boat ride around the water village, followed by photo stop at Sultan Omar Ali Saiffudien Mosque - illuminated by impressive lighting at night, the mosque is a stunning tribute to the nation’s deep-rooted faith, Jame Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque - with the flood light on at night, it allows the true colours of the mosque to really shine, and Istana Nurul Iman - a glittering example of Brunei’s majestic royal heritage, it is the Sultan’s lavish home in the capital and is the largest residential palace in the world. Situated on the top of a hill overlooking the city, the palace is an enigmatic symbol of Brunei’s enduring monarchy and seat of the nation’s government.
Next you will have some leisure time to explore the Brunei’s open night market where a variety of delicious local delicacies are available, this is where you get to mingle with the locals. On the way back to hotel, photo stop at the Diamond arch – guarding the entrance to Brunei’s Jerudong Park, the Crystal Arch is the world’s largest diamond replica. This soaring monument is the length of a city block and weighs an estimated seven tons, its columns decorated with millions of tiny gold mosaic tiles.
This is a combination of the Water Village trip and Proboscis Monkey Cruise on the ‘water taxi’ through the Brunei Rivers. Guests are picked up from their hotels and transferred to the jetty in the capital city to board a local boat, crossing the river for a visit to the world's largest Malay water village. This is followed by a walk around the water village and a visit to a local house where light local refreshment will be served.
The tour continues with a boat ride and cruise along the Brunei River observing villagers' life and enjoying the view of the modern Brunei over the other side of the river bank. The cruise continues further up the river, where guests will see the world's largest residential palace - Nurul Iman.
Next, guests visit the mangrove forest where they have the opportunity to encounter marine life – the mudskipper, river otters and birds such as the white egrets, nigh herons, kingfishers, among the mangrove forest. As the boat cruises along one of the tributaries, stops will be made for spotting the rare endangered species primate – the proboscis monkey, who normally rest on the branches of mangrove trees. The monkeys normally come near the river early in the morning and at dusk. The cruise then heads back to the jetty.