Best time to visit Brunei

There’s a growing coffee culture in Brunei, but don’t ask for an alcoholic drink in a café or restaurant – booze is banned in the sultanate, although non Muslims can bring a small amount in with them. Smoking is banned in almost all public spaces and workspaces, too, which means inside shops and malls, and also in outdoor markets and near food stalls. It’s hot and humid in Brunei all year round, but don’t dress in skimpy clothes. You may see tourists walking around in strappy tops and very brief shorts, but modest clothing is the more respectful way to dress in this Islamic nation. Choose light, cool clothes that cover the shoulders and knees. Women aren’t required to cover their heads, unless attending official functions. Crucially, don’t underestimate Brunei. Its huge wealth means this nation is often overlooked by travellers looking for an authentic Borneo experience, but it is precisely that wealth that has protected much of its green interior. Brunei’s abundant oil revenue means there’s little incentive for logging or palm oil cultivation. As a result, its richly biodiverse rainforests remain intact. Organised tours often team Brunei’s wild jungle with its capital and oil fields, or tack it onto a longer exploration of Sabah and Sarawak. Even just a day or two here is worthwhile, rounding out the Borneo picture nicely.

“Allow four days here, ideally, and include some diving and the canopy walk at Ulu Temburong National Park. In the capital, I’d suggest visiting the museums, particularly the Royal Regalia, and take a half day tour of the city which includes a boat visit to the water village of Kampong Ayer.”

“People might think Brunei is just about wealth and oil. That’s mostly true! But the mentality is changing inside Brunei since the oil price dropped and the government is now looking for ways to have a more sustainable economy – one way of doing that is through tourism. Although tourism has not been helped by the country adopting Sharia Law, Brunei is in itself a very unique country in Southeast Asia, home to the wealthiest man who is also a functioning monarch. Not known to many, Brunei has great national parks with many of its virgin forests intact. Most importantly, Brunei is a fascinating contrast with neighbouring Malaysia. Our Brunei friends offer an insight into the cultural and social differences between the Brunei and Malaysian sides of the border. And being an outsider visiting is a great experience in itself.”