Motaz Othman

Brunei

I have been travelling and working as a travel writer for more than 15 years, my visit to Brunei was one of the best tripsi have ever made, here you feel the real Islamic Tourism, you feel safe and happy with the hospitality that offered to you also to the wonderful views that impressed you. The weather is wonderful, the fresh Air here is something very special. 

Brunei, a rainforest covered gem of a country nestled on the northern shores of the island of Borneo, is a refreshing tourist destination offering a richly diverse natural and cultural heritage, a centuries old majestic Royal heritage and an exciting contemporary side of magnificent accommodation, premium golf, first class diving and modern and efficient infrastructure.

With many natural, cultural and leisure activities available within easy reach in this small sized Kingdom of Unexpected Treasures, Brunei promises wholesome fun and excitement for families, honeymooners or those with interests such as nature, golf or diving.

Brunei’s tranquility, safety, first class amenities and distraction free environment make the destination ideal for focused and productive incentive trips, business meetings, brainstorming sessions, corporate retreats, team building events or conferences, while its opulent surroundings can give a definite touch of prestige to any product launch.

As a prosperous oil and gas producing nation with a small, peace loving population ruled benevolently by His Majesty the Sultan of Brunei, the 29th of an unbroken line dating back 600 years, Brunei is a safe, stable, healthy, wholesome and sincerely hospitable society.

A clean and pollution free environment, the near absence of traffic jams, un-crowded streets and a healthy lifestyle, make Brunei a perfect getaway for short holidays or for a break from the hectic pace of urban living.

We hope that our potential visitors will find in this website the information needed to better prepare their visit, and that those undecided will be convinced to include Brunei in their travel plans.

To all our visitors and business partners, I wish to extend on behalf of the people of Brunei a heartfelt Selamat Datang, Welcome to Brunei, the Green Heart of Borneo

Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital

Vibrant, yet peaceful. Both modern and timeless. A fusion of majestic opulence and traditional respect.

Bandar Seri Begawan is the centre of Brunei’s commerce, finance and government. In many ways, it is also the heart of Brunei’s cultural landscape, housing some of the nation’s most revered landmarks. The city’s breathtaking Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque is a stunning tribute to the nation’s deep-rooted faith, while the truly Bruneian Kampong Ayer water village offers a glimpse of the nation’s quaint Asian charm.

Beneath Bandar Seri Begawan’s lavish adornments, gold towers, sparkling fountains and colourful mosaic tiles, lies a city steeped in quiet respect, grounded in Islamic tradition, and exuding a sense of peace that makes it one of Asia’s most distinctive capital cities

Visas

The government of Brunei Darussalam requires all visitors to have a valid passport and onward tickets or sufficient funds to support themselves while in the country. Visa requirements vary by nationality:

USA: 90 days entry with no visa

Austria, Germany, Ireland, Malaysia, New Zealand, Oman, Singapore, South Korea, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom: 30 days entry with no visa

Australia: Visas granted on arrival for visits not exceeding 30 days

Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Maldives, the Netherlands, Norway, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Slovak Republic, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand and Ukraine : 14 days entry with no visa

A 72-hour transit visa issued on arrival is available to all nationalities except for Israeli passport holders.

All other nationals entering Brunei must obtain visas from any Brunei Darussalam diplomatic mission abroad. Please contact your nearest diplomatic mission for further details regarding visas and entry procedures, or check this website : www.mfa.gov.bn/visainformation/visaarrangements.htm

Rainforests:

The island of Borneo is synonymous with raw, unspoiled nature and Brunei, situated in its heart, is a shining example of natural beauty. More than 70% of Brunei’s land area is covered by primary rainforests, which the government has taken great strides to protect. The Government of Brunei has acted to conserve some 32,000 hectares as forest reserves and allocated 50,000 hectares for national parks which are some of the finest in Asia. Mangroves, natural hatcheries of marine life, are also plentiful and unspoiled and house abundant forms of plant and animal life unique to Borneo. But perhaps Brunei’s most distinctive advantage is that all of its natural attractions are within easy reach of the contemporary luxuries of the capital, meaning that you never have to sacrifice comfort to enjoy untamed wilderness.

Nature lovers will definitely be spoiled in Brunei. Pristine rainforests, unspoiled coral reefs, mangrove-covered islands, white sand beaches and accessible nature reserves offer visitors a dazzling array of ecotourism options. In Brunei, visitors can have the unique opportunity to walk in the rainforest canopy which houses an abundance of birds, plants, micro fauna and mammals, such as the rare Bornean proboscis monkey, making up one of the world’s richest and most diverse ecosystems. They can also stroll around the hauntingly beautiful lakeside walkways of Tasek Merimbun or relax on the turquoise shores of Muara beach without the crowds of other Asian destinations.

Brunei is also home to some of Asia’s best nature reserves and field study centres, such as the world famous Ulu Temburong National Park and the Kuala Belalong Field Study Centre, both of which offer an exciting array of ecotourism and adventure activities. Indeed, the longboat ride down a winding jungle river, surrounded on all sides by pristine rainforest makes the journey as much of an adventure as the destination itself. With few tourists around, nature lovers will appreciate having this untouched paradise all to themselves and may explore at their own pace, returning to lodgings in the capital when they have completed their visit, or staying in more primitive forest lodgings nearby. Furthermore, with Sabah, Sarawak and Kalimantan next door, they can spend weeks uncovering Borneo’s magnificent natural beauty, using Brunei’s capital Bandar Seri Begawan as a gateway.