An eye-opening study in contrasts, this tour presents the extravagant world of Brunei's sultan, followed by a look at life in a village built on stilts in the river. Starting off from the pier, you will first travel inland toward the majestic Jame Mosque, Brunei's largest, and the Prime Minister Office where you will pause briefly for photos. Continuing on, you will arrive at the white-domed Royal Regalia where you can wander through exhibits of luxurious items from the Sultan's lavish coronation and other celebrations. Some of the items you may have the opportunity to see here are His Majesty's royal chariot, ceremonial swords, a model of the palace and various gifts from foreign dignitaries. But as you will soon see, there's more to Brunei than the extravagances afforded by its abundant oil and natural gas. Making your way to a nearby jetty, you will board a boat and cruise to Water Village where you will witness firsthand a much different side of life. More than 30,000 people live here in thousands of structures built on stilts in the Brunei River. The village is an amazing assortment of homes, restaurants, mosques, shops and hospitals, all connected by wooden boardwalks. Surprisingly, some of the homes are quite elaborate, and you will have the unique opportunity of stopping by one for a cup of tea. Amazingly, people have lived in the Water Village for more than 1,300 years, making it one of the most historic areas in Brunei. Following your time at the Water Village, you will retrace your route as you make your way back to the pier.

OVERVIEW

Gain an understanding of Brunei’s cultural heritage by visiting an array of remarkably diverse marquee attractions. For a glimpse into Brunei’s flourishing sea trade centuries ago, you will browse the Maritime Museum. Similarly, a stop at the waterfront market Tamu Kianggeh will present a look at how the Brunei River facilitates trade today as much of the traditional merchandise arrives by boat. Board the boat to water village, the world’s largest settlement on stilts, opportunity of stopping at one of the houses for a cup of tea. Every single building – mosques, houses and stores – hangs over the river. In contrast, you will peruse the luxurious artifacts displayed in the Royal Regalia, a museum full of items from the sultan and Brunei’s royalty. Photos stops at the Prime Minister’s office and at the iconic Jame Mosque, which is featured on Brunei’s currency, will round out your exploration.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• No low-cut tops, shorts, short skirts or short dresses.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Explore vibrant Bandar Seri Bagawan independently and come away with a genuine feel for the culture of Brunei’s capital city. You will be dropped off at the modern Yayasan shopping complex and provided with a map of the nearby attractions. Feel free to shop for hours on end and take advantage of the restaurants there, if you wish. The day is yours to do as you please with no schedule to follow other than your own. The mall overlooks a bend in the Brunei River and you could easily walk down to the waterfront jetty. Nearby, you will find the Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque, whose golden dome and minarets dominate the skyline, and the Royal Regalia Museum, which holds an outstanding collection of items from the sultan’s lavish coronation and other royal celebrations. The ornate, red-and-green Teng Yun Temple also deserves a look, as it is the oldest Chinese temple in Brunei.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Explore Brunei’s capital of Bandar Seri Bagawan on your own at your own pace.
• Start your exploration at the centrally located Yayasan shopping complex.
• Use the provided map to easily find the attractions that sound most appealing.
• Browse museums, a grand mosque, a Chinese temple and plenty more, all nearby.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• No low-cut tops, shorts, short skirts or short dresses.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Cruise the wildlife-rich waterways outside Brunei's capital and then stop for tea in the Water Village, a community built entirely above the water on stilts during this relaxing tour.

Departing from the pier, you will drive to Bandar Seri Bagawan, the energetic capital of Brunei. Not far from the center of town, you will board a boat and cruise the surrounding waterways, which are lined with mangroves. Strictly protected by Brunei law, the unspoiled vegetation supports an abundance of wildlife.

While motoring through the water, your guide will explain the complexities of the mangrove ecology and elaborate on the flora and fauna. During your cruise, you may see macaques, monitor lizards, crocodiles and countless waterfowl, which feed on the bountiful supply of shrimp, crabs and other aquatic food that inhabit these waters.

Perhaps the most unusual animal living in the mangroves is the Proboscis Monkey, which sports an unusually long nose. These primates are only found on the island of Borneo, and Brunei has a thriving population of them. Although they are tree-dwellers, Proboscis Monkeys are proficient swimmers, and you may catch a glimpse of one in the water or eating vegetation on land.

On the return to Bandar Seri Bagawan, you will stop at the Water Village. More than 30,000 people live in the village which is an amazing assortment of homes, restaurants, mosques, shops and hospitals, all connected by wooden boardwalks. Surprisingly, some of the homes are quite elaborate, and you will have the unique opportunity of stopping by one for a cup of tea. Amazingly, people have lived in the Water Village for more than 1,300 years, making it one of the most historic areas in Brunei. A visit here is truly an unforgettable experience.

Re-boarding your tour boat, you will cruise back to the jetty where your coach awaits to transfer you back to the pier and your awaiting ship.

This is an excellent tour for those who prefer a more relaxed pace with minimal walking required. Brunei is one of the 2 remaining Ruling Sultanate in the world today and your escorted tour will take you along the route of the royalty in Brunei, explaining to you what they do and the role they play in modern-day Brunei. Starting off from the pier, you will travel to the Prime Minister office for a photo stop before continuing to Bandar Seri Begawar, Brunei's capital city. Here, you will find the Water Village from a distant view, site of your first stop. Situated in the middle of the Brunei River, approximately 39,000 people make this unique place their home, living and working in buildings that have been constructed atop stilts that rise from the river. In actuality, the Water Village is made up of several small villages that are linked together by a network of foot-bridges and boardwalks and rapid transit here comes in the form of private water taxis. This utterly fascinating village looks somewhat ramshackle at first glance, but closer inspection reveals that this enclave boasts all of today's modern amenities and behind the wooden exteriors of the homes, you will often find many ornate interiors. From here, you will next pass by Istana Nurul Iman, the official residence of the Sultan of Brunei that rises majestically alongside the Brunei River. Next, drive passing the homes of two of the Royal. The Polo Club is a delightful place to relax and enjoy some refreshment, surrounded by its elegant ambience. The theme here is naturally centered around horses, and the rooms are filled with many expensive oil paintings of these magnificent creatures. Who knows, you may even bump into some royalty while you are here as they are known to frequent the club. Following your stop for tea, you will re-join your coach and transfer back to the pier.