{"id":17684,"date":"2025-06-05T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-06-05T06:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/destary.com\/brunei-travel-guide-travel-through-the-sultanate-on-borneo\/"},"modified":"2025-06-11T08:59:33","modified_gmt":"2025-06-11T06:59:33","slug":"brunei-travel-guide-travel-through-the-sultanate-on-borneo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/destary.com\/en\/travel-guides\/brunei-travel-guide-travel-through-the-sultanate-on-borneo\/","title":{"rendered":"Brunei Travel Guide: Travel through the sultanate on Borneo"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Brunei is a small country on the island of Borneo that is often overlooked. It captivates visitors with its lush rainforests, magnificent mosques and rich culture. Situated away from the typical travel routes through Southeast Asia, Brunei offers visitors plenty of peace and nature, but also challenges them with its political and social peculiarities. Visitors to Brunei will encounter hospitable and polite people who are proud of their homeland, although the political system and strict social order should be viewed with caution. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Location and geography<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Brunei Darussalam is located on the island of Borneo<\/a> in Southeast Asia and borders only Malaysia<\/a>. The small sultanate is divided into two non-contiguous parts, both of which border the Malaysian state of Sarawak. The entire east coast of Brunei lies on the South China Sea. With an area of around 5,765 square kilometres, Brunei is one of the world’s smallest states. However, it boasts a remarkable variety of landscapes, including tropical rainforests, mangroves, rivers and an extensive coastline. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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History: From powerful sultanate to wealthy oil state<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Brunei was an important regional sultanate in the 15th and 16th centuries, controlling much of North Borneo and parts of the Philippines. However, in the 19th century, it lost significant territory due to British colonial expansion and the growth of the Sarawak empire. In 1888, Brunei became a British protectorate. However, the country did not begin to prosper until oil was discovered in 1929. Brunei gained independence in 1984 but remained an absolute monarchy under Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah. Political freedom is limited, and Sharia law has been in force in the legal system since 2014 \u2014 a development that has attracted international criticism. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Jame' Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Politics and society \u2013 absolutist and conservative<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Brunei is an absolute monarchy under Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, who has ruled the country since 1967. Political opposition is not permitted, and freedom of the press is severely restricted. Sharia law has been in force in parts of the legal system since 2014, leading to international criticism, particularly regarding the severe punishments it enshrines, though these are rarely applied in practice. LGBTQ+ people officially live under strong legal repression, which many Western travellers may find morally difficult to reconcile. <\/p>

Nevertheless, Brunei is considered safe and stable \u2014 but at a price: a heavily controlled social life with little room for political or cultural diversity.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Climate and best time to visit<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Brunei is located in a tropical climate zone, experiencing high temperatures (between 24 \u00b0C and 32 \u00b0C) and high humidity all year round. There are no distinct seasons, but the rainy season runs from around October to January. The drier period from February to April is considered the best time to travel. During this period, the roads are in good condition and outdoor activities such as jungle hikes and boat trips are particularly enjoyable. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Entry and security<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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German citizens do not require a visa for stays of up to 90 days. A passport valid for at least six months is sufficient. Brunei is considered a very safe destination with a low crime rate. However, strict Islamic laws should be respected, especially in public areas. Non-Muslims may possess limited quantities of alcohol for personal use, but it must not be consumed in public. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Anna at Jame' Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Culture, religion and environmental protection<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Brunei is a deeply Islamic state, with Malay Islam as the state religion. Society is conservative, polite and strongly hierarchical. Tradition and religion permeate all areas of life there. Accordingly, clothing should be respectful \u2014 shoulders and knees should be covered as much as possible, especially when visiting religious sites. <\/p>

The state has a clear sustainability strategy. Almost 70% of the country’s land is protected. The government invests in ecotourism, as demonstrated by its work in the Ulu Temburong National Park, and focuses on environmental education. The growth of mass tourism is deliberately limited to ensure that travellers have an authentic experience close to nature. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Currency and costs<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The official currency is the Brunei dollar (BND), which is pegged at a 1:1 ratio to the Singapore dollar. Both currencies are accepted throughout the country. Brunei is an expensive country by Southeast Asian standards, particularly with regard to accommodation and imported goods. However, the country offers good value for money when it comes to transport, street food, and cultural attractions. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Top sights in Brunei<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Bandar Seri Begawan <\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The capital is quiet, clean and, surprisingly, modern. Highlights include: <\/p>