Brunei

Brunei is a small but very rich country located in southeast Asia. It is bordered by the South China Sea and is situated on the north coast of the island of Borneo. The country has four districts, Brunei/Maura, Tutong, Belait and Temburong. The capital city is Bandar Seri Begawan located in Brunei/Maura district.

A glittering example of Brunei’s majestic royal heritage, Istana Nurul Iman is the Sultan’s lavish home in the capital and is the largest residential palace in the world. Nearby, the Mausoleum of Sultan Bolkiah pays tribute to one of Brunei’s greatest Sultans. The capital also houses a number of royal museums; perhaps the most well-known is the Royal Regalia Museum. A visit to the Brunei Museum is also a must, with its elaborate displays of antique cannons and intricate daggers, a large private collection of gilded Holy Korans.

Things to See & Do

* Belalong National Park
* Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque – Bandar Seri Begawan
* Bruneian Kampong Ayer water village - Bandar Seri Begawan
* Istana Nurul Iman - Sultan’s lavish home
* Royal Regalia Museum

General information

Cruise Season – Jan - Dec
Currency – Brunei dollar (BND)
Language – Malay, English, Chinese
Population – 402,000 approx
Land Area – 5,270 km²
Electricity – two vertical square pins and one perpendicular below British style
Time - GMT plus eight hours
International Country Telephone Code – + 673

Port Location – The port is located at Muara, approximately 25km from the town of Muara.

Travel Links – Brunei is accessible by air, sea and land transport. Brunei International Airport is the main entry point to the country. Royal Brunei Airlines is the national carrier. Royal Brunei Airlines, the nation’s flagship carrier, flies non-stop or direct to most major Asia-Pacific destinations and the Middle East, as well as to Europe via London and Frankfurt. Meanwhile, Malaysia Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways, Dragonair and Philippines Airlines serve Bandar Seri Begawan and offer one-stop connections to the rest of the world through their hubs in Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong and Manila.

Ferries link Brunei with the Malaysian island of Labuan off the coast of Sabah, and to the Malaysian towns of Limbang and Lawas in Sarawak.

An extensive overland road network also connects Brunei to Sarawak and Sabah, while the Indonesian province of Kalimantan can be reached by road, air or boat via Sarawak or Sabah.