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Ulu Temburong National Park, Brunei Darussalam

Brunei Darussalam is still a little-known destination compared to other ASEAN countries, but, despite its obscurity, it is blessed with a rich cultural heritage and beautiful natural scenery. The capital city, Bandar Seri Begawan, is home to a plethora of cultural attractions, such as elaborate mosques and royal museums. However, a two-hour boat ride to Bangar, a small but modern town in the country’s far eastern Temburong District, opens up to a vast 550 square kilometer rainforest. This is Ulu Temburong, the country’s first national park, which has been dubbed the ‘green jewel’ of the nation.

Ulu Temburong National Park stands out for show casing one of the highest rainforest canopy walks in the world. The attraction offers a unique opportunity to feel the exhilaration of strolling through the clouds while taking in panoramic views of the rainforest down below. Visitors can also enjoy trekking and swimming.

Another feature of the park is its minimalist approach to ecotourism that strictly regulates human intervention and development. Since 1991, the Bruneian government has restricted logging in the area and opened only 1% of the park to tourists in order to protect the rainforest ecosystem, making it one of the most successful attempts at forest protection in the world. Thanks to these robust conservation policies, Ulu Temburong National Park is home to more than forty species of butterflies, and rare flora and fauna.

Beginning in 2020, there have been some changes in the area. First, the Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien(SOAS) Bridge, connecting the park to the mainland, was opened. The bridge now makes it easier for tourists to reach Temburong from the capital by vehicle. In addition, the government unveiled the country’s first large-scale ecotourism development plan for Temburong, and in December 2021, the Abode Resort & Spa was partially opened nearby. It is the first luxury resort in Temburong District, and the first in the country to be completely solar powered. To create an eco-friendly resort that minimizes environmental impact, only recycled materials were used in its construction. It also contributes to the revitalization of the local economy by hiring staff from the surrounding Temburong District.

In short, Brunei Darussalam offers quite a bit of everything: arts and culture in the capital, and the unparalleled beauty of a pristine rainforest, which can be enjoyed without concern for spoiling the local ecosystem, thanks to tough conservation measures. If you are planning a trip to Brunei Darussalam in 2023, late winter and early spring—before the unrelenting heat of summer arrives—is the best time.