Illustrative image, not a photograph

Ulu Temburong National Park

Brunei's untouched 'Green Jewel', reached by longboat and crossed on a rainforest canopy walkway

Difficulty: Moderate
Duration: A full day trip, or 2-3 days, 1-2 nights for the fuller rainforest programme

Brunei's first and largest national park protects some 550 square kilometres of untouched primary rainforest in the remote Temburong District. Visits begin with a longboat ride upriver from Bangar, through stretches of rapids, before a climb up steel scaffolding to a canopy walkway roughly 40 metres above the forest floor, with views across an unbroken green canopy to the South China Sea.

Highlights

The canopy walkway, about 40 metres above the forest floor
A longboat ride up the Temburong River through small rapids
Primary rainforest biodiversity, from hornbills to rare orchids
A guided night walk for nocturnal wildlife

Getting there

From Bandar Seri Begawan, cross Brunei Bay by speedboat to Bangar (about 45 minutes), or travel by road via Sarawak; tour operators handle the onward longboat transfer into the park from Bangar.

Safety tips

The canopy walkway climb involves steep steps and open scaffolding at height, not suitable for anyone uneasy with heights; the longboat legs cross real rapids, so life jackets and the boatman's instructions are non-negotiable, and a dry bag protects electronics from spray.

What to bring

Quick-dry clothing and closed shoes usable wet
Swimwear for the river stop
A dry bag for phones, cameras and other electronics
Insect repellent and a light rain jacket

Permit

Permit required

Official source: Brunei Forestry Department (Ulu Temburong National Park)
Fee: A day trip with a registered operator costs around BND 155 per adult, including river transfer and canopy walk; a fuller 3-day, 2-night programme with lodging runs around BND 325
Apply at least: Book through a registered Bandar Seri Begawan tour operator several days ahead; independent, unguided entry is not practical or permitted
How to apply: Book with a registered tour operator, who arranges the Forestry Department permit, the longboat transfer up the Temburong River (via Bangar) and canopy walk access as part of the package.

Best months

February to August, when river levels are more predictable

Avoid

November to January, the wettest months of the northeast monsoon, when high river levels can suspend longboat transfers

Brunei's equatorial rainforest sees rain year-round, so this is a matter of degree rather than a dry season versus a wet one; operators reschedule or adjust the river route when levels run high, so build a little flexibility into the trip.

Official source

Brunei Forestry Department · Ulu Temburong National Park