Brunei

Brunei was never high on the typical travel radar, which is exactly why we wanted to go. In 2025, we spent a week exploring this small but surprising sultanate on Borneo.

We wandered through Bandar Seri Begawan, admiring the stunning Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque and the sprawling water village of Kampong Ayer. But the real highlights waited on the river. A boat expedition took us deep into the mangroves, where we spotted proboscis monkeys with their distinctive long noses lounging in the trees and saltwater crocodiles gliding silently through the water.

One moment stands out above all others. While walking along the city promenade, two otters suddenly appeared out of nowhere and jumped into the river. Within seconds, crocodile heads emerged from the murky water, moving toward them. Our hearts stopped. But the otters were faster, scrambling onto a small island just in time. Nature at its most raw and unscripted, right in the middle of the capital.

Brunei surprised us with its calm pace, its wildlife, and its unique mix of tradition and wealth. A destination that deserves far more attention than it gets.