You'll begin your luxury Brunei getaway in the capital of Bandar Seri Begawan. This is a smart, compact city with international shopping and dining. Here you will settle into your hotel – we recommend the five-star Empire Hotel and Country Club, a palatial resort that offers golf, watersports and a world-class spa.

Today you'll head to Kampong Ayer Water Village, an overwater settlement of some 39,000 people, with more than 1,300 years of history. Walk the wooden boardwalks between stilt houses or zip around its districts in a water taxi. Next, take a River Safari to spot the curious proboscis monkey with its mottled fur and potbelly. The mangroves of Brunei are home to many species of wildlife, including crocodiles, migratory bird and butterflies. Return to your luxury Brunei hotel for the evening.  

Head just out of the city to marvel at the Istana Nurul Iman – the sultan's palace. Regarded as the largest palace in the world, this immense modernist complex is closed to the public and best-viewed from vantage points not far from Bandar Seri Begawan. For a close-up look at royal treasures, you'll visit the Royal Regalia Museum, which houses outfits, artifacts and gifts belonging to the royal family, then enjoy the remainder of the day at your leisure, shopping in Bandar Seri Begawan city center or enjoying the luxury facilities at your hotel.

The beautiful Ulu Temburong National Park provides the opportunity for you to explore Borneo wilderness. You can walk through the canopy on suspension bridges and wooden walkways and see a Native Longhouse, a traditional timber dwelling of the ethnic Iban and Dayak people. Today, you'll also visit the protected Selirong Forest, comprising pristine mangroves and inhabited by the tiny gliding mammal, the colugo. Return to your Bandar Seri Begawan hotel in the evening.

After a gourmet breakfast at your hotel, you'll be met by a driver and transferred to the airport for your departing international flight.