After staying in the vicinity of Kuala Belait and Seria for three months (Shawn was around for much longer), I found myself realizing that we spent almost every weekend out of the house. That’s because there are some really amazing day trips from Kuala Belait and Seria that you can undertake.
We did have a predisposition towards the great outdoors especially since there are a number of amazing green parks and forest reserves in Brunei to visit. There are a couple of other things to do in the area too.
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Green Day Trips From Kuala Belait And Seria
Let’s take a look at all the places that you can head to around Kuala Belait and Seria that involve nature. If you are staying in the area, you will be no stranger to the green cover that the tropical forests of Borneo give. How many times do you head out to explore it though?
Since the towns of Kuala Belait and Seria can best be described as sleepy, Shawn and I found that our best times were spent exploring the surroundings. Before we talk about where to go, let me give you a short brief on what to carry before heading onto any of the forested trails.
What To Carry When Heading Into The Tropical Forests Of Borneo
Expect the tropical forests of Borneo to be hot and wet. Yes! We found ourselves in various situations which ranged from blistering heat to the skies pouring on us within the span of a week. Sometimes, you will even find the change in a day. So what do you carry?
Water: Always carry water. Dehydration is a real risk whether it is hot or not. Some of the trails are long and there is no place to refill your bottle on the way. Consider how much you will require and take a little more. Getting lost in the forest is a possibility.
Rainwear: As I mentioned before, the clouds can burst and open at anytime. Make sure you have a jacket to keep you dry.
Waterproof/dry bag: We carried our phones and other accessories in a waterproof bag. You typically use these when you clamber into boats for tours, but it works well for treks too.
Mosquito repellent: Never ever head out without it. Mosquitoes inhabit the forests and they descend on you the moment you enter. You won’t get far without applying mosquito repellent.
A Snack: You never know when you will get hungry. We carried fruits while we trekked. Oranges work great because they are rehydrating too. Plus they are easy to eat.
Proper footwear: Make sure wear proper footwear when you head out. The trails range from easy to difficult and when it rains, the mud makes the paths slippery. Good footwear will also keep you reasonably protected from leeches.
Which Parts Of The Borneo Forest Can You Explore In A Day?
If you want to explore the forests of Borneo on day trips from Kuala Belait and Seria, you can do it either in Brunei or in Malaysia. Yes! Since the border is so close by, crossing from Brunei to Malaysia by car is a breeze.
1. Sungai Liang Forest Recreation Park
Our view on one of the Sungai Liang trails.
Distance from Seria: 24 km
The Sungai Liang Forest Recreation Park is the closest forested area that you can explore. The park main entrance also has an area that is designed for children to play in. A couple of trails will take you through the forests. We did not get a chance to explore all the trails and I hope to head back there one day.
2. Tasek Merimbun Heritage Park
Inside the butterfly garden in Tasek Merimbun Heritage Park.
Distance from Kuala Belait: 90 km
Distance from Seria: 77 km
The Tasek Merimbun Heritage Park is located a distance away from both Kuala Belait and Seria. I would recommend heading to this park if you enjoy a long drive. The park is situated next to a lake and while the boardwalk through the lake is not maintained, there are other spots that bear merit.
A quiet paved path next to the lake is one, the butterfly garden and the botanical trails are others. Do carry water and something to eat when you go as there isn’t much in the vicinity in terms of food.
3. Teraja Waterfalls
Distance from Kuala Belait: 87 km
Distance from Seria: 74 km
The Teraja waterfalls is located in the Labi forest and lies close to the border between Malaysia and Brunei. It is a long drive away and the trail itself is a long one.
This is why it is one of the places that people love to go to for day trips from Kuala Belait and Seria. While I did not do the trek, Shawn and his colleagues did. They came back with raving reviews.
4. Shahbandar Forest Recreation Park
A glimpse of the trail on the 9 hills trek and the Pondok in the distance.
Distance from Kuala Belait: 106 km
Distance from Seria: 94 km
The Shahbandar Forest Recreation Park is probably one of the most famous parks when it comes to people who love the great outdoors. The park has gained popularity because of its three hills trek, six hills trek and nine hills trek.
You can pick which trek suits you the best but keep in mind that as you add a hill the difficulty increases and it isn’t all because of distance. The park also has a great kids play area in case you want to head there with your children.
5. Niah National Park
Entrance to the Great Cave in Niah National Park.
Distance from Kuala Belait: 137 km
Distance from Seria: 150 km
The Niah National Park is located in the Sarawak region of Malaysia which means that you have to cross the border. Don’t forget your passports when heading out! The park is a bit of a drive away but well worth it.
The boardwalk is in decent condition and the trail takes you through a series of caves of different sizes. One in particular is huge! Another is pitch dark so take a torch. One has drawings that date back to the iron age.
6. Lambir Hills National Park
The stairs before we started on the longer trails in Lambir hills national park.
Distance from Kuala Belait: 75 km
Distance from Seria: 88 km
Lambir Hills National Park is another park that lies in the Sarawak region of Malaysia. It is not quite as far as Niah National park but ranks very high on people’s list of day trips from Kuala Belait and Seria. This park is famous for its waterfalls.
While one of the waterfalls is easily accessible the others get tougher to reach. Consult the forest warden before you enter and he will direct you based on the time you have and your capabilities.
7. Kampung Meritam’s Mud Volcanoes
One of the mud volcanoes at Kampung Meritam.
Distance from Kuala Belait: 128 km
Distance from Seria: 115 km
This one is a fun one. A lot of people talk about Borneo’s mud volcanoes but few people know that they can visit some that a very close by. Kampung Meritam’s mud volcanoes are also part of Malaysia’s Sarawak region but it involves crossing a different border as compared to Niah National Park and Lambir hills National Park.
We did have to overcome a few hurdles when it came to indulging in this activity but nothing too significant. If you are headed this way, I would suggest reading our post about the mud volcanoes before you go.
Other Day Trips From Kuala Belait And Seria
With the forests covered, lets take a look at some of the other day trips from Kuala Belait and Seria that may pique your interest. I think these trips are probably done once to see the area or to show visitors the highlights of the neighbouring cities. Not many people do them for the fun of it.
8. Bandar Seri Begawan
A glimpse of Bandar.
Distance from Kuala Belait: 112 km
Distance from Seria: 99 km
Bandar Seri Begawan is the capital city of Brunei and it is the place where the international airport is located. Most of the tourists stay in the city and explore it without heading out unless they want to head to Ulu Temburong National Park.
The city is a startling contrast to Seria and Kuala Belait in the fact that it big and has more amenities compared to the sleepy towns that we are used to.
Kampong Ayer, Brunei’s water village, Masjid Omar Ali Saifuddein Dan Bahtera Mahligai, other mosques, the river cruise etc. are popular attractions. Shawn and I found ourselves heading to Bandar Seri Begawan on the weekends because it has a couple of boardgame cafes and we love boardgames.
9. Miri
Distance from Kuala Belait: 49 km
Distance from Seria: 62 km
Miri is a city in the Sarawak part of Malaysia and lies just across the border of Brunei. Given the proximity to the border, it is a popular spot for day trips from Kuala Belait and Seria. There isn’t much to see in the city but people head there to do their shopping since things are much cheaper than Brunei.
In addition, people also can buy alcohol in Miri and bring it back across the border. If you do head to Miri, I would highly recommend visiting Sau Pau café in the city. It is a great place to have freshly baked goodies.
Other cities that you could choose to visit include Jerudong, Tutong and Gadong. We haven’t gotten around to exploring them because of shortage of time and because we preferred heading out on greener trails. I’m just putting them down here so that you know that the options exist.
If you live in Kuala Belait or in Seria or are shifting to the area, you may want to take a peek at our expats guide to Kuala Belait and Seria.
How many of these day trips from Kuala Belait and Seria have you covered? Which one is your favourites? Let us know in the comments below.
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katy gilroy
Saturday 15th of June 2019
this is such a great post, seems like you had the best time ever! x