All involvement with drugs of any kind must be avoided: possession of even very small quantities can lead to imprisonment or the death penalty.

The national airline is Royal Brunei Airlines (BI); it flies to Dubai, Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur, London and Singapore (daily), Jakarta and Manila (5 times a week), Bankok, Frankfurt/M and Hong Kong (4 times a week), Brisbane, Darwin, Perth and Surabaya (3 times a week), Bali and Jeddah (twice a week).

From Brunei to London is 17 hours, to Los Angeles is 18 hours 30 minutes including stopover in Hong Kong, to New York is 23 hours 20 minutes including stopover in Hong Kong, to Singapore is two hours and to Sydney is 12 hours 40 minutes including stopover in Perth.

Bandar Seri Begawan (BWN) is 11km (7 miles) south of the city. To/from the airport: Taxi services are available to the city with surcharges after 2200. Lower rates are charged by taxis leaving from the airport car park. Facilities: Bank, bureaux de change, car hire, duty free shops, post office, restaurants and shops.

Br$5 for flights to Kota Kinabalu and Kuching; Br$12 (just over £4) for all other destinations. This is payable in local currency in cash, at the airport check-in desk.

Ports at Muara and Kuala Belait are the entry points for sea cargo. There are passenger services between Singapore and Muara port. Ships and water taxis run a service between Bandar Seri Begawan and the Malay city of Luaban (Sabah).

There are access roads into Brunei from Sarawak at various locations, although some are unpaved.

It is easy to get lost in the rainforest and visitors are advised to use well-known and recognised guides, and to also stay on the designated footpaths.

There are no internal air services.

There are water taxi services to Kampong Ayer, with stations at Jalan Kianggeh and Jalan McArthur. Water taxis are the most common form of transport in Kampong Ayer, Brunei’s renowned water village. Fares are negotiable. Regular water taxi and boat services also ply between Bandar Seri Begawan and Bangar (in Temburong) between 07.45 and 16.00, and also service Limbang (in Sarawak), Labuan and some towns in the Malaysian state of Sabah.

There are approximately 2525km (1570miles) of roads in the country; the best-developed road network is in the Brunei-Muara district, including a coastal highway which runs from Muara to Jerudong and then on to Tutong. Traffic drives on the left. Bus: Services operate to Seria (91km; 57 miles) from Bandar Seri Begawan, Kuala Belait (16km; 10 miles) from Seria, Tutong (48km; 30 miles) from Bandar Seri Begawan and Muara (27km; 17 miles) from Bandar Seri Begawan. There is a bus station located at the multi-storey car park on Jalan Cator in the town centre. The city bus system is well maintained and inexpensive. There are six bus routes in Bandar Seri Begawan, operating from 0630 until 1800. Car hire: Self-drive or chauffeur-driven cars are available at the airport and major hotels. It is important to specify whether an air-conditioned car is required. Documentation: An International Driving Permit is required to hire a car. A temporary licence to drive in Brunei is available on presentation of a valid driving licence from the visitor’s country of origin.

Taxis are available in Bandar Seri Begawan, in the multi-storey car park at Jalan Cator. There are also airport taxis and taxis in most hotels and shopping centres. Fares are usually metered; if not, they should be agreed before the journey. There is a 50 per cent surcharge after 2300 for airport taxi services. Tipping is not necessary.