2

Hike Safely!

Stay on the marked trails and go with a friend

Always let people know where you are going and when you’re expected back. It’s rare not to have a phone signal these days, but it does happendon’t rely on google maps for a path.

You can find more details on all the hikes mentioned here: www.alltrails.com/brunei

Sipatir, my hiking friends, is a fine vantage point. From the top, you'll get a bird's eye view of the Brunei River, Brunei Bay, and even a glimpse of Malaysia. But be warned, it's a popular spot for the masses, with wide, beaten paths suitable for keen trail runners. It’s no cakewalk, though - the ascent'll get your heart pumping, but there's plenty of pit stops to catch your breath and take in the view. A few refreshments await at the trailhead, and along the way you'll find a few honesty boxes stocked with cold tins for a moderate dollar.

Belait district’s favourite hiking spot starts and finishes in Brunei’s first national park. If you’re parking here, remember the park gates close at 6pm. Take the steps to the right, this will take you on a trail through the Dipterocarp trees and bring you out to a sealed road. Turn left and head 500m towards a pondok, passing the first pylon which will be your exit later. You'll turn right at the pondok, next to one of a few mountain bike jumps and follow the path, keeping left until arriving at your first T-junction. Now you’re ready to climb! Head straight down and straight on up to Bukit Kubu. There’s little shade in this part, so make sure you bring a hat. The trails are reasonably easy to spot, and popular, mostly following the route under the electricity pylons, which perch atop the hills. The hike will lead you down alongside Jalan Tengah and the fertiliser plant, before turning right and following the electricity pylons back up into the shade of the forest and the sealed road. This trail is a favourite among hikers, so if you’re lost, someone will usually be nearby. If you’re heading deeper in and off the hiking trail, you may encounter some mountain bikers on some well used bike paths.

Haven’t got time for a long hike? Do this three-hill loop! One of the many hikes that was reinvigorated by locals clearing paths and making signs to get active around Kampong Lumapas. You’ll hit three small hills on this hike and it is pretty steep - slippery in places - but for a veteran of reading about hiking, you’ll manage. There’s three good lookouts over RIPAS bridge and Kampong Ayer, but you’re a trail runner now and there’s no shade, so you’ll need to keep moving. Park near the mosque on Jalan Tarap Bau, do up your laces, stay hydrated and get at it. For a reward at the end, add on a short walk to a gerai on the boardwalks of Kampong Ayer - there’s good Soto to be found!

The jungle in Temburong just hits differently: it’s fresh, it’s huge, it’s primaeval. I’ll tell you this, you feel like you’re walking in the footsteps of your ancestors here. You’ll get a sense of this on the trail to Bukit Patoi, no more so than when you are standing by the largest standing wall of rock, Batu Berdinding, wondering who has been there before you. The Bukit Patoi trail is a straightforward lollipop – follow the rope leads and arrows for interesting rock formations and plenty of indication there’s wildlife along the way. Without appropriate footwear, you’ll rightly find it harder to keep your footing on the many parts that are green and mossy underfoot. At the peak, you are rewarded with a view of the jungle around Trusan, Sarawak; with shady spots to park the car at the entrance and path maintenance by the local rangers, this is a great hike to challenge yourself.