PORTUGUESE SHADOWS AND REVOLUTIONARY SPIRITS

August 10 ⇾ August 16

In addition to our regular group departures to East Timor, we also offer tour services for private travel parties and lone wolves alike. As a traveller-oriented boutique operator, tailored trips and bespoke adventures are our bread and butter. Get in touch for more info on our customised journeys to East Timor!

DAY 1 - Dili

Meet ‘n Greet at Dili International Airport (exact meeting time will be communicated well in advance per email in accordance with your flight schedule).
Introductory briefing about the region, the route and the set of rules to observe while travelling in East Timor.
Half-day city culture-and-architecture tour around Dili: Soviet-style monuments, crumbling Portuguese architecture, touching war memories, and colourful, loud and chaotic open-air markets and (as it is always the case during our tours) a lot of interaction with local communities.
On our first day in town we will also get acquainted with the recent past of the country and learn more about the pivotal role that the formerly marxist Fretilin (Frente Revolucionária de Timor-Leste Independente) played in the battle for independence of East Timor first from Portugal and then from Indonesia between 1974 and 1998.
Overnight in Dili.

DAY 2 - Atauro

Morning transfer by private boat to Atauro Island, a little slice of heaven situated just 14 nautical miles from Dili.
We’ll spend the entire day on this dreamlike island visiting its traditional villages, touring the local markets, hiking through nature, sunbathing at the beach and swimming, snorkelling, and scuba-diving in what have been labelled as the most biodiverse waters in the world.
Meals and overnight on Atauro Island.

DAY 3 - Liquica

Transfer back to the Timorese mainland and visit to the old colonial towns of Liquica, Aipelo and Maubara: gracious Portuguese shapes, moderno-tropical architecture, mouldering ancient forts and churches and the somber remnants of Indonesian concentration camps and prisons, eerie reminders of a troubled recent past.
On our way back to Dili we will also stop at the Tasi Tolu Wetlands, a protected coastal area that includes three saline lakes, an esplanade, and a beach and accommodates several near-threatened species of birds and marine invertebrates.
Overnight in Dili.

DAY 4 - Maubisse

Scenic drive to Maubisse, a lovely little mountain town famous for its colourful food market and the elegant pousada (colonial-era Portuguese guesthouse).
En route to Maubisse we’ll stop at the village of Dare, home to a WW2 memorial commemorating the Australian failed attempt to forestall a take-over of the island by Japan in WWII, and in the traditional settlement of Aileu, renowned for its lush coffee fields and the sustainable farming projects leading the way towards a more eco-friendly production of your daily cup of joe.
Once in Maubisse, we will tour the local market and the old colonial town and then pay a visit to the hamlet of Lekitehi, where we will be able to admire some peculiar examples of pre-colonial vernacular architecture.
A traditional Timorese dinner, awe-striking sunset views from our pousada and saudade-filled evening atmospheres will be the cherry on the cake to conclude this long and beautiful day around Timor’s highlands.
Overnight in Maubisse.

DAY 5 TO DAY 6 - Baucau and Venilale

Sunrise departure from Maubisse and transfer back to Dili and the further east towards Baucau, the second-largest city in East Timor.
Following the picturesque northern coastal road we’ll first stop in Metinaro, home to a touching Fretilin-martyrs’ cemetery, and in Manatuto, a town that suffered an extensive amount of suffering and damage during the NATO-supported Indonesian Occupation of East Timor.
The district of Manatuto is also famous for being the birthplace of both Nicolau dos Reis Lobato and Xanana Gusmao, two leading figures within the Soviet-supported Fretilin, the first having been one of the very founders of the movement (and later a national hero after his assassination at the hans of the Indonesians) and the second having been the very first president of East Timor after its long-sought restoration of independence in 2002.
In Baucau we will then tour the charming old town and the local market before hitting the aptly named Coconut Beach for a well-deserved swim in the ocean and a delicious seafood dinner.
On the following day, we’ll undertake a day-trip to the hilltop village of Venilale, a popular destination even in the colonial era, known for its colder temperatures, natural attractions and Portuguese architectonic legacy.
More recently, Venilale became also famous for its artificial network of caves and trenches, built by the Japanese during World War II and later used as a hiding place by Fretilin freedom fighters during the Indonesian Occupation.
Overnights in Baucau.

DAY 7 - FAREWELL TO TIMOR

After enjoying a last Timorese breakfast together, we'll take care of your transfer to Dili International Airport for your trip back home and/or your connection to yet another exciting destination in the region such as Papua New Guinea, Brunei or Nauru.
End of the tour.

1995 €

INCLUSIONS
Double/twin-room accommodation (breakfast included), private transport in Timor (car/minivan), all entrance fees, English-speaking guiding service, 24/7 on-site and remote assistance.

EXCLUSIONS
Single supplement, international flights, meals, extra drinks, visa fees (if required), additional activities, tips, travel insurance