Essential Timor-Leste

Welcome to Dili airport by your English-speaking guide, then you start your adventure in East Timor with a visit of the capital: Santa Cruz cemetery, the Resistance Museum, the Chega exhibition and the statue of « Cristo Rei », among others.

Morning transfer to Maubisse. You will indeed gain altitude by heading towards the hills that overlook Dili, taking a scenic road that offers a spectacular view of the capital and the northern islands of Atauro and Alor, the two last parts of the Indonesian archipelago. Maubisse is a village situated on the slopes of the central mountains, where agriculture remains the main activity.

From rice to potatoes, passing through beans, cassava and all sorts of vegetables, the abundance of local vegetables cultivated in this region meets the demand for fresh produce in the capital. The town of Maubisse is located at approximately 1,600 meters altitude and enjoys a cool, spring-like climate throughout the year (the months of June to August, during the dry season, record the coldest temperatures). The houses with cone-shaped thatched roofs - constructed with bamboo or earth walls, which can be seen along the road, are the typical traditional houses of this region, and Mambae is the dialect spoken in this area.

The thatched roofs extend down to the ground in order to protect the interior of the houses from the strong and cold winds blowing outside. You visit the Pousada built by the Portuguese, located at the top of a hill in the center of the town. The Portuguese built most of the Pousadas at the top of mountains or in places offering the best views.
At Maubisse, you enter the interior of a Pousada of Portuguese construction, located at the top of a hill in the heart of the town. The Portuguese built most of the Pousadas at the top of mountains or in places offering the best view of the region. The Maubisse Pousada offers a 360° view over the town as well as the surrounding mountains and valleys. The house still has the original parquet flooring and fireplace. Free time to stroll through the town (particularly its market) and/or explore the surrounding area.
In the afternoon, you continue your journey, through an alpine landscape, towards Hatu-Builiko, located at the foot of Mount Ramelau.

Late at night, transfer to the surroundings of Mount Ramelau, and begin its ascent. After approximately 2h30 of hiking, you witness a spectacular sunrise from the summit of the mountain, where a statue of Our Lady of the Assumption was erected by the Catholic Church during Indonesian occupation. In clear weather, you can see the north coast and south coast. In normal weather, the island floats above the clouds. Mt Ramelau, also known as Mt Tatamailau, is the highest mountain in Timor Leste, and formerly the highest in the Portuguese empire. It reaches an altitude of 2,963 meters.

A statue of Our Lady of the Assumption was erected at the summit in October 1997, during Indonesian occupation, and with it, Mt Ramelau reaches 3,000 meters. Every year in October, thousands of Christians from this country make a pilgrimage to the summit to commemorate its anniversary. Return to the hotel in mid-morning. In early afternoon, you continue your journey south, along a chain of picturesque mountains and through traditional villages; you will visit along the way the site of the supply base for East Timor's oil industry.

Upon arriving in Suai, you explore its surroundings and visit some traditional villages and historical sites, such as Suai Cathedral.

Transfer to Bobonaro early in the morning, via a scenic mountain road. You then continue to Marobo, where you will have lunch with a local family.

In the afternoon, descent to the Marobo hot spring, where you can relax while experiencing the very strong sulfated hot spring smell flowing from the mountain.

The ruins of the former thermal station remain in this vast area. A modest pool has been partially restored and swimming is welcome.

Transfer to Maliana at the end of the afternoon.

Morning discovery of Maliana, then you take the road to Balibo, where you begin a pleasant walk to discover this famous house, where five Australian and British journalists took refuge in 1975 during the Indonesian invasion.

In the afternoon, you explore the small town of Balibo. Fort Hotel is located in a former Portuguese garrison, which includes the old Portuguese colonial house (which now houses the restaurant at the hotel).

The hotel also houses a new museum equipped with audiovisual equipment, where you can spend time learning about the tragic history of these 5 journalists, who were the very first witnesses to the invasion of Timor Leste by the Indonesian army.

Morning transfer to the Loès River, the longest in the country, where you have the opportunity to stretch your legs and even buy fresh local produce and delicious seasonal fruits. You then continue your journey to Maubara, where you visit its fort. In the afternoon, you travel along the coast towards Baucau and across steep mountains. You enjoy magnificent views of the ocean, coral reefs, white sand beaches, and marble beaches. You also stop in fishing villages by the sea. Along the way, you will also pass through Laleia, the birthplace of the famous Timorese resistance leader Kairala Xanana Gusmao, and the coastal town of Manatuto. Arrival in Baucau late afternoon.

Baucau is the second largest city in East Timor, situated on a hill overlooking the ocean, with buildings made of traditional materials and limestone on which the city is built. Fishing and rice cultivation were once the main activities, but all sorts of businesses have flourished here since independence in 2000, as it is a major stopover for many people traveling to other districts, making it a very lively city with a vibrant daily market.

Pousada de Baucau was built as a guesthouse, used by many people to escape Dili for a weekend, to enjoy the cooler climate far from the hot capital of Dili. The largest and oldest international airport is located in Baucau, but it is no longer in use and is currently undergoing renovation work. The Pousada still retains the original hotel building with parquet floors typical of Portuguese architecture.

The Pousada also has a tragic history: its rooms were used as interrogation rooms by the Indonesian army during certain years of occupation.

Morning transfer to Tutuala passing through the village of Pitileti, a few traditional cemeteries, Mehara and Ira Lalaro lake. Visit to the Lene Hara caves. The wall suspended from the cliff features rock paintings representing the Fataluku people. These paintings are of great anthropological importance, as studies have shown that they present motifs very similar to those found in other Southeast Asian countries, notably in the Philippines, where nomadic tribes of the same origin, who came from North Asia, also settled.

Recent discoveries have revealed the oldest bone fishhooks found in a nearby cave, the oldest stone harpoon and a new stone sculpture in areas near the Lene Hara caves. All these sites are located in the vast Nino Konis Santan National Park, which also contains Ira Lalaro lake, the largest in East Timor. Afternoon transfer to Valu beach, where you board a traditional boat bound for the paradisiacal island of Jaco, where you will have the opportunity to relax. Transfer to Tutuala in late afternoon. Jaco island is a small desert island that is part of the protected Nino Konis Santana national park, located in the eastern district of Lospalos, where the Fataluku people live. Jaco is fortunate to have incredible white sand beaches, immaculate azure waters and sparse vegetation.

Visitors can stroll on the beach, swim, snorkel… and fishing is allowed. As it is sacred land (Lulik) for the Fataluku people, overnight camping is not permitted, except for men. Once a year, women from the local tribe are allowed to stay overnight for their secret female ritual. The Lospalos district is an area of ancient heritage and great anthropological value. Recent archaeological discoveries of the world's oldest fishing hooks at Tutuala testify to the ancient presence of nomadic tribes in this region, dating back approximately 42,000 years.

Return transfer day to Dili. En route, visit of some historic sites around Baucau.