Exploring Timor-Leste

Travel to one of the least visited countries on the planet

    Explore the Undiscovered

    “Exploring Timor-Leste: A comprehensive travel guide to one of the least visited countries in the world” is now available on Amazon
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    Discover

    Discover what you can do in this diverse and fascinating country

    snorkelling & diving | hiking | mountain biking | history & culture | religious sites | coffee | other activities | volunteer | itineraries | podcast

    Explore

    Explore what Timor-Leste can offer the intrepid traveller

    Top 10 Timor-Leste | 5 places to visit if you like… | Aileu | Ainaro | Atauro Island | Baucau | Bobonaro | Covalima | Dili | Ermera | Lautém | Liquiçá | Manatuto | Manufahi | Oecusse | Viqueque

    Plan

    Plan your journey to Timor-Leste, a true adventure travel destination

    ten things to know about travelling to Timor-Leste | tour operators | how much will it cost? | getting to Timor-Leste | getting around Timor-Leste | getting around Dili | where to stay | food and drink | internet | safety | health | climate | language | being culturally aware | what to bring

    My Timor-Leste experience

    TikTok

    @exploringtimor

    YouTube channel

    Timor-Leste – Jonty travels…

    • Nativity Exhibition at Nicolau Lobato Presidential Palace

      As the second most Catholic country in the world (after The Vatican City), Timor-Leste takes Christmas seriously, illustrated by the Nativity Exhibition reestablished at the Nicolau Lobato […]

    • Atecru day trip from Beloi

      An enjoyable day trip by boat from Beloi to Atecru, one of my favourite places in Timor-Leste thanks to its incredible snorkelling, beautiful beach and setting, and being completely devoid of any […]

    • Vila to Beloi (the hard way)

      Close in difficulty to summiting Manucoco (the highest point on Atauro Island), this was a challenging half day hike I figured out from past experience and following random trails. Over ~13km and up […]

    • Big Becora Loop

      An enjoyable 8km hike around Becora in east Dili, mainly spent on the hills surrounding the area, with huge views and interesting rural village life so close to the capital. I started across the dry […]

    My Timor-Leste books

    Exploring Timor-Leste

    Exploring Timor-Leste’s Religious Sites

    Exploring Timor-Leste on Foot

    Exploring Timor-Leste From the Air

    Best of the internet on Timor-Leste

    Recent media

    Timor-Leste: Exploring Asia’s overlooked gem, Stuff

    Heading Off: Jonty Crane in Timor-Leste, RNZ

    Expat Tales: Life in ‘one of the least-visited countries on the planet’, Stuff

    Promoting Timor-Leste as a travel destination, Guide Post Magazine

    A Dili diary: Layers of history — Portuguese, Dutch, Japanese, Indonesian, Australian — aren’t far from the surface in the Timorese capital and its hinterland, Inside Story

    Fewer than 10 tourists a day: Welcome to Timor-Leste, Adventure.com

    The forgotten tropical outpost on the brink of a tourism boom, The Telegraph

    Is Timor-Leste safe for tourists? This is what it’s really like inside Asia’s newest country, Escape.com

    A colourful trip back in time to Australia’s northerly neighbour, The Sydney Morning Herald

    For scuba divers seeking serenity, nothing beats Atauro Island, The Macao News

    One of the world’s youngest countries is on the rise as the next tourist destination, Travel Noire

    Like Bali in the 1970s: This island on our doorstep remains unspoiled, The Sydney Morning Herald

    Timor-Leste’s Uncertain Future : Timor-Leste has accomplished a great deal over the past two decades but faces challenges of an intensity that could undo much of what it has achieved, Lowy Institute

    Timorese coffee draws the attention of tourists, Tatoli.tl

    Five of the best websites

    Official Tourism & Travel Guide – the most popular website on Timor-Leste (there isn’t much competition) offers a wealth of information on the country though it can be a little vague about the logistics (which is where this site hopefully helps) and hasn’t been updated in a while…

    Diliguide – a near definite guide to living in Dili as an expat, filled with useful and accurate information, recommended

    Bucklistly Blog – a travel blog based on a 10 day visit in 2018 to Dili, Baucau, Maubisse and Atauro Island. His piece on how Timor-Leste was too adventurous for him is particularly good

    Sophie Rai Liur – brilliantly written blog by an Australian who spent five years living in Dili, filled with interesting insights about life here as a malae (foreigner)

    Notes on Travelling – blogger who spent two months in Timor-Leste and has some of the most comprehensive information on Timor-Leste

    Five of the best videos

    The Undiscovered Island – incredible video showcasing some of the best of Timor-Leste

    Travel Inspired – Adam lived in Dili for five years and made many videos about Timor-Leste

    Caroline Pemberton – Caroline was the face of East Timor Now, a 2012 promotional campaign, which created professional videos about Timor-Leste

    Kang Obet – expat living in Dili who has captured everyday life here

    Daily life in Dili – one of the most popular YouTube videos on Timor-Leste gives a good idea of life in Dili

    What people say about Timor-Leste

    “

    Snorkelling is world class and our group agreed it was some of the best marine life we have seen”

    Bella Benjamin on Atauro Island, Google Reviews

    “

    This is Asia’s youngest country, tourism is in its infancy and little information is available online. I find I’m astonished at just about every turn”

    Kirrily Schwarz, Escape