PORTUGUESE VESTIGES REVOLUTIONARY SPIRITS
JAPANESE GHOSTS
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!
THE ROUTE
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DAY 1 • BEM-VINDO À TIMOR-LESTE
Meet ‘n Greet at Dili International Airport and introductory briefing about East Timor, its history, culture, and traditions.
Half-day city tour around and about Dili: Soviet-style monuments, crumbling Portuguese architecture, touching war memories, and colourful open-air markets.
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 against Indonesia.
Overnight in Dili.
DAY 2 • TROPICAL HEAVENS
Morning transfer by private boat to Atauro Island, a little slice of paradise situated just fourteen 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 snorkelling in one of the most biodiverse waters in the world.
Overnight on Atauro Island.
DAY 3 • TALES OF OCCUPATION
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 somber remnants of Indonesian concentration camps and prisons.
On our way back to Dili we will also stop at the Tasi Tolu Wetlands, a protected coastal area that includes three saline lakes harbouring several near-threatened species of birds and marine invertebrates.
Overnight in Dili.
DAY 4 • HIGHLAND BREWS
Scenic drive to Maubisse, a lovely little mountain town famous for its colourful food market and elegant pousadas (colonial-era Portuguese guesthouses).
En route to Maubisse, we’ll stop at the village of Dare–home to a WW2 memorial honouring the Australian failed attempt to forestall a take-over of the island by Japan—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 • REVOLUTIONARY HIDEOUTS
Sunrise departure from Maubisse and transfer to Venilale on the rugged roads skirting the Timor’s southern coastline via Ossu, a charming town nestled amidst the country’s central massifs
Venilale—known for its colder temperatures, natural attractions, and Portuguese architectonic legacy—used to be a popular destination even in the colonial era and—more recently—it had also become a guerrilla stronghold thanks to an extensive artificial network of caves and trenches, built by the Japanese during World War II and later used as unassailable refuge by Fretilin freedom fighters during the Indonesian Occupation.
Overnight in Venilale.
DAY 6 • OCEAN ROADS, TAKE ME HOME
Transfer back to the capital via Baucau, the second-largest city in East Timor.
Following the picturesque northern coastal road, we’ll stop first in Manatuto–a town that suffered an extensive amount of suffering during the NATO-supported Indonesian Occupation of East Timor–and then in Metinaro–home to a touching martyrs’ cemetery.
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.
Overnight in Dili.
DAY 7 • FAREWELL TO TIMOR
After enjoying a last Timorese meal 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 or the Salomons.
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, personal insurances (medical travel insurance and travel cancellation insurance are strongly recommended).
