Exploring Timor-Leste

Timor-Leste, or East Timor as it is still sometimes known, is a great place for outdoors activities. However, there is virtually nothing to guide you. There are a bunch of books about the history and anthropology, a bigger bunch of books about the Indonesian occupation and the resistance, an even bigger bunch on the events of 1999 and the coming of independence. Lonely Planet recently put out a guide book, but it has relatively little discussion of outdoors sports activities.

The intention of this website is not to provide political, social, economic or historical information on Timor-Leste. Instead, it is to record some of the exciting, spectacular and fun activities that can be done here. The idea grew out of my personal website, aimed at just friends and family, recording my adventures here. It was a logical next step to orient it slightly wider. I hope that people who might want some tips on what can be done here will use it.

You might be coming here to live and work, like me. Or you might be a prospective backpacker, or some other sort of tourist. In any event, this website is aimed at those who want a bit more information on East Timor than is possible from websites like Discover Dili. There is a particular slant towards outdoors adventure, reflecting my own tastes, and also filling in the gap left by the Lonely Planet. The frame of reference is often Australia, reflecting my own background and the likely (in my opinion) potential source of tourists. However, I hope that people of all interests will find something useful here.

Contents

IMPORTANT - DISCLAIMERS

IMPORTANT - ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

General Introduction

Special interest compilations

Descriptions and trips, organised by Districts

In order of increasing distance from Dili.

Last updated July 2005

Feedback, contributions, suggestions, questions - contact the author, Peter Ellis, on ellisp@netspeed.com.au