Itinerary

Day 1 starts out with the Dili City Tour. We travel east through the central business district of East Timor’s laid-back capital of Dili, which has sprung to life

since independence in 2002. The city is nestled into the base of the surrounding hills, which are lush and green in the rainy season. We pass by many historical buildings, monuments & religious places including the Government Palace, Casa Europa which was the original Portuguese Military garrison built in 1769, and the Prince Henry the Navigator Monument.
Our first stop is at the Australian World War 2 Memorial and Museum located in Dare. The memorial was built in 1969 by the Australian Diggers, veterans of World War II, and dedicated to the Timorese people for their support to the Australian soldiers against the occupying Japanese forces from 1942-1945.
Back in Dili we visit the Santa Cruz Cemetery, which is one the most important, and historically significant worship sites in East Timor. To the international community, the cemetery is best know for being the site of the Santa Cruz
Massacre that took the lives of approximately 250 youths on the 12th November 1991.
Our next stop is at the Xanana Cultural Centre (originally the Xanana Reading Room) which is home to a public library, bookshop and exhibition spaces showcasing a permanent collection of photographs and paintings completed both during Xanana’s life as a resistance fighter in rugged jungles and mountains of East Timor and while he was imprisoned in Indonesia during the 1990’s, awards
and presentations made to Xanana Gusmao, tais and cultural artefacts. We then make our way to the now famous East Timorese Resistence Archive and
Museam for our personal 40min guided tour.
Time now for a delicious Timorese buffet lunch before
we make our way into the centre of Dili, to the Tais craft market where you will see women weaving traditional fabrics and basket weaving, then passing by the National Parliament to the Chega Exhibition,  Chega is a Portuguese word that  translates to the Commission for Reception, Truth and Reconciliation in Timor Leste which was thetitle for its report.  Chega speaks for all the victims of the nightmares, individual and collective who need to know that this will never be permitted to recur.
We now head east along the coast to the Jesus Statue we you have the choice to explore the gardens at the base
or follow the Stations of the Cross to the top.

Day 2 
Departing Dili we travel east along the spectacular ocean road stopping for some crocodile feeding in Metinaro, exploring in Manatutu and Saint Antonio lookout arriving in Baucau, Timor-Leste’s second largest city driving through the new town perched high up on the plateau. Lunch at locally famous restaurant to try the regional specialty Kulu,
or for the less adventurous Portuguese cuisine.
After lunch we will take a walking tour of the “Old Town” exploring the Portuguese influenced town including the vibrant and colourful local markets, before cooling off in the Portuguese Piscina – a spring feed historical
swimming pool where the cool water flows direct from the mountains. Then moving on to visit the 7 Tunnels built by the Japanese during WW2 to store Munitions,
vehicles and food, before arriving in Loihuno, set amongst the forests, waterfalls, resistance hideouts, and  the Mundo Perdido (“Lost World”) Mountain Range. We settle in to the eco lodge that will serve as our base.

Day 3
The morning is spent exploring the District of Viqueque starting off with a shorttrek up to limestone caves where the experienced local guides will guide you through the caverns and tell the fascinating stories of how Loihuno came to be abundant with water and agriculture. After lunch and a visit to the local market in Baucau we continue on to the tiny seaside village of Com. Tonight a local dinner will be prepared and then we will be treated to a screening of Timor Lestes first feature Film “Beatrizes War” re-accounting the Karras Massacre.

Day 4 
Continuing on to the most eastern tip of Timor Leste discovering the Nino Konis Santana Marine & Terrestrial National Park, including the spectacular beaches of Jaco Island and the ancient cave paintings at Iii Kere-Kere and the numerous stone sarcophagi and animistic shrines throughout the  Los Palso district. Checking in to our beachside bungalows at Valu Beach. Our bungalow host will provide dinner on site overlooking Jaco Island.

Day 5
We have time to explore the beaches at Valu and for an additional Cost of $10p/person you can take a local fishing boat across to the uninhabited Jaco Island and explore the island and its amazing white sand beaches. We begin the long 7 hour journey back into Dili, again this will be an

extremely scenic journey with our private transport affording us the opportunities and ability to stop as and where we need for refreshments and we will take lunch in the seaside village of Com. Returning to Beachside hotel where you will have the opportunity to shower and freshen up. Checking into Beachside Hotel in Dili – you have the choice of budget twin share or
deluxe double accommodation.
Day 6
Today we have a break from the 4x4 overland travel and go to the enticingly close,  Atauro Island which is directly
north of Dili, 30km across the Wetar Strait. The 140-sq-km island, is just 1 hour by speedboat and we travel through the Wetar Straight well known for dolphin and whale activities, once we arrive we take a short walk up the beach the the Eco Lodge where we check into our “fishermans Bungalow’s" for the rest of our stay. Island time now kicks in.The Island is alive with soft coral and tropical sea life.  Take a leisurely dip in the water, or vigorously swim around our pristine private
beaches.  Swim or float on the crystal clear waters or let one of the experienced Island guides take you away to a few favourite sites. For an added cost, the Island staff  will assist you in organizing your island activities that include:

* guided snorkelling or scuba diving
* Hiking & trekking
* Tiga Roda Village Tour
* Offshore Fishing
* Massage
* Dolphin & Whale Watching
* 4X4 Tours
* Mountain Bike Tours
A buffet dinner is served at the lodge or you can choose to visit the Local “Italian Restaurant” in the village of Villa.

Day 7/8
We travel back to Dili, were you have the choice to explore more of the city and do some shopping or enjoy the beach and café strip before departing Dili in the morning.

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