Spanning half an island just north of Western Australia, Timor-Leste has been a bit of an underdog for over 450 years. Due to a series of occupations by other countries on its path to independence, it’s the youngest nation in Asia. The country’s tourism industry therefore isn’t well established—which is just one reason why those who do visit love it so much.
The Sorbian and Belos kingdoms ruled here before Portuguese colonizers started claiming the east side of Timor Island in the 16th century (while the Dutch claimed the west side). East Timor finally declared its independence in 1975—only to be invaded by Indonesia nine days later, which resulted in a 24-year occupation. Finally, Timor-Leste gained independence in 2002. Opportunity for growth and rebuilding began in the 20th century, which led to the opening of hotels and tours, as travelers (especially from nearby Australia) began to visit.
Few visitors have had the chance to experience the country’s beautiful beaches, mountain trekking, historic architecture, and regular dolphin sightings. It only takes about 10 hours to drive along the coast from one end of the country to the other, but the hilly land is packed with ruins being overtaken by nature, coffee forests, and hot springs. Multi-stop routes are the best way to see the many highlights.
To begin, take a boat from the capital of Dili to Atauro Island to experience its long, winding beaches and snorkel incredibly diverse coral reefs. Then head west to Morobo hot springs, where you can take a mud bath and thermal dip at the ruins of an old resort. Make stops at Maubisse, a hill town in the mountains known for producing a rich coffee with notes of dark chocolate, and Balibo, where you can stay in an old Portuguese fort and visit limestone caves that were once used for hiding during occupations. Nearby Mount Ramelau is the highest peak in Timor-Leste at nearly 10,000 feet. Drive on a tour or hike three to four hours to the summit to see a view of the entire country from coast to coast.
Then head to the eastern tip of Timor-Leste for Nino Konis Santana National Park. The foreboding Lake Ira Lalaro is a haunting site here, with a half-sunken forest and hundreds of crocodiles, which are considered lucky. No matter how fortunate you are, swim instead in the Kool-Aid-blue waters of Jaco Island, with such pure white sand and dramatic limestone rock formations that locals consider the island sacred and no one is allowed to spend the night. It’s worth an entire day of lounging, sandwiched by other days exploring the nearby ancient rock art and sacred totem houses on stilts.
— Danielle Hallock
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Get ready for an adventure! Delta Airlines and Atlas Obscura will soon unveil the top 24 destinations for 2024. Stay tuned!
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