Our recent Exploratory Trip into Timor-Leste was hugely successful and we are very excited with the opportunity the director of tourism has offered us. We believe adventures into this, the newest nation in the world, are an exciting option for those of our clients who prefer to leave the main roads of the world to others.
Timor-Leste has much to offer to visitors; a combination of fine sandy beaches, rugged mountains, a lush interior, with a mix of Portugese colonial style and traditional Timorese architecture, all in a welcoming tropical environment. It has become one of the most attractive destinations for eco minded travelers. The exquisite coral reefs that fringe the coastline are home to a huge variety of marine species and offer some of the world’s best scuba diving and snorkelling just a short swim from the beach. The country’s mountainous interior is perfect for trekking and rambling amid breathtaking scenery. The old colonial capital, Dili has a laid back atmosphere, beautiful beaches, a good choice of restaurants and a range of accommodation to suit every budget. All of this makes Timor-Leste a destination that should not be missed.
The long and narrow island of Timor is located in the Indonesian archipelago, less than 500 kilometres from Australia. In a shape similar to a crocodile, the island is divided in two distinct parts. The Western part remains under Indonesian domain, and the Eastern side though independent, is still predominantly influenced by the Portuguese.
Ethnically, the Timorese can be divided in two big groups: the Atoni from Melanesia and the Tetum from Southern Belu, thought to be originally from Malaca. In the specific case of Timor-Leste, it is very difficult to identify and map the various ethnic groups. Still, today it is possible to find great cultural and linguistic diversity, mostly due to old internal wars and consequent integrations in subgroups and other ethnic-linguistic groups.
Though Timor-Leste is divided into thirteen districts, there are nearly fifteen different languages distributed in a sparse and erratic manner throughout the territory. The need for communication, particularly for commercial purposes, led to the election of tetum – native language of the Belus, spread by their conquest of the eastern part of the island of Timor – as the lingua franca.
Situated in the tropics, Timor-Leste has two main seasons determined by the monsoon rains. Mainly dry weather from May to October and wet weather between November and May. Temperates range between 19-30 degrees, depending on the location – temperatures will be lower in the mountains.
Catholicism is the most predominant religion in Timor-Leste and is often practiced in conjunction with traditional animist beliefs, which are still held by many. Muslim and Buddhist communities are also spread around the country.
