TIMOR LESTE
Bem-vindu. Welcome.
To the 2024 TOUR de TIMOR RUNNING TOUR
with special guest host and guide, adventurer BEAU MILES
TOUR DATES: 5 AUGUST - 11 AUGUST 2024*
*PLUS a 3-day optional adventure extension to Auturo Island 11-13th August.
Tour de Timor is a trail running adventure organised by Tour de Trails in conjunction with Mad Dog Adventures featuring special guest host and guide Beau Miles .
Join Beau as he explores the trails and tales of Timor Leste, its turbulent and fascinating history and journey to independence, its rich culture, close ties to Australia, the strength of its people, the politics and the stunning mountain geography. And the coffee - the best in the world.
Climbing mountains, and exploring trails between villages and into the hideout regions of the nation's independence fighters, this tour will be like no other Tour de Trails has hosted, with adventurer extraordinaire Beau Miles leading the way and telling stories as we go as only Beaudy can.
Limited to 12 runners only on this inaugural tour. Lock your place in now - they will go fast!
WHERE IS TIMOR LESTE?
Located within South-East Asia, Timor-Leste lies 400km north of Australia across the Timor Sea, a short 90 minute flight from Darwin. It comprises the eastern half of the Timor Island, and the separate enclave of Oecusse, situated in West Timor and the small off-shore island of Atauro and Jaco.
WHAT’S THERE?
Timor-Leste is rugged with a mountainous backbone rising over 2,000m, its highest peak Mount Ramelau stands at 2,986m. Almost half of the 15,000sq/km land area has a slope of 40 degrees or more making it scenically beautiful and full of limestone inspired adventures, but extremely difficult for road construction and cultivation. The island boasts wild rocky headlands and long expanses of white sand beaches. Along both coasts, views across the ocean are stunning, the reefs extensive and highly acclaimed.
The country has a rich history and culture with archaeological evidence of Neolithic settlement caves in Tutuala dating as far back as 35,000 years ago. In the early 16th century European settlers began arriving, and the nation was subsequently colonised by the Portuguese, Japanese and the Indonesians, finally gaining independence with the support of the United Nations in 2002 after a long and brutal struggle.
Since independence the nation has begun the slow process of rebuilding itself. Tourism has emerged as one of the main programs of national development as it seeks to break its dependence on petroleum, which accounts for about 70 percent of GDP and more than 80 percent of the country’s annual income. The key challenge now is in how to drive a regenerative tourism agenda that encourages visitation while preserving Timor-Leste’s unique natural beauty, rich history and welcoming culture.
WHO IS BEAU MILES?
By his own description, Beau is an award winning filmmaker, poly-jobist, speaker, writer, and a little bit odd. But in a good way.
Beau is a Father, YouTuber, author of The Backyard Adventurer, wannabe farmer and maker of stuff from other people's junk. He needs to shower more. Known for oddball storytelling that aims to make seemingly mundane or hair-brained ideas into something that's enjoyable, challenging and insightful.
He has a history of doing big and small adventures, mostly with some form of endurance involved but always with a good yarn, a good reason.
Beau will join Tour de Trails and Mad Dog Adventures to host and guide the tour, exploring as he goes the tales of the trails of Timor Leste - how they were the lifeline quite literally of the Timorese Resistance fighters as they bolstered up in the mountains, evading death, and figuring out how to get their country back to being a proudly independent state. The stories have strong links to Australia being so near to our north. If you’ve ever seen the film Balibo or read about the Balibo Five you will know what we are talking about.
Join beau as he goes on his own journey of discovery learning about this culturally rich and fascinating nation, packed full of incredible landscapes, sparkling beaches, villages. coffee plantations and smiles.
Meet your guide:
Watch his films:
TRIP DETAILS
DISTANCES: 15-30km a day max.
FITNESS LEVEL REQUIRED: ability to run a decently hilly half marathon at 60% event pace i.e. 4-6 hours and then back up by doing the same the following day. If you can do that, you're a shoe-in. And if you get tired - Beau will piggy back you. He's good like that. There is some rough, raw terrain to traverse. This is definitely in the ‘adventure’ category. A decent amount of vert included where - let’s face it - we’ll be a trekking tour for sections before… bombing the downs. As quickly or slowly as you like. We’re here for you.
TRAIL TYPE: End to End
TOTAL DISTANCE: 86km (approx)
TOTAL ASCENT: XXXXM ascent stunning mountains
HIGHLIGHTS:
HIGHEST POINT:
DIFFICULTY: Challenging
TRIP DURATION TOTAL: 7 days/ 6 nights
ON TRAIL TOTAL: 5 days
ACCOMMODATION ON TRAIL: Accommodation is in a mixture of hotels (Dili), local homesteads and camping.
FOOD: Breakfast, lunch and 4 of the 6 dinners are included in the tour price. Alcohol and extra drinks are to be paid by guest. Some meals out in the mountains will be ‘simple’ as is the way of life for Timorese. Where possible (mainly Dili) we will try to cater for food preferences, however due to the remote nature of a lot of the running days and limited supply / offering of catering and foodstuffs, there will be times where we ask for your understanding if your preferences aren’t possible. We do have a support 4WD and will pre stock any ‘easy prep’ preferences where possible from Dili as a back up. You won’t go hungry.
COSTS
USD$3690 // AU$5580 twin share
USD$150 / AU$230 solo quarters supplement
USD$700 // AUD$1000 deposit taken at time of booking
Remainder due June 30th 2024
INCLUSIONS:
2 x trail running guides (Beau & Chris)
Accommodation - a mix of hotel (Dili), local guesthouse or homestay and camping
All twin share accommodation (solo supplement available at cost)
All meals - except 2 dinners (Dili) and one lunch (airport on way home)
All in-country travel & logistics
All Dili attraction entrance fees
National Park entrance fees
Experienced Australian host (Sam) & local guides
On-call driver with Troopie safety 4WD on follow
Safety equipment, satellite communication & first aid kit
Program risk assessments &
In-country emergency management assistance
Public Liability Insurance
Tour de Trails Buff
EXCLUSIONS:
Flights to/from Dili
Dinner x 2 (Dili) + Lunch x 1 (Dili airport en route home)
Alcohol
Extra drinks
Personal specific nutrition, gels, hydration powder
Travel Insurance
Arrival Visa (US$30)
Evacuations (in the event of - please ensure your travel insurance covers mountain based activities (trek) and associated search and rescue services.
Souvenirs & extra activities
Passport
Excess baggage
Personal spending money
Medical expenses incurred in country
Immunisation requirements / special needs
Bank fees for payments and transfers
Credit card fees
In transit Darwin airport meals, snacks and airport
ITINERARY MAIN
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS ITINERARY IS INDICATIVE ONLY AND MAY CHANGE TO SUIT CONDITIONS, NEW INFORMATION OR REGULATIONS. THE FINAL ITINERARY WILL BE CONFIRMED CLOSER TO DEPARTURE (and indeed daily according to conditions).
ARRIVAL / DAY 01 / 5 August
Arrive Dili 2.25pm QF 351 - your guides will meet you at Dili Airport to greet and get you to our accommodation.
Arrive Hotel Timor
Orientation of Dili - Cristo Rei
Dinner - L'Aubergine Restaurant (own cost)
DAY 02 / 6 August / RUN 1 / 12km + 920m ascent
Drive to Bazatete
Lunch TBC
RUN 12km Asumanu to Fatubessi
Dinner Fatubessi
Accommodation: Fatubessi Tents / Guesthouse
NOTE: Fatubessi is of historic significance as a place of resistance during the 1975 – 1999 Indonesian occupation. Fatubessi is home to an intricate cave system that was used as a place of shelter by FALINTIL (Forças de Defesa de Timor Leste) combatants and resident communities. We will hear stories from this time. The area of Fatubessi is also occupied by the former coffee plantation of the SAPT company, a Portuguese colony exploratory company in Ermera District. Fatubessi is the home of the "Hybrid of Timor" rust-resistant coffee tree, a natural hybrid of Arabica and Robusta, whose seed was sent out into the world in 1953, begetting many other coffee trees.
DAY 03 / 7 August / RUN 2+3 / 29km 1xxxm ascent
RUN 16km + xxxxm Fatubessi - Hatolia
Lunch Hatolia
RUN 13km + 550m Hatolia - Datu Rua
Dinner Datu Rua
Accommodation: Datu Rua Tents / Camping
DAY 04 / 8 August / RUN 4 / 13km + 530m
RUN 13km + 1250m Datu Rua - Atsabe
Lunch Atsabe
VISIT Ameta Coffee Farm
Dinner Atsabe
Accommodation: Atsabe Guesthouse
DAY 05 / 9 August / RUN 5 / 18km + 950m ascent
RUN 4km Atsabe - Mt Ramelau (2986m ASL)
Lunch Expo Lunch (on trail)
RUN 14km Mt Ramelau - Hatobulico
Dinner Hotel Ovalido
Accommodation: Hotel Ovalido
DAY 06 / 10 August / RUN 6 / 10km + ascent TBC
RUN 10km Hatobulico - Mota Dokomali
Lunch Ainaro
Drive: to Dili
Dinner: Osteria Italian (own cost)
Accommodation: Hotel Timor
DEPARTURE DAY* 07 / 11 August
Breakfast Beachside Brunch
Depart Dili 1.30pm
Lunch: airport own cost
ITINERARY - ATAURO ISLAND ADVENTURE EXTENSION
It’s be a shame to come all this way and not really max out your holiday and adventure time. So our partners in adventure awesomeness, Mad Dog Adventures, has put together a small extension itinerary that takes in the amazing island of Atauro. It’s a stunner. So why not get some more sun, sand and snorkelling in with a few cocktails and this very special place…
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
CHECK THE MAP HERE
INCLUSIONS: As per above plus
Atauro Eco accommodation & all meals
Return flights
Snorkelling sessions and equipment
Tuk Tuk shuttles
EXCLUSIONS: As per above
EXTRA COST
USD$610 / AUD$920
ITINERARY - ATAURO EXTENSION
TRAVEL & ADVENTURE DAY 08 / 11 August
Fly MAF flight to Atauro Island
Lunch Barry's Place
Activity Snorkelling
Dinner & Accommodation Barry's Place
ADVENTURE DAY 10 / 12 August
Activity Snorkelling
Lunch Barry's Place
Activity Tuk Tuk village tour
Dinner Italian Restaurant
Accommodation Barry's Place
DEPARTURE DAY 11 / 13 August
Breakfast Barry's Place
Fly MAF flight to Dili
Depart Dili 1.30pm
Lunch: airport own cost