TIMOR LESTE

Bem-vindu. Welcome.
To the 2024 TOUR de TIMOR RUNNING TOUR
hosted by Tour de Trails & Maddog Adventures

TOUR DATES: 21-27 JULY 2025*

*TBC. PLUS a 3-day optional adventure extension to Auturo Island.

Tour de Timor is a trail running adventure organised by Tour de Trails in conjunction with Maddog 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.

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. 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: 98km + bonus 20km if up for it (Island Adventure extension)

TOTAL ASCENT: 6070m ascent stunning mountains + bonus 660m if up for it (Island Adventure extension)

HIGHLIGHTS: Summiting Mt Tatamailau / Ramelau (2,986m), plunging valleys, river dips, village visits, traditional huts, Timorese culture, food and coffeeeeee! The best.

HIGHEST POINT: Ramelau (2,986m)

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$3740 // AU$5680 twin share
USD$150 / AU$230 solo quarters supplement
USD$700 // AUD$1000 deposit taken at time of booking
Remainder due May 30th 2025

INCLUSIONS: 

• 2 x trail running guides (Chris) + experiences Australian host (Sam from Maddog Adventures) + Local Cultural Guides

• 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 / 21 July

• 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 / 22 July / RUN 1 / 13km + 1000m

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 / 23 July / RUN 2+3 / 29km 1029m

RUN 16km + 524m Fatubessi - Hatolia

Lunch Hatolia

RUN 13km + 505m Hatolia - Datu Rua

Dinner Datu Rua

Accommodation: Datu Rua Tents / Camping

DAY 04 / 24 July / RUN 4 / 14km / 1746m

RUN 14km + 1746m Datu Rua - Atsabe

Lunch Atsabe

VISIT Ameta Coffee Farm

Dinner Atsabe

Accommodation: Atsabe Guesthouse

DAY 05 / 25 July / RUN 5 / 27km + 2000m

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 / 26 July / RUN 6 / 15km + 300m

RUN 10km Hatobulico - Mota Dokomali

Lunch Ainaro

Drive: to Dili

Dinner: Osteria Italian (own cost)

Accommodation: Hotel Timor

DEPARTURE DAY* 07 / 27 July

Breakfast Beachside Brunch

Depart Dili 1.30pm

Lunch: airport own cost

*For this on 7-day tour. Those on 9 day Author Extension Tour will have afternoon to explore Dili.

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…

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 / 28 July

Fly MAF flight to Atauro Island

Lunch Barry's Place

Activity Snorkelling

Dinner & Accommodation Barry's Place

ADVENTURE DAY 10 / 29 July

Activity Snorkelling

Lunch Barry's Place

Activity Optional trail run across island to Manny’s Place - 20km return, 300m ascent each way, US$8 for lunch and snorkel

Activity Tuk Tuk village tour

Dinner Italian Restaurant

Accommodation Barry's Place

DEPARTURE DAY 11 / 30 July

Breakfast Barry's Place

Fly MAF flight to Dili

Depart Dili 1.30pm

Lunch: airport own cost