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Getting to Timor Leste and getting around

Getting to Timor Leste

By Air

Currently there are ONLY two airline companies operating scheduled flights to the Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport in Dili, Timor-Leste.

From Singapore, it is easy to get a flight to Denpasar/Bali as Garuda Indonesia and Singapore Airlines operate several flights daily to Depensar/Bali. From Bali, catch the only morning Merpati Airlines flight to Dili. You may have to stay over in Bali for one night as the connecting Merpati flight to Dili departs early in the morning.

• Merpati Airlines, Indonesian with daily flight from Bali, Indonesia (Denpasar International Airport);
• Airnorth, Australian, with two flights per day during weekdays and one during weekends from Darwin (Darwin International Airport). Mondays - Fridays Depart Darwin

By Land

The western border through Batugadé is an alternative for those travelling from Indonesian West Timor, with a connection by bus between Kupang and Dili. You can catch a bus from Kupang to Atambua. From Atambua you can catch an Ojek (motor bike taxi) to the border village of Mutain. The Indonesian border post is a short distance from Mutain. After passing the Indonesian border post, it is a two km walk to the East Timor border post. There is no transport from the East Timor border to the next town of Batugade, you may get a lift to Batugade or may have to walk 4km to Batugade. From Batugade there is a bus to Dili. The Oecussi road through Oesilo is also open. A ferry connects Dili, Oecussii and Atauro Island.

Getting Around

(Public Transport & Self Drive)
Renting a car or a motorbike is a good way of discovering the country, especially if you have an intention of travelling outside Dili.

Car Rental

If you are planning to drive out of Dili, it is advisable to rent a four-wheel drive as road conditions can be very poor. Traffic outside Dili is very light as the number of vehicles in the country is substantially low.

There are a few car and motorcycle rental companies such as Thrifty, Dili Rentals & Rentlo Car. Rentlo Car has a well maintained and relatively new fleet of vehicles for rental. Located near Comoro Bridge, it is on the right side just over the bridge if you are coming in from the airport. Tel: (670) 7235089 / 7244671 Fax: (670) 3325055 Email: rentlo@mail.timortelecom.tp. OPEN: Mon to Friday 8am - 5pm, Sat 8am-5pm or a little earlier. Sunday closed.

The rental rates for a 4WD is between USD50 and USD100 per day depending on the type of vehicle, driver, mileage and fuel. If you plan to hire a driver, expect to pay him between USD8 to USD15 per day depending on distances and hours. It is a common practice to pay for the driver's meals and accommodation. If they serve you well, a tip at the end is always appreciated.

Taxis, Mikrolets & Buses

A number of public transports are also available, including buses, mikrolets (minibuses) and taxis. They are plentiful in Dili but can be really overcrowded. Mikrolets run on fairly standard routes picking up and dropping off passengers anywhere along the way for anything from 10-25cents. Bigger buses usually run longer distances between major towns and districts such as the Dili - Baucau service. Taxis are unmetered so prices should be negotiated with the drivers before the trip. This is also a good way of getting from town to town.

Ferry and Boat

A ferry connects Dili, Atauro Island and the Oecussi Enclave in West Timor. The boat ride from Dili to Atauro Island is especially interesting, on a good day, expect to see dolphins swimming alongside your boat.

On the extreme eastern end of Timor-Leste, you can arrange a boat drive with local fishermen to and around Jaco Island and even a delicious grilled fish prepared by them on the beach after the boat ride.

General - Traffic, Road Condition & Gas

Traffic operates on the left-hand side of the road. Gas is available throughout the country but in some remote areas instead of being pumped by an attendant, it’s sold in jerry cans and drums at roadside stalls.

With the exception of the main arteries to Baucau and Batugade, the roads are rough - only 428km are paved of a total of 3,800km. Driving is generally not aggressive, speeds are usually quite low and traffic is light especially away from Dili. However there are the usual developing world dangers from unfenced livestock to unrestrained children.

Mountain roads are steep and winding and are used as much by pedestrians (and their animals) as by vehicles. Some parts may not even have guardrails despite some impressively long drops in the hills and mountains and along the coast.

Smooth roads can suddenly turn into potholed nightmares, landslides can chop half of a road's width away and slide it down the mountainside and bridges can collapse and be left without a warning sign to alert you to their disappearance.

Flooding is common during the rainy season, when parts of the country can be cut off for days at a time by swollen rivers. The south coast is particularly difficult and has stretches that require four-wheel drive in the best of times.