Backpacking Timor-Leste: The Basics You Need to Know Before You Go

Quick Overview
Timor-Leste is Southeast Asia’s least visited and most untouched country. One of the youngest nations in the world with wild landscapes, rich marine life, and genuine hospitality, it’s a frontier destination for adventurous backpackers.

Few Facts

• Capital: Dili
• Currency: US Dollar (but they have their own 'centavos' for $1 and $2)
• Language: Tetun (main), Portuguese (many speak)
• Population: 
• Power Socket: Type C, F (European)

Why Visit

• A truly off-the-beaten-path destination
• Rich culture and independence history
• Pristine, empty beaches
• Incredible snorkeling and diving (especially Atauro Island)
• Mountainous hiking trails

Best Time to Go

• May to November: Dry season (best for travel and diving)
• December to April: Rainy season

Visa Info

• Visa on arrival available for many nationalities (30 days)
• Easy entry via Dili airport

Rough Budget Idea

• Shoestring: €30/day
• Mid-range: €50/day
• Comfortable: €80+/day

Top Places

• Dili: Capital, museums, beaches
• Atauro Island: Diving and snorkeling
• Maubisse: Mountainous historic town
• Ermera: Mountaineous, local life
• Baucau: Colonial charm and coastal views
• Jaco Island: Remote, crystal-clear waters

Top Activities

• Visit the Resistance Museum in Dili
• Stay in a rural village and spend time with locals
• Scuba diving in Atauro reefs
• Hike Mount Ramelau for sunrise
• Try the local coffee

Backpacker Tips & Tricks

• Bring cash, some ATMs can work but hard to locate 
  ATM in Dili that will work with most international cards: https://maps.app.goo.gl/nYmBWvisEivzzwjk6 
• At least cash for the visa ($30) and around $20 extra for a taxi ride
• Download tetun.org for translation (Tetun not available on google translate)
• Fill the customs declaration form before going and screenshot the QR code
  no Wifi at the airport
  https://tilesw.customs.gov.tl/#/eservice/traveller/declaration
• Learn a few Tetun phrases, locals really appreciate it
• Flights are available only from Bali and Darwin (Australia) - in 2025 will start also from Kuala Lumpur
• East Timor is not expensive but is one of the least affordable places in SE Asia

Transportation

• Use microlets in Dili - fun and cheap way to go around
• Ferries from and to Atauro are limited. Dragon ferries are the best
  https://maps.app.goo.gl/7CYGHJ4aRrZq6de86
•  Buses are an option for moving around the country but renting a car or bike will be more reliable and give you more flexibility and options

Packing Tips

• Check the checklist for must items every backpacker needs
• Sturdy shoes for hiking, reef-safe sunscreen, dry bag

Festivals & Events

• Independence Day (May 20): Major national celebration
• Carnation Revolution Day (April 25): Portuguese influence
• Local village festivals vary throughout the year

Final Thoughts
Timor-Leste is raw, rewarding, and not for the faint hearted. It's for backpackers seeking something real and untouched.

 

Other helpful sources

• Official tourism website of Timor-Leste:
  https://www.timorleste.tl/
• Another much more detailed blog:
  https://backpackmoments.com/timor-leste-travel-guide/
• Reddit threads for things to do and other valuable info: https://www.reddit.com/r/Timor/comments/1c89gjp/comment/l0dom2t/
  
  https://www.reddit.com/r/Timor/comments/1az53kf/going_to_timor_this_summer_any_advice/