Location Dili, Timor-Leste Meeting Point Dili International Airport Duration 9 days Difficulty Challenging Group Size 10
Old-school bike-tripping adventure: Experience Timorese CultureWhen people want to travel around Timor-Leste, one of the most difficult issues they face is transport. Why? Because the roads – for cars – can be downright diabolical. But *cyclists alert* this is not a problem for gravel cyclists, in fact, it’s like Timor-Leste’s roads have been perfectly carved for exploring on two wheels. Baucau by bike? Bring it on. Balibo? Don’t think twice. Timor-Leste’s mountainous spine? We can ride that.We are proud to launch the inaugural Bike-Tripping Timor Leste, an all-inclusive adventure gravel ride around one of the least-visited countries in the world.This 9-day ride is built for intermediate+ cyclists with solid fitness and a hunger for adventure. You’ll tackle sacred climbs like Mount Ramelau (2963m) by foot, and be back on the bike to descend rugged backroads, and watch Balibo under the stars at the iconic Balibo Fort Hotel. Expect a gritty mix of bitumen, dirt, and gravel as you ride coastlines, mountains, and highland plains—covering 80+km a day with support vehicles carrying your gear. Accommodation spans Dili’s 4-star comfort, Portuguese-era pousadas, local guesthouses, and even a sleepover in a traditional Uma Lulik.The trip is led by Aussie guide Andrew Haughton—bike mechanic, PMBIA Level 1 coach—and the Comrider’s crew, Timor-Leste’s first dedicated MTB outfit. You’ll also be backed by our seasoned team, with over a decade of experience guiding epic journeys across Timor.Expect full logistics and transport support, local translators, experienced bike mechanics, wilderness first aid-trained guides, and satellite comms—so you can focus on the ride.Bring your own gravel bike. We’ll handle the rest. This isn’t bikepacking—it’s next-level bike-tripping.
Itinerary DAY 1 – Arrive in DiliArrive in Dili and ease into adventure with a sunset orientation ride to the iconic beachside Cristo Rei. Sip a fresh coconut or cocktail at the laid-back Beachside Hotel, then cruise the coastal road back to town for dinner and a restful night at Hotel Timor.*Suitable for road bikes, gravel bikes, and MTB hardtails.DAY 2 – Ride coastal road to historic BaucauFarewell Dili and ride up into its surrounding mountains. Descend onto the straight coast road with its occasional cliff-side rises while cycling into beautiful Baucau. Check out renovated Portuguese-era buildings, its spring-fed swimming pool and many restaurants. Sleep Pousada de Baucau.*Suitable for gravel bikes and MTB hardtails.DAY 3 – Head inland to regional ViquequeHead from busy Baucau along the very scenic road to regional Viqueque. Check out waterfalls and rugged rock formations en-route. There are great views of Mt Matebian to the east and Mundo Perdido (lost world) to the west. Sleep: TBC*Suitable for gravel bikes & MTB Hardtail.DAY 4 – Dive deep into the mountainous interior, to SameDepart Viqueque for Same (pronounced sah-may), through Timor-Leste’s forest interior. The coastal village of Betano is where, on 23 September 1942, the HMAS Voyager ran aground and was attacked by Japanese aircraft. The wreck is still there. Sleep: TBC*Suitable for gravel bikes & MTB Hardtail.DAY 5 – Pedal up the rugged mountain pass to HatabulicoRide up the mountain pass from Same to the high-up small town of Hatabuilico – the departure point for Timor-Leste’s highest mountain Tatamailau/Mount Ramelau. Enjoy a rest afternoon. Sleep Hotel Ovalido.*Gravel bikes & MTB Hardtail 12 speed.DAY 6 – Sunrise hike up Mount Ramelau, ride to Datu RuaClimb Tatamailau at dawn, where, if you’re lucky, you’ll see both sides of the country as the clouds rise before you. Hike down and hop back on the bike for the rough Hatabuilico to Datu Rua adventure on tricky but manageable trails. Sleep Datu Rua camping platforms.*MTB full suspension 12 speed.DAY 7 – Ride to Balibo FortRide up to Balibo and enjoy a post-ride swim in an infinity pool overlooking Timor-Leste’s mountain ranges, where you’ve come from. Visit Balibo Flag House, the excellent Balibo Veterans’ Museum and watch Balibo the movie at Balibo Fort Hotel. Sleep Balibo Fort Hotel.*MTB full suspension 12 speed.DAY 8 – Descend to coastal LiquicaA winding descent from Balibo’s mountain-top forest takes you to the border with Indonesia and the coast road. Enjoy cafe stops to take in photogenic rice paddy fields and Portuguese and Dutch-era forts enroute to beachside Liquica. Sleep Lauhata Beach Escape.*Road & gravel bikes.DAY 9 – Ride back to Dili, pack-down & depart for home.Ride the short 30+ km along the coast road to Dili checking out mangroves and looking for dugongs before bike cleaning, farewells, pack down and 15:15 flights back to Australia.*Road & gravel bikes. Inclusions All in-country transportation & logisticsAll in-country accommodationTwin ShareAll in-country meals & snacksAustralian & Timorese guidesWilderness first aid kitEmergency satellite beacon & support vehicleSafety briefingItinerary & info bookletClothing & equipment pack listFully insured Exclusions Flights Airline taxesEntry Visa (USD$30)Travel / medical insurancePassportExcess baggagePersonal expensesMedical and evacuation expensesAlcoholic beveragesImmunisation requirements / special needsOptional activitiesBike hireBike repair kitPersonal helmet, gloves & protective items (i.e. knee pads, elbow pads, chest protectors etc)LaundryBank & CC feesBooking fees**To minimise bank, credit card and booking fees, you can opt to receive an invoice for payment..** Pack List Coming soon. Know Before You Go Payment is required in full prior to your tour.Failure to pay in full may result in your removal from the tour.All of your personal administration – medical, flights, travel insurance, and visa application, along with the finalisation of your account – are required no less than 60 days prior to the date of travel.You will receive a comprehensive Tour Booklet containing clothing & equipment pack list, travel itinerary, and country specific information prior to departure.You must have a reasonable level of fitness to participate.If you have back, neck, joint or muscular problems, you should carefully consider whether or not to participate.All participants must sign a consent, waiver and medical declaration e-form prior to their tour commencing.
"Maddog Adventures had everything organised for us, so all I needed to do was get a good night's sleep, wake up, have a delicious breakfast of fresh bread and coffee and hit the trails for another day. Local staff were delightful and keen to show off their stunning country." — Jayne | Nationality - Australian
Can I use credit cards? Limited credit card and ATM facilities are avilable in Dili. Outside of Dili you will need to carry small value cash and coins (maximum USD $20 notes). Please note only Visa debit and credit cards are accepted. No Mastercards are accept at this stage in Timor-Leste. Do I need a visa? Yes, you will need to purchase a 30-day visa on arrival. Visa’s cost USD $30 per person. This must be paid in cash. Do I need travel insurance? Yes, all participants will require travel insurance. It is highly recommended that this cover is taken out at the time of booking. A copy of your travel insurance policy will need to be supplied to Maddog Adventures prior to your trip. Is it safe to drink water from the taps? We do not recommend drinking tap water in Timor-Leste, so avoid it and stick to sealed bottled water which is readily available. This includes steering clear of ice in drinks and brushing your teeth with tap water. What if I get sick or hurt while on tour? All our lead staff are Wilderness First Aid trained and we carry a comprehensive First Aid Kit with us at all times and can offer first response care. For more serious ailments we will take you to Stamford Medical, which is an international standard private healthcare provider based in Dili. We also Care Flight Darwin in case of an evac emergency. **Please note as per our T&Cs any medical care or evacuation organised by Maddog Adventures is at the personal cost of the participant or their travel insurance. What immunisations will I need? To travel to Timor-Leste make sure all your routine vaccinations are up to date. We recommend visiting your doctor prior to travel to discuss any additional vaccines or medications you may need. What in-country transportation do you use? We use a variety of in-country transportation methods depending on which district we are traveling too. We use 4 Wheel Drives for in-land travel and a combination of Dragon boat, catamaran, and local charter boats for sea travel. Sometimes, we even take a MAF charter flight. What is the local currency? USD is the main currency in Timor-Leste. Limited ATMs (Visa only) are available in Dili, but it’s always advisiable to bring cash with you. Smaller notes (maximum USD $20) and coins should be carried for travel outside of Dili, as is can be difficult to get change for larger notes. What is the weather like? Timor-Leste has a hot tropical climate, with a dry season from May – November and a wet season from December – April. Coastal temperatures range from 25 – 35 C. It’s cooler in the mountains and can be damp and misty, a perfect retreat from the heat. What is your risk management process? We take participant health and wellbeing very seriously. Risk is an inherent part of all tours, but we do our best to mitigate, manage and reduce the risk of these hazards causing harm. We work with our staff and suppliers to ensure that all of our products and experiences meet our high standards. How do I book flights to Timor? We work closely with Lisa Malnar from Travel Managers and highly recommend contacting her to book domestic transfers and international connections to Dili, Timor-Leste. Lisa is based in Darwin and is an all round Timor-Leste travel expert. She can assist with transiting accommodation in Darwin, group bookings, travel insurance and most importantly she will ensure your international connections fit our travel itineraries. Has it been done before? Most of the course has been ridden previously by intrepid expats and locals. This organised expedition picks the highlights, and also accommodates riders who are interested in delving into some of Timor-Leste’s rich history, and climb a sacred mountain by foot (Timor-Leste’s 2963m high Tatamailau/Mount Ramelau). How do I get there? What do I bring? Dili is an hour’s flight from Darwin. While we have access to small fleet of bikes, ideally you’ll bring your own. Maddog Adventures has been taking bikes over to Timor-Leste for years and both Air North and Qantas have been super accommodating. It’s a straightforward process to bring your bike over. How fit do I need to be? With 10 days of mostly rugged trails, this course is ideal for intermediate level and above cyclists. Not sure? We can check your Strava profile to see where you’re at, and make suggestions to help you prepare if necessary. You’ll also need to be able to manage in the hot dry season conditions, so arrive prepared with whatever it is that gets you through on the most gruelling day back home: gels, pills, potions etc, because you won’t be able to buy these in country. Is this bikepacking? No, it’s a fully supported ride with support vehicles carrying your luggage (and if necessary/desired, you). Where do we stay? Accommodation is a mix of 4-star in Dili, with some classic Portuguese-era Pousada accommodation in the districts, to local guesthouses with cold showers but clean, neat and tiny accommodation. A highlight is a night spent sleeping on purpose-built platforms in an Uma Lulik (traditional house), and you’ll also get to watch the movie Balibo under the millions of stars at the terrific Balibo Fort Hotel in Balibo.
