East Timor & West Papua Tour

Friday 15^th May – Kuta, Bali

• Arrive at your convenience into Kuta – Denpasar Airport is well connected from many countries within Asia and Australia.
• Bali is THE party place for a number of people and a number of reasons, so we hit the town in a big way for our one night in Kuta, Bali
• Overnight in Bali

Saturday 16^th May – Kupang

Morning

• Breakfast at the hotel
• We head out to explore the beautiful countryside and to swim in the Crystal Cave

Afternoon

• Lunch in the countryside
• After lunch, we head further out to the Rosalin Orphanage to hear their story, and see the great work they are doing. If possible we recommend bringing some small gifts for the orphans
• WE then head to the beach where we can wade in the sea, swim, or just people watch
• Dinner and drinks at one of the numerous restaurants that overlook the beach
• Travel back to Kupang for a few drinks and perhaps nighttime dip
• Overnight at Neo Eltari Hotel

Sunday 17^th May – Kupang

Morning

• Breakfast at the hotel
• We head out to explore the beautiful countryside and to swim in the Crystal Cave (minor hiking involved)

Afternoon

• Lunch in the countryside
• After lunch, we head further out to the Rosalin Orphanage to hear their story, and see the great work they are doing. If possible we recommend bringing some small gifts for the orphans
• Dinner at the orphanage
• Travel back to Kupang for a few drinks
• Overnight at Neo Eltari Hotel

Monday 18^th May – Pante Makasar

Morning

• Breakfast in the hotel
• We head off for the 4-hour drive to Pante Makasar the capital of Oecusse — not only the least visited part of the least visited country in Asia, but also the only exclave of East Timor. Many countries can now get visa-free access to East Timor, or visa on arrival at the border. Please get in touch if you have questions about your visa situation

Afternoon

• Arrival in East Timor late afternoon where we will be greeted by our local guides
• We are now treated to what can only be described as a Timorese feast, catered by our local partners. Expect lots of seafood, all washed down with the local moonshine!
• Overnight in Pante Makassar

Tuesday 19^th May – Oecusse Tour

Morning

• Breakfast in the hotel
• Depart to explore Oecusse, the isolated Timorese exclave surrounded by Indonesian West Timor
• Begin in Pante Macassar, the quiet capital, with visits to colonial Portuguese ruins, abandoned Indonesian army buildings, and the Statue of Nicolau Lobato, a national independence hero
• Continue north to Lifau, the symbolic birthplace of East Timor, where the Portuguese first landed in the 1500s
• Head inland by private vehicle, passing rice paddies and rural villages, en route to the Marobo Geyser – a natural sulphur spring shooting up from the earth, surrounded by steaming rocks and
  thick vegetation
• Stop for a traditional Timorese lunch at a local guesthouse: options typically include grilled fish, spicy chicken, katupa (banana leaf rice), cassava, and chili sambal, served with local soda or a cold beer

Afternoon

• Travel onward into the hills near Oesilo, where we pass animist shrines and scattered mountain hamlets offering incredible photo opportunities and insight into Timor’s animist traditions
• Make a brief stop at the border fence with Indonesian West Timor — one of the most geopolitically unusual borders in Southeast Asia
• Loop back through a different scenic inland route toward Pante Macassar
• Arrive back in town in time for a beachside walk as the sun sets across the Sawu Sea
• Dinner of fresh seafood and local staples at a beachfront warung, with cold beers and plastic chairs in the sand
• Overnight in Oecusse

Wednesday 20^th May – Timor-Leste National Day

Morning

• We board our private charter plane to Dili, from where we will be met by our guide and transferred to our hotel to change!
• After changing into smart clothes we will head to the Presidential Palace and an audience with Nobel Peace Prize winner President Jose Ramos-Horta. There will be lots of chances for photos, as well as meeting other important Timorese people.
• Private tour of the Presidential Palace in Dili

Afternoon

• You now head for a typical Timorese lunch at a restaurant on the beach
• You now go for a whistle-stop tour of Dili including the genocide museum, the parliament, and the site of the Santa Cruz Massacre among other things.
• We stop at the main gift shop and artisan market, which is also a great place to buy flags and t-shirts to celebrate national day!
• We continue with the political element of the trip by visiting the offices of FRETLIN, the revolutionary group that while now in opposition were instrumental in getting independence for the nation.
• #TRIP HIGHLIGHT# With our special invitations in hand you will now go and take part in the lowering of the flag military ceremony as part of an official delegation.
• The evening is then finished by heading to the dock where literally the whole of the capital come to party the night away with love music and great street food.
• Overnight in Dili

Thursday 21^st May – Atauro Island

Morning

• Breakfast in the hotel
• In the morning, we head out to our private boat to head to Atauro Island, the most famous tourist destination in East Timor, and home to some of the best diving and snorkelling in the country

Afternoon

• Lunch at the resort
• Despite being on a tropical island we wouldn’t be YPT if we didn’t check out the old Indonesian military airport for some photos and an exploration.
• In the afternoon, we make the most of our time on a deserted tropical island by taking advantage of the great snorkelling and diving available
• Seeing as we’re on an island with private beaches we grab a load of supplies and make the most of it by having a BBQ beach party!
• Overnight in Atauro Island

Friday 22^nd May – Dili

Morning

• Breakfast at the resort before a late check-out – optional diving available
• Free morning to relax on the island

Afternoon

• Lunch on Atauro Island
• We board our private boat back to Dili and the mainland of East Timor
• On arrival in Dili we check back into hotel for a freshen up before heading out to for a hike up to the famous statue of Jesus that overlooks Dili
• Drinks and sunset under the statue of Jesus
• We finish our last night in Dili with dinner, drinks and live music overlooking the sea
• Overnight in Dili

Saturday 23rd May – Kuta

Morning

• Breakfast in the hotel
• In the morning we will head for some last minute souvenir shopping, including revolutionary shirts, and of course fridge magnets!

Afternoon

• Lunch near the airport before we board the 13.20 flight to Bali, arriving at 14.10
• Head out for dinner and drinks in Kuta, the party town of Bali but we don’t party hard because we will fly this evening! Board the 21.30 flight to Jayapura via Makassar

Sunday 24th May – Bali – Jayapura

Morning

• 08.00 arrival and head for breakfast at nearby cafe.
• Jayapura is the main city of West Papua, located on the north of Western New Guinea in Papua Province of Indonesia. It used to be called Hollandia and its Dutch colonial history is still prominent in the city.
• Head straight to hotel to check in, catch up on rest, freshen up and gather again at 1:00pm for lunch

Afternoon

• In the afternoon we’ll head to the governor’s residence area which is the best example of Dutch colonial villas and gardens
• Head out for dinner before we chill out with a beer or two at the beach.
• Overnight in Jayapura

Monday 25^th May – Jayapura – Wamena and Northern Baliem Valley

Morning

• After breakfast in the hotel we will drive out by car to “Teletubbies Hill” where we’ll get great views of Lake Sentani
• Head to the General MacArthur memorial, where we’ll see more Dutch colonial houses on the winding road up and get great views from the top

Afternoon

• We’ll have a quick lunch before we head to the airport to catch the 2:10pm flight to Wamena, arriving at 3:10pm. Wamena is the heart of West Papua, the main town in the Indonesian Papua Highlands and the gateway to the Baliem Valley
• After arriving in Wamena we will check in to our hotel before heading straight out to tour Aikima in the northern part of the Baliem Valley.
• We’ll go for a 1-2 hour hike where we can see the traditional houses of the Dani people in stunning mountain setting. We’ll walk through fields and pine forests, crossing the Aike river before we head back to our hotel
• Dinner and overnight in Wamena

Tuesday 26^th May – Central Baliem Valley

Morning

• After breakfast we drive up to Jiwika in the centre of the valley.
• We’ll trek for about one hour up the mountain side through stunning rainforest before we reach the traditional salt spring of a Dani village
• Here we can see the traditional techniques of salt production

Afternoon

• Picnic lunch on the mountainside
• Head back down towards a Kurulu hamlet where we can see a mummy of the Dugum clan. We will see more traditional life in the village including arts and crafts as well as locally produced weapons
• Drive back to the hotel
• Dinner and overnight in Wamena

Wednesday 27^th May – Southern Baliem Valley

Morning

• After breakfast we drive down to the southern side of the Baliem Valley to the village of Sogokmo where we are going to do a 3-4 hour trek
• Here’ll go for a walk along the Baliem River crossing a suspension bridge
• We’ll pass through more Dani settlements with terraced fields and sugar cane plantations. It really doesn’t get more picturesque than this.

Afternoon

• In the early afternoon we will reach Seima Church where we will have a picnic lunch
• Continue on our walk along the river and crossing another suspension bridge
• Reach Kurima where we will meet our driver and head back to the hotel
• Dinner and overnight in Wamena

Thursday 28^th May – Baliem Valley Mock Battle

Morning

• Today after breakfast we will head out to a local village and see a mock battle put on by the locals!
• On arrival we will be given a special welcome and the tribal members will assemble in their local outfits. The chief will carry out his traditional observation and give the order to all the people for celebrations!
• The locals enact a mock battle, to say this is a unique opportunity for photos and videos is still an understatement!

Afternoon

• Picnic lunch in the village with the locals
• On our way back we first visit Kontilola cave before shopping at a local market
• Dinner and overnight in Wamena

Friday 29^th May – Wamena – Jayapura – Sentani Lake

Morning

• We get up early for a quick breakfast and then catch the 6:15am flight back to Jayapura arriving at 7:00am
• Check in at the hotel where we’ll relax for a few hours

Afternoon

• Head out for lunch in Jayapura before we drive to “Love Lake” and Yoka village
• Pass through beautiful scenery on the drive before we get to the lake which the locals say was shaped through the natural power of love…
• From the jetty we’ll take a boat and go for a sail on Sentani Lake, to call it by its proper name
• Arrive in Assei Village where we’ll see the locals demonstrating the tradition of bark painting for us
• Get back on the boat to cross the lake before we drive back to Jayapura
• For our last night in West Papua we’ll head out for dinner before going for drinks at the relatively swanky Swiss-Bel Hotel
• Overnight in Jayapura

Saturday 30th May – Jayapura – Bali

Morning

• Catch a flight back to Bali at 9:.00am arriving at 15.50 pm
• Tour concludes: YPT can help or give advice with onward travel.
• Alternatively you can carry on with us to Banda Aceh!