Travel Timor 3-Day Mt Saboria to Mindelo Hike Tour

Adventure awaits hiking 46km through dramatic landscapes

This hard 3 day hike (including two ½ days of travel) involves ~1,700m of ascent and ~2,800m of descent as you walk between Ainaro and Manufahi municipalities through spectacular scenery, including visiting the remote place where Timorese hero Nicolau Lobato was killed by Indonesian forces in 1978.

Eco Discovery Timor-Leste is a sustainable tourism company dedicated to showcasing the natural beauty and cultural heritage of Timor-Leste. They offer a range of eco-friendly tours, including hiking, birdwatching, snorkeling, and cultural experiences, all designed to connect visitors with the country’s diverse landscapes and vibrant communities. With a focus on conservation and responsible travel, Eco Discovery aims to promote environmental awareness and support local economies, providing unforgettable experiences while protecting Timor-Leste’s unique ecosystems.

Price

TBC please inquire as it varies based on the number of people

Payment

• Confirmation of tour services for groups not less than 21 days prior to tour commencing.
• 20% deposit of total invoice is due at time of confirmation.
• Full payment of invoice due immediately if notice of confirmation is less than 14 days prior to tour commencing.

Cancellation

The deposit, being 20% of total invoice is forfeited if cancelation is notified less than 7 days.

Climate

Timor-Leste is a hot place to hike. Around the coast expect day time temperatures above 30C all year round, and even in the mountains it is commonly above 20C, and feels hotter in the sunshine. The best months to hike in Timor-Leste are June and July, when it is slightly cooler, and dry, while still retaining some of the lush greenery from the wet season. Toward the end of the dry season in September the landscape is dusty and parched.

Heat stroke is probably the biggest risk while hiking in Timor-Leste. At worse heat stroke can cause death, but even mild heat stroke can cause headaches and vomiting. The combination of heat, humidity and hills, is challenging as sweating is not effective in cooling down the body. These are good approaches…

• Drink a lot of water, more than you may be used to drinking. Dehydration is a risk given the amount that you are likely to be sweating. If you don’t need to go to the toilet, then you’re not drinking enough.
• Add electrolytes / hydrolytes to your water. You can buy these cheaply in pharmacies and they provide your body with a welcome boost of sugar and salts to help replace what is lost through sweating.
• Shade is essential to help your body cool down. Sunhats are a must, along with resting regularly in the shade.
• Wearing a wet cloth around the neck, wetting your hat or shirt, or pouring water on the back of your neck are all effective and refreshing!

Terrain

The hike is mostly on rough tracks used by locals, with some dirt road walking in places. There aren’t really any managed hiking tracks in Timor-Leste like you may find in other countries. There is almost no signage either, and often a multitude of tracks make it easy to get lost without closely following a map or a local guide.

Nearly half the land in Timor-Leste is at a slope of 40 degrees or more, so expect to generally be either going up or down a steep hill. Soils are often easily eroded by rainfall so expect loose stones underfoot as standard, but tree roots aren’t an issue. When walking along roads locals walk in the same direction as traffic, i.e. on the left-hand side, and drivers will use their horn if they’re approaching closely from behind.

There may be some river crossings required. Later in the dry season rock hopping is usually possible, but in some places this may not be possible. Either remove your boots, or cross in them, as they dry quickly in the hot climate.

Wildlife

Although Timor-Leste is home to poisonous animals and plants, you are highly unlikely to come across them while hiking. Snakes are rarely seen. The biggest risk is from mosquitoes carrying Dengue or Chikungunya, so take suitable precautions, particularly at the start and end of the day if hiking in the wet season or early in the dry season.

The most common animal you’ll come across hiking are dogs, which are almost guaranteed at every Timorese house. They are likely to bark, much less likely to bite, but care should be taken. As a general rule of thumb, the more remote the house, the greater the reaction. Rabies had been eradicated from Timor-Leste, but there was a localised outbreak in western Timor-Leste in 2024. It is best to move quickly (but not run) past dogs, and the following approaches can be taken in order of escalation…

• Ignore them, avoid eye contact
• Get the attention of their owner by calling out bondia (good morning) or boa tarde (good afternoon)
• Reach down to the ground to pick up (or look like you are picking up) a rock or wave a hiking stick

Accommodation

All our multi-day hiking trips are camping, but with a Timorese flavour! Campsites are not that common, but every village has a school and local government offices. With permission from the leader of the local community we may camp at these sites. They provide good shelter and usually have toilet and washing facilities available.

Food

There are very few shops in the areas in which we hike, and cooking facilities are limited to the gas cookers we bring with us, so expect simple but tasty and filling meals. Breakfast may be muesli, eggs, and fresh bread. Lunch is cooked on the go, and may be noodles, eggs, cheese and bread. Popcorn may be made as a pre-dinner snack. Dinner may be rice, meat (usually chicken), tinned tuna, and whatever vegetables we can buy locally. If you have any dietary requirements or requests please let us know.

Water

Our support vehicle will always have sufficient drinking water, usually in 1.5 litre bottles, so you can resupply at the start and end of each day.

Toilets and washing

Most of the sites we camp at will have some toilet and washing facilities, but expect them to be basic. Squat toilets and bucket showers are standard. You may want to bring jandals to wear. If there is no toilet available the crew will dig a hole and erect a toilet tent.

Support crew

A typical support crew will include a lead hiking guide, driver, and a supporting crew who will carry the lunch and cooking gear during the day. Tipping is not expected but would be welcomed by the team.

Mobile phone coverage

Mobile phone coverage is limited outside of the main towns and larger villages. Of the three local providers, Telemor tends to have the best coverage.

Charging devices

Devices can be charged using the support vehicle USB ports, and some of the places we camp may have mains electricity.

Typical day

Up around 6am, breakfast, pack up camp, and start hiking between 7.30am and 8am. Lunch is around noon. Arrive at camp between 4pm and 5pm. Dinner around 7pm.

What to Expect: