Overland by Motorbike

Overland from Gibraltor – to Timor

Dec 2006

Linda came to Kupang overland from Spain on a heavily loaded Suzuki 650.

For a full account of her trip take a look here:

www.haefale.de/linda/index.html

She was on her way to Dili where she planned to ship her bike to Darwin by boat using Perkins, an agent in Dili.

There is an Australian company that ships vehicles by boat from Kupang to Darwin but the runs are infrequent.

In June there was a Swiss couple that were planning to ship their bike from Dili to Darwin as well but the land borders were closed at that time.

With their visas running out they eventually had to fly their bikes back to Bali and then onwards to Darwin.

You will have to arrange a carnet which is basically a passport for your vehicle if you plan to travel overland with a vehicle of foreign origin.

A bond is put up as security so the immigration will have someone to bill for the import duties if the bike doesn’t leave the country as promised.

The website www.overland-underwater.com has some good information about overlanding to Australia from Europe.

Alex and Maz came with a Toyota Landcruiser from England through Pakistan, China and Borneo to Dili, East Timor where they shipped the landcruiser to Australia.

Another good travel website is www.horizonsunlimited.com

Many of the overlanders stay at the Lavalon Guesthouse in Kupang because the budget is right (30,000 rupiah) and the place has a nice vibe.

Edwin has an internet connection at the bar that you can use for 5000 rupiah an hour. He stays at the bar on the waterfront and Ony manages the Guesthouse. They both speak excellent English and have a lot of information posted on the walls.

Linda, we wish you success on the rest of your journey! (2 years so far on this trip) She left for Dili this morning after playing her violin for the local kids.

West Timor to East Timor

Question from Reader – Where can I ask for a quote for a car to be shipped from Oecussi to Dili or

vice versa. We are traveling the world since 22 years and cannot yet get a picture about the danger of driving from Kupang to Dili and back.

Thus we thinks of taking Atauro Express for at least one stretch. It’s a Toyota LandCruiser
FJ650.

Reply – It is a straightforward trip from Kupang to Dili by road taking 10 to 12 hours depending on how long you spend at the border or stopping to take pictures along the way.

Check the local situation by calling Timor Travel in Atambua because they have shuttle buses that make the trip every day and will have the latest scoop.

There is a regular ferry from Oecussi to Dili but it only travels once a week and sometimes there is not room on the boat. I think the fare is around 50 dollars for a car. For my motorbike it cost 10 dollars. Passengers pay 10 dollars.

I suggest that you stay at the Backpackers Guesthouse in Dili which will be on the left side of the road past Tiger Fuel about a kilometer after you cross the bridge. You can park your car inside the gate for security.

Say hello to Henry and Rita from dutchpickle.

In Kupang maybe you can visit Edwin of the Lavalon bar. He has a lot of local information.

Update feb 2007:

I have heard that there have been demonstrations near the airport in Dili lately. Things have been a little tense so you might want to keep that in mind.

It is possible that people will throw stones on occasion.

dutchpickle – (I am in the Philippines now but get news occasionally from friends there.) I suggest using the thorntree forum and ask the question there for the most recent info. Personally I would have no worries but it probably would be best to not arrive at night.

fatpomintimor usually has recent news

Hello Dutchpickle! April 2007

We are extremely slowly moving towards Timor Leste, actually a long time believing that the border is sealed tightly.

But a few days ago we heard from Edwin (Lavalon) in Kupang that crossing in either way for foreigners is possible, even with a car.

Thus we shall try it also, after visiting now first Sumba and afterwards West Timor.

Now a question: Because “Squatter” wrote on April 19th, on his website that he wouldn’t recommend first-time visitors to come to Dili, because most expats living there tend to know where to go when, we think one pretty safe possibility to arrive in Dili could be by the vessel Atauro from Oecussi and after having received the new Indonesian visa, driving back to Kupang by road once we know the situation better.

The only problem is to get to know whether and when this Atauro ship is running and whether it’s possible to enter Oecussi by land.

Do you know any place to inquire (phone, email, SMS)? We asked once “Fatpom”, but he thinks that this wouldn’t work, because as “non-UN-people” we wouldn’t manage to cross the border into Oecussi.

Would you guess that the TL-Consul in Kupang could be of help? (the TL-Consul in Bali didn’t even know about the Autaro ferry!).

In case you are still abroad, would you know any email address of
“Squatter”?

Thank you very much and again best regards:

Reply: April 2007

I think that it would be quite easy to drive straight to Dili from Kupang and come back via the ferry.

email casalinda2006 @ gmail for info about her trip http://www.dutchpickle.com/east-timor/beyond-dili/overland.html

email maz and alex http://www.dutchpickle.com/east-timor/in-transit/dili-to-darwin.html

With your experience I think you will find the trip to be very easy. The border closes from time to time but that is not a big deal. Just call Timor Travel and ask them about it because their shuttle buses make the trip every day and they have the latest news. http://www.dutchpickle.com/indonesia/west-timor/timor-travel-visa-run.html

As far as the ferry goes they are in the process of switching over to a different new one so any info I have will be outdated.

When you drive into Dili carry on straight as you go through the roundabout by the airport.

Go over the Comoro bridge and continue about 2 kilometers. There will be a Tiger fuel pump on your left. 30 meters further will be the Backpackers Guesthouse.

Turn in there and park your vehicle off the street. Go out back and cool down, have a sandwich and a beer and find out from Henry or Rita the latest news.

You might want to stay touring in East Timor for a while because it really is a great place.

Take a trip along the north coast to Jaco Island and Com. Camping along the south coast would be ideal with your rig. I am jealous!

The entire north coast has great snorkeling and is wide open!

In general East Timor people are really great when you get away from the east-west bullshite in Dili. Around Viqueque they tend to be more reserved.

Dili/Timor-Leste, May 21, 2007
Good Afternoon Dutchpickle!

Thanks for your reply! Finally we reached Dili and stay at the Backpackers.
But we didn’t come through the normal door, we drove from Kefamenanu over
the mountain to Oecussi, spent there three wonderful (!!!!!) days and
arrived with the new Nakroma ferry Saturday morning in Dili ($125/car/13
hours), to watch the inauguration and independence day on Sunday. Custom and
immigration wasn’t a problem on either side (for the TL-side we carried a
letter of recommendation from the TL consulate in Kupang, which helped a
lot).

Once we have applied for a new Indonesian visa tomorrow, we shall leave for
the East (Los Palos) for some days to come back and go to the mountains
(Maubisse) too. Today we shall visit Wayne and Ann at the dive shop,
although we are not diving at all.

Mentioning Oecussi again: This is one of our most impressing places we ever
have seen, so untouched, unspoiled and genuine! Nice people, beautiful
landscape – a paradise, if …………!

Overland to East Timor