About East Timor Guide
Who is behind East Timor Guide, why it exists, how it is funded and how to get in touch. An independent, practical guide to Timor-Leste.
Updated
Who we are
East Timor Guide is an independent travel guide to Timor-Leste, written and maintained by David. It exists because practical, current information about the country is scattered across government pages, Facebook groups and out-of-date blog posts. We bring it together, check it and date it.
What we cover
We focus on the questions travellers actually ask before and during a trip: visas, flights, the Atauro ferry, where to stay in Dili, what things cost, safety, SIM cards, getting around and realistic itineraries. We also cover longer stays for NGO and UN staff, consultants and business travellers.
How the guide is funded
The site is free to read. Some accommodation partners, starting with Hotel Dongshan in Dili, pay us when readers contact them through our tracked WhatsApp links. Partners are always labelled, they never pay for their position or for what we write, and we always list good non-partner options too. Read the partner policy.
Our standards
Every guide shows when its facts were last verified and lists its sources. When we cannot confirm something, we say so rather than guess. How we research explains the process.
A note on history
Timor-Leste restored its independence in 2002 after centuries of Portuguese rule and a 24-year Indonesian occupation in which a large part of the population died. We write about that history accurately and with respect, and we point readers to the Timorese institutions that document it, such as the Chega! exhibition and the Resistance Museum in Dili.
Contact
Corrections, updates and partnership enquiries are welcome. See contact.