Timor-Leste Immersion Trip

Over the course of six days, a group of students had the amazing opportunity to travel to East Timor on an educational school trip. Our goal was to learn about Timorese culture, experience how people live, meet new people and step outside our comfort zones. From the moment we landed in Dili, the trip was filled with adventure, laughter and experiences we will never forget.

Introduction To Timor

After landing in Dili, we were welcomed by the wonderful Timor Unearthed team before heading straight to Cristo Rei for our first hike. After taking in the views and getting our first taste of East Timor, we settled into the Nuns Association. We finished the day with dinner overlooking the beach.

Schools and Mount Ramelau

Our mornings started early, with the sounds of singing nuns, barking dogs and squawking roosters. We visited an international school where we met students our age, played sports, made TikToks and had plenty of conversations.

We then visited important historical sites, including a church and museum, before beginning a five-hour drive to Mount Ramelau. The trip was filled with singing, jokes and excitement for the big hike ahead.

The next morning, we climbed 2,963 metres to the top of Mount Ramelau. After two hours of hiking, we were rewarded with an incredible sunrise and some food. It was definitely worth the early wake-up!

Culture and Community

After the hike, we travelled to Same, where we experienced even more of Timorese culture. We visited schools, explored the area and learnt how traditional coffee is made. We also tried traditional foods and bitternut.

At one high school, we were welcomed with a special ceremony and traditional dances before competing in a mini soccer tournament which, unfortunately, we lost.

We also shared dinner at a local host’s house, where we met Jayden, a filmmaker from Race Around the World. Another memorable moment was playing soccer with village kids. Unfortunately, my shoes ended up covered in cow poo.

We visited local markets, learnt about a family’s history and explored a plane crash site. We also completed our third and final hike, where we learnt about a local cemetery and met a man native to the area.

One of the most meaningful experiences was being welcomed by local people wearing traditional clothing. They performed songs and a powerful traditional dance for us. We shared a ceremony, were gifted bitternut and then danced together to traditional music.

Hometime

On our final day, we travelled back to Dili, where we had some time to shop for souvenirs before catching our flight back to Darwin.

Although the trip was only six days, we experienced so much from hiking mountains and meeting new friends to learning about Timorese culture and traditions. We returned home tired, happy and grateful for such an incredible opportunity.