Dili Cultural & Historical Tour
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Port
Dili, East Timor
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Activity Level
Moderate
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Excursion Type
All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At
$249
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 7 Hour
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Meals Included
Meals not included
East Timor's pleasant capital welcomes you. The surrounding hills are lush and green, and the town features many historical buildings, monuments and religious places. On a panoramic drive through Dili, watch for the Government Palace, Casa Europa (the original Portuguese military garrison built in 1769), and the Prince Henry the Navigator Monument.
Visit the Resistance Museum in Dili, commemorating the country's struggle for independence from Indonesian occupation (1975-1999). Through exhibits, multimedia displays, and personal narratives, it offers a profound insight into key events and the resilience of the Timorese people. As a community hub, it hosts events and educational programs promoting peace and human rights. It's an essential stop for understanding Timor-Leste's journey to freedom.
Travel up through the foothills to Dare. A snack of Timor coffee and home-baked cakes is served at the Australian World War II Memorial & Museum here. The memorial was built in 1969 by the Australian Diggers -- veterans of World War II -- and dedicated to the Timorese people for their support for the Australian soldiers against the occupying Japanese forces from 1942 to 1945.
Continue to the Christ the King Statue -- a colossal monument representing peace and hope for the Timorese people. Built in 1996 during the Indonesian occupation, it symbolizes unity and resilience. Climb the 500 steps for panoramic views of Dili and the Timor Sea.
Lunch is served under shade trees on the beautiful white-sand Cristo Rei Beach.
Visit the Xanana Cultural Center -- originally the Xanana Reading Room. It is home to a public library, bookshop and exhibition spaces showcasing a permanent collection of photographs and paintings, awards and presentations made to Xanana Gusmao, tais and cultural artifacts. Xanana was a resistance fighter whose trenches were the rugged jungles and mountains of East Timor. He was imprisoned in Indonesia during the 1990s and is a National Hero.
Notes:
Vehicles used for transportation are not air-conditioned and offer only limited legroom.