Travelling overland from Atambua in West Timor, Indonesia, to Dili, the capital of Timor-Leste, was our next step on our journey through the region.
We travelled with Timor Travel on an air-conditioned VIP minibus. The ticket cost IDR 195,000 per person, and the service took us across the international border before dropping us off at our hotel in Dili.
Although the journey itself was straightforward, there were a few things worth knowing in advance, particularly about the bus arrangements and the visa process at the Timor-Leste border.
Here is our experience, from booking the bus in Atambua to completing immigration formalities and arriving in Dili.
🇯🇵 この記事を日本語で読む：アタンブアからディリへバスで国境越え！予約方法・料金・入国手続きを詳しく紹介
- Atambua to Dili by Bus: Essential Information
- How to Book a Timor Travel Bus in Atambua
- Departure Day: Arriving Early for the 9 am Bus
- From Atambua to the Indonesian Border
- Entering Timor-Leste: How to Get a Visa on Arrival
- From the Border to Dili: Around Three Hours by Bus
- Practical Tips for Travelling from Atambua to Dili by Bus
- Final Thoughts: Crossing from Indonesia into Timor-Leste by Bus
Atambua to Dili by Bus: Essential Information
Here are the main details of our journey.
- Departure: Atambua, West Timor, Indonesia
- Destination: Dili, Timor-Leste
- Bus company: Timor Travel
- Ticket price: IDR 195,000 per person
- Departure time: 9 am daily, according to the information provided to us
- Transport: Air-conditioned VIP minibus
- Journey time: Allow around 4.5–5 hours in total, based on our experience
- Rest stop: A short toilet stop approximately one hour before reaching Dili and also at the border
- Hotel drop-off: Provided in Dili
Journey times can vary depending on traffic, border queues and immigration processing. Confirm the current departure schedule and fare with Timor Travel before travelling.
How to Book a Timor Travel Bus in Atambua
We stayed at Hotel Nusantara Dua in Atambua. Timor Travel’s office was approximately a 10-minute walk from the hotel, making it convenient to arrange our journey to Dili.
The bus was scheduled to leave the office at 9 am every day.
We communicated with Timor Travel through WhatsApp before travelling. I was able to reserve our preferred seats in advance, including the seats immediately behind the driver’s position in the air-conditioned VIP minibus.
The fare was IDR 195,000 per person.
Using WhatsApp made it easier to discuss the booking and seating arrangements before arriving at the office. If you are planning the same journey, I would recommend confirming the departure time, fare, pick-up point and vehicle details in advance.
Departure Day: Arriving Early for the 9 am Bus
Timor Travel asked us to arrive early to purchase our tickets, so we reached the office shortly after 8 am.
We paid for our tickets and provided our passport details for registration. The staff then told us to wait until our names were called.
At 9 am, a bus arrived. However, when a member of staff checked the passenger list, our names were not on it.
Initially, this was a little confusing. It turned out that three buses were scheduled to depart that morning, and each ticket showed a vehicle number and seat number.
We were booked on the third bus, not the first one to arrive.
Our vehicle was a deluxe bus, and we eventually departed at around 9.30 am.
The experience taught us to check the vehicle number on the ticket rather than assume that the first bus to arrive would be ours. Arriving early was also useful, as it gave us time to complete the payment and passport registration without rushing.
From Atambua to the Indonesian Border
Once we left Atambua, the bus travelled north-east towards the border, reaching the checkpoint after approximately 30 minutes.
Our route used the shortest road towards the border without going via Atapupu. The road was winding, with plenty of bends through the hills.
At the border, everyone got off the bus and took their luggage into the Indonesian immigration building.
We completed the departure formalities and received our Indonesian exit stamps. Our passports were checked again at the exit of the immigration area.
After that, we walked across the border into Timor-Leste.
Entering Timor-Leste: How to Get a Visa on Arrival
On the Timor-Leste side, we needed to obtain a visa on arrival before completing immigration.
During our trip, both Japanese and British passport holders needed a visa. We did not need to prepare any additional paperwork in advance for the process we followed; we presented our passports and paid US$30 per person.
Visa requirements depend on nationality and can change, so check the latest official entry requirements before setting off.
1. Visit the visa-on-arrival counter
After entering the building through the Arrival entrance, we found the visa-on-arrival counter immediately inside.
We handed over our passports. The immigration officer was friendly and explained what we needed to do.
After waiting for a while, we received our passports and a payment slip. We were then directed to the bank counter next door to pay the visa fee.
2. Pay the US visa fee
At the bank counter, we paid US$30 per person for the visa on arrival.
The payment was a separate step from the immigration process, so it is worth having the required US dollars ready.
Follow the instructions given by the officers at the border, as the payment arrangements may change.
3. Complete immigration and the security check
The immigration booths were on the opposite side of the bank counter.
We handed over our passports and the visa payment slip. The officer asked us about our occupations and where we would be staying in Timor-Leste.
In our case, the conversation was conducted in Indonesian.
Once our entry stamps had been issued, we went through a security check of our luggage. After that, the formalities were complete and we were free to leave the building.
From the Border to Dili: Around Three Hours by Bus
Outside the immigration building, we found an area where the buses were parked. Several other passengers were waiting there, so we joined them.
Our original bus returned, and we boarded it again for the journey to Dili.
The drive from the border to Dili took approximately three hours. There was also a short toilet stop around an hour before arrival.
Once the border formalities were complete, the main thing was to wait with the other passengers and keep an eye out for the bus. We did not need to arrange separate transport for the remainder of the journey.
On arrival in Dili, we were dropped off at our hotel, which made the whole trip much more convenient than having to organise a taxi or other transport ourselves.
Practical Tips for Travelling from Atambua to Dili by Bus
Based on our experience, here are a few things I would recommend preparing before travelling.
- Keep your passport accessible. You will need it for both Indonesian exit immigration and Timor-Leste entry procedures.
- Bring US dollars. We paid US$30 per person for the visa on arrival during our trip.
- Check your vehicle and seat numbers. Several buses may leave around the same time, so do not assume the first one to arrive is yours.
- Arrive early at the Timor Travel office. We arrived shortly after 8 am to complete payment and passport registration.
- Confirm the arrangements through WhatsApp. Check the latest fare, departure time, meeting point and vehicle details.
- Allow extra time for the border crossing. Immigration queues and other formalities can affect your arrival time in Dili.
- Check visa requirements before departure. Entry rules and visa fees can change, so do not rely solely on a previous traveller’s experience.
Final Thoughts: Crossing from Indonesia into Timor-Leste by Bus
Travelling from Atambua to Dili by bus was a practical way to cross from Indonesia into Timor-Leste overland.
Our Timor Travel ticket cost IDR 195,000 per person, and the service included the journey across the border and a drop-off at our hotel in Dili. Once the immigration formalities were complete, we could simply board the same bus and continue to the capital.
The main things to plan for are booking the correct bus, bringing your passport and preparing for the visa-on-arrival payment. The multiple departures that morning also made it important to check the vehicle number on our ticket.
If you are planning to travel from West Timor to Dili overland, I hope our experience helps you prepare for the journey and makes the border crossing a little less daunting.
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