Dili to Kupang by Bus: Timor-Leste to Indonesia Border Crossing

After spending two weeks travelling around Timor-Leste, Mai and I were ready to return to Indonesia. Rather than taking a flight, we decided to make the journey overland, travelling from Dili to Kupang by bus.

We chose Timor Travel, the same bus company we had used for our previous journey from Atambua to Dili. The Dili to Kupang bus journey involved crossing the international border, completing immigration and customs procedures, and changing vehicles before continuing through Indonesian West Timor.

What we expected to be a straightforward bus journey turned into a full-day trip of around 13 hours. There were also a few unexpected stops and some useful lessons along the way.

In this guide, we share our experience travelling from Dili to Kupang by bus, including how to book Timor Travel tickets, the bus fare, the Timor-Leste–Indonesia border crossing, and what to expect during the journey.

🇯🇵 この記事を日本語で読む：Diliからクパンへバスで国境越え！東ティモールからインドネシアへ陸路移動した体験記

Dili to Kupang Bus: Journey Overview

Here are the main details of our Dili to Kupang bus journey with Timor Travel.

• Departure: Dili, Timor-Leste
• Destination: Kupang, Indonesia
• Bus company: Timor Travel
• Travel date: 31 October
• Bus ticket price: US$23 per person
• Departure from Timor Travel office: Around 08:15
• Arrival at Kupang Timor Travel office: Around 20:15
• Actual journey time: Approximately 13 hours
• Vehicle: 14-seat passenger van
• Border crossing: Timor-Leste–Indonesia land border

There is a one-hour time difference between Timor-Leste and Kupang, so remember to take this into account when calculating your Dili to Kupang travel time.

Booking Timor Travel Bus Tickets from Dili to Kupang

We chose Timor Travel because we had already used the company for our previous bus journey from Atambua to Dili.

We arranged our Dili to Kupang bus booking through WhatsApp. However, the timing was not ideal, as an important public holiday in Timor-Leste was approaching.

Timor Travel told us that the company would close completely for two days from 1 November. This meant we needed to travel on 31 October, just before the holiday began.

We were asked to visit the Timor Travel office and pay for our bus tickets the day before departure, so we arrived at around 09:00 on 30 October.

Things did not go quite as smoothly as expected. There seemed to be an overbooking issue, and we had to wait for around 30 minutes before we could finally purchase our tickets.

We had hoped to book the deluxe bus, but it was already fully booked. Instead, we bought standard bus tickets for US$23 per person.

If you are planning to travel from Dili to Kupang around a major public holiday, we recommend arranging your bus booking and payment as early as possible.

Getting to the Timor Travel Office on Departure Day

We were told to arrive at the Timor Travel office by 07:30 on the morning of departure.

Our accommodation, Hotel California, was around 4 km from central Dili, so we needed to arrange transport in advance.

Fortunately, the hotel staff kindly drove us directly to the Timor Travel office that morning.

Although the public holiday officially began on 1 November, the holiday atmosphere had already started a few days earlier. Public transport, including the local microlets (shared minibuses), was running less frequently than usual.

Having the hotel arrange our transfer was a great help.

The Timor Travel office opened before 07:30. As our passport details had already been registered when we paid for the tickets the previous day, there was nothing else we needed to do apart from wait.

Shortly before 08:00, the driver arrived with a passenger list and started calling out names. We boarded the bus as our names were called.

Our vehicle was a 14-seat passenger van with a separate luggage space at the back.

Leaving Dili and Heading Towards the Indonesia Border

We left the Timor Travel office at around 08:15.

The driver made a few additional pick-ups at other locations around Dili, and we finally left the city at approximately 08:45.

After a couple of hours on the road, we reached the Timor-Leste–Indonesia border area.

At around 11:00, we arrived at the Timor-Leste immigration checkpoint to begin the border crossing procedures.

Timor-Leste Exit Immigration and Indonesia Entry Procedures

For the Timor-Leste to Indonesia border crossing, we first had to get off the bus and take all our luggage with us to complete the Timor-Leste exit immigration procedures.

Once we had cleared immigration, we walked across the border to the Indonesian side.

We had already obtained our Indonesian visas in advance, so entering Indonesia was relatively straightforward. We simply presented our passports and visas at immigration.

However, we had forgotten to complete the Indonesian online customs declaration before travelling.

Fortunately, there were computers available at the immigration checkpoint, allowing us to complete the Indonesian customs declaration there.

After submitting the form, a QR code appeared on the screen. We photographed it with our phones and presented it to pass through customs.

Although we managed to complete the Indonesian customs procedure at the border, we recommend doing the online declaration before departure to avoid unnecessary delays.

Changing Buses at the Timor-Leste–Indonesia Border

One thing we had not expected during our Dili to Kupang bus journey was that we would need to change vehicles after crossing the border.

When we travelled from Atambua to Dili previously, we stayed in the same vehicle on both sides of the border. Naturally, we assumed the journey in the opposite direction would work in the same way.

This time, however, we had to board a different bus on the Indonesian side.

There was a waiting area that looked a little like a food court, with a desk staffed by Timor Travel personnel. We showed our bus tickets and waited until our names were called.

We had not realised that a bus change was necessary, so we accidentally left a bottle of water and some biscuits on the vehicle we had arrived in from Timor-Leste.

We had assumed we would return to the same bus after completing the border crossing.

It was a small mistake, but a useful lesson for anyone travelling from Dili to Kupang by bus. Make sure you take all your drinks, snacks and personal belongings with you when leaving the first vehicle at the border.

Continuing Our Bus Journey from the Indonesia Border to Kupang

Timor-Leste is one hour ahead of Kupang.

At around 11:45 Indonesian time, our names were finally called and we boarded the replacement bus.

We thought we would now be heading directly to Kupang, but there were still several stops along the way.

An Unexpected Stop at Atambua

Our first unexpected stop was in Atambua.

Everyone was asked to get off the bus, although our luggage remained inside. We were then directed to wait at the Timor Travel office.

We were not entirely sure why we had to stop there, but after approximately 20 minutes, we were finally on our way again.  I think it was because the brakes needed checking:)

Currency Exchange and Lunch Break in Atambua

At around 12:55, the bus stopped at a money changer in Atambua town.

A few passengers got off to exchange money. Afterwards, we had a lunch break of approximately 30 minutes.

There were further stops at Timor Travel offices in towns and villages along the route.

These breaks meant the journey was not simply a continuous drive from the Indonesia border to Kupang. If you are planning this overland journey, it is worth allowing plenty of extra time in your schedule.

Arriving in Kupang After a 13-Hour Bus Journey

We eventually reached the Timor Travel office in Kupang at around 20:15.

We had left the company’s office in Dili at approximately 08:15, making the total Dili to Kupang bus journey around 13 hours.

From there, we boarded another vehicle for the short transfer to our pre-booked accommodation, Sahid T-MORE Hotel.

We arrived at the hotel at around 20:30.

It had been a long day, starting early in the morning with the Timor-Leste–Indonesia border crossing and ending with several hours of road travel across Indonesian West Timor.

Tips for Travelling from Dili to Kupang by Bus

Based on our experience travelling from Timor-Leste to Indonesia by bus, here are a few things worth knowing before taking this route.

• Book early around public holidays: Timor Travel may close completely during major holidays, so check its operating schedule in advance.
• Arrange payment before departure: We were asked to visit the Timor Travel office the day before travelling to purchase our tickets.
• Arrange your morning transport: Microlets may run less frequently during holiday periods, so organise your transfer to the bus office in advance.
• Keep your passport and Indonesian visa ready: You will need them for the Timor-Leste exit and Indonesia entry immigration procedures.
• Complete the Indonesian customs declaration online: Having your QR code ready should make the border crossing easier.
• Be prepared to change buses at the border: Take all your personal belongings, food and drinks with you when leaving the first vehicle.
• Allow plenty of time for the journey: There may be additional stops at Timor Travel offices, towns and rest areas along the route.

➡ Kupang Travel Guide: What We Did During a 2-Night Transit Stay

Final Thoughts: Is Travelling from Dili to Kupang by Bus Worth It?

Travelling from Dili to Kupang by bus was a long but interesting overland journey from Timor-Leste to Indonesia.

Between the immigration procedures, changing buses at the border, waiting in Atambua and taking several breaks along the way, the trip took approximately 13 hours.

There were a few unexpected delays, particularly during the booking process, but we eventually arrived safely in Kupang.

For travellers looking for an alternative to flying, the Timor Travel bus from Dili to Kupang is a practical way to cross the Timor-Leste–Indonesia land border and continue exploring Indonesian West Timor.

Our advice is to check the Timor Travel holiday schedule, book your Dili to Kupang bus tickets in advance and allow a full day for the journey.