This is what makes this trip different. We’re heading deep to rural Bali, to the primary school where we built that library.

You’ll meet the kids, help deliver new books and supplies, maybe even read a story or two. You’ll see first-hand how something small can become something powerful, and that your presence here matters.

Then we head back to base for a chilled afternoon. Beach time, local eats, and a sunset cocktail if that’s your style.

🏨 Sleep: Bali

In the morning, we catch our first internal flight: Bali to Labuan Bajo. The jumping-off point to Komodo National Park.

Labuan Bajo is a fishing town turned adventure hub. There’s a buzz here, boats heading out to the islands, dive shops prepping gear, travellers swapping tales of dragon encounters. You’ll feel it the second we land. We’ll grab lunch by the harbour, check in to our hotel, and prep for the dragon hunt begins!

🏨 Sleep: Labuan Bajo

This is the big one. We board a speedboat early morning and cruise through the turquoise waters of the Flores Sea to Komodo Island. The real deal. No fences. No zoo. You’ll see the Komodo dragons in their natural habitat. Prehistoric, massive, and completely badass.

Along the way, we’ll snorkel at Pink Beach, chill on Padar Island, and swim over coral gardens. It’s a day of wildlife, salt air, and island-hopping that’ll stay with you for life.

🏨 Sleep: Labuan Bajo

This is where things get interesting.

We take a domestic flight from Labuan Bajo to Kupang, the capital of West Timor. Most routes connect via Bali, but Wings Abadi occasionally flies direct. If that’s running, we’ll snag it. Otherwise, we'll be connecting, and connecting, but we'll get there. 

Kupang is rugged and real. You’re off the tourist track now. No smoothie bowls, no surf bros, just local markets and raw coastal energy.

We overnight here before the next day’s border-breaking road trip.

🏨 Sleep: Kupang

Get ready. This is the longest day on the road. But easily one of the most memorable.

We drive 12 hours from Kupang through the Indonesian side of Timor Island, through tiny mountain villages and rice paddies, dodging goats an

d motorbikes, and finally hit the Batugade border into East Timor (Timor-Leste).

You’ll watch the flags change, the language switch, and the vibe shift entirely. 

East Timor is one of the world’s youngest nations (the 2nd youngest after South Sudan) independent since 2002, and barely scratched by mass tourism. This is travel most people never even imagine.

We roll into Dili, the capital, in the evening. It’s gritty, beautiful, and totally unique.

🏨 Sleep: Dili

We explore Dili today.  A city with layers. Portuguese colonial architecture meets UN compounds. Mountains crash into the sea. Resistance history is etched into the walls, and there’s a quiet pride in every street.

We’ll visit the Santa Cruz cemetery, the Independence Memorial, and Cristo Rei statue. Walk the waterfront. Hit the market. Maybe end with a sunset beer looking out at Atauro Island.

🏨 Sleep: Dili

That's a wrap folks. From Dili airport, you can head to Australia, or back to Bali, or wherever your heart desires. See you on the next one!