Understand

Located in Timor-Leste, Maliana is the third-largest city in the country. With its dusty wild west town atmosphere, it may not have much to offer within the town itself, but it is surrounded by captivating landscapes that make it a perfect stopover or base for exciting day trips.

Get in

If you want to explore the area around Dili, there's a scenic and historical route that you might want to consider. From Dili, you can take the main highway heading west. It will take you about 4.5 hours to reach your destination. Along the way, you'll pass by Dili airport, and at the Tibar T-junction, make sure to turn right. This will take you through Liquica, Maubara, Batugade, and Balibo.

This route has a lot to offer in terms of history and sights. You can make stops at the prison ruins before Liquica, the fort at Maubara, and the house at Balibo, which has an exhibition on the murdered Australian journalists. There is also another ruined fort to explore. If you have more time on your hands, you can choose a more challenging yet scenic route by going straight at the T-junction. This alternative route will take you around 8 hours and will pass through Gleno, Ermera, and eventually to Maliana.