Mount Ramelau

Ramelau, known locally as Tatamailau, rises to 2,963 metres, about 70 kilometres south of Dili, and is both the highest point of Timor island and a pilgrimage site: a three-metre statue of the Virgin Mary, made in Italy and set up in 1997, stands on the summit platform, and the annual pilgrimage falls on or around 25 March, the Feast of the Annunciation. From Hato Builico, three kilometres away, the track climbs about 910 metres and takes a fit walker around four hours, usually started in the small hours to reach the top for sunrise; it can also be climbed from Aimeta to the north.

What's there

• Sunrise from the summit - the view over the ridges on a clear morning.
• The summit Madonna - the statue that makes the mountain a pilgrimage site.
• Hato Builico village - the highland base with guesthouses and coffee.
• The highland drive - the mountain road up from Dili through coffee country.

When to go

The dry season from May to November gives the clearest summit conditions. The pilgrimage around 25 March fills the mountain with Timorese walkers. Nights at altitude are genuinely cold, near freezing at the summit before dawn.

Practical notes

The drive from Dili is four hours or more on rough mountain roads and needs a sturdy vehicle - this is not a day trip. Accommodation in Hato Builico is basic guesthouses with no heating, and the pre-dawn cold surprises visitors expecting tropical warmth. The path is clear but steep and dark; a head torch and a village guide are both sensible. Cloud can hide the sunrise entirely.

Nearby

Maubisse's highland town, the coffee country and the road south to Ainaro.

Key facts