GO BIG OR STAY HOME
1 Elizabeth Sleith highlights some next-big-thing destinations for the new year to spark your wanderlust
Timor-Leste (pronounced “Lest-ay’”, meaning “east” in Portuguese) is on the southernmost edge of the Indonesian archipelago. It was settled by the
Portuguese in the 16th century, and declared independence in 1975, only to be invaded by Indonesia nine days later. What followed was a two-decades-long occupation that finally ended in May 2002, as Timor-Leste became the first new sovereign state of the 21st century.
Twenty years on, with its idyllic beaches, mountainous terrain and tropical climate, it is starting to shine on the tourism landscape, with The Telegraph calling it “one of the world’s great ocean destinations” due to its being on the migration superhighway for several species of whales, manta rays and more.
It’s a 90-minute flight from Darwin, Australia, and a near four-hour flight from Singapore, so it’s as far off the beaten track as one can get. But the payoff for the effort of getting there is a sleepy, pristine charm. Its fledgling travel industry is for now focused on eco-tourism and low-impact tours. Even the capital Dili is more seaside village than bustling capital, where one can adopt a lazy pace in exploring its coffee culture, markets and beaches and learn more about its history in places such as the Timorese Resistance Museum (amrt-ip.tl).
The Nino Konis Santana National Park includes the entire eastern tip of TimorLeste and the waters offshore, as well as the uninhabited “heaven on Earth” that is Jaco Island. You can take a day trip there by boat but it is illegal to spend the night. You can, however, stay on Atauro Island, a 90-minute boat ride from Dili, whose beaches and coral reefs offer epic diving, snorkelling, swimming and whale and dolphin watching. There are also brilliant hiking opportunities, with hidden caves, amazing cliffs, and springs to explore.
See the official tourism website at timorleste.tl.
THREE CULTURAL CAPITALS
Since 1985, the EU has been using its Capitals of Culture initiative to spotlight the diverse traditions of its regions and peoples. Each year, different cities are appointed as a “cultural capital” and given an opportunity to showcase their cultural achievements, enhance their international profile, and bring people together through a year-long programme of events, festivals, exhibitions and activities that reflect the host city’s cultural heritage and contemporary arts scene. For 2024, there are three: Bad Ischl (Austria), Tartu (Estonia) and Bodø (Norway).
BAD ISCHL
About 40km east-southeast of Salzburg,
Bad Ischl is known as a gateway to the Alpine lakes and mountains of the scenic Salzkammergut region, often called the Austrian Lake District as it has more than 30 lakes. The town is historically important as the summer retreat of Emperor Franz
Joseph I (1848-1916) of Austria and a favourite destination for the Habsburg monarchy. Visitors can tour the Kaiservilla (imperial villa) and grounds, where the emperor spent 60 summers and where, in his study, he signed the declaration of war on Serbia that led to World War 1.
Besides its historical sites and scenic beauty, the town is also renowned for its thermal spa facilities, and many visitors go to indulge in the healing properties of its thermal baths and luxurious spa treatments.
For more information, see