Kupang is the provincial capital of East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia and, although not well known to tourists, offers some superb ethnological, trekking and birdwatching trips around the island. Captain William Bligh spent some time here after being cast adrift by the mutinous crew of the Bounty in 1789.

Kupang was an important city, port and trading point which the Portuguese occupied in the fifteen hundreds but were removed when the Dutch took the island a century later. The city was under also under Japanese rule during the second world war.

Flights to Kupang

Kupang is situated in West Timor and is the capital of East Nusa Tenggara. There are extensive transport links from Kupang to the regions more isolated islands. Flights to Kupang operate from Denpasar.

The population of Kupang in 2005 was estimated to be approx 269,680, the majority of which are Papuan. There are also Malayan and Polynesians to be found within the population.

If diving and snorkeling are your thing you will love Kupang. There are plenty of dive sites around the island to explore (hire equipment from a local dive shop or bring your own kit).  For nature lovers there's a beautiful waterfall a few kilometres from Kupang, or a little further away visit a cave with crystal-clear water in which you can swim. There is also a monkey forest before the cave that you can visit.

Kupang is the first port of call for yachts in the annual Sail Indonesia rally which starts in Darwin, Australia towards the end of July each year. In 2006 about 100 yachts from around the world took part in the rally. From Kupang yachts head north to Alor and then stop at various ports in Indonesia over a period of about three months ending up in Singapore.