Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
around 6am. However, it is easy enough
to hire an ojek or charter a bemo to get
there. From Ai Bari, fishermen charge
Rp150,000-300,000 per boat (return),
depending on the number of people. It's
advisable to pre-arrange return transport
to Sumbawa, and if you want to stay on
the island you'll need to bring a tent or
rent one (Rp25,000-50,000) from one
of the fishermen. here is no water or
food available, so make sure you have
plenty of provisions.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
By plane The airport is a short ojek ride into town (around
Rp5000) or a 10min walk across the river to the Hotel
Tambora. Trans Nusa ( W transnusa.co.id) has four daily
flights to Lombok from where you can connect to Bali and
beyond; Merpati ( W merpati.co.id) has two weekly flights
to Lombok.
Destinations Lombok (4-5 daily; 35min).
By bus All buses arrive at the Sumer Payong bus terminal,
just off the Trans-Sumbawa highway, about 3km along
Jl Garuda. Most of the yellow bemos (see below) head
out to the bus terminal, and buses from Bima will usually
drop you off in the vicinity of your hotel as they go. Buses
leave for Bima and places en route at regular intervals
between 6am and 1pm. The larger buses between Jakarta,
Surabaya and Bima run day and night, though not all stop
at Sumbawa Besar so you're best booking via agencies
around town or your hotel.
Destinations
SURFING IN SUMBAWA
Sumbawa has gained a reputation for
offering some of the finest surfing in
Indonesia, without the crowds you'll find
in Bali. Getting to the beaches with a
surfboard can be an arduous task unless
you charter a car from Sumbawa Besar,
but once there you'll find plenty of
accommodation and facilities. The main
breaks are at Hu'u , off Lakey beach, and
around Maluk beach on the west coast.
The latter has direct buses from Sumbawa
Besar (3-4hr), though they're infrequent.
To get to Hu'u, you'll need to take a bus
from Bima to Dompu (3hr), and from there
to Hu'u (2hr). Many of the waves break
over reefs, so are not suitable for novices;
however, the beaches are stunning even if
you don't surf.
mansion at Jalan Dalam Loka 1; ask
the guard to unlock it for you (daily
8am-5pm; free).
4
Moyo Island
he main attraction around Sumbawa
Besar is MOYO ISLAND , home to deer,
buffalo, wild pigs and vast numbers of
bird species. he island sits in a nature
reserve and is surrounded by coral,
making it ideal for snorkelling. A luxury
resort owns half the island, but a less
expensive way to explore it is to hire a
guide via one of the hotels - the Hotel
Tambora (see opposite) is the best place to
enquire. Independent excursions are also
possible, either on a day-trip or overnight.
Boats arrive at Tanjung Pasir, on the
south side of Moyo Island. From there
you can hike on the eastern half of the
island (the western half is owned by
the resort), including up to some
waterfalls in the north, and swim off the
beach. You may have to pay a park fee of
Rp10,000, but there is rarely anyone
there to collect it. here are no o cial
maps of the island, but the hiking is
fairly straightforward.
Boats to the island sail from the village
of Air Bari (30min), about 20km north
of Sumbawa. he public bemo from
Sumbawa Besar to Ai Bari runs
infrequently, and to guarantee getting it
you will have to be at the market at
Bima (6-7 daily; 7hr); Dompu (6-7 daily;
5hr); Surabaya (5-7 daily; 26hr).
GETTING AROUND
Yellow bemos do round-trips of the town (around Rp5000).
They can be flagged down or picked up at the Seketeng
market terminal on Jl Setiabudi.
INFORMATION
Tourist information The regional tourist o ce (Tues-
Sun 7am-2pm; T 0371 23714) is the best you'll find in
Nusa Tenggara, with plenty of information and English-
speaking staff. It's 2km out of town at Jl Bungur 1 - take
a yellow bemo from Jl Hasanuddin heading west and get
off at the roundabout past the airport. The o ce is just
off the left turn-off.
ACCOMMODATION
Jl Hasanuddin, which runs roughly parallel to the river, is
the best place to look for food and accommodation; it
becomes Jl Cendrawasih just north of the roundabout.
Dewi Hotel Jl Hasanuddin 60 T 0371 21170. A motley
collection of rooms ranging from basic “ ekonomi ” t o
 
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