THE GUIDE - The Rough Guide to Bali and Lombok - page 111

INFORMATION
Tourist information There's an official tourist office at Jl Raya Kuta 2 (in theory Mon-Sat
9am-7pm; 0361 766188) and a smaller occasionally manned outpost by the lifeguard post
on the beach off Jl Pantai Kuta (hours erratic; 0361 755660).

SURFING IN KUTA
They say surfing was introduced to Bali by American hotel-owner Bob Koke in 1936.
Today it is huge in the Kuta strip; the beach, Poppies 2, Poppies 1 and Jalan Benesari are
crammed with board rental and repair shops surfwear outlets, and surf championships are
regular events.
As Kuta is a sandy beach with no coral or rocks to wipe out on, it's the best place in Bali
to learn to surf. However, while Kuta may have launched many a surfers' lifetime hobby,
don't underestimate the power of waves on bigger days. First-timers should book a prelim-
inary lesson to guarantee their safety. Slightly more advanced breaks can be found further
south in Tuban, accessed by boats from the lot at the west end of Jalan Wana Segara. North
of Seminyak, in the Canggu area, there are reef breaks at Batu Bolong, Echo Beach and
Pererenan. The best time of year for surfing off Kuta is during the dry season (April-Oct);
at other times surfers head east to Sanur and Nusa Dua.
SURF SCHOOLS
Surfing lessons (“If you're not standing by the end of your first lesson, the next one's free”)
are offered throughout the resort, but choose your instructor carefully; personal recom-
mendation is always good and bear in mind that established surf schools are accredited and
have insurance. In these, prices average $37 for a half-day introduction in a group, or £100
for three full days.
Odyssey's Surf School Mercure Kuta Bali, Jl Pantai Kuta 0361 7420763,

odyssey-

surfschool.com .
Pro Surf School Jl Pantai Kuta, just north of Kama Sutra club 0361 744 1466, pros-
urfschool.com . Uses Australian G-Boards for beginners. Accommodation is available on
site with brilliant views of the surf across the road.
Rip Curl School of Surf Blue Ocean hotel, Jl Pantai Arjuna, Legian 0361 750459,
ripcurlschoolofsurf.com . Also offers wakeboarding, kitesurfing, windsurfing and stand-up
paddleboard lessons as well as equipment rental.

ACTIVITIES
Adventure activities operators Bali Adventure Tours ( 0361 721480, baliadventure-
tours.com ) and See Bali Adventures ( 0361 794 9693, seebaliadventures.com ) offer
mountain-bike trips from the rim of Gunung Batur volcano, plus trekking and elephant tours;