THE GUIDE - The Rough Guide to Bali and Lombok - page 270

Destinations Amed (2 daily; 1hr 30min); Kuta/Ngurah Rai Airport (3 daily; 3hr); Lovina
(daily; 3hr 30min); Padang Bai (3 daily; 30min); Sanur (3 daily; 2hr); Tirtagangga (2 daily;
1hr); Tulamben (2 daily; 2hr); Ubud (3 daily; 1hr 30min).
By bemo or bus Buses and minibuses from Denpasar's Batubulan terminal pass through
Candidasa en route to Amlapura. Bemos are also handy for travelling around Candidasa and
can be flagged down anywhere en route; some outlying hotels also offer free shuttles.
Destinations Amlapura (20min); Denpasar (Batubulan terminal; 2hr); Gianyar (1hr); Padang
Bai (20min).
By taxi Recommended local drivers and guides are Ketut Lagun ( 0812 362 2076,
[e-mail] ) and Komang Gejor ( 0819 1613 4266,

candid-

asataxi.blogspot.de ) , who charge around Rp500,000/day.
By car or motorbike Cars and motorbikes are best rented through your accommodation.
INFORMATION AND ACTIVITIES
Information Candidasa's tourist information office (daily 9am-4pm), opposite Ari
Homestay at the western end of town, has little to offer besides a stack of brochures. Many
hotels and restaurants hand out the free magazine Agung ( agungbali.com ) with handy maps
and articles.
Massage and spas Beach massages are available throughout the resort (Rp70,000/hr), or try
Salon & Accessories ( 0363 41834, Rp90,000), opposite the Watergarden hotel. There are
classy spas at the Alila Manggis hotel ( 0363 41011; from Rp520,000), the Watergarden
hotel ( 0363 41540; massages from Rp50,000) and the Puri Bagus Candidasa ( 0363
41131; from Rp450,000).
Trekking There's good trekking in the Candidasa area. One of the most popular routes - and
quite busy in high season - begins at Kastala, near Tirtagangga, and takes you downhill to the
Bali Aga village of Tenganan just outside Candidasa, an easy 2-3hr walk with excellent rice-
terrace views and the chance to visit a village or two en route. A longer version begins in Tir-
tagangga itself and continues via the blacksmiths' village of Budakaling (5-6hr). Mudi Goes
to the Mountain ( 0813 3815 3991, mudigoestothemountain.com ) charges Rp300,000/
person for the Kastala trek. He also organizes treks up Gunung Batur (Rp750,000/person); as-
cents of Gunung Agung , which cost Rp750,000/person from Pasar Agung, Rp990,000 from
Besakih and Rp1,100,000 for the overnight route from Dukuh; and a 55km cycling tour from
Muncan via Tirtagangga to the coast at Amed (Rp750,000).
ACCOMMODATION
Accommodation in central Candidasa is clustered along the main road and the beachfront im-
mediately to the east and west of the lagoon. Just east of here is the quieter enclave around