Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
A sandy track encircles the island and a tangle of paths crisscross it, with a few sections con-
creted. As the island is just 2.5km long by 1.75km wide you can
walk
around it in about four
hours, or
cycle
it in less than two (pushing through the occasional stretches of deep sand).
Development is gradually encroaching inland, but there are still wide areas of dry scrub and
coconut plantations. The 100m
hill
in the southwest is the compulsory expedition at sunset,
with views of Gunung Agung on Bali.
The liveliest area to stay is the
east coast
, in particular the strip south of the harbour, known
as
central
, which is wall-to-wall bungalows, restaurants and dive shops. The lush white
sands, clear waters and plentiful fish along the built-up east coast north of the harbour makes
it busy with snorkellers and sunbathers during the day, though it's calm after dark. The
north
coast
, about twenty-five minutes' walk from the commercial centre, is, for the time being
at least, a lot quieter, and places here have roomier grounds; with regular visits from turtles
the snorkelling's good but the beach is rocky and unswimmable at low tide. Head just a few
metres inland from the east coast and you're in the
village
, dotted with corner shops between
islanders' homes, a couple of mosques and the cheapest places to stay on the island. When
everything else is booked out, this is the area to wander in search of a room.
