Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
There are several more gentle local
treks
as well: the leisurely Sembalun Village Walk to Sa-
jang Waterfall (4hr; Rp117,000 ($10)/person), the Sembalun Wildflowers Walk (includes an
overnight camp; best May-Oct; from $95 depending on group size), and the full-day jungle
hike over Pegasingan Hill to Obel Obel on the north coast ($83/two people). The area is also
known for
handweaving
, and it's possible to visit local weavers. For all treks, ask at one of
the village
guesthouses
.
Sembalun Bumbung
As you continue south from Sembalun Lawang towards Sapit, market gardens proliferate un-
til the valley closes in. Some 4km south of Sembalun Lawang, the village of
SEMBALUN
BUMBUNG
clusters round the mosque in the shadows of the surrounding mountains. From
Sembalun Bumbung, the mountain road winds for 15km across Gunung Pusuk to Pesugulan,
the turn-off for Sapit; there's a fine valley viewpoint at the pass, then it's mostly forest, in-
habited by grey macaques and rare ebony leaf monkeys. Rockfalls are common, so the road
is sometimes closed.
Sapit
Situated on the southern slopes of Gunung Pusuk, 10km south over the pass from Sembalun
Bumbung and a refreshing 800m above sea level, the small village of
SAPIT
makes a quiet
retreat with views down to the east coast and over to Sumbawa. Tobacco-growing is the main
industry round here, and Philip Morris the big employer; fields are dotted with red-brick dry-
ing towers. With two basic
guesthouses
in the village, this is a good chance to get away from
tourist crowds; staff will fill you in on
trails
to nearby waterfalls and natural swimming pools
and can organize Rinjani treks.
Tetebatu and around
Scenically situated on the southern slopes of Gunung Rinjani, 50km east of Mataram (11km
north of the main cross-island highway), the little town of
TETEBATU
enjoys fine views of
the mountain across terraced fields lush with rice in the rainy season and tobacco in the dry;
tall, red-brick drying towers for the tobacco are visible at every turn. At an altitude of about
600m, the area is cool but not cold and Tetebatu makes an excellent base from which to ap-
preciate small-town life and explore the centre of the island. You can also arrange ascents of
Rinjani here.
Tiny Tetebatu has no sights of its own, though on a clear morning the views north to Rinjani
are exhilarating. The main street has plenty of small
kios
to browse, mostly selling everyday
necessities and fresh food.
