Basics - The Rough Guide to Bali and Lombok - page 65

manual and exam papers in this price). Most dive centres also run PADI's introductory Dis-
cover Scuba course for novice and Scuba Review for those needing a refresher.
Safety and information
When planning your trip, note that as you shouldn't go anywhere that's more than 300m
above sea level for eighteen hours following a dive, you'll have to be careful neither to
fly straight after your dive, nor to go into the highlands of Bali or Lombok. Specifically
that means the Kintamani (Batur) region, Wongayagede and Sanda are all temporarily out of
bounds on Bali, as are Senaru and Rinjani on Lombok.
Bali's recompression chamber is at Sanglah Public Hospital but any reputable dive centre
should organize treatment for you in the very unlikely event that you need it. There is also
a recompression chamber on Lombok. Make sure your travel insurance covers you, as treat-
ment costs about $4000.
Hiking
The most challenging hikes on Bali and Lombok take you up the islands' towering volca-
noes, but there are also lots of gentler treks through ricefields in the interior. The biggest
undertaking is the ascent of Lombok's Gunung Rinjani , which involves at least one night
on the mountain, several more if you want to reach the summit and the crater lake; guides
are obligatory for this. Bali's holiest peak, Gunung Agung , also involves a very strenuous
guided climb, but the ascent and descent can be managed in one day. Gunung Batur , also
on Bali, is a much easier proposition and by far the most popular of the volcano walks; don't
be put off by this, though, as the sunrise from the top is glorious. Gunung Batukaru is less
commonly hiked but guides are available at the several starting points.
The most popular centre for ricefield treks is Ubud , but arguably more rewarding are the
smaller and far less busy tourist centres on Bali at Sidemen , Candidasa , Tirtagangga , Mun-
duk , Wongayagede , Sarinbuana and Sanda and on Lombok at Senaru and Tetebatu .
Rafting, kayaking and horseriding
Whitewater rafting on Bali's rivers ranges from Class 2 to Class 4, so there are routes for
first-timers as well as the more experienced; you can book trips in all the major coastal re-
sorts as well as in Ubud. It's also possible to go kayaking on the gentler rivers, as well as
on Danau Tamblingan and off Gili Trawangan; overnight kayak trips can be arranged from
Senggigi.
There's horseriding in Kerobokan near Seminyak, at Yeh Gangga, in Kuta (Lombok) and
on Gili Trawangan.
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