Sumbawa: Can This Indonesian Island Heal?
In search of healing power for her ill mother, travel writer Cimeron Morrissey takes an expedition to the mystic jungles and heavenly beaches of Sumbawa in Indonesia. Here for "The Spirit of Sumbawa" in the September/October 2009 issue of ISLANDS magazine, she describes the power of what she found there, from the scenery to the people to the history. Read the full story and plan your trip to Sumbawa with her travel advice below.
Sumbawa Airport Fly first to Denpasar, Bali (DPS), aboard Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines or American Airlines. And from there, Merpati offers multiple flights per week to Bima, Sumbawa (BMU). Go in the dry season, about April to October.
Sumbawa Hotels and Resorts Stay on Bali on the sacred cliffs of Uluwatu in one of Khayangan Estate's private villas. On Moyo Island off Sumbawa, stay at the Amanwana's luxury tent resort, between the marine reserve and the enchanting jungle. And for a truly authentic Indonesian experience, stay on the remote southeast side of Sumbawa at the Aman Gati Hotel, just a few paddle strokes from one of the island's best surf breaks and only a few miles from the volcano-fed hot springs.
Sumbawa Restaurant Eat nasi atau mie goreng out of a coconut shell and roasted duck off a banana leaf at the Bumbu Bali Restaurant & Cooking School.
Sumbawa Tours See giant whale sharks and other deep-sea migrants fly through the Indian Ocean in February and March (just bring a rain slicker).