Bali’s Sidemen (pronounced Si-da-men) is set over the most picturesque valley surrounded by rice terraces with the most magnificent backdrop of Mount Agung. The active volcano is the highest point in all of Bali. In this Sidemen travel guide, we will show you the best things to do in Sidemen village.
You will find the traditional Bali still unspoiled by mass tourism, and allows you to connect with traditional village life. Sidemen is the perfect place to relax and recharge away from everything.
Sidemen is a very traditional area and the locals are a little overwhelmed by the increasing tourists coming to visit this untouched paradise.
The valley has several small villages and you will find the most popular tourist spot with accommodation and restaurants around the village of Tabola.
It’s a cooler climate and you will find it gets chilly at night, this makes for perfect conditions when trekking.
How to Get to Sidemen Bali
Sidemen is located around a 90-minute drive from Ubud and two hours from Sanur. If you are going straight to Sidemen from Bali’s Ngurah airport it will take you around two hours depending on traffic conditions.
The easiest way to get to Sidemen is by car, but you could also hire a motorbike as we did. We hired our bike in Ubud and rode from Ubud to Sidemen.
Sidemen Bali What To Do
Hiking Sidemen Bali Rice Terraces
Ubud is not the only place in Bali to explore rice fields, and in Sidemen, you will find the most gorgeous rice paddies. You don’t have to travel far to experience the rice paddies as you will be surrounded by them everywhere.
While walking through the village there will be plenty of opportunities for the perfect photo. The landscape and surrounding is gorgeous and you will need to pinch yourself to see if it’s real because it’s just picture perfect.
You can book Sidemen trekking tours from all the hotels that offer trekking through the fields and these are great. You will gain a lot of knowledge about the local area and, learn about the crops and farming methods used.
Exploring Sidemen Village
One of our highlights was exploring Sidemen valley and watching the locals go about their day. You won’t find any fancy restaurants or boutique shopping.
Strolling along the main street we bought some street food and fresh juices, we then road down to a rice field and had a picnic which was one of the highlights of our entire Bali trip.
When we had our picnic we just watched the locals go about their day. Watching them getting fruit from the trees, as the children in their school uniform walked past on their way home from school. Everyone was so friendly and the atmosphere is very laid back.
Relax at Your Hotel in Sidemen Bali
One of the best things to do in Sidemen, is to just stay in the hotel and enjoy the stunning atmosphere and stunning scenery. We loved our stay at Abian Ayu villa and didn’t want to leave.
Set in the rice fields with Mount Agung as a backdrop, lounging around the infinity pool soaking up the views is pure perfection.
It was such a great experience and if you are looking to relax there is no better place. You can also treat yourself to a traditional Balinese massage that Sai had, and she highly recommends it.
Where to Eat in Sidemen Bali
If you are looking for nice Sidemen Bali restaurants there are lots of local warungs to choose from that offer local dishes. We didn’t come across a bad meal at any of them.
Our go-to restaurant for lunch was Warung Ida which serves really nice Balinese food and is set on rice fields off the main road.
Sai’s favorite dish was chicken in the pan, we had this three days in a row it was that good. The best restaurant for dinner we experienced was Joglo D’ Uma the specialty dish is suckling pig which was delicious.
Where to Stay in Sidemen Bali
Most of the hotels are around the village of Tabola, and you’re guaranteed spectacular views in Sidemen. Air-conditioners and fans are rare, but usually not needed in the cooler area of Bali.
Abian Ayu Villa Sidemen
Abian Ayu Villa – Abian Ayu Villa has the most breathtaking view of Mount Agung which could be the best view you will ever witness.
They offer a range of comfortable rooms situated around a stunning rice field. We absolutely loved our room it was so big and spacious and it even had its own outside bathroom which was just bliss listening to the sound of the stream running by.
The infinity pool also has an amazing view looking out over the rice fields and Mount Agung. They offered the biggest breakfast we had in all of Bali, and everything was delicious.
The place is only around $30USD per night which is a really good value for this place. This was our favorite Sidemen Bali accommodation we stayed in.
Check Rates and Availability: Abian Ayu Villa
Arta Nadi Villa Sidemen Bali
Arta Nadi Villa – Across the road from Abian Ayu we had to stay here because Abian Ayu was booked out for the extra days we wanted. It’s a good budget hotel with a nice pool and big rooms. If we had to choose which one was better we would definitely recommend Abian Ayu.
Check Rates and Availability: Arta Nadi Villa
Why Sidemen Should Be On Your List of Places To Visit In Bali
If you are wanting to experience the traditional Bali that still has the authentic side untouched, then you will want to add Sidemen to your Bali travel Itinerary. Sidemen’s natural breathtaking scenery and easygoing lifestyle will leave you wanting to go back over and over again. It’s still untouched and one of Bali’s secret locations and was definitely our favorite spot in all of Bali.
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