8 Reasons Why YOU must visit Sidemen village Bali!

How would people describe Sidemen village Bali? Quiet, beautiful, untouched views over the hills and rice paddies, and a retreat back into nature. Forget the traffic and hustle and bustle of say Kuta, Canggu and Ubud, Sidemen village Bali is a true retreat where you can relax and experience true local life in stunning scenery.

In this blog post, I will be telling you all about Sidemen village Bali, how to get there, including: Ubud to Sidemen, things to do in Sidemen and places to eat in Sidemen restaurants.

This post is all about Sidemen village Bali. 

Now, before we get started, let me allow you not to make the same mistake as I did. The way to say Sidemen is not [Side – men], no, no, no – I received MANY funny looks! In fact it is said like [Sid -a -men]. That should help you out when organising transport and when telling people about your next stop while travelling in Bali.

General Information About Sidemen Village Bali:

Sidemen is a rural village on the East side of the island in the Karangasem Regency. It is a fantastic alternative to the Jatiluwih rice terraces in West Bali and the overcrowded Tegallalang rice terraces in Ubud. It is truly the perfect place to escape back into nature and enjoy the simpler side of life. The village is small and quiet, so don’t expect huge markets, shopping opportunities like in some of the main tourist hubs like Canggu, Ubud and Seminyak. However, think a slower pace, relaxing in nature and quiet nights with the sounds of the valley. It is the PERFECT destination for people who want to escape the hustle and bustle, relax, experience local culture and explore wonderful nature. Sidemen village Bali is NOT for you if you are looking for nightlife, parties and tourist attractions such as theme parks.

How to get to Sidemen?

After COVID-19, a lot of the shared public transport options in Bali seem to have disappeared. Instead, hiring a driver seems to be the best way to get around (or renting your own scooter). It is very easy to get a driver, as typically in the tourist hotspots every man and his dog are offering taxi services on the street.

One thing to be careful with, is that sadly some of these people are not so honest. They will state one price and then demand another. You need to make it very clear before getting in the car, the EXACT price.

Generally, I would recommend asking your accommodation to help you find a drive or try Bali Honest Drivers. I have used this service a couple of times, and I have never been disappointed with the service. They are kind, the vehicle is clean, and they arrive promptly. Asking your accommodation provider is always a good option as they are not going to get someone who would scam you, as it would make them look bad!

The standard price seems to be around 600,000 IDR for a driver for the whole day.

Distance:

Ubud to Sidemen is around 33km, however, with traffic it can take anywhere between 1- 2.5 hours to drive from one to the other. Ubud to Sidemen costs around 250,000- 350,000 IDR one way (depending on the driver). From the coast (Sanur to Ubud) it took around 2.5 hours to travel the 40km when I did it. However, with Bali, it really depends on the traffic and the weather. If the weather or traffic is bad, it can take you a really long time to not travel far – especially in a car. From Sidemen to Sanur, through my accommodation, the price of the driver was 350,000IDR.

To leave Sidemen to your next destination, just ask your accommodation provider (they normally ask you anyway) as they always know someone who would be able to take you.

Top things to do in Sidemen village Bali:

1. Slow Down:

Sidemen is the perfect place to slow down, relax and unwind. Whether that is strolling through the rice paddies or chilling by the pool at your accommodation, Sidemen is the best destination for this. Unlike many other areas of Bali, you won’t be disrupted by traffic, pollution and noise, instead you can just be by yourself!

2. Wander The Rice Fields:

A trip to Sidemen is not complete without taking a walk through the rice fields. You can go alone or on a little tour.

If you go alone, you will come across a little booth where you will have to give a donation to the village across the river. But after that, you can continue walking up the road and then turn onto a path that goes through the rice fields.

However, if you want to get the most out of your experience, I would really recommend going with a guide. They know exactly where to go through the rice fields (the paths are not always clear), they point out lots of interesting things, that probably if I went passed on my own, I would have missed completely, and it is a fantastic way to learn more about the culture and to get all your questions answered.

Nyoman’s Eco Tours Sidemen:

I went with Nyoman who runs Nyoman’s Eco Tours Sidemen. He is also a guide for the well-known tourism company Intrepid. Nyoman was actually managing my accommodation, and that is how I found him. The tour was great and very informative! I learnt so much about life in Sidemen village Bali and how local people live. We also stopped at a very small café on the walk, where I also was able to interact with the locals. You can also check out his tour on TripAdvisor. To get in contact with Nyoman you can go through TripAdvisor, or go to the Amrita cafe and say you are interested in the hiking tour with Nyoman and they can tell you more information.

I promise you, Sidemen is such a beautiful place that you will not be disappointed with the wonderful views.

3. Take in the amazing views of Mount Agung:

Wherever you go in Sidemen, you will be able to marvel at Mount Agung which is towering over the village in the distance. I found that early mornings the view was much clearer, as in the afternoon, the clouds seemed to come in and block the view.

4. Relax in an infinity pool waterfall (Gembleng Falls):

Who wouldn’t want to cool off with a wonderful view in your own natural infinity pool? Gembleng Falls is a short journey away from Sidemen (7.5km). You could rent a scooter, or organise a driver through your accommodation. Once you are there, you must pay an entrance fee which was around 20,000 IDR (under $1.50).

You are then free to walk up the quite steep steps to the top of the waterfall, also being able to stop for pauses on some of these benches.

Once you are at the top, you will see the top of the waterfall, and just underneath it the rocky infinity pool which looks out over the jungle!

Gembleng waterfall is not as well known as some of the other waterfalls Bali has to offer, which means there will be less crowds – so any time of the day could be a good time to come here. When I went (early in the afternoon), there were only 2 other couples there and 1 was leaving as the other was walking up – meaning you could relax in the rockpools for some time without feeling rushed or disturbed.

⚠️One thing to note: the waterfall holds religious importance to the local people, so if there is a religious ceremony, the waterfall may be closed. It is best to ask your accommodation provider if it will be open as there are always ceremonies being held in Bali!

5. Walk the rickety yellow bridge:

At the bottom of Sidemen by the river you will find this beautiful old bridge. Scooters can also drive across it. However, walk across it, take in the roar of the river and continue your little walk exploring the other side.

On the other side of the bridge, there is also a silversmith’s workshop where if you wanted to, you could learn and make something out of silver.

6. Take a longer day trip to Tirta Gangga Water Palace and Taman Ujung:

If you decided to spend longer in Sidemen and wanting to go on a day trip, why not hire a driver for the day and visit more of East Bali. I recommend visiting both the Tirta Gangga Water Palace, which was once the Royal Palace and Taman Ujung, another water palace, which can be visited on the same day. You could also include another waterfall or Virgin Beach into the day if you wanted something extra. You can rent a driver for the day for around 600,000 IDR.

7. Take a walk down to the bottom of the village and see different topiary animals:

If you take a walk down Jl. Raya Tebola, and walk down the big hill after the majority of restaurants and guest houses, you will come across a house all on its own with grand walls. On the outside of these walls, you will find many different topiary animals such as giraffes and elephants. It is something different to see.

8. Experience the local cuisine:

Sidemen may be small, but it offers some very delicious food! Check out below for a more detailed look into Sidemen restaurants.

Sidemen restaurants and cafes:

Sidemen boasts a range of different food options. Nearly all the restaurants also offer a spectacular view of the rice fields and valley. The staff and local people in Sidemen are very friendly, so even if you are a solo traveller (like I was), don’t be surprised if the waiters/ waitresses stop and chat to you for a bit. Prices of Sidemen restaurants range from very low cost – to more expensive, fancy restaurants (which would still be cheap in Western prices).  

1. Asri Dining by Samanvaya:

Asri Dining was one of the best meals I have ever eaten in Bali! I have been to Bali 4 times and each time, I have stayed for 1 month! The price is more expensive (for Bali) Around 120k for a main meal ($8) – however, it is delicious. Even people who were on a tight budget (like me) should have this experience as the food was delightful. I took the grilled fish for my main, followed by a salted caramel tart for dessert.

The ambiance of Asri Dining is also amazing, beautifully decorated, wonderful views, and a very quiet and calm atmosphere. The staff were lovely and friendly and even came and chatted with me while I was waiting for my main. I will definitely go back again!

D’padi Restaurant:

I really enjoyed my meal at D’padi restaurant in Sidemen. An open aired restaurant with views looking out over the rice paddies. The staff were very friendly and had long chats with me to keep me company.

I took the Duck Tutu as one of the drivers I had used to take me to the water palaces had told me that it was his favourite dish, and I really enjoyed it! The prices were very reasonable, and they also gave you free little appetizers before the meal.

Joglo D’ Uma:

If you would like a meal with a view, Joglo D’Uma is the place to go. A small restaurant with views over the valley and a candlelit dinner, what else could you want.

In the evening, they also have traditional live music playing and the musicians even allowed some of the customers to have a go, which was really fun.

The food was tasty and cheap (I had the Balinese curry with rice) and they even gave me a free little dessert of banana fritters.

Amrita Cafe:

Amrita Café is also on Jalan Raya Tebola, like all of these other restaurants, and is the perfect place to go if you are wanting a morning coffee or tea, or an afternoon pick me up with tea and cakes.

It has some organic fresh herbal oriental teas which I loved! You must check out the refresh tea which was delicious. What was magical about it was that when it was served, it is blue in the teapot. However, once you squeeze lime into it, it turns purple!

09.00am coffee and eatery:

If you are a coffee lover and need a good coffee to function in the morning (I confess, I am one of these) – check out 09:00am coffee and eatery. The coffee here was the best that I had found in Sidemen and it was a high contender throughout Bali! The staff are friendly, and the cafe is decorated in a funky way!

Accommodation in Sidemen:

Sidemen has a wide variety of accommodation options ranging from budget rooms in a guest house to luxury bamboo houses. Sidemen has started to get a reputation for the luxury bamboo houses, which usually come with a private pool and a wonderful view over the rice fields.

However, if you are not wanting to spend so much money, you will find some lovely options still for a very cheap price. I found the local people very welcoming, and I spent a lot of time chatting to the people who ran my accommodation, who gave me a more local insight into daily life.

Where I stayed:

If you are looking for something cheap but you want to get a lot for your money, you should check out Amrita Villa. It is on the main village road (Jalan Raya Tebola) where a lot of the other accommodation and restaurants are, and it is above Amrita cafe. It has a bedroom, a little living area and a bathroom with 2 balconies. The views were spectacular, especially of a morning, when you could wake up and look out over Mount Agung and the rice fields with a cup of coffee.

Amrita cafe downstairs also gave me breakfast, which was big and delicious. There was a selection to choose from and the staff cooked it perfectly.

This accommodation was perfect for me, I could use it as a base, work and relax. One thing to note: Sidemen is maybe not the best choice for you if you need strong internet. Generally the internet speeds are quite weak. I tested the speed at many restaurants and also at the accommodation and while there is internet in most places, it is not fast at all.

I hope this post has given you some inspiration for your next Bali adventure and that if you go to Sidemen, you have the BEST time.

Remember, explore, enjoy and relax.

Love,

PS. if you are next heading to Australia, check out some of my Australian posts such as this one!

This post was all about Sidemen village Bali.