Overview
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1. Rice Field Trekking
The area of Sidemen is filled with stunning, lush green rice paddies, rice fields and terraces. A trekking through these rice fields should definitely be on the top of your Sidemen to do list. You can choose to explore the rice fields yourself along a marked trekking route. Another option is to wander through the rice paddies with a local guide, who can lead you through the fields and give you interesting information about the environment and the rice culture in Sidemen.
Don’t expect gigantic green rice terraces like in Ubud, but you shouldn’t expect large hordes of tourists either. It is the ideal opportunity to enjoy this beautiful environment and the tranquility of Bali.
Please keep in mind that these fields are privately owned by local farmers and that this is also their livelihood. So show respect and try not to damage the crops.
One of the most popular rice trekkings start here. There’s an entrance fee of 25.000 IDR per person to support the local farmers, who own the rice fields.
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2. Tukad Cepung
Bali is home to countless stunning and impressive waterfalls, but the Tukad Cepung is just that little bit different. It is a big waterfall, cascading down into a cave-like canyon. At the right time of the day, this place gets even more spectacular. On a sunny day, the sun rays shine directly into the cave, creating this magical golden beam spotlight effect. But even without the light rays, the Tukad Cepung is a truly unique waterfall in Sidemen, Bali.
Practical
Entrance: 20.000 IDR
Daily open from 08:00 am until 06:30 pm
3. Goa Raja
Tukad Cepung is perhaps the most popular, but certainly not the only waterfall in a cave-like canyon. The Goa Raja is another unique waterfall, cascading down into this huge canyon and it is just a 10-minute drive away from Tukad Cepung. You won’t find a magical ray of light here, but there is a good chance that there will be much less crowds. Its name Goa Raja literally means ‘King Cave’ and that’s exactly the feeling you get when standing in the cave in front of the waterfall.
Practical
Entrance: 25.000 IDR
Daily open from 08:00 am until 06:00 pm
4. Silver Workshop
A truly unique thing to do in Sidemen is taking a silver workshop and make your own silver rings. During this workshop, they will take you through the process from pure silver balls to your own silver jewelry. Choose a design, melt the silver and create a lifetime souvenir. The making process takes approximately 2 to 3 hours and the price for the workshop is 450.000 IDR, including 7 grams of pure silver and 50.000 IDR per extra gram.
Practical
Workshop, including 7 grams of silver: 450.000 IDR
Per extra gram: 50.000 IDR
5. Penglipuran Traditional Village
Penglipuran is a traditional Balinese village, located approximately a 1hr drive from Sidemen. The name “Penglipuran” is a combination of the words “pengeling” and “pura,” which mean “remembering the ancestors” and “temple”.
The village is mostly known for its well-preserved traditional Balinese architecture, customs, and way of life. You will find traditional houses with thatched roofs and stone-paved pathways, and you have the opportunity to experience the unique culture and daily life of the Balinese people, as well as witness traditional ceremonies and rituals.
Besides that, it is often considered one of the cleanest villages in Bali, and it has won awards for its efforts in maintaining environmental sustainability. Knowing that Bali, and Indonesia in general, suffers from a huge waste problem, we were pleasantly surprised to see this. We hope this can be a first step towards more!
Just a little outside the Penglipuran Village, which is a part of the Parhyangan area, you’ll see a beautiful 45-hectare sacred bamboo forest to walk through and feast your eyes in.
Bamboo Forest
Just a little outside the Penglipuran Village, you’ll find a beautiful 45-hectare sacred bamboo forest, with some beautiful bamboo constructions that you can walk through. It can certainly be pleasant to take some shelter from the scorching sun, when visiting the Penglipuran Village.
Practical
Entrance: 50.000 IDR
2.000 IDR per scoooter
Daily open from 08:00 am until 06:30 pm
6. Gembleng Waterfall
The Gembleng waterfall is not so much a must visit in Sidemen because of the waterfall, but for the infinity pool above. A short walk up the stairs will take you to the top of the waterfall. Here, you can take a refreshing dip in several small natural pools while enjoying a beautiful view of the valley. So don’t forget your swimwear and be careful because the stones can be slippery!
Practical
Donation around 20.000 IDR per person is appreciated
Daily open from 07:00 am until 06:00 pm
7. Have a drink with a view
In the area around Sidemen, you will find a number of cozy restaurants and bars with a beautiful view of the green rice fields. Drink a coffee or enjoy a traditional Balinese lunch while enjoying the view and tranquility that Sidemen has to offer.
8. Taman Ujung
Taman Ujung is a beautiful waterpalace close to Sidemen, Bali. It was built in 1909 by the King of Karangasem and designed by a Dutch and Chinese architect. That is why you will find a combination of Balinese, Chinese and European influences in the architecture. You can wander through the beautiful historic buildings, lovely gardens and large ponds.
Practical
Entrance: 75.000 IDR
2.000 IDR per scoooter
Daily open from 07:00 am until 07:00 pm
9. Tirta Gangga
Tirta Gangga is another beautiful water palace in Karangasem. It is a former royal palace, built in 1946. You can wander through the fairytale fountains, stone sculptures, tropical gardens and ponds full of huge Koi fish.
Because it is a very popular place, we recommend that you visit as early as possible. If you have time to visit just one water palace, we recommend exploring the much more quite and beautiful Taman Ujung,
Practical
Entrance: 50.000 IDR
5.000 IDR per scoooter
10. Climb Mount Batur or Mount Agung
For the most beautiful 360° views over the surroundings of northeast Bali, you can climb up Mount Batur or Mount Agung. Watching the sunrise from one of these two volcanos is a moment you will never forget. The hike up Mount Batur is relatively easy. Hiking up Mount Agung is more of a challenge and takes around 6 hours. It is the highest point of Bali and definitely not an easy hike. The hike is steep, tough and sometimes dangerous but the views from the top are absolutely worth the effort.
For both these hikes, we recommend you to join a guided tour.
Tickets
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11. Enjoy the roadside views
The area around Sidemen is filled with beautiful green rice fields and views. Therefore, aimlessly driving around the area is one of the best things to do in Sidemen, Bali. Every bend you take will surprise you with a new, breathtaking view. Take your time to just drive around, take a break every now and then and enjoy the beautiful scenery. To have some direction, you can drive past some of these viewpoints in the Sidemen area:
Bukit Cinta
Wake up early and watch a beautiful sunrise from Bukit Cinta. From this viewpoint, you have a magical view of Mount Agung and the surroundings rice fields. It’s about a 30 minutes drive from Amed and you can easily park along the road to get to this free(!) view point! It was definitely one of our favorite views in Bali.
Lahangan Sweet
Another great viewpoint near Amed is Lahangan Sweet. It is located on top of a hill, offering an wonderful view of Mount Agung from different viewpoints. The most famous one is the tree platform. Climb up the ladder and enjoy a magnificent view over the rice fields, the volcano and its surroundings.
Lempuyang Temple - Gate of Heaven
Talking about viewpoints on Mount Agung: The Lempuyang Temple or ‘Gate of Heaven’ is probably the most famous Mount Agung Viewpoint in Bali. However, you have to wait and queue for hours to take a photo. We therefore recommend that you go to one of the above viewpoints to enjoy the views!
Practical Information
Best Time to visit Sidemen
The best time to visit Sidemen is from April to October, during dry season. You can expect drier and more sunny weather, but Sidemen sees more more rain than most places on the island. This means that even during a dry season, you can expect an occasional rain shower.
Know that the months July and August are high peak tourist season, so you can expect higher prices and more crowds at the tourist places.
Because Sidemen is located close to Mount Agung means it has slightly different weather patterns to the rest of Bali. The temperatures are a slightly lower (and therefore perhaps slightly more pleasant) than in the rest of Bali.
Rice is grown and harvested twice a year in Bali. This means that the rice paddies are at their greenest and most beautiful in March and April or September and October, right before harvest time.
How to get to Sidemen
Sidemen is located in the eastern part of Bali, around 1,5hr from Ubud and 1,5-2hrs from the international airport. The easiest way to get to Sidemen with all your luggage is by renting a car or hiring a private driver or taxi.
How to get around in Sidemen
The best way to get around Sidemen is by scooter. The roads are easily accessible and you drive through beautiful surroundings with some stunning views along the way. You can often rent a scooter at your accommodation or you can find various scooter rentals in the streets. Prices vary from 60.000 to 100.000 IDR per 24 hours.
If you are not confident driving a scooter, you can always hire a local driver or book a tour. Grab or Gojek does not operate in this area.
How many days for Sidemen
There is not that much to do in Sidemen itself. It is a good base to visit highlights in the east of Bali, but it is mainly a destination to slow down and relax. To explore all these best things to do in Sidemen and still have enough time left to enjoy the slow atmosphere of the village, we recommend you to stay at least 2-3 days.
Where to Stay in Sidemen
From budget homestays to unique resorts, you will find plenty of options to stay in Sidemen for every kind of traveler. There are even several accommodations where you can wake up with a beautiful view in the middle of the rice fields or stay in unique bamboo houses. There is literally something for everyone.
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Win-Win for everyone
Did you know that, if you buy or book something through our links, we receive a small commission?
However, you still pay the same and therefore have no extra costs! So a win-win for everyone. This way, we can continue to add even more travel inspiration and tips to this blog for your next adventure. Thanks a lot!
