Have you been to Sidemen Village, East Bali? — A Beauty In The Valley

Is Sidemen worth a visit? Absolutely.

Sidemen is a small valley in eastern Bali. Not so many people write about Sidemen, and if they do it’s most likely not by a local. As a local Sidemen — and as we’ve learnt from the mistakes made in other parts of the island — our aim is supporting the local population, reducing plastic waste, using natural materials and providing scholarships.

We don’t want our beautiful village turned into ‘the next Ubud’ as many tourist and traveler have said. We just want Sidemen to be as it is — a place that we spent in the memories of our childhood, a land of a farmer and river. The small villages are surrounded by rice fields and agricultural land while people still tend to their fields, prepare ceremonies at the temples and head to the rivers for a bath towards the end of the day.

All under the watchful eye of the impressive and sacred Mount Agung.

Sidemen is, without question, quintessential Bali – the panoramic rice terraces, farmlands and the quaint villages nestled in hills and valleys. When you visit this magically preserved region, it’s easy to imagine what Bali must have looked like 30 years ago before the tourism altered the landscape of the island.

The scene in Sidemen Bali is so rural in fact that you feel like you traveled in a time machine because you can’t fathom how such an enchanting countryside exists just 2 hours north of populated and developed tourist center of South Bali (Denpasar, Kuta, Nusa Dua).

Sidemen has been able to maintain its traditional charm and way of life for much longer compared to other parts of the island which have been recently developed.

One thing I will always remember of being kid in Sidemen is wandering the rice field with my brothers and friends and when we finished playing we will go take a bath at Unda river (Photo by Gus Dark/Adimelali Bali)

Sidemen can be a base or worth staying for more than two or three nights, if want to explore East Bali. Alternatively, Sidemen can be a transit place for a night or two when going to Gili’s or Lombok from Padang Bay port, or when planning to visit Amed or Candidasa.

With many villas to choose from (and some five-star service resorts) a visit to Sidemen will make it easier to access destinations and activities including Amed, Gate Of Heaven Lempuyang, Climbing Mount Agung, Candidasa, Padang Bay and even Ubud, as an alternative to Candidasa or Amed.

Despite the overdevelopment on the island this unique area in east Bali still has the feeling as if not much has changed. This village has not been discovered by many tourists. However, in the past few years more and more travelers are discovering this tranquil place — particularly nature lovers. Bali’s hiking trails and paths take you along rice fields, mountains, through the valleys of the Unda river and many coffee and cocoa plantations which dominate this area.

Sidemen offers not only magnificent views and landscapes but also a glimpse into the traditional way of life, which is rare if you only visit the popular hot spots of Bali. When you take a stroll around Sidemen, it’s evident just how intimate the communities are. Every local person stops and talk to one another, working together in the fields and taking coffee breaks in the shades.

Explore Sidemen in a Volkswagen classic type 181/182 convertible, known as “VWe-BaT”

Perhaps you’ve been to other acclaimed rice terraces in Bali such as Tagalalang and Jatiluwih, but Sidemen is special. It’s a unique feeling at Sidemen, and it comes down to this:

Sidemen feels very much like a community.

A few things to know about Sidemen

🚔 Polsek Sidemen / Sidemen Sectorial Police Station
Phone: +62851-4311-1311
Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/PsABDHhx2aYagdcd7

🩺 Puskesman / Public Health Care Local Village Sidemen
Phone : (0366) 5300582 (land line/ and opening hours is morning to noon)
Location: https://g.co/kgs/ob6ktpv

🚑 Medical Clinic or International Medical Care are not available in Sidemen tourist centre (Tabola), for any medical assistance and emergency its perhaps need to reach around 1 hours Klungkung Regency to 1 and half hour to Karangasem City Centre or 2 hour to Gianyar Regency.

💊 Pharmacy are not available in Sidemen area include the tourist centre in Tabola. So if you have a congenital disease, or have allergies to cold air, food allergies and others, or need regular medication to be taken, make sure before going to Sidemen to bring a supply of medicine or buy your medicine supply in Denpasar, Ubud or a large pharmacy in a tourism center such as Kuta , Sanur and others.

🏪 Convenience store, Mini Market, Supermarket or Liqueur Shop are not available in Sidemen, so if you love snacking, smoking, or drinking ( wine, whiskey, vodka) you better get your supply from supermarket or liqueur shop in most biggest tourist facility centre such Sanur, Denpasar, Kuta, Ubud or Seminyak.