Sidemen rice terraces
1 / 6
Sidemen rice fields - by Koreval
Description
Sidemen is an agricultural area in Eastern Bali filled with lush vegetation, terraced rice paddies, and dotted with traditional village that have retained a genuine rural and uncommercial way of life. Highlights include the landscapes and views of the cone-shaped Gunung Agung (Bali's highest peak), and casually riding a motorbike along the narrow and often steep roads. It is often described as "Ubud 30 years ago" but doesn't have the same spiritual and artistic background so the comparison only holds in terms of scenery and road traffic.
Access & Transport
Sidemen can be accessed from all directions but most visitors will be coming in from Ubud or Southern Bali via Semarapura - count on 80mins drive. From Besakih and Kintamani, it is a straightforward 30-50mins drive, and from Amlapura / Amed it is 50-70mins.
Instructions & Recommendations
We recommend staying overnight in a homestay (guesthouse with 2-3 rooms) and hiring a local guide for a 1-2h walk in the rice paddies. At the time of this review the going rate was about Rp70,000/h for up to 3 pers.
Environmental & Social
No carbon footprint other than transport for getting there. Tourism brings much needed economic activity to the area and is still sustainable in terms of volume
Conclusion
Sidemen is out of the way and clearly not everybody's cup of tea but, if the idea of traffic and over-touristed attractions makes you feel slightly nauseous, then this is one of the best antidotes Bali has to offer travellers. Some beautiful, lush vistas - recommended for a one-night stay on the way to/from Amed/Tulamben.
Key positive
Gorgeous landscapes
Authentic traditional village life and not busy
Key negative
Not many activities
Suitability
No restrictions but visitors with reduced mobility will find it challenging to explore off-road and most homestays will not be accessible
About this Rating
TYPE
Onsite
RESEARCHED IN
June 2024
PROVIDER
Koreval
av. transport time:1h 15m
est. visit time:3h
Sunrise / early morningOk
MorningOk
Lunch timeOk
AfternoonOk
Sunset / eveningOk
Night – bef. midnightNo
Night – aft. midnightNo