Sidemen at a glance
| Where | Karangasem, East Bali, at the foot of Mount Agung |
| For whom | Travellers looking for calm, walkers, couples |
| Suggested stay | 1 to 3 nights |
| From the airport | About 1 h 40 to 2 h by road according to guides |
| From Ubud | Allow about 1 h to 1 h 30 by car (estimate, check on a map on the day) |
| Avoid | Without a driver or scooter you are quickly stuck |
Why go to Sidemen
The valley is surrounded by terraced rice fields, forest and small villages, with a view of Mount Agung in clear weather. Guides describe easy walks of a few kilometres through the rice fields; wear sturdy shoes and sun protection. The fields look like the Tegallalang terraces or Jatiluwih, with far fewer people. Guides also mention the village's traditional weaving as a possible visit.
Where to stay in Sidemen
Accommodation is small hotels and villas, often with rice field views: guides mention in particular Wapa di Ume (resort with cultural activities), Patal Kikian (hillside, Agung views), Samanvaya (eco-luxury in the terraces), Veluvana (bamboo bungalows in the paddies) and Laputa (ridge views). Prices and availability change with the season: compare before booking. To choose an area on the island, see where to stay in Bali.
How to get there from Ubud
The simplest way is a private driver for the day or a transfer with stops: see private driver in Bali and from the airport to Ubud, Canggu or Seminyak. By scooter, the mountain roads are trickier, see renting a scooter in Bali. Public transport is not practical here. Plan a way to get around locally: you rarely stay within walking distance of everything.
What to combine from Sidemen
Sidemen works as a base for East Bali, with the Besakih temple, the Lempuyang Gates of Heaven, the Tirta Gangga water palace and Amed for diving. If you do not sleep in Sidemen, the same region can be visited on a day trip from Ubud or the south: the tour that combines Besakih, Lempuyang and Tirta Gangga is the closest to what Sidemen offers as a setting. To compare tours from Ubud, see which tour to choose from Ubud.
When to go
The dry season, April to October, gives the clearest skies to see Agung; in the rainy season mountain roads are more slippery. See best time to visit Bali. The volcano is sometimes covered from late morning: go out early.
Going further
To fit Sidemen into a trip, read Bali in 10 days and Bali in 3 days.
