Sidemen in Bali is known as one of the island’s hidden gems. Yet Sidemen has also become increasingly popular with tourists in recent years. Logical too, since you will find many rice terraces and beautiful nature. Below we share the things to do in Sidemen with 10 unique tips.
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Top things to do in Sidemen: Enjoy the green nature!
Sidemen is known for its many rice fields and the beautiful layers you see in them. It is great fun to drive through these with your scooter, or of course to take a walk. There is one popular walk through the rice fields in Sidemen, where you can feast your eyes.
Hike Sidemen Trekking Rice Terrace
This amazing hike in Sidemen has the original name Sidemen Trekking Rice Terrace. You can find the start and end point of the hike here (open in Google Maps). The Sidemen Trekking costs IDR 25K (ā¬1.25) to enter. This way, local farmers get a small amount of money for the travelers who walk through the rice terraces here every day.
It is an easy hike through the rice fields of Sidemen of about 3.5 kilometers, taking about an hour. Follow the signs Sidemen Trekking and then you can’t get lost. Just be careful where you walk and don’t just go off the path, as you may end up in mud. The locals along the route are extremely friendly and really like it if you can speak a few words of Bahasa (Indonesian).
- Selamat Pagi means “good morning;
- Apa Kabar means “how are you.
- Kabar Baik means “I am doing well.
Learn these three words and you will encounter only people with big smiles. We found this to be one of the best things to do in Sidemen.
It is recommended to do the Sidemen Trekking early in the morning or in the afternoon because of the heat. There is little shade so bring plenty of water, sunscreen and a cap or hat against the bright sun. If you are lucky and there are no clouds you can also see Mount Agung from here. This was our favorite thing to do in Sidemen.
Viewpoint on Mount Agung
Along the route in Sidemen you will also find several viewpoints where you can get a panoramic view of Mount Agung. We ourselves have been here (open in Google Maps), but unfortunately it was cloudy this day. So we were not able to take a perfect picture of Mount Agung, but it is still a beautiful place in Sidemen to visit.
Gembleng waterfall with infinity pool
One of the highlights in Sidemen is the Gembleng waterfall. To get here, you must first make a donation of IDR 50K (ā¬3) before you can begin the steep climb. You have to climb about 150 high steps before you reach the viewpoint. Here you can see the natural pool of the Gembleng waterfall and this does not disappoint. What a fantastic view from a natural infinity pool!
This is obviously an Instagram picture perfect spot, which is why it attracts more and more visitors. So you can’t spend very long in the natural infinity pool because other travelers want to take a picture here too. Still, it is definitely worth visiting.
If you walk a little further up the hill, you will see even more natural pools that you can spend a nice long time in. You have a slightly less beautiful angle to take a perfect photo here, but you can enjoy the insane view for a long time. There is even a Gembleng restaurant here with delicious smoothie bowls, so you can feel free to spend an entire morning at this fun activity in Sidemen.
Make your own silver jewelry in Sidemen
How special is it to walk around with your homemade ring, earrings or necklace? In Sidemen you can make your own silver jewelry and it is a unique experience. Together with the jewelry maker in Sidemen, you determine the type of jewelry and the design. Then you scrape the design yourself and determine all the details. Every time you look at your jewelry you will cherish fond memories of it. We had our jewelry made with this jewelry maker in Sidemen.
Take a cooking class in Sidemen
The tastiest activity in Sidemen? Taking a cooking class at Mystery Mountain Cooking. You will learn to make traditional Indonesian dishes all by yourself. You start by making the boemboe paste, from mostly the same spices and sauces. Then you add different vegetables, tofu, tempeh and/or meat and conjure up the most delicious dishes. You also get a booklet with the recipes you made, so you can try to make them just as tasty at home, although you know of course that it can never taste as good as in this fantastic place in Bali.
Taman Ujung Water Palace and Tirta Gangga palace
The Taman Ujung Water Palace used to be the king’s palace in East Bali. It is a beautiful complex with a floating palace (this explains the name Taman Ujung Water Palace), beautiful gardens with flowers, lots of nature and cute ponds. It is definitely worth visiting the water palace from Sidemen. You can also visit the Tirta Gangga palace, which is fairly close to here but a lot smaller.
Rafting in Sidemen on the Telaga Waja river
If you’re wondering about the things to do in Sidemen, if you are in the mood for adrenaline then we recommend going rafting on the Telaga Waja River. Through rapids and small waterfalls you will explore the beautiful surroundings of Telaga Waja. Cool off in the water and enjoy this cool activity in Sidemen. You can book rafting on the Telaga Waja River here.
Staying in a bamboo villa
The luxury bamboo villas are the reason Sidemen was discovered several years ago. Here you have the best views of Mount Agung from your own beautiful bamboo accommodation. The nice thing is that you have bamboo villas for every available budget. For example, there are very luxurious bamboo accommodations in Sidemen such as Alamvaya Bali Bamboo House (located a bit away from Sidemen) and Nivriti Bali. Do you have a little less to spend (max ā¬90 per night)? Then Sandag Hill and Velonia Iseh are also good options for a bamboo villa in Sidemen.
It is a fantastic feeling to wake up in your own bamboo villa, spend the day by the pool overlooking Mount Agung and laze around. You feel that you are enjoying yourself at the top of your game and that is definitely worth something.
Visit the Pasar Sidemen, an authentic local market
In the early morning, Sidemen comes alive with a local market. It is the place to wander among the locals and marvel at all the fresh vegetables and other food.
Visit Bukit Cinta at sunrise
Bukit Cinta is one of the most beautiful viewpoints in East Bali. Early in the morning, a little mist often hangs over the rice fields with Mount Agung in the background. During the early morning hours you will enjoy the sound of waking birds and otherwise there is only silence and peace. From Sidemen you can get there by scooter or car in about 20 minutes, followed by a short walk to the grassy field that serves as a natural vantage point.
There are no fences, signs or entrance fees. Bring something to sit on and arrive around 5:30 a.m. to watch the sun rise behind the volcano. The combination of tranquility, nature and impressive scenery makes Bukit Cinta a unique place in Bali.
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