13 Top Things To Do in Sidemen, Bali [With Map]

Sidemen is a peaceful, rural region in East Bali, known for its sweeping rice terraces and lush green landscapes, set against the picturesque backdrop of Mount Agung. We love visiting Sidemen to slow down, unwind, and escape the crowds of the south.

At the heart of the region is Sidemen Village, where you'll find most of the accommodation, restaurants, a local market, and silver workshops. But explore the wider region, and you'll discover waterfalls, temples, and hidden gems - many of which we’ll share in this guide to our favourite things to do in Sidemen.

Map of Sidemen

Things To Do in Sidemen

1. Go trekking through Sidemen's rice fields

Sidemen has long been one of Bali's top agricultural regions, famous for its picturesque working rice terraces that continue for miles, creating an unusual sense of symmetry in nature.

There are some great viewpoints where you can admire the rice paddies from afar, including at many of the restaurants that line the main village. But one of our favourite things to do in Sidemen is to get outdoors and trek through the scenic terraces, catching a glimpse of local life up close.

Trekking with a guide:

One option for exploring Sidemen's rice terraces is to take a trekking tour with a local guide. We recruited the lovely Komang Adi from Sidemen Trekking, who grew up in the area and is keen to show his home to visitors.

We met Adi at a local market where he showed us some of the region's produce before heading out on our adventure. Being a local, he knew a scenic route that wasn't on any maps. He was friendly with local farmers, which made us feel at ease walking through their fields and taking photos while they worked.

During the two-hour trek, we chatted with Adi about all aspects of Balinese life from families, religion, and traditions, to marriage, schools, and agriculture. He showed us local plants and farming techniques used in Sidemen and taught us how to make a necklace out of Casova leaves (a childhood pastime).

Trekking by yourself:

Alternatively, you can take the public walking trail through the rice fields, which begins here on the outskirts of Sidemen village.

The signposted trekking route is easy to follow and continues for 3km, with an optional stop at the Panoramic Cafe halfway round. It took us around an hour to do the round-trip.

To do this trek, there's a 25,000 IDR ⓘ per person entrance fee payable at the small roadside booth at the trail entrance. Bring cash.

2. Enjoy the natural infinity pools at Gembleng Waterfall

A short drive from Sidemen village is Gembleng Waterfall, a unique waterfall where several splash pools have formed near the top. You can sit in these pools to enjoy an unobstructed view across the surrounding jungle. It felt like having our own natural infinity pool.

Gembleng is becoming more touristy than when we first visited a few years back - there's even a new warung directly above the waterfall.

But it’s still worth visiting. Just be prepared to wait in line if you want a photo in the famous pool at the top. Try to visit early in the morning or around sunset when it tends to be quieter.

There are parking areas at the top and bottom of the waterfall. If you park at the bottom, you'll climb the 140 well-maintained steps that run alongside the waterfall (it only takes around 5 minutes).

Entrance is donation-based, with most people giving around 30,000 - 50,000 IDR ⓘ per group. It's a sacred site for Balinese people, so you might see ceremonies taking place if you’re lucky.

3. Craft your own rings at a Sidemen silver class

Besides the rice terraces, Sidemen is also known for its silver-making workshops, where skilled silversmiths craft jewellery by hand to sell at markets across Bali.

Many of these workshops offer classes where you can make your own jewellery using traditional methods. Emily and I have tried this before, turning silver pellets into matching rings which we now wear all the time.

Everything is done by hand, so expect a labour-intensive class where you melt, mould, hammer, and polish your perfect keepsake – don’t worry, help is available if you need it. Our rings took an hour to make, but more complex designs could take longer.

4. Go rafting down the Telaga Waja River

Sidemen's Telaga Waja River is one of the top rafting spots in Bali where you zoom down class III and IV rapids, surrounded by thick jungles, towering cliffs, lush rice terraces, and even a few waterfalls.

Several companies use this same stretch of river, but based on our excellent experience, we'd recommend Bali Tubing and Rafting (BTR). Our trip lasted almost four hours in total, with a mid-way stop at a giant waterfall and a buffet lunch provided at the end.

The highlights were the two big drops down manmade dams along the river. A member of staff managed to perfectly photograph the moment for us!

Each raft holds up to five people, plus an experienced instructor who does most of the hard work for you. We went with four friends and had a rather heated girls-vs-boys race along the river in our two rafts.

The experience is suitable for all abilities - we're total rafting newbies and felt super safe the entire time.

We arrived at the start point just north of Sidemen (here), and they drove our scooters to meet us at the endpoint, which was very convenient. If you don't have your own transport, select the package with transfers included.

5. Relax in the thermal spa at Ananda Bathhouse

You can't always guarantee great weather in Sidemen, so it's good to have a few rainy day activities up your sleeve; this is why we love Ananda Bathhouse. The new spa and wellness centre in Sidemen has a gorgeous thermal suite, private treatment rooms, and calming spaces to relax on a grey day.

The bathhouse has three small pools at varying temperatures, from an 8°C (46°F) cold plunge up to a toasty 40°C (104°F) jacuzzi, as well as a rain shower, sauna, steam room, and quiet relaxation area.

For us, the best feature was the sauna, which had a huge floor-to-ceiling window looking out across the Sidemen valley. Next to the sauna is a Hammam steam room. Try the 'sud & mud' kit and apply black soap and volcanic clay to rejuvenate your skin in the steam (extra fee).

Access to the bathhouse costs 500,000 IDR ⓘ for a 2-hour slot. Guests staying at the Samanvaya Resort get a discounted rate of 300,000 IDR ⓘ. We'd recommend booking ahead, as capacity is limited to keep the space peaceful.

The bathhouse also has a spa which offers an extensive treatment menu, with everything from Balinese massages to Chakra rebalancing and body scrubs. You can view all the options and make a booking on their website.

6. Grab a drink with a view at Koli-Koli Day Club

If you're looking for somewhere to spend the afternoon relaxing and enjoying Sidemen's scenic beauty, the new Koli-Koli Day Club is a great option.

Spread across a hillside overlooking the rice terraces with Mount Agung in the distance, Koli-Koli features 22 plunge pools at the perfect temperature for a refreshing dip. Surrounding the pools are cozy bean bags and daybeds, creating a relaxed spot to hang out and enjoy a drink or two.

Created by Veluvuna, the pool club has a cool, eco-friendly aesthetic, with rustic, earthy tones and several bamboo structures similar to their Instagram-famous bamboo villas.

There's no entry fee or minimum spend, and the prices were reasonable compared to other day clubs in Bali. We only had snacks here, but the food was great, with a similar menu to their upmarket restaurant in Sidemen Village.

7. Learn local recipes at the Mystery Mountain Cooking Class

There's no shortage of fantastic cooking classes in Bali where you can learn to make delicious local dishes for yourself. But none are quite as unique as Sidemen's Mystery Mountain Cooking Class.

Designed to replicate the experience of cooking in a 1920s-era Balinese kitchen, the class was held entirely outdoors in a forested setting in the hills above Sidemen. It was an intimate experience, with just six of us in our group.

We didn’t use any pre-packaged ingredients - everything was made from scratch using freshly harvested spices and vegetables from their garden. We practiced traditional cooking techniques like grinding with a pestle and mortar, cooking over an open wood fire, and even extracting milk from coconuts by hand.

The menu was a little different than other cooking classes in Bali, focusing on authentic Balinese recipes rather than Indonesian classics. We made Balinese curry, sate lilit (chicken satay), jukut ares (banana stem soup), bubur injin (black rice porridge), and sayur urap (spicy vegetables).

While the food didn’t completely blow us away, it was a great opportunity to try some more traditional local dishes.

Our class began at 8am and lasted the entire morning. We didn't eat most of the dishes until the end of the class (lunchtime), so by then, we'd worked up quite an appetite. Make sure to have breakfast before you go!

8. Stay in an eco-friendly bamboo house

Sidemen's seclusion and tranquillity are what make it a great place to switch off from everyday life and make the most of being immersed in nature.

There's no better way to do this than by spending a few nights in an eco-friendly bamboo house, built with natural materials and with sustainability at its roots.

Sidemen has earned itself a name for bamboo houses, with more and more popping up all the time. The photos shown here are from our stay at "Falcon" at Hideout Bali, a complex of nine beautifully designed bamboo houses just north of Sidemen, each varying in size, style, and price.

There was no compromise on luxury at Hideout. Our spacious accommodation had a stylish open design, with a comfortable four-poster bed, a serene outdoor bathroom, and a huge private garden with hammock nets, an outdoor bathtub, and even a koi fish pond.

We enjoyed amazing personalised service, with breakfast and dinner served to our room, a private in-room massage, and a flower bath in our heated stone bathtub. After a couple of nights here, you’ll feel rejuvenated and ready to continue exploring Bali.

Things To Do Near Sidemen

9. Discover a waterfall in a cave at Tukad Cepung

About 40 minutes from Sidemen is Tukad Cepung, a unique waterfall where the river cascades down into a large cave in a unique display of nature.

To reach this waterfall, you need a good level of mobility and an adventurous spirit. First, we had to walk down steep concrete steps and trek along an uneven gorge, before wading through the river for the final 100m. From the parking area, it took us around 20 minutes to find the waterfall.

But if you can manage the journey, it’s worthwhile, especially if you go around 8-9am, just in time for the sun casting rays of light down into the gorge. This is also early enough to avoid the crowds.

The entrance fee is 20,000 IDR ⓘ per person, cash-only. There is no ATM so make sure you have cash with you.

10. Enjoy panoramic jungle views from The Monkey Bar

On top of Bukit Abah (Abah Hill), just outside Sidemen, is The Monkey Bar at Bella Vista, a cool bar and restaurant that offers breathtaking views across the jungle in all directions.

There’s a restaurant area, sun loungers, day beds, and an infinity pool that offers picturesque views, overlooked by a giant Buddha statue that doubles up as a water feature.

True to its name, The Monkey Bar is filled with statues of cheeky monkeys. Some swing from the ceiling, others perch on the bar, with more scattered throughout the venue.

Entrance is 150,000 IDR ⓘ which includes the use of a pool towel and 100,000 IDR back in food and drink credits. This just about covered a meal each for us, but we ended up spending more. The Western food here was exceptionally good for a rural area like Sidemen.

We visited in the late afternoon, but the pool had already closed and there wasn’t much of a vibe. We’d recommend it more as a daytime spot where you can enjoy a swim and relax on the sun loungers.

11. Visit Bali’s most important temple at Pura Besakih

Pura Besakih, also known as ‘The Mother Temple of Bali’, is the largest and most important temple on the island. It's also just a 30-minute drive from Sidemen.

This is one of our favourite cultural attractions in Bali. Not just because of its extraordinary size and commanding position on Mount Agung, but because it’s a place of cultural significance and a great opportunity to learn about Balinese Hinduism.

Besakih isn't just one temple, but a giant complex of temples. It would take ages to see the entire thing, so a visit focuses on the main area, home to the most important temples and shrines. Our visit took around an hour in total, which included a 10-15 minute walk back to the parking area.

The entrance fee to visit Besakih Temple is 90,000 IDR ⓘ per person, which includes entrance, use of a sarong, a shuttle bus up from the entrance, and a local guide.

The guide was excellent and really made the experience for us. He had a wealth of knowledge about the temple and was able to share some interesting facts about the temple’s history and why it’s culturally significant.

The temple is a popular tourist attraction, but you'll still see many locals praying inside, so make sure to be respectful.

12. Hike to the summit of Mount Agung

Standing over 3,000m above sea level, Mount Agung is Bali’s largest volcano that dominates the surrounding landscape. And yes, it’s still active, but major eruptions haven’t occurred for decades.

Seasoned hikers can reach the summit and back in less than a day. Although many people camp up there and enjoy sunrise from the top.

There are two routes to the top, both traversing the south side of the volcano. The first trail (5-8 hours round-trip) begins at Pasar Agung Temple. This is the easiest of the two but doesn’t go to the true summit since an eruption wiped out the final stretch of the path. The entrance fee for this trail is 150,000 IDR ⓘ.

The Gunung Agung route begins at Besakih Temple. This is the longer (10-14 hours round-trip) and more challenging option, especially on the way down when the chances of injury are higher. However, it does go right to the summit.

If you’re attempting this route without a guide, locals at the entrance may force you to pay an entrance fee of 3,000,000 IDR ⓘ, although we’ve heard of people negotiating to half of this. Still, hiring a guide is around the same price.

13. Learn about Balinese culture at the Samsara Living World Museum

Samsara Living World Museum is a cultural experience in East Bali dedicated to preserving Balinese culture and sharing it with overseas visitors.

It’s not like a typical museum where you look at the exhibits by yourself. It’s far more immersive with a local guide who will show you around and explain everything to you.

You’ll learn about many parts of Balinese culture, from the ceremonies and traditional dances to local food, and Balinese music. You might even get to try playing some of their instruments.

The basic entrance fee is 100,000 IDR ⓘ , which includes your guide, tea or coffee, local snacks, and a senteng (traditional dress) for women to wear. You can also book classes such as an offerings workshop, an arak-making class, or a Balinese dance lesson.

Where To Stay in Sidemen

Sidemen has a wide range of accommodation, from beautiful but affordable guesthouses to super-luxury resorts and stunning bamboo villas. Here are a few of our favourites:

Where To Eat in Sidemen