Sidemen
Rice terraces below Mount Agung, traditional weaving villages, and none of Ubud's crowds.
Updated August 2026
Sidemen is what Ubud's rice terraces looked like before the crowds — a quiet valley in east Bali, walled in by terraced paddies with Mount Agung rising behind them. There's no real "town centre," just a scatter of homestays and villas along a valley road, which is exactly the appeal for travellers who've already done Ubud or want to skip it entirely.
Who Sidemen suits
Best for slow mornings, valley walks and a base for climbing Mount Agung — not the place for nightlife or a wide restaurant choice. Pairs naturally with a stop at a temple visit at nearby Tirta Gangga on the way in or out.
The Sidemen highlights
Rice terrace walks
Marked and unmarked trails wind through the valley's terraces, most with a clear view of Mount Agung on a clear morning.
Traditional weaving
Sidemen is known island-wide for handwoven endek and songket textiles — several family workshops welcome visitors to watch the process.
Mount Agung trek
Sidemen is one of the common bases for the Mount Agung sunrise climb — a harder, longer trek than Batur, requiring a licensed guide.
→ What the climb actually involvesTirta Gangga water palace
A former royal water garden with ornamental pools and stepping stones, around 45 minutes away — an easy half-day trip.
Homestays with a view
Most stays are family homestays or small villas built specifically for the valley outlook — book one with a rice-terrace-facing balcony or pool.
| Style | Typical setting | From |
|---|---|---|
| Homestay | Family-run, simple rooms | USD 15–25/night |
| Valley-view guesthouse | Balcony or terrace over the rice fields | USD 30–55/night |
| Boutique villa | Private pool, panoramic views | USD 60–130/night |
An hour past Ubud
Sidemen is roughly 1–1.5 hours from Ubud and about 2 hours from the south coast, on winding valley roads. There's no real centre to walk between — a scooter or a driver is the only practical way to get between stays, viewpoints and restaurants.
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