Bali Part Three: 2 Days in Sidemen – Lost in the Rice Fields
Last updated on : November 4, 2025
Part Three : Sidemen
Sidemen is a small village in eastern Bali, surrounded by rice fields and overlooked by Mount Agung. It’s often described as what Ubud was 20 years ago. It’s a haven of peace and authenticity that offers a soothing contrast to the island’s busier, more touristic areas.
We spent 2 nights here during our trip in March 2025, using this stop as a peaceful base for exploring the eastern side of Bali.
What I loved most about Sidemen were its lush, green landscapes and the endless rice fields we came accross everywhere we went. The calm and serene atmosphere of the surrounding nature, combined with the gentle rhythm of an authentic Balinese village, deeply touched me.
This stay felt like a beautiful continuation of Munduk: a place where we could keep slowing down, breathing, and simply savoring the present moment.
So let me take you through each of our days in this serene area of Bali, and, after reading, you can let yourself be carried away by the images in the video montage I’ve shared at the end of this article.
Day 7 : Waterfalls & Temples
Today, we changed accommodations once again, moving from Munduk in the north to Sidemen in the east of the island.
On the way, we stopped at Leke Leke Waterfall. The path to reach it is quite easy and short – about 15-20 minutes – and the entrance fee is IDR 50,000 per person. It’s a lovely spot that truly charmed us, especially after the more demanding hikes of the previous days.
We continued our journey with a visit to Pura Kehen and finally to the “mother temple” of Pura Agung Besakih.
We particularly loved the first temple, but less so the second, which felt a bit too large and too touristic for us. I share more details about thesse visits in the article dedicated entirely to temples.
👉 Read the detailed article on Bali’s Temples
This marked the end of our visits for the day. We arrived at our new accommodation in the late afternoon and, just as we were started to explore the surroundings, heavy rain began to pour, forcing us to turn back. Unfortunately for us, nature had decided it was time to rest.
Day 8 : Palaces, Beach & Gardens
Our eighth day in Bali was quite full, with several beautiful visits on the program.
Our guide first took us to Klungkung Palace (also known as Kerta Gosa), a historic site famous for its Balinese architecture and the painted frescoes on its ceilings that depict mythological scenes.
It was absolutely beautiful, and we had a fascinating guided tour for IDR 50,000 per person.
We then continued the day with a stop at one of the Bali’s most beautiful white-sand beaches, Virgin Beach. Its crystal-clear sea and gentle waves made it the perfect spot for swimming. The entrance fee was IDR 20,000 per person.
Next, we headed to Taman Soekasada Ujung (also called the Water Palace). This former royal water palace is known for its blend of Balinese, European, and Chinese architectural styles. We found it stunning, with spectacular views and a peaceful atmosphere, especially since there were very few visitors that day. We abolutely loved this place (IDR 100,000 per person).
Finally, to wrap up our visits, our guide took us to Tirta Gangga (IDR 90,000 per person), another former royal palace famous for its water gardens, ponds, and fountains. The site is lovely but noticeably busier than the Water Palace, which we visited just before. My opinion: it’s an interesting and beautiful site, but if you’re short on time, I recommend prioritizing Taman Soekasada Ujung.
Back at our villa in late afternoon, I booked a Sound healing session, something I had been wanting to try for quite a while. This kind of treatment helps release energetic blockages, promotes deep relaxation, and restores emotional balance. The session included chakra harmonization through sound vibrations and mantras, and cost about $35. It was a truly soothing experience, and at that price, there was no reason to pass it up!
Day 9 : Temple & Departure for Nusa Penida
On the morning of the ninth day, our guide took us to visit Pura Goa Lawah, located across from a black sand beach. This temple, known as the “Bat Cave Temple”, is famous for the colony of bats that live inside the sacred cave. I shared more details about this fascinating place in my separate article on temples.
👉 Read the detailed article on Bali’s Temples
After the visit, we made our way to Kasumba Port for our departure to the island of Nusa Penida. It was our last day with our guide, Made Mustara, and we said our goodbyes on the dock before boarding the boat – grateful for all the beautiful moments we had shared along the way.
If I Had More Time
As mentioned earlier, we didn’t have as much time as we would have liked to fully enjoy this stop – and the heavy rain didn’t help.
If I were to do it again, I would definitely add one or two more days to the itinerary, just to wander through the village and the surrounding rice fields at a slow, gentle pace.
We also had Gembleng Waterfall on our list, but we weren’t able to fit in this time. I would have loved to soak in one of its pools and take in the view from there.
Where to Stay in Sidemen
For our stay in Sidemen, we chose Sawah Indah Villa, where we had a Deluxe Room that truly made us feel like we were staying in a small private villa. We had a large balcony overlooking the rice fields, and a beautiful outdoor bathroom, which was new to us, and we had access to a swimming pool. Finally, breakfast was included and served at the on-site restaurant.
We loved walking along the little path that led to our room, surrounded by lush vegetation, with small signs displaying inspiring quotes along the way.
It was a truly beautiful place that I highly recommend. I would definitely return!
💲Rate in March 2025: approximately IDR 990,000 (≈ 90$) per night for a Deluxe Room with breakfast included.
Where to Eat in Sidemen
We mainly ate at the restaurant of our accommodation, the D’padi Restaurant. It was nicely decorated and located on the second floor, which gave us a great view. The food was excellent and affordable. And one evening, we even enjoyed live music. It was lovely.
We also treated ourselves to a more luxurious meal at Sleeping Gajah Kitchen & Lounge. This restaurant is located in a high-end resort and was within walking distance of our accommodation.
The settingwas stunning, with a panoramic view of the valley, the river, and the rice fields. And the food? Delicious! The price was higher, of course, but we had absolutely no regrets. As I like to say: when we travel, we allow ourselves to enjoy!
In conclusion
Sidemen was another “coup de cœur” for us! It reminded me that the true luxury of travel is not found in comfort or extravagance, but in silence, in nature, and in simple act of taking time to breathe.
I only wish we could have stayed a little longer to fully savor it.
To truly experience this region, I highly recommend staying 3 to 5 days. Sidemen is a small haven of authenticity and peace, a place to slow down and just be.
And you, what draws you the most to Sidemen?
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