Mystical, special, unique. That's how I would describe Sidemen.
Lost in the middle of rice fields and lush vegetation is this small town, where a completely different peace and aura reigns than the rest of Bali. Tourists don't come here en masse, so it remains a very authentic area.
Sidemen is one of the most special and magical areas of Bali. In this post I tell you about this small city and its surroundings and several tips that will help you organize your trip.
This is how you imagine the real Bali: no masses of tourists, but authentic Balinese culture in a relaxed atmosphere and in the midst of unspoiled nature.
Staying in Sidemen is for me a mandatory activity if it is your first time in Bali and you are going to spend several days. Wake up early and with the morning mist. It is a mystical setting where the morning mist rises over the paddy fields that stretch out to encircle the base of the majestic Mount Agung.
There is a large extension of rice fields, where you can walk along the trails. There are some easily accessible trails, but others you will find yourself with muddy paths. As the mist rises higher and higher, you will see day laborers working in the fields and some children running along the paths on their way to school.
Among the rice fields there are small houses, and somewhat more populated areas, although the most populated area is in the center of the city of Sidemen (and even so, this area is not very populated if we compare it with other areas of rice fields such as Ubud). Many accommodations have been settled among rice fields, to make travelers live the experience. I tell you about this type of accommodation and my recommendations in the post: The best places to stay in Sidemen.
In Sidemen there are enough things to see and do, and if your time in Bali allows you to dedicate at least two full days to it. The surroundings of Sidemen are magnificent and you can perfectly explore them on a motorcycle. Enjoy the views and the green surroundings.
WHAT TO SEE IN SIDEMEN, BALI
In the surroundings of Sidemen, apart from the rice fields and terraces, you should also spend time at the Pura Besakih temple. I have already told you about this temple in several posts, and it is the most important in Bali. You must see it yes or yes! You can find more information about this temple in the article: Pura Besakih (the Mother Temple), the largest and most sacred temple in Bali
STRIP GANGGA
You cannot leave Sidemen without visiting the water temple, Tirta Gangga.
Giant koi fish surround you as you jump across the small stone walkway in the main fountain of the temple. This former royal palace opens at 8am and costs IDR 30,000 per person to enter.
Before entering, make sure to buy some bags of fish food for IDR 10,000 from one of the stalls at the entrance.
This temple will take you a couple of hours to get to know it. It is a very popular temple, so if you go in high season you will surely find it with a lot of people, I recommend you visit it as soon as it opens, that is when you can save yourself from those who do not like to get up very early. Here you can take the famous photograph that appears all over Instagram sitting on one of the stones inside the fountain. In high season the queues to take the picture can be up to 2 hours, and that does not guarantee that tourists will appear behind you. he he
My first time in this temple was packed, and I hardly enjoyed it. Some time later, when I settled in Bali, I decided to visit it (March during the week) and I didn't find anyone. We were just 4 cats in the whole temple. It's worth it? yes, it's beautiful.
In this complex, there is not only the main fountain, but also the temples, the former royal palace and the gardens.
MOUNT AGUNG AND THE TELAGA WAJA RIVER
Sidemen is a great place for those who love hiking. Have you explored the rice fields and want more challenges? So you can climb Mount Agung from Sidemen. This is the highest peak in Bali with a height of 3142 meters. The best time is to climb the mountain in the months of April to September. You can book the tour from any Sidemen accommodation. Even from some more popular points like Kuta, Canggu or Ubud they sell the excursion with transportation to Sidemen.
You can also go rafting on the Telaga Waja River. You can also book this activity in many accommodations.
THE TUKAD CEPUNG WATERFALL
Visiting the Tukad Cepung waterfall is an incredible experience while you are in the Sidemen area. Although it is somewhat closer to the town of Bangli. What makes this waterfall so unique is that it is located inside a cave.
You will need to pay IDR 30,000 per person to enter and you will have to take a short 20-minute walk down some stairs to a gorge to reach the waterfall.
It's best to go early in the morning if you want to avoid the crowds. The best time is between 9am and 10am, where you can appreciate the rays of light that filter through the opening of the waterfall.
Sidemen is one of the stops you should make on your tour of Bali, for me it is a very magical place, with a natural environment like no other. And although it may remind us a bit of the Ubud area, Sidemen is undoubtedly more authentic and still maintains that special Balinese aura.
PLAN YOUR TRIP STEP BY STEP
I hope you enjoy your trip to Bali very much and that this article has been useful to you. You can continue reading many more related articles on the blog.
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A hug and see you soon!