First of all, I think Sidemen may just be my favourite spot in Bali! I know that's a big call, but there is something super special about this place. It is a genuine Balinese farming village with a few lovely guesthouses and warungs. Sidemen ( rhymes with cinnamon) has green views in every direction with Bali's active volcano Agung also choosing to peak through the mist from time to time. Sidemen sits at 500m above sea level, with temperatures close to perfect, being a few degree's lower than coastal area's. Walking through the rice terraces is a must do activity and hard to avoid while you are here. You can walk along the roads, but if you want to cross farm lands, you will need to take a local guide with you. There are plenty of different day walks available and if you are a keen hiker, there are walks up nearby Mt Agung. There is something special watching the locals go about their day, tending crops in the fields, walking their cows down to the river and building structures which my guess will turn into a plethora of new guesthouses. I hope Sidemen doesn't expand too quickly and it's secret is kept a little longer. It is worth noting that this isn't where you should come if you are looking for bars, shopping or getting your nails done. You will not find any of this in Sidemen.... thank God! There is a daily market in the local township you can visit in the early morning. Within half an hour's drive, you can visit Tukad Cepung waterfall or Besakih mother temple of Bali. From Sidemen, it is an hour's car ride to visit Ubud, Tirta Gannga Water Palace, and Penataran Lempuyang. We loved our stay at Alamdhari Resort. All rooms have impressive balcony views and the family rooms were comfortable for 4 people and clean. The breakfast was delicious with a lovely restaurant on site. We have also stayed at Abian Ayu Villa. It is nestled into the valley with a more down to earth feel than Alhamdari. It has a nice pool area and simple pool side restaurant for breakfast. The rooms were stunning with tiled floors, wooden windows and impressive bathrooms. 2022 UPDATE:
Sidemen is getting back up and running following the pandemic. We found Sidemen very similar to 2019 tourist numbers and even noticed 1-2 more restaurants open. This was in drastic contrast to Sanur, Kuta and Jimbaran which were frighteningly quiet.
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