Saraswati Temple
Bali, Indonesia
Sidemen Valley, Bali
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Photo: Paul Arps, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia CommonsThe essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- Free; small donations sometimes asked on certain trails
- Hours
- Open any time; early morning is best
- Time on site
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A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes. - 3 h
- With kids
- Fine with kids
- Things to do
- Rice field walks, weaving, Agung views
- Guide
- Handy for longer trails — ask at your guesthouse
- Weather
- Cooler than the coast; best season April–October
- Location
- Karangasem; ≈ 31 km from Ubud, ≈ 49 km from Kuta
Key facts
Songketcloth woven with gold and silver thread — Sidemen's signature craft
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travel guidesEndekBalinese ikat, the valley's other weaving tradition
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travel guidesMount Agungthe sacred volcano rises right above the valley
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travel guides≈ 31 kmto Ubud
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OSRM route≈ 20 kmto Besakih Temple
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OSRM route≈ 15 kmto Goa Lawah Temple
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OSRM routeThings to do in Sidemen
- A rice field walk — public paths start at the edge of the village; longer routes are easier with a guide.
- Songket and endek weaving — workshops where you can watch the looms and buy cloth; a single sarong can take months.
- Mount Agung views — best in the early morning, before the clouds.
- The village market — Balinese food at local prices.
- Climbing Mount Agung — Sidemen is one of the closest bases.
- A cooking class at a guesthouse — a valley favourite.
About Sidemen
Sidemen is a village and valley in Karangasem Regency, east Bali. Its slopes are covered in rice terraces with a river running through, and Mount Agung towers over everything. There are hardly any big hotels or bars — just guesthouses, villas with views, fields, village temples and a market.
It's often called 'Ubud 30 years ago'. People come to walk the fields without queuing for swings, watch weavers at work and see sunrise over Agung. For many travellers it's the most peaceful place on the island.
Songket and endek weaving
Sidemen is known for its weaving. Songket is a ceremonial cloth with gold and silver threads woven in; endek is Balinese ikat, with the threads dyed into a pattern before weaving. Workshops in the village let you see the wooden looms and the weavers at work.
Handwoven cloth isn't cheap, but it's an honest price for months of labour. If you want a souvenir actually made on Bali rather than shipped from a factory, this is it. Ask whether a piece is handwoven before you buy — machine-made cloth is sold alongside.
How to get to Sidemen
Step-by-step directions are below; the map shows where you arrive.
Where are you starting from?
We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.
More tips
- From Ubud — about 31 km east, around an hour.
- From Sanur — about 38 km; from Kuta or Seminyak — about 49 km, 1.5–2 hours.
- From Ngurah Rai Airport (DPS) — about 53 km.
- No public transport: hired car, taxi, Grab, Gojek or scooter; the valley roads are narrow and hilly.
- From Sidemen it's about 20 km to Besakih and 15 km to Goa Lawah.
When to visit Sidemen
The best season is the dry season, April to October, with clear mornings and Agung on show. In the wet season the fields are greenest, but the volcano hides more often and the trails get slippery.
Sidemen fits naturally into an east Bali itinerary: Besakih, Goa Lawah, Tirta Gangga and Amed are all within an hour. Night climbs of Agung also start from here.
Is Sidemen worth visiting?
Yes, if you're tired of the crowds in Ubud and Kuta and want rural Bali: fields, the volcano, weavers and silence. It's the best base for exploring the east.
YesGo's take: there are no 'sights' in the usual sense — no headline temples, beaches or nightlife. If you're on Bali for shopping and parties, Sidemen may feel dull. Its point is slow travel.
East Bali in a day
Besakih in the morning, the Sidemen Valley rice fields at midday, and Goa Lawah on the way back. Add it to your trip — YesGo will set the timings and transfers.
- Besakih Temple2 h · IDR 150,000
- 213 min walk from the previous stopSidemen Valleyyou are here3 h · free
- 137 min walk from the previous stopGoa Lawah Temple45 min · ≈ IDR 30,000
3 places · about 11 h 35 min with walks · 350 min on foot in total
How to do it right
- Stay at least one night — mornings here are the highlight.
- Walk the fields between 6 and 9 am, before the heat.
- Buy songket or endek from the weavers — a genuinely local souvenir.
- It's the most convenient base for climbing Agung.
- Besakih Temple is about 20 km away.
Questions
Where is Sidemen?
In Karangasem Regency, east Bali, about 31 km east of Ubud.
What is there to do in Sidemen?
Rice field walks, Mount Agung views, songket and endek weaving workshops and the village market.
Is there an entrance fee for Sidemen?
No, the valley is open; small donations are sometimes asked on certain trails.
How do I get to Sidemen from Ubud?
About 31 km by car, taxi or scooter — around an hour.
Should I stay overnight in Sidemen?
Yes — early morning is the best time in the valley.
Sidemen or Ubud?
Sidemen is quieter and less developed: fields without attractions, few tourists, Agung views.
When is the best time to visit Sidemen?
The dry season, April to October, when Agung is more often clear.
Can I climb Mount Agung from Sidemen?
Yes, guesthouses can arrange a guide; it's one of the closest bases.
Have you been? Was it worth your time?
1 — no, 5 — absolutely
Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.
Sources and fact-check
- saltinourhair.com, baliholidaysecrets.com, thehoneycombers.com, Frommer's — weaving, trails, Agung views, seasons (unofficial)
- Wikidata Q4201397 — coordinates; OSRM routing — distances
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