Sidemen Village Tour

4.6(11 reviews)

The Sidemen Village Tour is a full-day private car tour with hotel pickup through the Sidemen valley in Karangasem regency, east Bali — a quiet rice-terrace region below Mount Agung known for scenic walking trails and traditional ikat weaving villages, away from Bali's busier tourist routes.

  • Price: Starting from IDR 1.2jt
  • Duration: Full Day (1 Day)
  • Group Size: 1 - 100 pax
Book This Tour

Tour Description

Sidemen remains one of the quietest corners of East Bali, a valley of rice terraces and river views that has largely stayed out of the tour-bus circuit that dominates Ubud and the temples further east, and this tour is built to make the most of that calm. Rather than moving quickly between photo stops, the day is structured around slower, hands-on experiences — a trek through the countryside, a Balinese cooking class, and a silver jewelry workshop — that give visitors something to take home beyond photographs. It’s a tour aimed squarely at travelers who have already seen Bali’s headline sights and are looking for a more grounded, participatory day in the countryside instead.

Show more Show less

The morning starts at the Sidemen trekking point, where a walk through rice terraces, river valleys, and small villages offers some of the clearest views of Mount Agung on the island on a clear day, well before the afternoon clouds typically roll in. From there the group moves into a Balinese cooking class, learning to prepare authentic local recipes hands-on before sitting down to eat the meal they’ve just cooked for lunch. The afternoon shifts to a silver jewelry class, where local craftsmen guide visitors through shaping and finishing their own piece of handcrafted silver jewelry to bring home — a genuinely different kind of souvenir compared to the usual market purchases.

This tour suits travelers drawn to a slower, more immersive day rather than a checklist of sights, and it works well for those interested in Balinese food and craft traditions specifically. Comfortable walking shoes for the trekking portion, a hat and sunscreen, and some extra cash for the classes and any additional shopping are the main things to bring, since paths can be uneven and facilities along the walking routes are limited. With around nine to ten hours built into the day and pickup available from South Bali or Ubud, it’s an easy addition for anyone wanting to pair Sidemen’s rice-terrace scenery with a genuine hands-on taste of Balinese culture.

? Tour Itinerary

08.00 – Pick up from hotel
09.30 – Sidemen Trekking Point (explore rice terraces, river valleys, and village life)
11.30 – Balinese Cooking Class (hands-on experience, learn authentic Balinese recipes)
13.30 – Enjoy the meal you cooked for lunch
15.00 – Silver Jewelry Class (create your own handcrafted silver jewelry to bring home)
17.00 – Drive back to hotel

⏱ Duration

Approx. 9–10 hours

What To Bring

  • Comfortable walking shoes
  • Hat, sunglasses & sunscreen
  • Camera
  • Extra cash for activities & shopping

What's Included

  • Private Air-Conditioned Car
  • Professional English-Speaking Driver

What's Excluded

  • Entrance tickets
  • Lunch

Meeting Point

We pick you up directly from your hotel or villa anywhere in South Bali or Ubud, typically around 8:00 AM for the drive out to East Bali.

Important Information

Know before you go

  • Sidemen is far less crowded than Ubud or Lempuyang — expect quiet rural villages and rice terraces rather than curated tourist attractions, so pace and expectations are more relaxed than a typical sightseeing stop.
  • Walking trails through the rice terraces can be uneven or muddy after rain, so sturdy shoes are recommended, especially in wet season.
  • Some traditional weaving villages welcome visitors to watch handloom ikat and songket weaving in progress — small purchases directly support the local artisans.
  • On clear days, Sidemen offers some of Bali's best unobstructed views of Mount Agung, with visibility usually better in the morning before clouds build up.
  • Formal restrooms and facilities are limited along the village walking routes, so it's best to use facilities at cafes or restaurants when available.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Sidemen as crowded as Ubud?

No, Sidemen remains one of the quieter parts of Bali with far fewer tour groups — mostly rural villages, rice terraces, and small guesthouses.

What is there to do in Sidemen besides scenery?

You can visit traditional weaving villages producing ikat and songket textiles, take easy-to-moderate rice terrace walks, and stop at viewpoints looking toward Mount Agung.

Do I need a guide to walk the Sidemen rice terrace trails?

Not mandatory — your driver can point you to good routes and accompany you, since the trails are informal and not well signposted.

What is the best time of day to see Mount Agung from Sidemen?

Morning is best, since clouds typically build up around the volcano by early afternoon, reducing visibility later in the day.