Sidemen Village Rice Field Trekking Tour Bali

Sidemen Village and Valley, East Bali

Sidemen sits in the Karangasem regency of East Bali, in a long valley of rice terraces, coconut palms and small hamlets below the slopes of Mount Agung. It is quieter and greener than Ubud, which is why so many travellers ask whether Sidemen is worth visiting: if you want the countryside of old Bali, the answer is yes. The village is also known for its hand-woven songket and endek cloth, and our walk starts at a weaving shop beside the market.

The best time to visit Sidemen is in the morning, when the air is cool, the light is soft and Mount Agung is most often clear of cloud. The dry season from April to October brings firmer paths, while the wetter months make the paddies their brightest green. Sidemen is roughly one to one and a half hours by car from Ubud, so plan your transport to the start in advance.

Sidemen Traditional Market

Pasar Sidemen is the everyday market of the valley, open from early morning until about ten o'clock. Local women sell vegetables, tropical fruit, spices, flowers and the small woven palm-leaf offering trays that Balinese families place at shrines every day. On morning departures your guide spends around ten minutes here, explaining the produce and the role of offerings in village life.

The market is not a souvenir bazaar, and that is its charm: you see what people in the valley really buy and eat. Bring a little cash if you would like to try fresh fruit. Afternoon walks start at the same point, but the market is usually closed by then, so book a morning slot if the market visit matters to you.

Hidden Paths and the Hanging Bridge over the Unda River

From the market the trail climbs into the paddies and heads towards Mount Agung, following the irrigation channels that carry water from the mountain down to the fields. This stretch, about thirty-five minutes long, is where the guide shows you lesser-known viewpoints over the terraces that most visitors driving through Sidemen never see.

The route then reaches the yellow suspension bridge over the Tukad Yeh Unda, or Unda River, a narrow crossing used by villagers on foot and on motorbikes. It sways a little as you walk, and the view down the jungle-lined river makes it one of the favourite photo stops of the trek. Good shoes with grip are important here, as paths near the river can be wet.

Dukuh Village and its Temple

Dukuh is a small farming village where the walk passes family compounds, village shrines and the temple where local people come to pray. Your guide explains how a Balinese village is organised, why every house has its own family temple and how ceremonies follow the Balinese calendar. Around twenty-five minutes are spent walking through the lanes, up and down the gentle village streets.

Please dress modestly and keep a respectful distance if a ceremony is taking place; your guide will tell you where photos are welcome. This part of the Sidemen trekking tour gives the cultural side of the valley, balancing the open landscapes of the paddies with a close look at the community that tends them.

Babakan Dukuh Rice Terraces and the Subak of Ogang

The longest section of the walk, about forty-five minutes, crosses the Babakan Dukuh rice terraces, where the fields step down the hillside in curved layers. Depending on the season you may see farmers ploughing, planting seedlings, weeding or harvesting by hand, and a mix of crops such as chilli, corn and coconut along the banks.

Here the guide explains Subak, the cooperative irrigation system that has shared water fairly between Balinese farmers for about a thousand years and is recognised by UNESCO as part of Bali's cultural landscape. You pass the Subak of Ogang and finish at a small warung in Ogang village, about three kilometres from the start, where your driver can meet you.