There is quite a few undiscovered things to do in Sideman, as for now it is still quiet and not flooded with crowds which is great. The natural beauty has not been tainted by the need to accommodate huge crowds of tourists. It is still a very local area, which is a great peaceful escape from the busier areas of Bali.
Sideman village is small, its basically two main roads, but they have a few convenience stores and warungs (local restaurants) that are great. Blue paradise and Sweet Warung were the most popular options for sure. One thing to note is if you are not riding your own scooter, public transport options such as Grab and Gojek are not working in this area, the villa you stay in will most likely provide transport options/taxis, however they are more pricey. However, the village is small enough to walk everywhere and then get a guide/driver when you decide on the places you want to visit. Let's get into that now......
So, a great first stop would be the Sideman rice terraces trekking tour, this can be done on your own or with a guide, I recommend getting a guide as they provide a little history lesson of the rice terraces and it's local people while taking a stroll through the terraces. Wear comfortable closed shoes as there is no designated pathway, and it can be very slippery in some places. The guide also stops at places where it's perfect to take photos (on a clear day you will see the mountains in the distance) or fly your drone if you want to. The terraces are walking distance from Sideman Village.
Another waterfall worth a visit, which is about a 45 minute drive from Sideman village is Tukad Cepung, it can be included in the tour as well for an additional charge.
I would definitely add Samanvaya of places to visit while in Sideman. It's a beautiful resort with a great restaurant called "Asri Dining" and they have an amazing spa.
The Asri dining restaurant is an experience you won't want to miss, the service was exceptional and the food, even better. The entire resort is tranquil, modern and the service is outstanding. It's nestled in nature with views of rice terraces.
For a budget friendly accommodation I recommend Villa Shantiasa, the rooms were huge, with beautiful views of the rice terraces and Sideman and a beautiful infinity pool. They provide breakfast served on your balcony or in the restaurant, but nothing beats having breakfast with a beautiful view first thing in the morning. The cost is $50 per night with breakfast included.
The location was just off the top of the main road so it was a 2 minute walk to the restaurants near by which is ideal.
To get an idea of what Sideman is like, scan the QR code below...
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