Where to stay · East
Where to stay in Sidemen: the rice fields when you wake up
Sidemen is an agricultural valley in the east, between terraced rice fields and the slopes of Agung, where people come to walk and sleep in peace. The offer consists of family guesthouses, hillside lodges and a few villas, all small. The choice is between easy access and the view. Here are the areas, the types and the observed ranges.
- Updated on
- Comfortable: IDR 600,000 to 1,400,000 (≈ €30 to €70)
- 6 min read
- By Kylian Dev
Contents
In brief
- Along the road for warungs on foot, in the rice fields for silence, on the slopes for the view of Agung.
- The hillside roads are narrow and steep: avoid them by scooter if you are a beginner, especially in the rain.
- Observed range for a comfortable double room: IDR 600,000 to 1,400,000 (≈ €30 to €70).
- You almost always dine where you stay: look at the restaurant menu before booking.
In Sidemen, stay along the main road to have warungs on foot, in the middle of the rice fields for silence, or on the hillside for the view of Agung.
Sidemen has neither beach nor nightlife: people come for the rice fields, the weavers and walks with a village guide. All of that is on the Sidemen page; here, you choose the area and the room. The valley is small, but the hillside roads slow everything down.
The prices given are observed ranges, not the rates of any one property. The budget guide puts them into the cost of the trip, and the Ubud → Sidemen page describes the most common road to get there.
Sidemen’s areas, one by one
Three areas: the village and the main road running through the valley, with warungs and guesthouses; the valley floor, among the rice fields, linked by dirt paths; the hillsides, where lodges with a view of Agung cling on. The first is practical, the last spectacular.
The village and the main road
The road through the valley concentrates warungs, grocery shops, weaving workshops and family guesthouses. It is the only part where you live on foot without a vehicle. You hear trucks and scooters going by during the day; at night, the village falls asleep early and the roosters take over before dawn.
The valley floor, in the rice fields
Guesthouses and bungalows set in the middle of the fields, reached by dirt paths and small dikes. Waking up in the rice fields makes the stay; at night, it is very dark and you mostly hear the frogs and the water in the irrigation channels. In the rainy season, the paths turn muddy: bring closed shoes and a flashlight.
The hillsides
Lodges and hotels with pools cling to the slopes, facing Agung and the terraces. The view at sunrise is the reason to sleep there. The access roads are narrow and steep, and you dine at the hotel: the nearest warung is often 10 to 15 minutes away by road.
| Area | Who it suits | At night | On foot to | Observed range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Village and road | Tight budget, without a vehicle | Quiet, roosters at dawn | Warungs, weavers, grocery shops | IDR 200,000 to 800,000 (≈ €10 to €40) |
| Valley floor | Walkers, couples | Frogs, channels | Rice fields, trails | IDR 300,000 to 1,400,000 (≈ €15 to €70) |
| Hillsides | Couples, restful stay | Silence, wind | Nothing: dinner at the hotel | IDR 800,000 to 4,000,000 (≈ €40 to €200) |
Types of accommodation in Sidemen
Sidemen is the region of homestays and family guesthouses, bungalows in the rice fields and small hillside lodges. A few villas with pools exist on the slopes. No chain hotels, almost no hostels: the valley stays on a village scale.
| Type | You gain | You lose | Observed range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balinese homestay | Village life, advice for walking | Simple comfort, unreliable hot water | IDR 200,000 to 400,000 (≈ €10 to €20) |
| Family guesthouse | Bungalow in the rice fields, breakfast | Access path, few services | IDR 300,000 to 800,000 (≈ €15 to €40) |
| Chain hotel | Absent from Sidemen | See Ubud or the south | Nothing on offer |
| Villa with pool | View, privacy | Steep roads, isolation | IDR 1,500,000 to 4,000,000 (≈ €75 to €200) |
| Ecolodge | Bamboo, garden, view of Agung | Insects, humidity, steps | IDR 800,000 to 2,500,000 (≈ €40 to €125) |
| Hostel | Almost absent | See Ubud | Little on offer |
The homestay is the most coherent option here: the family knows the walking guides, the village ceremonies and the weaving workshops. In the evening, you eat at their table or at the nearest warung; the choice is limited, but the food is often homemade.
How much a night costs in Sidemen
Three price levels per night for a double room: the homestay or bungalow on a tight budget, the room with a pool or a view for comfortable, the villa or lodge for upscale.
Budget, per night
≈ €10 to €25
IDR 200,000 to 500,000
Comfortable, per night
≈ €30 to €70
IDR 600,000 to 1,400,000
High end, per night
≈ €75 to €200
IDR 1,500,000 to 4,000,000
Observed ranges per night for a double room, outside the July-August and holiday peaks: orders of magnitude, not the prices of any one property. €1 ≈ IDR 20,000 (mid-October 2026, rounded).
Sidemen costs less than Ubud for the same comfort, but dinners at the hotel can even out the bill. The view of Agung, clear mostly in the morning, makes up most of the gap between two rooms.
What to check before booking in Sidemen
In Sidemen, check the access, steep road or dirt path; hot water, useful because evenings are cooler than by the sea; the restaurant on site, since you will dine there; and the wifi, often modest. Air conditioning is rarely necessary.
- Hot water: to check, evenings and mornings are cooler than by the sea.
- Generator: useful, power cuts do happen in the valley.
- Mosquito nets: essential in the middle of the rice fields.
- Fan or air conditioning: a fan is usually enough; a blanket is sometimes welcome.
- Access: car to the entrance or a path on foot, slope of the road, lighting.
- Noise: very low; main road, roosters, village ceremonies.
- Wifi: often modest, to test before planning remote work.
Common mistakes in Sidemen
The typical mistakes: renting a scooter to ride up to the hillside lodges without experience, booking a single night, and counting on restaurants that do not exist. Sidemen is lived slowly, with a driver for the arrival and walks on foot afterwards.
- Riding up to the hillside lodges by scooter in the rain: steep slopes, gravel, tight bends.
- Booking only one night: you arrive in the afternoon and leave the next day without having walked.
- Choosing an isolated lodge without looking at its menu: you will eat there every evening.
- Arriving at night: the paths to the rice field guesthouses are poorly signposted.
Frequently asked questions
Where to stay in Sidemen?
Along the main road for warungs on foot, in the middle of the rice fields for silence, on the hillside for the view of Agung, at the price of steep roads.
How much does a night cost in Sidemen?
About €30 to €70 a night (IDR 600,000 to 1,400,000) for a double room with a pool or a view, observed range. A tight budget costs less, upscale much more.
Do you need air conditioning in Sidemen?
Rarely: the valley is cooler than the coast, especially in the evening. A fan is usually enough; hot water matters more.
Sidemen or Ubud for rice fields?
Sidemen for rice fields without the crowds and quiet nights; Ubud for culture, restaurants and a wider choice. See [where to stay in Ubud](/ou-dormir/ubud).
How many nights should I book in Sidemen?
Two to three nights, as the [Sidemen page](/destinations/sidemen) recommends: time for a walk in the rice fields and a day out to the east.
Sources
Figures and rules checked on October 17, 2026 against the sources below. Entry rules and fees change: always check them on the official websites before you leave.
