Sidemen in Bali with kids: authentic nature among rice fields, temples, and adventure

What to do in Sidemen with kids

where time has thankfully stood still

If you’re looking for authentic Bali — the kind where you can still smell fresh offerings in the morning and hear water flowing through the irrigation channels between rice fields — Sidemen is the place to be. Here, you wake up to the rooster’s call at dawn, not honking cars. Evenings mean dinner with a jungle view and early bedtime, because after 9 pm it’s pitch dark. It’s a village on the eastern plateau, about an hour and a half from Ubud, perfect if you want to slow down, leave tourist routes behind, and rediscover the slow rhythm of Balinese life.

And right away, we say it: we recommend it with kids. There are no dangers here, no traffic, people still smile on the street, and the landscape looks like it’s straight out of a picture book. Don’t expect Instagrammable restaurants or fusion menus. But that’s exactly its strength.

Of course, there are some downsides. Few speak English, there are no ATMs (bring cash!), and hardly anyone uses cards here. But trust me, it’s all part of the journey. In fact, it might be exactly what you were looking for without knowing it.

In this article about what to do in Sidemen with kids, we’ll cover:

What to do in Sidemen (finally, without overdoing it)
Temples in Sidemen: real spirituality, no queues or tickets
What to visit around Sidemen: eastern Bali with a local driver

What to do in Sidemen (finally, without overdoing it)

Wander through the rice fields (and be amazed)

In Sidemen, you walk. Period. But it’s not mountain trekking — it’s slow wandering among rice fields where every step feels like a postcard. There are two walks I recommend if you want to get lost in the greenery:

The walk to the bridge over the Telaga Waja river: you start from the village center and go down a little road crossing the river on a wooden bridge that looks a bit shaky but is very charming. After the bridge, there’s a small silver craft workshop where you can even take a mini lesson. If you’re with kids, the beginning part is perfect and easy.
The Sangkan Gunung walk: a loop trail through rice fields that looks painted. There’s a small entrance fee (25,000 rupiah, about €1.50), and if you want, you can get a local guide (very kind, and kids love them). The full walk takes a bit more than an hour, and in some spots, the path is a little wild. Closed shoes and a hat, and you’re set!

The best part? During our walk, we saw maybe 4 tourists — literally. This is one of the few places in Bali where you still feel like a guest, not a customer.

Staying in a traditional Balinese house

If you can, skip the standard hotels. In Sidemen, there are small family-run guesthouses that welcome you like one of their own. We stayed in a traditional house where three generations lived together: the grandmother carrying a basket balanced on her head, the uncle in a sarong, and kids running around the courtyard. There were only two rooms for guests, each with a patio and a garden view.

For breakfast, we’d get banana pancakes, hot tea, and freshly cut fruit. And in the meantime… silence. Just birds singing and the sound of water trickling from a fountain, with fish darting around in the pond beneath the statue of Ganesh.

This is our idea of luxury, and I can assure you it’s an unforgettable experience for kids, too. They get to explore, observe, ask questions, and connect with a culture that feels vibrant and real.

The morning market (and the smell of durian)

By 6 a.m., the market is already buzzing with life. Women in traditional outfits choose flowers for offerings, giant papayas and mangoes, herbs, rice, and spices. And of course, there’s the notorious durian—the world’s smelliest fruit (though locals absolutely love it). It’s a dive into everyday Bali, the kind you won’t find in guidebooks.

The market is a bit chaotic, but perfectly safe even with kids, as long as you hold their hands in the narrowest spots. It’s an open-air classroom: they’ll learn about colors, scents, and sounds. And they’ll realize that, yes, the world is much bigger than the supermarket back home.

Temples in Sidemen: true spirituality, no lines or tickets

One of the things that struck us most about Sidemen is how spirituality is woven into everyday life. There are no “big tour” temples, no thousand-step stairways or hefty entrance fees. Here, temples are small, hidden, and alive. Every house has its own little shrine, every family prepares daily offerings, and just stepping outside, you’ll stumble upon a ceremony.

But if you’d like to visit actual temples, here are a couple I recommend taking your time to see—without tourist crowds, and always with the respect they deserve:

🛕 Pura Bukit Sangkan Gunung

This is the most important temple in the area, perched on a hill just a few minutes from central Sidemen. It’s not easy to find (best to ask locals or go with a guide), but it’s absolutely worth the climb. From up there, you get an incredible view over the entire valley, and often you’ll see village women walking in single file, barefoot, balancing colorful baskets on their heads.

For kids, it’s a wonderful sensory experience: the scent of incense, the sound of bells, and flowers everywhere. Just one thing—cover your shoulders and legs, bring a sarong (or borrow one at the entrance), and remember that women can’t enter during their menstrual period—a traditional rule that should be respected.

🛕 Family temples

The best part? It’s not the monumental temples, but the tiny ones you find tucked into village corners. Some you’ll spot while walking through the rice fields: little stone towers decorated with flowers, statues sheltered under umbrellas, draped in white and yellow cloth. These are family temples, and if you stop and watch respectfully, someone local will often come over and explain what they’re for.

With Aldo and Giulia, we had fun counting them (we saw over 30 in a single day!) and we talked about belonging, respect for nature, and how spirituality here is real, everyday life—not something showy or staged.

What to visit around Sidemen: eastern Bali with a local driver

Sidemen is also a great base for exploring eastern Bali—the part that’s less touristy but just as fascinating. We arranged a custom tour with Yoko, our host, who also works as a driver (and who instantly won the kids over!).

Here are the stops on our personalized tour (6 hours – 450,000 rupiah, about €26):

Tenganan: the oldest village in Bali. A small community here still preserves ancient traditions. The houses host craft workshops and traditional weaving. Kids are mesmerized watching the weavers at work. There’s no entrance fee, just a voluntary donation, and no cars inside.
Puri Agung Karangasem: an old royal palace with a large pond and a floating pavilion. Walking around the gardens is lovely, and there are rarely crowds. It’s a great way to see Balinese royal architecture and tell kids stories of kings and kingdoms (maybe with a MiniLonely travel diary in hand… 😉).
Tirta Gangga: the most famous—and slightly more crowded—stop, but it’s worth it. You literally walk on stones surrounded by water, giant fish, and statues. Kids absolutely love it, and the place is incredibly scenic.

Why we love Sidemen (and why you might too)

Sidemen isn’t for everyone. There’s no nightlife, no fancy restaurants, no fast internet. But there’s fresh air, breathtaking landscapes, and real life. And if you’re traveling with kids, that’s a rare gift—it’s one of the few places in Bali where you can truly relax, even as a parent.

Here, you learn that happiness doesn’t need much. That kindness doesn’t need translation. And that the most precious gift you can give your children is slow time, filled with silence, nature, and discovery.

👉 If you want to make your trip even more special, MiniLonely Bali will help you turn every stop into an unforgettable adventure!

MiniLonely Bali

A journey through nasi goreng, temples, and religion, discovering the island of the Gods

Buy it here

Planning a trip to Bali with kids?

From mystical temples to the rice fields of Sidemen, from local markets to beaches: Bali is a family-sized adventure waiting for you. I’ve gathered practical tips, authentic stops, and low-budget ideas to help you discover the island with curious eyes and light backpacks.

And if you want to go even deeper, to discover the Real Bali — the one you won’t find in brochures — I recommend Viaggiaibali.com: a complete guide for those who dream of truly living it, with a sustainable and respectful eye towards local communities.

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