Hidden Gems in Bali: Off the Beaten Path

Sidemen is the place that Ubud used to be: a lush valley of terraced rice fields, coconut palms, and traditional villages with Mount Agung towering as a dramatic backdrop. Located in east Bali about 90 minutes from Ubud, this area has remained remarkably untouched by mass tourism while offering some of the most stunning landscapes on the entire island. The valley is best experienced slowly. Rent a guesthouse with a terrace facing the rice fields, wake up to the sound of roosters and gamelan practice from the village temple, and spend your days walking the narrow paths between paddies. Several local guides offer half-day treks through the terraces that include visits to family compounds where you can watch traditional ikat weaving, a centuries-old textile art that Sidemen is famous for. Accommodation in Sidemen ranges from simple homestays at IDR 200,000 per night to mid-range boutique stays like Samanvaya and Wapa di Ume Sidemen that offer infinity pools overlooking the valley for USD 80 to 150 per night. The food scene is simple but authentic, with local warungs serving fresh Balinese dishes made from ingredients grown in the surrounding fields. There are no beach clubs or cocktail bars here, and that is precisely the point. Sidemen also serves as an excellent base for visiting Besakih, Bali's largest and holiest temple complex on the slopes of Mount Agung, which is only 30 minutes north.

The mountain village of Munduk sits at 800 meters elevation in north Bali, wrapped in a landscape of clove trees, coffee plantations, and dense tropical forest punctuated by waterfalls. The air is noticeably cooler here than on the coast, morning mists drift through the valleys, and the pace of life is measured in the slow drip of coffee cherries ripening on the branch. Munduk's main attractions are its waterfalls, and there are several within hiking distance of the village. Munduk Waterfall is the most accessible, a 15-meter cascade reached by a well-maintained 10-minute forest path. Golden Valley Waterfall and Melanting Waterfall require longer treks but reward you with more secluded settings. The area's jungle trails are shaded and relatively cool, making them perfect for hiking even in the middle of the day. Beyond waterfalls, Munduk is one of the few places in Bali where you can visit working coffee and clove plantations. Several local farms offer tours where you can see the full process from cherry to cup, including Bali's famous luwak coffee. The plantations also grow vanilla, cacao, and tropical fruits, making for a multi-sensory agricultural experience. The village itself has a handful of excellent guesthouses and small hotels perched on ridgelines with views of the valley and distant Lake Tamblingan. Puri Lumbung Cottages, a collection of traditional rice barn accommodations, is particularly atmospheric. Munduk is best reached as a day trip from the Lovina coast or as a stop on a scenic north Bali circuit.

Amed is a string of small fishing villages along Bali's northeast coast, about 2.5 hours from the airport. The area is defined by its dramatic black sand beaches backed by the dry, rugged slopes of Mount Agung, creating a landscape completely different from Bali's lush southern coast. This is where Balinese fishing culture is still visible every morning as colorful jukung outrigger boats launch at dawn. The big draw for many visitors is the underwater world. Amed sits within a marine-protected area with some of Bali's best snorkeling and diving accessible directly from the beach. The Japanese Shipwreck, a shallow wreck from World War II lying in 3 to 12 meters of water, is reachable by a short swim from the shore. The coral gardens at Jemeluk Bay are teeming with tropical fish, sea turtles, and even the occasional reef shark, all visible while snorkeling in calm, clear water. Accommodation in Amed is refreshingly simple and affordable. Beachfront bungalows with ocean views start from IDR 300,000 per night, and even the area's boutique properties rarely exceed USD 100. The food scene revolves around fresh seafood, with beachfront warungs grilling the morning's catch over coconut husks as the sun sets behind Mount Agung. Amed's remoteness is both its greatest asset and its main challenge. The drive from south Bali takes 2.5 to 3 hours on winding roads through the eastern highlands. Once you arrive, there is limited nightlife and few organized activities beyond diving, snorkeling, and exploring the coastline. This is a destination for travelers who want to disconnect and enjoy a slower, more authentic Bali experience.

Nusa Penida is technically a separate island 45 minutes by fast boat from Sanur harbor, but it falls within Bali's administrative region and has become one of the most sought-after day trips or overnight destinations for adventure-seeking visitors. The island's southwestern coastline features some of the most dramatic cliff formations in all of Indonesia, with Kelingking Beach as the undisputed showpiece. Kelingking Beach is a T-Rex-shaped cliff headland dropping 400 meters to a white sand beach lapped by impossibly turquoise water. The viewpoint at the top is the Instagram shot that launched a thousand visits to Nusa Penida. A steep, rough trail descends to the beach itself, taking about 30 to 45 minutes going down and significantly longer climbing back up. The trail is not for the faint-hearted, with exposed sections and no guardrails, but the secluded beach at the bottom is genuinely paradise. Beyond Kelingking, Nusa Penida offers Broken Beach (a circular cliff formation with a natural archway), Angel's Billabong (a natural infinity pool carved into the cliff), and Crystal Bay (the island's best swimming and snorkeling beach). The island's interior is rugged and relatively undeveloped, with winding roads that can test even experienced motorbike riders. Most visitors do Nusa Penida as a day trip, but staying overnight lets you experience the island without the midday tour crowds. Simple guesthouses and a growing number of mid-range hotels offer accommodation from IDR 250,000 to USD 80 per night.

While Bali has dozens of waterfalls, two stand out as genuinely world-class natural spectacles that justify the effort required to reach them. Sekumpul Waterfall in north Bali and Tukad Cepung Waterfall in east Bali offer completely different experiences but are equally unforgettable. Sekumpul is often called the most beautiful waterfall in Bali, and it is hard to argue. Twin cascades plunge approximately 80 meters down a sheer cliff face into a pool surrounded by dense tropical vegetation. Reaching the base requires a 30-minute descent through rice terraces and across a river, with sections where you will get wet from spray and stream crossings. Local guides are available and recommended at the entrance for IDR 100,000 to 150,000 per person. Tukad Cepung is a completely different experience. Located near the village of Tembuku about 45 minutes northeast of Ubud, this waterfall is hidden inside a narrow canyon cave. You reach it by descending stone steps into a rocky ravine and then wading through a shallow stream into the cave opening. Inside, water cascades from openings in the rock above while shafts of morning sunlight pierce through the gaps, creating an ethereal cathedral-like effect. The light show is at its best between 9:00 and 11:00 AM when the sun angle is right. Both waterfalls are best visited during or just after the wet season (November to March) when water flow is at its highest and most dramatic. During the dry season, Sekumpul may reduce to a single cascade and Tukad Cepung's flow can become a trickle.

While most visitors flock to Tegallalang near Ubud, the Jatiluwih rice terraces in the Tabanan regency are larger, more pristine, and carry official UNESCO World Heritage status as part of the Cultural Landscape of Bali. Spread across 600 hectares of gently sloping volcanic hillside at an elevation of 700 meters, Jatiluwih offers expansive panoramic views of terraced paddies stretching to the horizon with Mount Batukaru as a backdrop. What makes Jatiluwih special beyond its scale is the subak irrigation system that maintains it. This cooperative water management tradition, dating back to the 9th century, distributes water from mountain springs through an intricate network of canals, tunnels, and weirs governed by democratic farmer councils. UNESCO recognized this system as an outstanding example of human interaction with the environment, and at Jatiluwih you can see it functioning exactly as it has for over a millennium. Several walking trails of varying lengths wind through the terraces, from a quick 30-minute loop to a full 2-hour circuit that takes you deep into the landscape. Unlike Tegallalang, there are no commercial swings or photo platforms interrupting the views. The experience here is purely about the relationship between the volcanic landscape, the water, and generations of farming knowledge. A small visitor center at the entrance provides trail maps, and local guides are available for hire. The on-site restaurant serves simple Balinese food with a terrace overlooking the terraces. Admission is IDR 40,000 per person, and the site is about 90 minutes from both Ubud and Seminyak.