The visit to Tenganan was interesting but the real fun began afterward when we hiked through the “tropical garden” to Kastala. What do you think about when you hear the words “tropical garden”? A nice little garden with some mango trees and pineapples, right? That’s what we thought, after hearing our guide mentioning a few times the Tenganan tropical garden. What we saw, however, was a gorgeous tropical forest, filled with all kinds of tropical trees, sounds of animals, and interesting vegetation. As long as we’re talking about secret spots, if you visit Tenganan, make sure to come here. I have been to a tropical forest before, but for my sister, it was the first time of experiencing such a sight. She couldn’t stop admiring the luscious vegetation, huge trees and general feeling of playing Tarzan for a few hours. The hike from Tenganan to Kastala will take you approximately 2-3 hours. It is not an easy hike, some parts are quite steep and challenging but if you are fit, you’ll have no problem and you’ll discover really beautiful secret spots. You’ll pass some local houses in the middle of this jungle, peek into the backyards of the local villagers where you’ll see the kids bath and play, say hello to some local farm animals and basically count your blessings for finding the authentic Bali you were looking for. And then after the steep hike, you’ll see one of the most gorgeous sights you’ve ever seen, welcome to Tenganan rice fields. Initially, I was afraid that by now we’d be sick of rice paddies but these ones took our breath away and made us forget all the previous rice fields we’d seen. There is a little warung with a few items to buy and some simple drinks and with the most gorgeous views you’ve ever seen, it’s a great place to stop and admire the views.
After spending some time in this piece of heaven, we continued our hike all the way to Kastala passing the local villages and getting a glimpse of the rural Bali we were looking for. A guide is a must when doing this hike, otherwise, you are bound to get lost or be bitten by snakes (our guide kept doing these hissing sounds which turned out to be a method to detect and scare snakes). Moreover, we learned so much about the local fauna and flora of Bali.
You have captured life in the Sidemen Valley excellently! Your post gives a wonderful glimpse into the daily lives of people there. Life seems slow and laidback. We’d love to visit and learn more about the place.
Thanks so much, Mohana! If you have a chance to visit, you should! Just the perfect place to relax and see the more authentic side of the island.
Great comprehensive post, I must be one of few Aussies that haven’t been to Bali yet. I am interested in visiting Bali particularly some of these off the beaten track areas as Kuta and the usual Bali attractions don’t really interest me. I think there are many other beautiful places in Bali that aren’t very touristy. Pinned this post for when I do make it over there.
Cheers Sally, we know what you mean. It has been a dream of ours but then we were afraid it would be too touristy. Well, we avoided the West side completely (though next time we might have a peek since we’ve heard about less touristy spots there). The only places that were touristy were Ubud and Tirta Gangga. Other than that there are still some secret spots in Bali! You just need to find them 🙂 Our next post is about the best rice field in Bali, where we also list a few that are off the tourists’ radar (yet). Check it out if you are looking for other secret spots in the area!
Wow! I just spent 4 months in Bali this year and I never made it out East. Now I wish I had! It seems SO much more authentic and traditional there and it’s simply beautiful. Love this post!
Yep, sorry to be the bearer of bad news but you should have definitely checked the East 😉 No worries, there is always the next time but do yourself a favour and check out the beautiful and laidback Sidemen on your next trip!
I went to Bali about 5 years ago, and I look back now and I wish I could go back now and see more of it properly. I adored this article and your pictures are amazing!
Thank you so much, Louise! Indonesia and Bali have so much to offer that we are sure we will come back one day. So put it on your next Bali itinerary and visit one of the best hidden gems we’ve found!
I know people say ‘Bookmarking this for later’ all the time, but I am actually physically taking a pen and paper and writing ‘Sidemen’ down for future reference! Your portraits are absolutely stunning—I’m blown away. I want to visit that market and see that loom in action right now! Thank you so much for sharing!
Our pleasure, Emily! We know you have a soft spot for handcrafts so we figured this one is right up your alley! So glad you liked that and thanks for the kind words. Hope you’ll get there soon!
This is a such an informative post but you’re not aiding my Bali fever!
aha sorry about that! The best solution is to start planning your Balinese trip! It was a dream of ours too! We’re so glad we got to visit Bali and we’re sure it isn’t going to be our last visit!
Your photos are UNREAL! I only wish I had gone here while in Bali! I did do a silent retreat close by, but this looks incredible!!
Wow, thanks so much Katie, such a pleasure to hear! You can use this as an excuse to come back 😉 If you were in the area then you’ve already got to see the more authentic Bali. Nevertheless, Sidemen definitely needs to be on your list of places you should visit on your next trip.
Very well written and beautifully photographed thank you for this helpful article!
Thank you so much, Matthew! We’re thrilled you love our work.
I love this post too . I am in Ubud but I just came from a month in Tabanan which is gorgeous outside the main town .
Sidemen looks gorgeously authentic
Love your pictures – please may I ask what camera you travel with ?
❤️
Thank you so much! We would love to go back to Bali and Indonesia and explore some more. Sidemen is stunning, probably one of our favorite places in Bali. We used Canon 80D camera for these pictures 😉
This looks great!
Do you maybe remember where you booked the guide for the hike from Tenganan to Kastala?
Thanks!
Hey Marjanne, So glad you like our guide. Our driver arranged it all for us. He was from “Taxi Driver Bali”. You can find a link to their site in our Bali Itinerary Post.
Hi, May I know the contact for hike from Tenganan to Kastala ? Thanks!
Hi Jennifer, sorry but it was organized through our driver so we don’t have the name of the guide. There is a link to his website on our Bali itinerary post 🙂
Thank you for this post, i really appreciate👋🌸
Glad you enjoyed it, Jin 🙂