 Sidemen Valley, from the West, overlooking Nirarta
Discover the Multi-Faced Beauty of the Sidemen Valley
- Enjoy envigorating and inspiring walks in the clean air of the Sidemen Valley, nourishing your body, your heart, your mind, and your senses
- Pass naturally from breathtaking views to hidden corners of mystery and quiet wonder
- Touch the real Bali, behind the façade as you tap into the deep roots of the Balinese way of life in the land
- Sense the balance and beauty of a world where people, nature, and the divine are seemlessly and subtly connected
- Pass the time of day with ordinary Balinese folks as they go about their business
- And, in between walks, take time to digest, rest, and recover, while enjoying
the gardens and river at Nirarta.
Similar options:
Description
Exploring the Sacred Geography of the Sidemen Valley
Tradition, aided by Nature, makes of the Sidemen Valley a large mandala
around the main Village. thereby establishing a sacred geography, surrounding,
protecting the area, and connecting it with other parts of the island further
afield. There are great walks in each of the principal directions.
Balinese tradition seeks nourishment and well-being by balancing the call
and contribution of Nature, Society, and the Divine (Tri Hita Karana).
You can experience this by walking around the different parts of the Sidemen
Valley and visiting some of the shrines and temples that punctuate places
of power and meaning around the area.
Beauty, charm, and surprises await you at every turn.
Guide provided
While you can do many of these walks alone, we advise your taking a Balinese
Guide, who can help you discover the magical corners of the Sidemen area
off the beaten track.
He can also introduce you to the shrines and temples in the traditional
way, to bring them alive, while avoiding offense to local sensibilities,
turning each walk into a mini-pilgrimage in Nature.
Note: While some visitors prefer stout walking shoes, others may be content to do as the Balinese and walk in flip-flops, ideal for wet rice terraces and slipping on and off as we cross streams and irrigation channels.
A sarong and sash is required for entering temples and shrines.
The Nine Walks
Walks in the Sidemen Valley from Nirarta
1. |
Central Walk:
Sidemen village
2 – 3 hours |
|
Up through Tabola for a round walk through the back
alleys and quiet paths to and from the village of Sidemen, passing
a number of shrines and temples important to the community. You can
visit a Balinese family compound and see local weaving production,
both ‘Songket’ (ceremonial brocade produced at home on
simple strap-looms) and Ikat (produced in small family businesses
on upright handlooms).
|
| |
|
|
|
2. |
West Walk:
Luah and Pura Bukit temple on the hill opposite Nirarta
2 – 3 hours |
|
Across the river, through the village of Luah, and up the hill
opposite, past ancient temples and sacred trees and up to Pura Bukit
(Hill Top Temple). Wonderful views of Nirarta and the Sidemen valley
from the top.
|
| |
|
|
|
3. |
North West Walk:
Dukuh and Pura Dalem Bingin (Banyan Tree Deep Temple)
3 hours |
|
A peaceful and charming walk across the river or through Tabola,
near Luah, through the rice fields to a a hidden temple of power
and beauty, around the upper part of the Unda valley to the village
of Dukuh, and back through the village of Sidemen from the north.
|
| |
|
|
|
4. |
North Walk:
Boan Village and Taman Sari Temple
2 – 3 hours |
|
A short ride to the north of Sidemen and then fording the river
to walk in the peaceful valley and rice terraces between the two
road-routes to the north of Sidemen, through isolated Boan village,
Bali as it was before modern times, and up through the gentle Taman
Sari (Essence of Garden) Temple, climbing up the foothills and wooded
hillocks, towards Mount Agung.
|
| |
|
|
|
5. |
North East Walk:
Pura Dewangga Temple
3 hours |
|
A bracing walk up a steep and winding path to a powerful temple
on the top of a hill above Sidemen, with magnificent 360° views,
including Gunung Agung. This sacred and secret temple has been a
place of retreat and meditation for centuries, and its name (Divine
Limbs) points to the way this temple gives protective energy throughout
the Sidemen valley and over the town below.
|
| |
|
|
|
6. |
East Walk:
Guminten and Taman Sari Temple
2 – 3 hours |
|
Walk into the bamboo and salak woods in the valley above Sidemen
where palm wine is distilled into the local spirit, ‘arak’.
Return via Taman Sari, a small temple complex above Sidemen village.
Some beautiful views. With a guide it is possible to visit the highest
temple of this complex, Puncak Sari, a small and simple shrine beneath
ancient trees on a ridge, with views on both sides, and often glimpses
of monkeys swinging in the trees.
|
| |
|
|
|
7. |
South-East Walk:
Kebung and Telaga Tawang
2 – 3 hours |
|
A beautiful walk starting to the south of Sidemen and going through
the rice terraces and wooded valleys off the beaten track, through
the unspoilt village of Kebung, Taman Gansing temple with its sacred
springs, round to Telaga Tawang stream and temple, a shrine from
the days of the great holy men of legend who sought peace and solitude
in the Sidemen valley.
|
| |
|
|
|
8. |
South Walk:
Kelungah
2 – 3 hours |
|
Across the river and to the villages and gentle river valley to
the south of Sidemen. Kelungah is a particularly charming village
off the beaten track. A circular walk is possible, along a raised
pathway through the woods and hills above the valley and coming back
up through the heart of the valley below.
|
| |
|
|
|
9. |
South-West Walk:
Sangem and the Telaga Waja Valley
2 – 3 hours |
|
Across the river, to the south west of Nirarta, through the gap
in the hills to Sangem to explore the other side of the hills surrounding
Sidemen and the river valley on that side.
|
Reviews
'What a lovely way to discover the real Bali! '
– J S, UK, 2006
'After the busy-ness of Ubud and the coast, this was the Bali I'd been waiting to see! '
– L D, Denmark, 2007
'Such beauty and grace, full of surprises and delight...'
– P M, Switzerland, 2008
Contact Us
Dayu Mayuni
Nirarta Centre for Living Awareness
Address: Sidemen, Karangasem 80864, Bali, Indonesia
Tel:+62 811 388 0065 or +62 366 5551124
Mobile:+62 81 246 52 123
For general email enquiries:
Payment Terms
Paying by credit card? We accept Visa, MasterCard, or
American Express. Transactions will appear on your statement under the
name Nirarta. Your charges will include an additional 3% for credit card use.
Paying by bank transfer? Please include your name as
reference, and add €5 to cover bank charges if from outside Indonesia.
Transfer information:
- Bank:
- Swift/Sort code:
- Account name:
- Account number:
- BSB:
- Reference: Your name
Payment Policy
Your booking is not complete until full payment is received.
Cancellation and Refund Policy
If you must cancel after registering, please notify us by email. The following cancellation fees apply:
For Individual Programmes and Bookings to Scheduled Programmes:
- 30 to 16 days prior to arrival – 25% of contracted price.
- 15 to 7 days prior to arrival – 50% of contracted price.
- 6 days or less prior to arrival – 100% of contracted price.
For Group Bookings:
- 45 to 30 days prior to arrival – 25% of contracted price.
- 29 to 15 days prior to arrival – 50% of contracted price.
- 14 days or less prior to arrival – 100% of contracted price.
|
- Booking Summary
|
 |
- Booking Cart is empty!
|
