Wapa di Ume Sidemen is the best place for a honeymoon in Sidemen: a five-star boutique resort on a hillside in East Bali, with private pool villas looking over rice terraces toward Mount Agung. It suits couples who want Bali's countryside, village walks and quiet evenings with a view, plus the comfort of a proper resort with a spa and restaurant on site.
Sidemen is what many people hope Ubud will be: green, slow and still very local. The valley has small villa stays and guesthouses rather than big hotels. Wapa di Ume stands out because it offers resort service in that setting. The two-tier infinity pools face the hills, the open-air restaurant looks over the Unda River and the Kapha Spa has treatment rooms with a panoramic view.
Plan two to four nights here between beach time in the south and a stay in Ubud. Days are for rice-terrace walks, songket weaving and temple visits. Evenings are for the view from your villa pool as the light fades on the volcano.
Highlights at a glance
- Private pool villas facing the Sidemen valley
- Two-tier infinity pools with Mount Agung views
- Romantic dinner under the stars with a personal server
- Kapha Spa with a panoramic outlook
- Rooftop Bar57 for sunset drinks
Why Couples Love Wapa di Ume Sidemen
The view is the reason to come. The resort sits on a slope with a 360-degree outlook over rice fields, forest and the river valley. On clear mornings Mount Agung, Bali's highest and most sacred volcano, rises behind the hills. Mornings are the best time for the mountain, since clouds often build by afternoon.
The setting is rural, so the soundtrack is the river, birds and farmers in the paddies rather than traffic. The resort runs cultural sessions that make the village feel close: offering-making demonstrations and songket weaving, the gold-thread cloth Sidemen is known for.
It also handles the logistics that make Sidemen hard for some couples. There is a full restaurant, a rooftop bar, a spa and daily sightseeing by car on the honeymoon package. You get the countryside without needing to plan every meal and every drive yourselves.
Which Room or Villa to Book
The resort has four styles of room. For a honeymoon, the choice is easy.
- One-Bedroom Pool Villa: the one to book. At 118 square meters, it is a private single-story villa with its own pool, a king bed, a sunken bath with a separate shower and a balcony facing the Sidemen valley. A floating breakfast in your own pool is part of the fun.
- Di Ume Suite: ten suites of 61 square meters on the riverbank, with a king bed, a bath and a wide balcony with a dining table. Some overlook the river. Good value if you are happy to share the main pools.
- Lanai Room: six whitewashed wooden rooms with balconies over the rice fields or forest. Fine for a short stop.
- The Wapa Lux Tent: a separate glamping property with its own website, worth a look if you like the idea of a luxury tent.
All rooms have air conditioning, mosquito nets, a minibar and Wi-Fi.
Food, Drink and the Spa
Sleeping Gajah Kitchen & Lounge is the main restaurant, an open-air space seating 70 with views over the hills and the sound of the Unda River below. It serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, mixing Indonesian and Western dishes with house specialties. Afternoon tea with Balinese coffee is served daily from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Bar57, on top of the restaurant, is the place for sunset, with wine, cocktails and drinks made with infused local spirits. Happy hour runs from 5 to 7 p.m.
For a special night, the Romantic Dinner Under the Stars is a candlelit three-course meal at a panoramic spot with your own server, welcome cocktails and a bottle of local wine, at about IDR 2,500,000 plus tax and service per couple. On Saturdays there is a Balinese dinner with traditional dance. Kapha Spa offers holistic treatments with a view of the valley. A private Balinese cooking class is another good shared activity.
Why guests fall for it
Things to Do in Sidemen
Sidemen rewards slow days.
- Rice-terrace walks: the honeymoon package includes a one-hour morning trek. Go early, before the heat.
- Songket weaving: watch weavers at work on wooden looms in the village, part of the resort's cultural program.
- White-water rafting: a moderate trip on the Telaga Waja River, with class II and III rapids.
- Yoga: classes in the Yoga Pavilion on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings.
- Day trips: Besakih (the mother temple on Mount Agung's slopes) and the water palace at Tirta Gangga are both within reach by car. Candidasa on the coast is about 45 minutes away.
- Riverside barbecue: a buffet dinner by the river with a welcome cocktail.
Temples require a sarong and sash for both of you; they are usually lent at the entrance. Mosquitoes can carry dengue in Bali, so use repellent at dusk. If you're pregnant or hoping to be soon, check CDC travel health notices.
Getting There
Fly into Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) in south Bali. Sidemen is about 58 km away, roughly two hours by car depending on traffic. The resort can arrange the transfer. The honeymoon package includes a one-way airport transfer, which covers half of the journey.
Most couples combine Sidemen with other parts of the island. A common plan is a few nights on the beach in the south or at Candidasa, then two to four nights in Sidemen, then Ubud, which is about an hour or so away. A driver for the day is affordable in Bali and makes temple trips easy.
Mount Agung is an active volcano. Check the official alert level before you travel and follow guidance from local authorities and the resort. The dry season, roughly April to October, brings the clearest mountain views and the easiest walking. The wet months are greener but muddier, with heavy afternoon rain.
Is It Worth It?
Yes, if you want rural Bali without giving up a pool villa, a spa and a restaurant. Sidemen's simpler villas cost less, often around $70 to $250 a night, but few offer the same level of service. The Honeymoon Package is the best value: it starts at about IDR 19.4 million for three nights (roughly $1,150 to $1,200, approximate) and adds a romantic dinner with wine, a 90-minute massage for two, an airport transfer and daily extras such as afternoon tea, sightseeing and yoga.
Pick elsewhere if you want nightlife, a choice of restaurants within walking distance or a beach. Sidemen is quiet after dark and the resort is a drive from the coast. Couples who want jungle-resort glamour with more shops nearby may prefer Ubud. If budget matters more than service, a smaller family-run villa elsewhere in the valley will deliver the same view for less.
Insider tips
- Book the One-Bedroom Pool Villa; the suites are pleasant but the private pool makes the stay.
- Take the Honeymoon Package for the dinner, couples massage and transfer, which cost more booked separately.
- Be up early for the clearest views of Mount Agung before the clouds roll in.
- Reserve the Saturday Balinese heritage dinner with dance; proceeds support local children.
