Beyond Canggu and Ubud - Underrated Villages Worth Living In

Everyone’s heard of Canggu and Ubud. The cafes, coworking spaces, yoga studios, digital nomad hubs—they’re icons of modern Bali life. But behind those headlines are quieter places. Villages without neon signs or curated feeds. Villages where the sun sets slower, where the sounds of the land still outweigh the noise of trends.

If you’re tired of the traffic in Berawa or the crowds in Monkey Forest, this is for you. Because Bali’s heart doesn’t beat loud—it beats steady, and often in places most visitors never see.

Let me take you to the underrated villages in Bali worth not just visiting—but living in.

1. Sidemen – The Ubud of 30 Years Ago

Let’s start with Sidemen, nestled in the east and often described as “what Ubud used to be.”

Here, rice terraces flow like rivers, temples bloom with offerings, and Mount Agung looms with grace and quiet power. The village is a canvas of emerald, mist, and slow human movement.

Living in Sidemen means:

• Waking up to farmers chanting in the fields

• Hearing gamelan rehearsals from the bale banjar

• Drinking strong kopi Bali with locals who always remember your name

There are no beach clubs. No traffic. Just real Bali, untouched and unhurried.

If you want to write a book, paint, heal, or simply breathe deeper—Sidemen is your sanctuary.

2. Pengosekan – Ubud’s Little Sister With Big Soul

Technically part of greater Ubud, Pengosekan is its own universe. It’s the quiet stretch south of the main town, filled with art studios, gentle rice fields, and a deeper spiritual pull.

What makes Pengosekan unique isn’t what it has—but what it holds:

• Families making canang sari on their porches

• Balinese painters blending old technique with modern story

• Dances practiced not for shows, but for gods

Living here, you’re close enough to Ubud’s energy—but far enough to feel the ancient rhythm.

It’s a perfect middle ground for creatives, seekers, and slow travelers.

3. Nyuh Kuning – The Village of Kindness

Imagine a place with no motorbikes, surrounded by jungle, and filled with art. That’s Nyuh Kuning, a village south of the Sacred Monkey Forest.

This village is known for:

• Its community-first mindset

• Beautifully preserved compound architecture

• Weekly communal cleanups, ceremonies, and temple care

People wave here. Not just because they’re polite, but because they recognize you. The sense of belonging is instant and deep.

If you're looking for a village with a balance of Balinese tradition and quiet international presence, Nyuh Kuning is the soft landing you didn’t know you needed.

4. Seseh – A Seaside Village Untouched by Hype

West of Canggu but worlds away in spirit, Seseh is a sleepy coastal village with black sand beaches, sea temples, and fishermen who smile before they speak.

Living in Seseh gives you:

• Morning walks where the only traffic is ducks

• Sunset prayers instead of rooftop parties

• A true sense of what the Balinese sea life used to be

There’s a quiet expat community here—yogis, writers, designers—who’ve chosen this place not for its fame, but for its peace.

If you want proximity to Canggu without its pace, Seseh might be your sweet spot.

5. Tumbak Bayuh – Nature and Creative Energy Collide

Tucked between Pererenan and the jungle, Tumbak Bayuh is a rising star for those seeking space, silence, and nature.

It’s not fully discovered yet. But those who live here know:

• You can hear frogs and crickets more than cars

• Artists are building bamboo homes, not villas

• The energy is raw, wild, and wide open

Living in Tumbak Bayuh feels like standing on the edge of something old and something new. And that tension? That’s creative gold.

6. Amed – Where the Sea Meets Stillness

Up in the northeast, Amed hugs the coast with fishing boats, coral reefs, and a pace of life best described as molasses under the moonlight.

This is not a party town. It’s a diver's village, an artist’s escape, a healer’s retreat.

Living in Amed means:

• Watching sunrises with barefoot fishermen

• Snorkeling five minutes from your doorstep

• Ending every day with stars and sea wind

There’s a spiritual softness here—like the land is whispering, breathe slower, dream deeper.

If you want to trade traffic for tide, Amed is calling.

7. Tenganan – The Village That Time Gently Held

Tenganan Pegringsingan is one of Bali’s oldest villages, home to the Bali Aga people who preserve pre-Hindu traditions.

It’s not for everyone. But if you respect culture deeply and seek a more immersive life, this could be transformative.

Living here, you’ll witness:

• Weaving traditions passed through generations

• Ceremonies few outsiders understand, but are welcome to observe

• A way of life where technology and time feel optional

Tenganan teaches you that modern isn’t always better—sometimes, it’s noisier. Here, you’ll find the quiet power of ancient life.

Why These Villages Matter in the Bigger Picture

Choosing to live in one of these lesser-known villages in Bali isn’t just about escaping crowds. It’s about choosing:

• Connection over convenience

• Depth over decoration

• Participation over performance

These places remind you that Bali is more than its Instagram version. It’s land and lineage, laughter in the kitchen, chickens under your scooter, and neighbors who bring offerings to your gate without a reason.

And when you live in that kind of space, you start changing, too.

What It’s Really Like to Live in a Quiet Village

Here’s the truth: it’s not always glamorous. Sometimes:

• The Wi-Fi is moody

• The roosters are relentless

• You’ll need to drive 20 minutes for cheese or wine

But what you gain is more than what you lose.

You gain:

• Time that feels full

• Friendships that cross language

• A rhythm that teaches your body to rest

And above all, you gain a relationship with the island itself, not just the experience of it.

Tips for Moving to a Balinese Village

If you’re considering making the leap:

• Visit first, live second: spend a week or two before committing

• Learn basic Bahasa: it builds bridges faster than money

• Respect the rituals: every village has its own calendar and flow

• Support local: from markets to masons, your presence matters

• Be patient: village life is not instant. It unfolds.

And when it does, it stays with you.

Go Where the Island Is Still Whispering

Bali has many faces. Some are loud and glittering. Others are quiet and glowing.

The villages beyond Canggu and Ubud? They’re the island’s whisper. The places where the wind still smells of ceremony, where land and time stretch softly, where your feet remember how to walk slower.

So if you’re called not to consume Bali, but to know it, to live it—choose a village.

Not because it’s trending.

But because it’s still true.