Abiansemal
Inland Badung district south of Ubud, best known for Green School in Sibang Kaja and the monkey forest at Sangeh.
About Abiansemal
Abiansemal suits families with kids at Green School, and anyone who'd rather live among rice fields than cafés. It's an inland district of Badung, wedged between Denpasar and Ubud, made up of 18 villages including Sibang Kaja, Sibang Gede, Mambal, Darmasaba and Sangeh. Most of it is rice fields, family compounds and village temples strung along the roads that run north from Denpasar towards the hills, and almost everyone who lives here is Balinese Hindu.
Green School is the reason most foreigners know the name. The bamboo campus sits on the Ayung River in Sibang Kaja, and the school puts itself about 30 minutes from Ubud or Canggu, an hour from Seminyak or Sanur, and about 1.5 hours from the airport. So families on long rentals tend to look at villas around Sibang, Sayan and the Ubud side and not the coast.
It's not a beach base. There's no walkable strip of restaurants, so you'll need a scooter or a driver for almost everything. Further north, Sangeh has the monkey forest, and Bongkasa on the Ayung gorge has the big jungle swings.
Padel is right by the school: Casa Club Bali is directly across the road from Green School's gate.
Highlights of Abiansemal
- Green School, Sibang Kaja. Founded in 2008 by John and Cynthia Hardy, with more than 70 bamboo buildings. The main hall, the Heart of the School, is 60 metres long and used 2,500 bamboo poles.
- Sangeh Monkey Forest. About 10 hectares of tall forest around Pura Bukit Sari temple, home to roughly 700 long-tailed macaques. It's around 15 km by road northwest of Ubud.
- Bali Swing, Bongkasa Pertiwi. Ten swings, from 10 metres up to 78 metres, over the Ayung valley. Open 08:00 to 17:00, about 20 minutes from Ubud.
- Casa Club Bali. Three indoor doubles courts and a bar, opposite Green School.
Travel tips for Abiansemal
- Allow 1.5 hours from the airport. That's Green School's own estimate for the drive to Sibang Kaja.
- Book Green School tours ahead. Public tours run on set afternoons with strictly limited numbers. Wear proper shoes: the campus is steep and uneven, and pushchairs won't manage.
- Get your own wheels. The 18 villages are spread over 69 square kilometres. Nothing is walkable.
- Be early. Green School asks tour guests to arrive 15 minutes before the start, and late arrivals may be moved to another slot.
Things to do in Abiansemal
Tour Green School
The guided public tour takes about an hour and covers the bamboo buildings, the river and student projects. Proceeds go to student projects. Book online or email the tours team.
See the monkeys at Sangeh
Sangeh's real name is Alas Pala Sangeh. The temple sits at its centre, under trees that reach around 30 metres and are hundreds of years old. Owls and eagles are seen here too.
Play padel near the school
Casa Club Bali is the only club we list in Abiansemal. For more choice, see our Ubud padel guide.
Best time to visit Abiansemal
April to September is the dry season, and the easiest time for walks, the swings and Sangeh. Bali's wet season runs roughly October to April, with the heaviest rain from December to March.
Green School tours run all year, with different times during school holidays.
Details checked October 2026.
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