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A rider on a quad bike on a jungle trail, helmet and safety gear on.
Land Tour

ATV Quad Bike Ride, Ubud

Mud, jungle track and a river tunnel, two hours on the throttle

Duration
5 hours door to door
Group
Private car, single or tandem quad
Difficulty
Easy · no licence needed
Best time
Morning, before the heat

The trip

What You're Signing Up For

The track runs through Payangan, north of Ubud: palm plantation, a working village, rice terrace edges, and a stretch of shallow river that everyone remembers afterwards. Most operators run the same ground; what differs is the machine, the guide and whether anyone is watching your throttle hand.

You do not need a licence and you do not need to have ridden before. There are ten minutes of instruction on a flat piece of ground first, and a guide rides in front the whole way. If you would rather not drive, ride tandem behind someone who does.

Highlights

Why People Pick This One

  • A guide riding with your group the whole way, not just leading a convoy
  • Single or tandem on the same per-person price
  • Shallow river section and a cave tunnel, the two bits people photograph
  • Boots, helmet, gloves and a poncho provided; you will still get muddy
  • Lunch at the finish, and a shower before you get back in the car

Full description

The Whole Thing

Payangan sits north of Ubud where the land starts to climb, and the tracks there run through working plantation rather than a purpose-built course. That means real ruts, real puddles and a route that changes with the weather, which is most of the appeal.

Itinerary

The Trip, Stop By Stop

Timings are typical, not fixed. Your guide reshapes the day around your pace and the conditions.

  1. Hotel pickup

    Canggu, Seminyak, Kuta, Jimbaran, Sanur, Ubud

    Your driver confirms the time by message the evening before. Pickup is free from Canggu, Seminyak, Kuta, Jimbaran, Sanur and Ubud.

    Included

  2. Arrive at the base, Payangan

    Sign in, boots and helmet on, and a short safety briefing. Ten minutes of practice on flat ground before anyone goes near the track.

  3. On the track

    Roughly two hours: plantation, village lanes, the river section and the tunnel. Your guide sets a pace the slowest rider is comfortable with.

  4. Shower and lunch

    Rinse off, change, and eat at the base. Indonesian buffet, vegetarian on request if you tell us in advance.

  5. Back to your hotel

    Same car, same driver. Roughly an hour to Ubud, longer to the south coast.

    Included
Trip stop Pickup area Pickup is from your own accommodation inside these areas. Route is indicative, not the exact road taken.

The price covers

What's Included, And What Isn't

Included

  • Hotel pickup and drop-off across South Bali, Ubud and Canggu
  • Private air-conditioned car with English-speaking driver
  • Fuel, parking, tolls and the driver's day
  • Two hours on the quad, single or tandem
  • Helmet, boots, gloves and a poncho
  • A guide riding with your group throughout
  • Lunch at the base after the ride
  • Lockers and hot showers

Not included

  • Damage to the machine caused by off-track riding
  • Personal spending, tips and anything you buy on the day

Before you book

Who This Trip Isn’t For

We would rather talk you out of the wrong trip than take your money for it. If any of these apply, message us and we’ll suggest something that fits better.

Anyone who cannot get muddy

Not a figure of speech. Assume the clothes you ride in are finished, and that mud reaches places a poncho does not.

Back or neck problems

The track is rough by design. An hour of jolting is not sensible if your spine already complains.

Very young children

Tandem riding starts around seven. Below that, the jungle swing or a waterfall day is the better call.

Come prepared

What To Bring

Clothes you do not mind ruining

You will be covered in red mud to the shoulders. Nothing you brought for dinner later.

Closed shoes you can hose down

Trainers you already planned to throw away are perfect. Sandals come off in the mud.

A full change of clothes

There are showers at the base but no dryer, and you have a drive home afterwards.

A strap for your sunglasses

Anything not attached to you ends up in a rut. Leave the rest of your valuables in the car.

On the trip

What It Looks Like

Tap a photo to enlarge

Before you book

Questions About This Trip

Anything not covered here? Message us. We'd rather answer first than have you book the wrong trip.

Do I need a driving licence?

No. The track is private land, not public road, so no licence is required. You get instruction and practice time before the ride starts.

Can children ride?

Children can ride tandem behind an adult from about seven years old. Driving alone usually starts around twelve, depending on height and build. Tell us the ages and we will be straight with you.

What if it rains?

The ride runs in rain and is honestly better fun in it. Heavy storms can close the track on safety grounds, in which case we move you to another day or refund the activity.

How muddy is muddy?

Assume everything you are wearing is finished. Boots and a poncho are provided, but the mud gets everywhere. There are showers and lockers at the base.

Can we do this with rafting on the same day?

Yes, and it works out cheaper than booking them separately. That is the ATV and Rafting Combo Day.

Pairs well with

Other Trips Guests Interested In

All trips

Ready When You Are

Tell us your dates and how many of you there are. We'll confirm availability, pickup time and the total, usually within the hour.

From the journal · 4 min read

ATV In Ubud: What You're Actually Signing Up For

The tunnel waterfall is real and it lasts about ninety seconds. The other two hours are mud, and that is the point.