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A raft crew paddling through white water in helmets and life jackets.
Water Activities

White Water Rafting, Ayung River

Grade II-III through a gorge nobody can reach on foot

Duration
6 hours door to door
Group
Private car, shared raft
Difficulty
Beginner · no experience needed
Minimum age
7 years

The trip

What You're Signing Up For

The Ayung runs through a gorge below Ubud that you cannot get into any other way. Twelve kilometres, about two hours on the water, grade II to III, which means bouncy rather than frightening. Between the rapids there are stretches of flat water with carved stone reliefs on the canyon wall and waterfalls coming in from the side.

This is the beginner-friendly Bali rafting trip, and it is genuinely fine for a first-timer, a nervous swimmer or a family. If you want the harder one, Telaga Waja has a four-metre drop and grade III-IV water; message us and we will price it.

Highlights

Why People Pick This One

  • Two hours on the water, grade II-III, no experience required
  • A gorge with carved reliefs and side waterfalls you cannot reach on foot
  • Guides certified in swiftwater rescue, one per raft
  • Lockers, showers and a change of clothes at the finish
  • Lunch included, and a private car waiting rather than a shuttle bus

Full description

The Whole Thing

The Ayung is Bali's longest river and the stretch below Payangan runs through a gorge with walls thirty metres high in places. Local artists have carved reliefs into the rock over the years, so between rapids you drift past scenes from the Ramayana cut straight into the canyon.

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 put-in

    Sign in, leave valuables in a locker, helmet and life jacket on, and a paddle briefing from your river guide.

  3. The walk down

    Around three hundred steps to the water through the gorge. Take it slowly; there is no hurry.

  4. On the river

    About two hours and twelve kilometres. Rapids, flat stretches, the carved wall, and a stop under a side waterfall.

  5. Climb out, shower, lunch

    The walk up to the finish point, then a shower and a buffet lunch before the drive home.

  6. Back to your hotel

    Same car, same driver.

    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 and twelve kilometres on the Ayung
  • Certified river guide, one per raft
  • Helmet, life jacket and paddle
  • Buffet lunch at the take-out
  • Lockers, showers and towel hire

Not included

  • Photos taken by the river photographers, sold separately at the finish
  • Personal spending, tips and anything you buy on the day
  • Travel insurance, which we strongly recommend you carry

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.

Bad knees

Three hundred steps down and a similar climb out. The rafting is the easy part.

Non-swimmers who are anxious in water

Life jackets and a trained guide make it safe, but if open water frightens you it will not be fun.

Anyone recently pregnant or with a back injury

Rapids mean sudden impacts. Ask a doctor rather than us.

Come prepared

What To Bring

Swimwear and quick-dry clothes

You are soaked from the first rapid. Cotton stays wet for the whole drive home.

Sport sandals with a heel strap

Or old trainers. The walk out is up a long flight of steps and flip-flops come off in the water.

A full change of dry clothes

There are showers and lockers at the take-out, and an hour in the car afterwards.

Cash for the photos

The river photographers shoot every raft and sell the set at the finish, cash only.

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 to be able to swim?

It helps, but it is not required. Everyone wears a life jacket and a helmet, and the guide in your raft is trained in swiftwater rescue. Tell us if anyone is a non-swimmer so we can seat them well.

Is it safe for children?

From about seven years old on the Ayung, depending on build. It is the gentler of Bali's two main rafting rivers. Telaga Waja is the harder one and has a higher minimum age.

How wet do we get?

Completely. Bring a change of clothes; there are lockers and showers at the finish. Leave phones in the locker, or bring a strap and accept the risk.

What about the steps?

Around three hundred down and a similar climb out. If knees are a concern, tell us and we will talk you through it honestly before you book.

Does the price include the car?

Yes. Every price on this page already includes the private car and driver for the whole day, which is why the per-person figure drops as your group grows.

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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.