Ubud: Ayung River White Water Rafting with Pickup & Lunch

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Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/50

Duration2h–7h

GroupPrivate

LanguagesEN

PickupAt your hotel

Ayung River rapids, jungle sounds and riverside laughter in Ubud

You’ll feel your heart race as you paddle Bali’s Ayung River near Ubud with a local guide leading your crew past jungle cliffs and hidden carvings. Expect a little sweat on those steps down (and back up), plenty of laughs mid-rapids, and a riverside lunch that tastes even better after all that paddling.

2h–7h

Step-by-step itinerary

Ubud Ayung River White Water Rafting

Drive 10 kilometers to rafting site
Descend 70 steps to river start
Receive safety guidance and equipment
Enjoy white water rafting on Ayung River
Observe rocks, waterfalls, rice fields, forest
Raft 10 kilometers along the river
Return up 70 steps from river
Receive lunch and towel

The Experience

By the time we reached the top of those steps near Ubud, I was already sweating — not from nerves, just from the thick Bali air and maybe a bit of anticipation. Our guide Wayan grinned at us as we fumbled with helmets and life jackets. He kept saying “slowly, slowly” while we shuffled down about 70 uneven steps to the riverbank. The sound of water grew louder with every step until suddenly there it was: the Ayung River, brownish-green and churning but not as wild as I’d pictured. I could smell damp earth mixed with something sweet — maybe frangipani? Not sure. Anyway, it felt like we were miles from anywhere, though Ubud was just up the road.

We clambered into our raft (five of us plus Wayan) and he started barking out paddling instructions that I only half understood at first. The first few minutes were all giggles — someone splashed me right away and my paddle nearly slipped out of my hands. There were stretches where everything went quiet except for birds calling from the trees overhead and then suddenly we’d hit a rapid and everyone would shout at once. Wayan pointed out carvings on rocks along the riverbank — apparently some are hundreds of years old? I didn’t expect that part. At one spot he let us float for a bit so we could look at a tiny waterfall trickling over mossy stones. My arms got tired but honestly I barely noticed because there was always something new to look at or laugh about.

Lunch after rafting tasted better than it probably should have — simple rice, vegetables, chicken satay. Maybe it’s just that food hits differently when you’re damp and sun-warmed from three hours on the river. We swapped stories with another group who’d flipped their raft (nobody hurt, just soaked). The climb back up those steps was rougher than going down — my legs wobbled but nobody seemed to mind much; everyone was joking around by then anyway. Even now if I close my eyes I can hear that rush of water mixed with laughter echoing through the trees.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off in Ubud or nearby areas, all necessary safety equipment like helmet and life jacket, guidance from a local professional throughout your Ayung River white water rafting adventure, access to showers and changing rooms afterwards, plus a buffet lunch before heading back up those famous steps toward home.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Bali Ari Tour