Ayung River Rafting Bali: A Complete Beginner's Guide

Ayung River Rafting in Bali

​

When planning a trip to Bali, there are a few must-do activities that go far beyond just snapping photos for social media.

​

If you're looking for genuine thrills and an immersive jungle experience,

booking a white water rafting tour in Bali is an absolute must.

​

It's consistently ranked as one of the top things to do in Ubud,

and it's easy to see why it remains a crowd favorite.

​

​

I'll admit, I'm usually terrified of theme park rides, so I was pretty anxious about whether I could handle Bali's rapids.

I had a lot of worries going into it!

​

But honestly? The Ayung River has relatively mild rapids,

making it the absolute perfect course for complete beginners to enjoy without feeling overwhelmed.

​

So, let's dive into everything you need to know: what to wear, what to pack, and how to book the best Ayung River rafting tour for your Bali itinerary.

Here are all my insider tips!

​

​

​

1. Booking Your Bali Rafting Tour

For our 2026 Bali trip,

we booked all our major excursions—including the East Bali tour, Mount Batur Jeep tour, and this Ayung River rafting—through Klook.

​

​

It's highlighted as one of the most popular tours in Indonesia,

and thousands of travelers highly recommend it.

​

​

The price for the Ayung River rafting activity,

which includes round-trip hotel pickup and drop-off,

→ came to ~$79 for 2 people.

​

Since getting around Ubud can be a bit tricky,

I highly recommend booking a package that includes transportation.

​

✔️ Plus, if you book through Klook, you get complimentary soft drinks! :)

​

​

There's currently a Klook promo code for purchases over ~$76,

which gives you an additional ~$2 discount.

​

That brought our final price to ~$76 (for two adults).

Klook Coupon Codes:

세시간전26001 / 세시간전26002

​

These are first-come, first-served, so book early before they run out!

Coupons can only be applied through the link below:

Ayung River White Water Rafting - Klook

​

2. What to Expect: Ayung River Rafting

The entire tour takes about 4 to 5 hours including travel time,

so it won't eat up your entire day in Bali.

​

​

The package inclusions are fantastic:

Round-trip transfers (optional) + Lunch

Access to hot showers and fresh towels are also provided.

​

​

As for your rafting packing list,

definitely bring a dry change of clothes and your basic toiletries.

​

To avoid skin chafing against the rubber raft, I highly recommend wearing a rash guard and water leggings.

And please, water shoes are an absolute must!

​

A waterproof phone case is also a great idea if you want photos.

​

​

The guides will equip you with a life jacket, helmet, and paddle at the starting point.

​

Once you get your gear,

you have to walk down to the actual river launch site.

Let me warn you, it's a bit further than you might expect!

​

​

It's about a 20-minute jungle trek down hundreds of stairs.

While it's a beautiful way to see the lush gorge,

it definitely requires a bit of stamina before the rafting even begins.

​

I learned later that

the Ayung River is known for its gentler currents,

making it the perfect spot for beginners and families.

​

If you like the idea of moderate rapids combined with a scenic jungle trek,

Ayung River is definitely the right choice.

​

​

However, if you want to skip the intense stair workout

and are craving a more extreme, adrenaline-pumping ride,

I highly recommend Telaga Waja River rafting instead.

​

The reviews for Telaga Waja are fantastic as well,

so it's worth comparing the two before you book.

​

Booking Links:

📢 Ayung River Rafting : Book Ayung River Tour

​

📢 Telaga Waja River Rafting :

View Telaga Waja Tour

Telaga Waja Rafting - Klook

​

3. Exploring Ubud's Hidden Gems

Our driver picked us up right on time and brought us to the meeting point.

​

​

We were grouped with two Western couples

and another lovely couple,

making a fun team of six for our raft!

​

Pro tip: Use the restroom at the meeting point before you start!

If nature calls while you're on the river, you'll literally have to answer it in nature.

​

​

The stairs down to the river are no joke. This was the exact moment

I was so incredibly thankful I wore proper water shoes.

​

Flip-flops are super dangerous here, so please avoid them!

​

​

When we finally reached the bottom, there were so many other travelers

gearing up and launching their rafts.

​

Seeing everyone so excited and full of energy

made my pre-rafting jitters melt away into pure excitement!

​

​

The guide assigns your seats to balance the raft,

and my husband and I ended up right in the middle.

​

​

Since I'm a bit of a scaredy-cat,

I was actually relieved to be sandwiched safely in the center.

​

But once we got going, it was so incredibly fun and not scary at all!

I actually caught myself thinking, "I wish I had sat in the front!" Haha!

​

​

I thought the rafting would be over in a flash,

but you actually spend nearly 2 full hours navigating the river.

​

Along the way, the guide points out incredible jungle scenery and wildlife,

​

​

and there are even designated spots to pull over, rest, and take photos.

​

There's a makeshift little riverside stall where you can buy cold drinks.

I had no idea this existed, so I didn't bring any cash with me! Don't make my mistake.

​

(And yes, this is also where sudden restroom emergencies can be somewhat handled!)

​

​

Our guide was amazing and kept telling us to raise our paddles

and strike different poses for the camera.

We ended up with so many hilarious and memorable photos!

​

​

​

​

We hopped back in for the final stretch of rapids before the finish line.

It was thrilling but totally manageable, and we laughed the whole way down.

​

Hearing everyone cheering and splashing together

was easily one of the core memories of our Bali trip.

​

​

Once you arrive at the end point, you walk back up to the base camp.

​

​

The tour includes a buffet lunch,

but to be honest, keep your expectations low.

We just snacked on some fresh fruit.

​

Since we had a spa appointment right after,

we just took a quick rinse in the showers and changed into our dry clothes.

​

​

I completely understand now why Ayung River rafting

is considered a quintessential Bali activity.

​

My husband and I loved it so much that we agreed

we'll try the more intense Telaga Waja rapids next time!

​

If you're planning your 2026 Bali itinerary

and want to truly connect with nature while getting a rush of adrenaline,

I cannot recommend Ayung River rafting enough!

​

▶▶ Book Your Rafting Tour Here (Click)

📍 Ubud
Ubud District, Gianyar Regency, Bali, Indonesia

📍 Ayung River Rafting
H62M+PMQ, Melinggih Kelod, Payangan, Gianyar Regency, Bali 80572, Indonesia

​

​