Bali Ubud White Water Rafting & ATV Ride: Your Guide

Looking for a blast mixed with amazing landscape in Bali’s core? A combo tour with white water rafting on Ubud’s river, along with charging over dirt paths on an all-terrain vehicle, could be just the ticket. It is almost like experiencing two different sides of Bali in a single day – from the rushing excitement on the river to the mud-spattered thrills of an ATV, and it’s topped off with, very likely, a tasty Indonesian lunch. It’s definitely a day packed with excitement, and it’s worth breaking down just what makes this package appealing, so you can figure out if it fits what you want out of your trip.

What’s Included: Rafting the Ayung River

Okay, the Ayung River rafting experience. Typically, it starts with, like your guides picking you up straight from your hotel, which right away makes things easy. The trip to the river generally involves traveling past small villages and rich, like really rich, rice terraces – a treat for the eyes before you get wet. When you arrive, there is a quick safety briefing, which of course is important. Donning your safety gear, including a helmet and life vest, really gets you in the right frame of mind to begin. The guides, you know, they’re not only there to shout instructions; they often, quite often, share interesting facts about the local wildlife and culture as you go. The river itself, is that what you’re expecting? Is it fast and super rough? So, it’s more of a class II and III river. What that means is that it’s friendly enough for newcomers, but there are certainly sections to give you a jolt. The scenery is stunning – dense jungle, rice paddies right on the banks, and occasional little waterfalls. This portion is generally more than two hours, so there’s sufficient time to appreciate everything around you. In some respects it can get pretty physical, so it’s also good exercise.

ATV Adventure: Conquering the Trails

After drying off, you’re really ready to change gears for the ATV ride. Usually, the ATV trails are located close to Ubud, sending you out into the countryside to see regions you probably wouldn’t see, say, from a tour bus. This part kicks off with, arguably, another quick safety instruction and a practice run on the ATV. If you’ve never driven one before, that’s really not an issue; these things tend to be easy to pick up. Trails tend to differ based on the operator, but you’ll typically ride through mud tracks, rice fields, and, very, very occasionally, perhaps even go through a cave or two. The ride can, possibly, get quite muddy, which of course just adds to the fun. Expect to get splashed. Like your rafting part, the scenery here is impressive; in the same way you get to see a slice of rural Bali that feels quite different from the tourist areas. A few companies actually have tracks which may, might be, custom, to give the best view too.

Lunch with a View

You definitely build up an appetite after all that activity, and luckily a satisfying lunch usually comes as part of the deal. Many tour companies, you know, they take you to local restaurants or spots with beautiful outlooks–overlooking, probably, rice terraces, that, is that what they overlook. That seems pretty popular in Ubud. Meals, too, are often served buffet style, showcasing several of Indonesian flavors. You will, might be, able to try local favorites such as nasi goreng (fried rice), mie goreng (fried noodles), sate lilit (minced seafood satay), and several veggie options. The lunch is a fantastic chance to refill and loosen up a bit. This part is actually a highlight to some, offering a bit of Balinese culinary flavor into your active day.

Things to Consider When Booking

When you are thinking over these packages, anyway, there are quite a few things that are useful to check first. Tour operators do, actually, differ in the grade of kit they use, including safety equipment, so it’s really worth reading reviews and confirming they adhere to safety. Check that the rate gives all the things, from transport to and from your hotel to any entry or use fees, also of course lunch. Look at the duration; most tours will give you the lowdown of approximately how long each activity lasts and travel periods. The physical aspect should also be a concern. As the rafting and ATV riding can each be hard going, make sure you are more or less up to it. In the same way, read up about the difficulty of the ATV trails if you have worries. Consider weather patterns; Bali has a tropical atmosphere, and while adventures go on during rainy season, it can have an affect the path conditions specifically. Finally, reading the small print concerning insurance and cancellation is probably smart.

What to Bring on Your Adventure Day

Coming with, you know, the correct stuff can really boost your enjoyment. You’re going to, might be, getting damp and unclean, thus put on clothes and footwear, like similar to sandals or water shoes, that you won’t, like literally, mind getting wrecked. Bringing a change of clothes to use after is useful too. It’s a solid idea to have sun block with you, and perhaps use some hardy waterproof sun cream before setting off, even though some areas will, maybe, be shady. Don’t forget insect repellent either. A waterproof camera, such as a GoPro, or perhaps a phone case will allow you to grab pictures, you know, all through the adventures without stressing over splashes. Last, while drinks are usually made available, getting some bottled water with you could, could be, smart to stop yourself from getting dried out in the heat. A lot of tour firms do, definitely, include towels, but getting a tiny fast drying towel does not hurt.