Ayung River Rafting

No. You wear a buoyancy aid and a helmet at all times, and your guide is trained in river rescue. Plenty of non-swimmers raft the Ayung every day. Tell your guide before you set off so he seats you in the middle of the raft and keeps an eye on you in the rapids.

Operators on the Ayung accept children from 7 years and adults up to around 65, subject to reasonable health and mobility — the staircases matter as much as the rapids. Telaga Waja, the harder river, starts at 12. If you are outside these ranges, message us and we will check with the operator directly rather than guess.

The Ayung is class II–III, which is the family end of the scale. Rafts are guided by certified river guides, safety kayaks patrol busy sections, gear is inspected and the operator carries accident insurance. Bumps and bruises from the raft happen; serious incidents are very rare. The steep staircases cause more slips than the river does.

A swimsuit with a t-shirt and shorts, sandals with a heel strap or water shoes, and a full change of dry clothes and a towel for afterwards. Sunscreen before you set off. Everything else — wallet, phone, passport, jewellery — goes in the locker at the base.

Yes. An Indonesian buffet lunch at the finish point is included, and there are always vegetarian dishes. Tell us about vegan, halal, gluten-free or allergy requirements when you book and we will confirm with the operator in advance.

Roughly 350 steps down to the put-in point and about 500 up at the take-out, though the exact count depends on the operator. There is no shortcut and no lift. They are wide concrete steps with handrails in places, and you can stop as often as you like — but if stairs are a genuine problem, this may not be the right trip.

Yes, and the rapids are better for it. The river runs higher and faster from December to March, which makes for a more exciting ride. Trips are only cancelled when the water level becomes genuinely unsafe after prolonged heavy rain, and in that case you pay nothing.

Ayung for families, beginners, mixed-ability groups and anyone who wants scenery with their rapids: closer to Ubud, class II–III, gorgeous gorge. Telaga Waja for experienced or thrill-hungry rafters: class III–IV, continuous rapids, a 4-metre drop at the end and a longer drive to east Bali.

Send a WhatsApp message to +62 852 3773 9888 with your date, hotel or villa area, number of passengers and the tour you want. You get a fixed quote back, usually within 15 minutes. No deposit and no credit card are needed — you pay the driver in cash or by bank transfer on the day of the trip.

Yes. Every driver speaks conversational English, and we have drivers who speak Japanese (日本語対応). Japanese-speaking drivers are a smaller team, so please mention it when you book so we can reserve the right person for your date.

Pickup and drop-off are included from Kuta, Legian, Seminyak, Canggu, Jimbaran, Nusa Dua, Sanur, Denpasar and Ubud. Pickups from Uluwatu, Amed, Candidasa, Lovina or Munduk are possible with a small surcharge for the extra distance — just ask when you book.

Bali rain usually passes within an hour, so we simply reorder the stops and wait it out somewhere dry rather than cancel. For airport pickups we track your flight number and wait free of charge if you land late. Cancelling for genuine bad weather or a missed flight carries no fee.