There is nothing as exciting as going on a white water rafting tour in Ubud while you’re on holiday in Bali. Especially during the wet season when the rains have risen the level of the rivers and there’s plenty of water spilling over the rapids.
White Water Rafting Ubud Tour
I like white water rafting in the Ayung River just north of Ubud. There are a number of operations lining the river but we have our favourites. After going on several trips myself and evaluating the balance between value, service, safety, thrills and amenities we partnered with Graha Rafting Adventure, so we get tickets at a significant discount which we pass on to you.
The price also includes lunch, a towel, shower facilities, insurance and safety gear. The rafting tour is 11km long and takes between 2- 2.5 hours.
Tickets for adventure tours in Bali are often sold at big markups through the online travel agencies (OTA) that specialise in aggregating package tours and onselling them.
They also have packages that include complimentary pick-up and drop-off, but the problem is that you will be driving around many different hotels picking up customers from many different locations, taking much longer to get there than with a private car and driver, not to mention the comfort level.
The other reason for booking my private car and driver is because we can make your day unique, going for lunch in Ubud and then going to Real Bali Swing or Tegalalang Rice Terraces afterwards.
The best tour is in the morning before it gets too hot. Don’t forget to bring a change of clothes – there are showers and changing facilities at the location and the price includes a simple buffet lunch at the end – although as you read more I prefer to skip this and have lunch in Ubud instead.
Pro tip: While the rafting company provides a buffet lunch at the end of the rafting tour, it’s a budget meal put on to lure the cheaper end of the market. I would much rather wait and have lunch in Ubud.
There are several places I can recommend. Naughty Nuri’s Warung on the way from the river into Ubud serves the most amazing BBQ ribs. While there are several outlets the original warung is the best. Another great option is Warung Babi Guling Ibu Oka 3 for some Balinese roasted pork.
Wandering down Jalan Gootama from the main street of Ubud to the other end will often allow you to discover by yourself new and interesting cafes to eat. Down the bottom of that street turn left to find one of my favourites, Locavore To Go.
Itinerary 1: White Water Rafting + Real Bali Swing
It’s not that far from the Ayung River rafting tour to the Real Bali Swing, and while it’s not the cheapest swings around, in my opinion, they are the best value and the safest. We don’t resell tickets to this, but my driver will call ahead and make a booking. Ticket prices for entry to the swing park are USD$35 or IDR 500k per person.
I have a deal with them where passengers can gain entry but not use the swings for USD$10, so that way some of your group can be adventurous on the swings and the chickens can stand back and watch!
The reason I like to leave the Bali Swing until later in the afternoon is that it is much less busy than earlier, especially up to around 3 pm. While it will still be busy-ish around then it is much less so than earlier.
You can also hire costumes, particularly long flowing dresses which make for extraordinary photographs.
It’s also a much quicker route back to South Bali, as there is a back way through the ricefields that I like to take with much less traffic than coming directly out of Ubud. Peak hour leaving Ubud is not a pretty sight.
Itinerary 2: White Water Rafting + Tegalalang Rice Terraces
Instead of heading to the Real Bali Swing, an alternative is to head over to the other side of Ubud after having lunch and visiting the Royal Palace to Tegalalang Rice Terraces, which are always worth a visit.
There are also opportunities to go on some of the swings in that area. Tegalalang Rice Terraces themselves have a couple of swing operations with spectacular views over the valley and ricefields. You can see them from the roadside beside the valley. They have expanded recently and there are now swings on the far side of the valley looking back towards the road.
Remember these ricefields are privately owned by different individuals, so if you get hit up by locals looking to impose a tax for passing through their property, please remain polite and be generous (to a point). You make a lot more than they ever will, and it is their land after all. IDR 10-20k ($1-2) tends to smooth things along.
Along the entry road, there is also the Terrace River Swings (also known as Alas Harum Bali). I haven’t been on the swings in this park personally, as I generally direct my customers to the swings at the rice terraces.
Itinerary 2: White Water Rafting + Tegalalang Rice Terraces Tour Map
This is just an example leaving from Seminyak. Your pick-up may be from somewhere else in South Bali, like Canggu, Legian, Kuta or Nusa Dua.
White Water Rafting Tour Schedule
8:00 am – Pick-up from Hotel or Villa
Make sure you have breakfast before you leave – it’s going to be a wild day!
9:00 am – White Water Rafting on Ayung River
33 km from Seminyak, around 1.5 hours.
12:00 pm – Ubud Royal Palace and Village
10 km from White Water Rafting, around 45 minutes.
2:00 pm – Real Bali Swing OR Tegalalang Rice Terraces
13 km from Ubud, around 40 minutes for Real Bali Swing, 10 km and 35 minutes for Tegalalang Rice Terraces.
6:00 pm – Drop-off at Hotel or Villa
30 km from Ubud, around 1.5 hours at this time of the evening.
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Hi!
My partner and I will be staying in Ubud.
Wondering if it would be possible to book for the white water rafting, then continuing on for a customised few hours (thinking Tegalalang rice terraces, coffee plantation, maybe a temple or waterfall?
I noticed when booking that selecting pick up location as Ubud is the same cost as if pick up location was Seminyak, which I’m wondering why this would be as I thought Ubud would be far cheaper given the close location?
Thank you in advance,
Julia 🙂
Hi Julia,
Regarding the White Water Rafting then continue exploring Ubud, this is the right booking for that. You’ll have your private car and driver for 10 hours.
For the prices, it’s set the same simply because you’ll have your private car and driver for the day and you’re able to explore anywhere from Ubud to further South Bali if you wish. So with this booking, you’re not only limited to Ubud if you choose to visit Seminyak or Kuta after your White Water Rafting (and vice versa).
Hope this helps!
Safe travels,
Michael
Hi Micheal, I wrote a post but it didn’t seem to work. Sorry if it did, take 2.
Thanks for all the great info.
I hoped for your help on what transport option to book for 2 days. We’re 2 adults and 9 yr old.
1. pick up Nusa Dua, white water rafting, lunch, Tegalalang Rice Terraces, Ubud monkey forest and arrive Ubud hotel. Ideally by 3/4pm if that’s doable?
2. Pick up Ubud hotel, Tanah Lot, Seminyak beach club, drop at airport.
Many thanks
Hi Jacqui,
1) Yes, you could potentially book the White Water Rafting Ubud Tour. The rest of your itinerary will fit right in.
2) I reckon you can simply book a Private Car and Driver (Select South Bali Day Tour), with your trip ending at Bali Airport.
Safe travels,
Michael
Excellent thank you 🙂
Hi Michael,
Thanks for all the great information. I was wondering what is best to book for 2 days transport we’re looking to do please? We’re 2 adults and a 9yr old for
1. One day pick up Nusa Dua and transfer to our Ubud hotel, we’d like to go white water rafting, lunch, Tegalalang Rice Terraces, into Ubud centre for Monkey Forest and then drop off at hotel. We’d like to arrive around 3/4pm at our hotel. I wondered if is too much in a day and should cut something?
2. 2nd trip, on our last day from our Ubud hotel, to Tanah Lot then I thought a beach club around Seminyak and then drop off at the airport.
Thanks for your advice 🙂
Hi Michael, I want to book White Water rafting after the “Mount Batur Sunrise Trekking + ATV Adventure” package for 24th June. Could you provide the full itinerary for the whole day? Thanks. I will then book from there.
Hi Emily, give me a few days to put the package and itinerary together and I’ll come back to you.
Safe travels, Michael
Hi Michael,
Thank you for the reply, I’ll wait for the itinerary.
Hi Michael, trying to make a booking but just keep getting a spinning circle next to the “proceed to secure booking” button. Have tried safari and chrome and have the pop-up blocker turned off. What am I doing wrong?
Hi Jim, let me check for errors and get back to you today with the all clear. Thanks for letting me know.
Safe travels, Michael
Hi Jim, there was a scripting error on the booking form which ahas been rectified. Please book again. If the same thing happens it’s because your browser needs refreshing or cache cleared. Please let me know if you have any issues.
Safe travels, Michael
Hi! Which package is included in Real Bali Swing? Active or Premium? Thanks in advance!
Hi Harshil, not sure if you read the description, but we don’t include tickets to Real Bali Swing on this tour. We include white water rafting tickets, for the swing you can purchase your own depending on what package you want. Our driver can help call ahead and make a booking for you.
Safe travels, Michael
Hi Michael
I have just started planning a family trip to Bali for next year and found this website which is outstanding and has answered most of my questions all in one place so thanks for that.
A quick question, can I combine the rafting and ATV tour all in one day?
I assume I can as it would all fit within the 10hrs that you have the driver for?
Any ideas on costings for this for 2 people riding solo would be greatly appreciated
Cheers
Tim
Hi Tim – that’s a great idea. Give me a few days and I’ll put together an ATV and White Water Rafting Tour on the same day. Regarding cost you can see for yourself on this page the rafting and on the ATV Quad Bike Adventure Tour booking page.
Safe travels, Michael
Hi Michael,
We are a party of 3, and really just looking to do the white water rafting/return from seminyak.
Do you have an option for this only that you can share?
Cheers
Hi Conrad, if by “share” you mean joining with another group for the rafting, as opposed to the driving, then I’m sure the rafting company could accommodate if they have others who want to make up a group. Unfortunately, we don’t manage the actual rafting company, so it is not up to us, but the earlier you book the more advance notice we can give the rafting company.
Safe travels, Michael
Sorry, I meant do you have just the option to do the driver/white water rafting, and not the rice paddies/swing options.
Hi Conrad – I see what you mean now. Yes, you can do the white water rafting and then what you do with the rest of your time is entirely up to you. If you want to go home, somewhere for lunch, visit a beach club – entirely up to your discretion. You have the driver for 10 hours but nothing is stopping you from going straight home if you like.
Safe travels, Michael