White water rafting in Bali

You do not need to be able to swim to go rafting in Bali. Every rafter wears a buoyancy jacket and a helmet, and a trained guide steers each boat.

The Ayung River near Ubud is the standard choice for first-time rafters. It runs at grade II–III over two hours, costs IDR 350,000 per person, and has long calm stretches between the rapids. The Telaga Waja River is grade III–IV and much more demanding.

The minimum age is 9 for the Ayung and Melangit rivers, and 12 for the Telaga Waja, which is grade III–IV and finishes with a drop over a dam.

Wear swimwear under quick-drying clothes, and sandals or shoes that strap on and will stay on your feet in fast water. Bring a full change of dry clothes and a towel — showers and changing rooms are available at the finish.

Yes. Both the Ayung River trip at IDR 350,000 and the Melangit River trip at IDR 450,000 include a buffet lunch served after the rafting, along with showers, a changing room and a locker for valuables.

The paddling itself is manageable for most people, since a licensed guide steers each boat. The most demanding part of an Ayung River trip is the walk of several hundred steps down into the gorge at the start and the climb back out at the end.