Ayung River White Water Rafting with Lunch Ubud Bali

The Ayung River gorge

The Ayung is the longest river in Bali, rising in the highlands north of Ubud and flowing south through a steep, forested valley before reaching the sea near Sanur. Around Kedewatan and Sayan, just west of central Ubud, it has carved a gorge dozens of metres deep, its walls hung with ferns, vines and palm trees, with rice terraces and villages perched on the ridges above.

From the raft you see a side of Ubud that few visitors reach on foot: small waterfalls tumbling straight into the river, kingfishers and herons on the rocks, farmers crossing narrow bridges and temple shrines tucked into the banks. On parts of the route, scenes from Balinese legends are carved into the rock face. It is this scenery, as much as the rapids, that makes this the most popular river trip on the island.

The rapids and the rafting route

The Ayung is graded mostly class II, which means regular rapids, splashes and drops that are exciting but forgiving, with calmer stretches in between where you can float, look around and even slip into the water when your guide allows. After heavy rain the river runs higher and livelier, while in the dry season it is gentler. Expect to spend about one and a half to two hours on the water.

Each raft carries a small group with a professional guide at the back who steers and calls the paddle commands, so no experience is needed. Before starting you get a safety briefing and are fitted with a helmet and life jacket. Is Ayung River rafting worth it? For families and beginners looking for real white water without risk, it is one of the best things to do in Ubud.

The rafting base in Kedewatan

The trip starts and ends at the rafting base on Jalan Raya Kedewatan, on the ridge above the gorge about ten minutes west of central Ubud. Here you leave your bags, change into your rafting clothes and receive your equipment. A path with a fair number of steps leads down through the vegetation to the river, and at the end of the run you walk back up again at a relaxed pace.

The base has hot showers, fresh towels, changing rooms and toilets, so you can change into dry clothes before lunch. If you choose the meeting-point option instead of the hotel transfer, this is where you come; taxis and ride-hailing cars reach it easily, and more start times are available through the day.

Buffet lunch and the afternoon in Ubud

After your shower, an Indonesian buffet lunch is served at the base, with a choice of rice, noodles, vegetables and other local dishes, plus drinking water. It is a good moment to rest, dry off and share the photos of the day with the rest of your raft. Photos and videos taken by the staff during the trip are optional and can be bought on site.

Because the whole trip takes about five hours including transfers, a morning start leaves the afternoon free for Ubud's other sights: the Sacred Monkey Forest, Ubud Palace and the art market, or the Tegallalang rice terraces to the north. Many travellers combine the river with an evening Kecak and Fire Dance show to fill the day.

Best time to go rafting on the Ayung

Rafting runs all year. In the rainy season, from about November to March, the water is higher and the rapids are at their most exciting, although heavy storms can occasionally close the river for safety. In the dry season, from April to October, the river is lower and calmer, and the weather is more reliable, which many families prefer.

The 09:00 and 11:00 departures are the most popular, with cooler air and a lunch that falls at the right time; the 13:00 and 14:30 starts are quieter and suit travellers who want a slow morning. Whatever the season, wear clothes that can get soaked, because everyone gets wet on the Ayung.