Rafting
Is Ayung River rafting safe? Level, steps, age, and season
Updated · By the Bali Activity Tours desk in Ubud
Short answer
Yes, for healthy guests about 7 and older who are comfortable in water. The Ayung near Ubud is a Class II–III river: splashy rapids with calm stretches between them, and a crew guide steers every raft after a safety briefing. For many people the hardest part is not the water but the long flight of steps down to the river and back up.
What Class II–III means on the Ayung, the steps down into the gorge, the age limit, how rain changes the water, and who should float the Wos River instead.
What Class II–III means
Class II–III is the beginner-to-intermediate band of whitewater: waves, small drops, and clear channels between rocks. You paddle on the guide's command, and the guide at the back does the steering. It is splashy teamwork, not the steep, technical water of Class IV and above.
- Helmet, life jacket, and paddle for every guest
- A safety briefing at the put-in, including what to do if you fall out
- A professional crew guide in every raft
- Insurance for ages 6–65
The steps
Ayung rafting bases sit high above the gorge. Expect a few hundred steps down to the river at the start and a climb back up at the finish; the exact count depends on the base used that day. Take it slowly; nobody leaves without you.
If you have knee, hip, or heart problems, tell us before you book. We will say honestly whether the day suits you, or point you to a gentler option.
Rainy season and dry season
From about April to October the river runs lower and gentler: the easiest months for nervous first-timers. From November to March, rain raises the water and speeds it up, which makes the rapids bigger and browner. Returning rafters often prefer it.
After very heavy rain the operator can stop the river for the day. If that happens, we move your date or settle it in rupiah, case by case.
Who should book Wos River tubing instead
- Anyone nervous in moving water: the tube is a calmer float with no paddling
- Solo travellers: a raft needs two guests, while tubing starts at one
- Families with a child around 6, the youngest age the insurance covers
Ready when you are
Raft the Ayung canyon with lunch
Rp 450.000 per person for two or more, with helmet, life jacket, crew guide, insurance, and lunch. Pick the 08:30, 11:00, or last 12:00 departure when you reserve.
From Rp 450.000 per guest
- Shuttle from Rp 400.000 once, or self-meet free
- No card online: you pay in rupiah after we confirm the seat
- Change the date up to 24 hours before pickup, if the seat is free
