Activity Inspiration: Bali White Water Rafting

 

No experience needed, just a paddle, a helmet, a willingness to get a little wet and closer to nature.

The first rapid is mostly laughter. Someone paddles on the wrong side, the raft spins, the guide calls out a cheerful correction, and then the river settles into a long, green calm. Jungle rises steeply on both banks, a waterfall threads down the rock face, and for a moment the only sounds are birdsong and the drip of water from your paddle.

For guests with a free day and an appetite for something a little livelier than the pool, a rafting trip on the Ayung River is one of Bali's gentlest ways into adventure. The river winds through the gorges below Ubud, roughly an hour and a half's drive from Seminyak. Its rapids are lively enough to bring a rush of excitement but mild enough for first-timers and families, broken up by quiet stretches where you can simply drift and look around. Along the way, you'll pass rice terraces glimpsed high above the gorge and stone carvings set into the cliff walls, a view of the island that few visitors ever get.

Trained guides steer each raft and brief everyone before setting off, and helmets and life jackets are provided. Most excursions include hotel transfers and a buffet lunch at the end, often with hot showers and a change of clothes before the drive home. Be prepared for a fair number of steps down to the riverbank and back up afterward, which is the most strenuous part of the day for many guests.

Whether you're sharing the raft with family, friends or someone special, it's a day that tends to be retold at dinner long after the clothes have dried.

Discover more during your stay: Our Guest Service Assistant in the lobby would be happy to recommend and arrange rafting and other activities to suit your pace and preferences.