Ubud: ATV Jungle Ride & Ayung River Rafting with Lunch

4.97

(139 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I noticed was the thick, earthy smell—like wet leaves and something sweet in the air. We were just outside Ubud, helmets on, boots a bit too big (I’d grabbed the wrong size but didn’t bother changing), engines rumbling under us. Our guide, Wayan, grinned and shouted something over the noise—probably “ready?” but it could’ve been anything. The jungle closed in quick. Ferns brushed my arms as we bumped down a muddy path, and then suddenly we burst out into these bright green rice fields that looked almost too perfect. I tried to take a photo but gave up after nearly dropping my phone into a puddle.

I didn’t expect to laugh so much on an ATV tour in Bali. There’s this Gorilla Cave—literally carved into the hillside just for these rides—and it’s pitch dark inside except for our headlights bouncing around. Someone behind me whooped when their tire slipped in the mud; I almost did too. Then we hit a stretch of river that splashed up onto my legs (cold water, sticky mud). The guides kept checking if everyone was good, tossing out “okay?” every few minutes. Honestly felt like they’d done this a thousand times but still seemed to enjoy it.

After cleaning up (showers are basic but honestly I was just glad for clean towels), we sat down to lunch—a buffet of spicy chicken, vegetables, rice. There was this sambal that burned in a good way; I probably ate too much because I nearly dozed off before rafting. The next part was quieter somehow: paddling down the Ayung River with trees leaning overhead and little waterfalls spilling down mossy rocks. Our rafting guide kept pointing out birds or shouting “hold on!” before each rapid. At one point we drifted past kids waving from the bank—I waved back with my paddle and nearly lost it in the current.

I still think about that last stretch where everything went quiet except for water slapping against the raft and someone laughing behind me. It’s weird how fast you go from adrenaline to just…feeling calm. If you’re looking for an ATV ride through Ubud’s jungle plus river rafting with lunch included (and yes, hotel pickup), this is honestly more fun than I expected—even if your boots don’t fit right.