Rafting or river tubing in Bali: which one is for you?

Rafting and river tubing both take you down a Bali river with a helmet and a life jacket on. The difference is how you ride it — and how wild the water is.

Rafting

In rafting you sit on the side of an inflatable raft with other people and paddle together. A river guide sits at the back, steers and calls the commands: forward, back, stop, hold on. You work as a team through the rapids and drift through the calm stretches in between.

On this website you can raft two rivers:

• The Ayung River near Ubud — Grade II–III, about 1.5–2 hours on the water. The gentler of the two.
• The Telaga Waja River in Karangasem — Grade III–IV, about 2–2.5 hours on the water, with a dam drop. The wilder one.

River tubing

In river tubing each person rides an inflatable tube. There is no paddling to learn: you sit in the tube and float through small rapids and calm water. The tubing trip on this website is Grade II, about 1–1.5 hours on the water — the gentlest trip we sell.

How to choose

• Want teamwork and real white water? Go rafting.
• First time, or not sure about rapids? Raft the Ayung, or try tubing.
• Rafted before and want more action? Choose the Telaga Waja.
• Want something calmer and shorter? Tubing.
• Travelling with children? Ask us before booking: each operator sets its own minimum age.

Prices

Rafting on the Ayung starts from IDR 300,000 per person, the Telaga Waja from IDR 300,000 and river tubing from IDR 215,000. Every package — with or without hotel transfer, shared or private raft — shows its own price on the trips page.

Still not sure? See Ayung vs Telaga Waja side by side, or ask us on WhatsApp.