Bali Adventure Activities Beyond the Beach: ATV, Rafting and Treks

The best Bali adventure activities away from the beach are an ATV ride, white water rafting on the Ayung River, a sunrise trek up Mount Batur, a long waterfall day and, for families, a tram safari. Most of them start in or near Ubud and need a morning, so you can usually fit one or two into a day. Our prices below are from our own listings, and anything else is a range from published guides, flagged as such.

What are the best things to do in Bali besides beaches?

The activities people book most, with what you pay us and what each one involves, are in this table. Park, ticket and entrance fees are separate unless stated.

Is an ATV ride in Bali worth doing?

Yes, if you want mud, river crossings and rice fields rather than a view from a car. Our Kuber ATV Single Adventure Tour lets you drive your own all-terrain vehicle through mountain, forest and river terrain, with stops at viewpoints and villages. The listing starts at $65 (check the tour page for how the price is counted), and the tandem version with a two-seater starts at $60. Both include return private transport, a driver, fuel and mineral water. Personal purchases are not included, and minimum group sizes apply.

Expect to get dirty. ATV operators in Ubud typically provide a helmet, boots and sometimes a life jacket, run a safety briefing before you ride, and expect you to bring a change of clothes. A ride of about 2 hours is typical for these Ubud excursions. Age, weight and health limits differ by operator, so ask about them when you book, especially if you are pregnant or have a back or heart condition. Do not wear anything you want to keep clean, and bring a towel and dry clothes for after.

What is Ayung river rafting like?

It is a 10 km run through jungle and rice fields on the Ayung, which takes about 1.5 to 2 hours on the water. The Ayung is the longest and widest river in Bali, starting in the northern mountains and ending near Sanur, and the rafting section is at Kedewatan near Ubud, around 20 minutes from the town.

It is rated class II to III in the dry season and class IV in the rainy season, when the water is higher and the waves are bigger. Guides are on every raft. Operators set their own age limits. One tourism-board article says from 9 years old up to 65, so ask first if you are bringing children. Our Bali Ayung Dewata Rafting Adventure Tour is from $50 per person with a minimum of 2, with pickup at 8:00 from Kuta, Seminyak and Legian. You can combine it with a quad ride on the Rafting + ATV Kuber Single tour from $90 per person, or the tandem version from $85. Our place page on rafting in Bali has more on the experience.

If you want something harder, the Telaga Waja river in the east is classed as class IV and starts at Muncan, and one guidebook says it suits children from 6.

Is there a volcano trek in Bali?

Yes, Mount Batur, and it is the easy one. It is an active volcano 1,717 metres high, in a caldera near Kintamani, and the climb to the top takes about 2 hours on a steady uphill path, with no technical climbing. Pickups usually run from 1:00 to 2:00 in the morning, you reach the top before sunrise, and it is cold up there, so bring a jacket.

Our Batur Mountain Sunrise Trekking Tour is from $45 per person for a minimum of 4 people, with a hot spring and coffee plantation as optional extras afterwards. For a second route, the hiking and trekking guide covers the other trails, and our place page on Kintamani explains the area.

Which Bali waterfalls are worth the drive?

Tegenungan for convenience, Sekumpul for scale. Tegenungan is in Gianyar, about 10 km south of Ubud, and is open 6:30 to 18:30 daily. One 2026 guide gives the fee as IDR 30,000 per adult. It is one of the busiest waterfalls on the island, especially between 10:00 and 15:00, and the water turns brown after heavy rain. You walk about 15 minutes down steps to the river.

Sekumpul in north Bali is the bigger payoff and needs a full day. The drive is about 2 hours each way from the south, and you need at least 2 hours at the falls. It is about a 30-minute walk down through bamboo forest, and you may wade shin-deep. Entry tiers range from a view-only ticket to guided treks, and guides disagree on the amounts, so check at the official booth. Several guides warn about fake checkpoints on the approach road that push you to hire a guide. Our place page on Sekumpul covers the site. Two quieter options are Tukad Cepung in Bangli, a 20-minute walk down steep stone steps into a canyon, and Banyumala in the north, a 10 to 15 minute walk to a cold twin waterfall. Both are covered with fees and timing in our post on lesser-known places.

Is there a jungle swing or zipline in Bali?

Yes, both. Swings sit over valleys near Ubud, and our Ubud Tour, from $60 per car for the transport, visits the Alas Harum Swing along with Tegalalang, Tirta Empul and Tegenungan. Entry tickets and lunch are paid separately. Our place page on Alas Harum describes it as a popular attraction for thrill-seekers. Swing prices vary by venue and change often, so check on the day.

For ziplines, Bali Treetop Adventure Park is inside the botanical garden at Bedugul. It lists seven circuits of 2 to 20 metres with 72 challenges, including suspended bridges, Tarzan jumps, flying swings and flying foxes up to 160 m long, and you stay clipped to a life-line throughout. It is open daily 8:30 to 18:00. Ticket prices are on the park's own site. Our Bedugul Tour is from $80 per car, and the park is not part of its itinerary, so ask us before you plan around it.

What is the Jungle Hopper at Taman Safari Bali?

It is the park's day-safari general admission, a guided tram ride through open enclosures of Indonesian, Asian and African animals, plus educational talks and cultural shows. Our Jungle Hopper Legend Tour is the private round-trip transport, from $35 per car for up to 6 people, and the park ticket (listed from about USD 42 per person on the park's site) is bought directly from the park. The park is open 9:00 to 17:00. It suits a family day better than a thrill day. For other family activities, see our family guide.

How do I combine adventure activities in one day?

Choose one big one and one easy one. Rafting and ATV work together because the combined tours are built that way. Batur sunrise pairs with a late breakfast, a hot spring and a nap. Sekumpul takes a whole day by itself. Activities in the north and the south do not combine well, because the drives are long.

If you want a day of adventure planned around your dates, group size and ability, message us through our contact page and we will suggest the order and the pickup times.