Rafting is a kind of extreme sport that is gaining popularity among lovers of outdoor activities. The essence of rafting is to go down a special inflatable boat on a fast-flowing river. And in Bali you not only overcome various water obstacles, but also admire waterfalls and dense tropical greenery. Rafting is also a great workout, energising and a bit of adrenaline😁
Bali has a number of rafting destinations. The most popular routes are the Telaga and Ayung rivers. The Ayung River route is less extreme, but the Telaga River route involves more serious water obstacles. For example, at the end you will descend from a four-metre waterfall.
Rafting on the Telaga River
We rafted down the Telaga River. The route starts with a short walk through the jungle where you can enjoy views of rice paddies in the middle of the jungle, drink delicious natural local coffee and choose the right ammunition. If you're coming with your own vehicle, tell the staff and they'll transport it to the finish point for an additional fee. We were charged 25,000 rupees for a bike and they charge 50,000 rupees for a car. You can bring your valuables with you, the instructor accompanying you will put them in a special sealed bag. And if you want to film something on the way, it's better to buy a special waterproof case with a rope around your neck to keep your phone from flying into the water and getting wet.
As a rule, several groups are rafting at the same time. There are a lot of people, from 3 to 6 people fit in one boat. We had 6 teams and we overtook each other, competed to see who was faster and poured water on each other. It's a lot of fun!
Rafting is not scary at all. It's not even hard. Because most of the work is done by the instructor. We tried to help, but most of the time he rowed by himself and told us not to do anything. It turns out to be such a fast boat trip through very beautiful places where you are very wet and happy.
The rafting trip lasts about 3 and a half hours. There were 2 stops along the way, about every hour and a half. There are benches with food and drinks, you can have a snack, go to the washroom and rest. You can also take a photo at a very high picturesque waterfall with tropical flowers and huge butterflies flying around.
We were prepared in advance that at the end of the route there was an extreme descent from a four-metre cliff. But to be honest it was not scary at all. We stopped right in front of it so that the photographer, who was travelling in one of the boats, had time to run to the right place and set up everything for the photo. The boats were pumped harder with air and then the boats one by one moved down. You just have to lean back and hold on tight, and it felt like going down a small slide in the playground. We loved it and wished there were a few more of these waterfalls along the way.
After all the boats had finished, we had a very tasty buffet lunch waiting for us, only Indonesian style. We could have curry, fried rice, very spicy spices, salad, chips and fruit. All this with a very nice view of the rice paddies and to some local music.
The cost of the rafting trip along with lunch was about $35 per person without transfers. We loved it!!! And I would highly recommend rafting to those who love nature. I think it's the most beautiful jungle views in Bali. I have never seen so many waterfalls in one place before.
