Bali: Ubud Gorilla Face ATV and Ayung Rafting Trip with Meal

Ubud’s Gorilla Face ATV and Ayung River rafting tour packs two very different adventures into one day. You steer through mud, puddles, jungle paths, rice fields, and a cave shaped like a gorilla, then trade four wheels for a raft on Bali’s longest river. The river section brings waterfalls, forest views, splashing, and plenty of cool water.

I like the practical setup: showers, towels, lockers, safety gear, and lunch are included, so you do not need to organize much. I also like the guides’ hands-on approach. Guides named Alit, Dony, Ady, Rambo, and Lolette have been praised for clear help, patience, and good humor. The main drawback is the steep walk to the river, with some groups counting more than 300 steps down and 400 or more back up.

Key points

• Gorilla Face Cave: Ride through a memorable cave section on the Ubud ATV course.
• Two kinds of adventure: Combine muddy quad biking with a 2.5-hour Ayung River rafting trip.
• Solo or tandem riding: Drive your own ATV or share with a companion, depending on the option booked.
• A demanding river approach: Allow for a steep 15 to 20-minute walk, with many stairs to and from the water.
• Useful facilities included: Lockers, towels, showers, bottled water, safety equipment, and a simple lunch are provided.
• Flexible transport: Meet at Graha Adventure Rafting or add hotel pickup from Ubud, Kuta, Seminyak, Canggu, Sanur, Legian, or Kintamani.

Two Bali adventures in one long day

This tour is best understood as a full outdoor day, not a quick two-hour activity. The listed duration ranges from 150 minutes to eight hours because the total time depends on the option you choose, transport, and the order of the activities.

You may go directly to the meeting point at Graha Adventure Rafting, or arrange pickup from a covered Bali area. If you choose pickup, the time shown during booking is your actual hotel pickup time. A driver contacts you the day before to confirm the plan, and drivers such as Alit, TuGus, Gede, Eka, and Ady have been praised for staying in touch and explaining what comes next.

At around $19 per person, the advertised price is unusually low for a package that includes both activities, equipment, lunch, and basic changing facilities. The exact price can vary by option, but the value is strongest if you want a busy day with transport and two major Ubud activities handled together.

The trade-off is pace. You are not spending a leisurely morning in one quiet place. You are changing clothes, walking to the river, riding a quad, rafting, showering, eating, and possibly sitting in Bali traffic. If you like variety, that is the appeal. If you prefer one activity at a relaxed pace, book rafting or ATV riding separately.

Getting ready at Graha Adventure Rafting

The meeting point is Graha Adventure Rafting. Show your voucher at registration, and the provider sends directions by email one day before the activity.

The setup is simple but active. You receive safety equipment and instructions, then get ready for the ATV ride or rafting section. Lockers are available for belongings, and towels and showers are provided. Bring cash for anything extra, along with a camera if you want your own photographs.

Wear clothes you are happy to get muddy and wet. The ATV course includes puddles, mud, and rougher sections, while rafting leaves you soaked even on a warm day. Bring a complete change of clothes. A second change is sensible if you are doing both activities, since you may want to change after the quad ride and again after rafting.

For the river, water shoes or flip-flops are required. They are more useful than regular trainers when you are walking near the water and climbing in and out of the raft. Keep valuable items in the locker rather than in clothing pockets.

The Ubud ATV ride through mud and Gorilla Face Cave

The ATV section lasts 1.5 hours when included in your selected package. You can choose a solo quad or a tandem ATV with a friend. A tandem booking with an odd number of people creates a practical problem: one person must ride alone, with an extra charge payable on site.

The route covers several types of ground. Expect rice paddy fields, jungle paths, puddles, mud, riverside sections, and a purpose-built track with bumps and water obstacles. The Gorilla Face Cave is the memorable feature, giving the ride a clear visual hook rather than just a series of muddy tracks.

The surface is not a smooth sightseeing road. The ride can be bumpy, and the fun depends partly on how much mud and rough ground you enjoy. You might get splashed from head to toe. That is part of the point, but it is worth knowing before you turn up in your best holiday clothes.

The course also includes some less wild sections. Parts of the ride pass near residential areas and working fields, and some of the designated track repeats sections or circles through obstacles. That makes the ride accessible for learning, but it may feel less like a remote jungle expedition than the advertising suggests.

Beginners can still enjoy it. Guides assess your comfort with the quad and help you learn the controls. Lolette, in particular, received praise for patiently helping two riders who struggled at first. In some tandem groups, both people have been allowed to switch and drive halfway through, but you should not assume that this will always happen. Ask the guide at the start.

The ATV equipment is functional rather than polished. One rider reported a quad that stopped several times, while another felt some vehicles were getting old. Staff were described as helpful when problems occurred, but mechanical interruptions can take some of the edge off the ride.

The steep walk down to the Ayung River

The river is the tour’s biggest physical consideration. You walk down a hill for roughly 15 to 20 minutes to reach the boats, then climb back up after rafting. The exact number of steps varies by route and personal counting, but reports range from more than 300 steps down to over 400 or 500 steps back up.

This is not a minor footpath. The route can be steep, slippery, and tiring, especially after two and a half hours on the water. If you have knee, back, or mobility problems, this activity is not suitable. Wheelchair users and pregnant women should also choose another Bali outing.

The climb is important to factor into your decision because the river itself may feel manageable, yet the access route can be the hardest part of the day. Wear secure footwear and take your time. Very young children may find the walk unsafe or exhausting, even though one family reported that children aged 10 and 12 enjoyed the rafting itself.

Two and a half hours on the Ayung River

Once you reach the water, the pace changes. The Ayung River section lasts about 2.5 hours and combines rapids with calmer stretches. You pass green jungle, waterfalls, and rocky river edges while the guide handles navigation and gives instructions.

This is not described as extreme rafting. The rapids provide excitement, but the route also has quiet sections where you can look up at the forest and catch your breath. Guides often add playful moments, including splashing between boats and other lighthearted activity, while keeping the focus on safety.

The rafting guides are a major part of the day. Rambo, Roma, Chap, and other local guides have been praised for humor, clear direction, and careful boat handling. You may get a guide who keeps the raft lively, but the important point is that instructions and safety remain part of the trip.

You might also have an opportunity to swim in the river, depending on conditions and the guide’s decision. Do not count on it as a guaranteed stop. Rain can change the water, and the activity operates in wet weather as well as sunshine.

For many people, the rafting is the stronger half of the package. The river provides a more natural setting than the ATV course, with waterfalls, jungle walls, and the steady movement of the water. It also feels less repetitive than a track that circles through the same obstacles.

Showers, lunch, and the practical finish

After rafting, you return to the meeting point, shower, and change before eating. Lunch is fried rice or fried noodles. It is a useful included meal after a wet and active morning or afternoon, though it is not a full restaurant-style spread.

Bring your own money if you want drinks or other purchases. Bottled water is included, but at least one person specifically noted that drinks were not included with lunch. The meal is best treated as simple fuel rather than a culinary event.

The included shower and changing room matter more than they might on paper. After muddy ATV riding and river rafting, you will want dry clothes before getting back into a vehicle. Towels and lockers also mean you can leave larger bags safely stored while you are on the course or river.

Photos and videos are not included. The provider may offer them separately, but you should budget for that only if you want official action shots. Bring your own camera only if it can handle water and mud, and do not carry it loose on the ATV or raft.

Transport, timing, and group comfort

Optional pickup covers Ubud, Sanur, Kuta, Canggu, Seminyak, Legian, and Kintamani. Pickup or drop-off elsewhere costs extra and is paid directly to the driver. If you do not book transport, you must arrange your own way to the locations.

The driver can make a real difference to a long day. TuGus, Sun, Gede, Eka, Herry, Billy, and several other named drivers were praised for punctuality, safe driving, helpful explanations, and flexibility. Some drivers also helped with bags, locker keys, and changes to the activity order when weather affected the schedule.

Do not assume the tour follows the same order every day. ATV and rafting may be rearranged, and the driver or provider confirms the details before the activity. Keep the day flexible and avoid booking a tight evening commitment immediately afterward.

The tour is offered with English and Indonesian-speaking guides. The quality of communication matters during the safety briefing, especially if you are new to ATVs or nervous around rapids. The strongest guide comments center on patience, clear instructions, and encouragement for first-time riders.

Who should book this Ubud combination tour?

I would choose this for an active couple, a group of friends, solo visitors who want a ready-made day, or families with older children who can manage the river stairs. It works particularly well if you want to combine two popular Ubud activities without arranging separate transport, meals, and equipment.

You should be comfortable with mud, wet clothes, uneven ground, and a long climb. The tour is not suitable for people with back problems, mobility impairments, or limited ability to walk stairs. Pregnant women should not participate.

The ATV section suits people who want noisy, muddy fun. The rafting section suits people who prefer natural scenery and shared activity with a guide. If you dislike engines near rice fields or want a quiet nature outing, the quad ride may feel too artificial in places.

The tour runs rain or shine. That can mean a more slippery, muddier ATV track and a wetter river outing during poor weather. Pack accordingly, and do not bring clothing that needs to stay clean.

Is the $19 price good value?

At the advertised starting price, this is strong value if both ATV riding and rafting appeal to you. You receive a 1.5-hour quad ride, 2.5 hours of rafting, safety equipment, a guide, lockers, showers, towels, bottled water, and lunch. Optional pickup adds convenience, though extra charges apply outside the listed coverage areas.

The price is less attractive if you plan to skip one activity, dislike group outings, or need a private vehicle and highly personalized schedule. You are paying for a packed activity day, not a quiet custom tour.

I would also allow a little extra money for drinks, photographs, and possible transport surcharges. The lunch is included, but refreshments beyond bottled water are not guaranteed.

Should you book the Gorilla Face ATV and rafting tour?

Book it if you want maximum action for a modest price and can handle the stairs. The best parts are the contrast between muddy jungle quad biking and the cooler, more scenic Ayung River, plus guides who are often patient, funny, and attentive.

Think twice if you have bad knees, back trouble, limited mobility, or only want a gentle introduction to Ubud. The river access is genuinely demanding, and the ATV course can be noisy, bumpy, and repetitive in sections.

For most fit visitors who want a full day outdoors, I would book the combo, choose a change of clothes, wear secure water footwear, and keep the evening free. The rafting is likely to be your highlight, while Gorilla Face and the mud give the day its memorable comic edge.

FAQ

Where does the activity begin?

The rafting meeting point is Graha Adventure Rafting. Show your voucher at registration. The provider sends directions by email one day before the activity.

Is hotel pickup available?

Yes. Optional pickup and drop-off are available in Ubud, Sanur, Kuta, Canggu, Seminyak, Legian, and Kintamani. Different hotel locations and areas outside the coverage zone cost extra.

What does the ATV ride include?

The selected ATV option includes a 1.5-hour solo or tandem ride, safety equipment, and a guide. The route includes jungle paths, rice fields, muddy sections, puddles, and Gorilla Face Cave.

Can I ride an ATV alone?

Yes, you can select a solo ATV option. You can also book a tandem ATV with a companion. For tandem bookings with an odd number of participants, one person must ride solo and pay an additional charge on site.

How long is the rafting?

The rafting section lasts about 2.5 hours. It includes rapids, calmer river stretches, jungle views, and waterfalls along the Ayung River.

Do I need to walk far to reach the river?

Yes. You walk approximately 15 to 20 minutes down a hill to the rafting boats and then climb back up afterward. The route includes many stairs and can be physically demanding.

What should I wear?

Wear comfortable clothing that can get muddy and wet, and bring a complete change of clothes. Water shoes or flip-flops are required for rafting.

Are showers and lockers provided?

Yes. The facilities include lockers, showers, changing rooms, and towels. Safety equipment and bottled water are also provided.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch includes fried rice or fried noodles. Bottled water is included, but drinks with the meal are not guaranteed.

Can I cancel the activity?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The activity also offers a reserve-now, pay-later option, subject to the booking conditions.