Ubud Activities

White River Rafting

This activity is designed for those who crave a thrilling recreational water sport activity in Ubud. Enjoy the wild ride utilising a raft to navigate the spectacular Ayung River, situated between Kedewataan and Sayan and flanked by rice paddies. Your fun-filled trip will be led by a professional guide through the attractive and challenging rapids and all the way to the end on a high quality rubber boat.

If you are taking minors, please be advised that the activity is designed for children of at least six year's old. There are a number of travel agents you can get in touch with who offer this adventurous package, providing pick up service, a short introductory training session and experienced guides.

Cycling

Cycling activities give you the opportunity to savour the Balinese countryside and to cruise through untouched rice paddies. The trail runs through Tegallalang then makes a stop at Canang Sari Village where you can glimpse the real life and culture of these amazing people. This exciting experience requires a good mountain bike, which you can rent from local vendors at a cost of between IDR 10,000 and IDR 25,000 a day (without helmet or any other safety equipment).

However, for more thrilling multi-terrain trails it’s highly recommended that you book yourself on a cycling tour with any travel agent who will provide you with a suitable mountain bike, safety helmet, knee and elbow pads, insurance and a professional guide who knows the area very well and leads the way.

Rice Paddy Trekking

Difficulties in finding a track should not stop you from experiencing the wonderful panorama of rice paddies in Ubud. Many tourists spend the day wandering through the closest rice field to Ubud’s main road, and follow it all the way through the back of Jalan Kajeng to Campuhan.

Although the terraced landscape is not so challenging physically, it would be best to wear your trekking shoes during the activity. Along the rice paddy tracks you will meet the local farmers and notice some small Alang-Alang houses where vendors sell some paintings and woodcarvings made by local artists.

Yoga

Bali is now considered to be a pivotal spiritual healing place for renewal of your mind, body and soul. Yoga is one of the most ancient spiritual concepts of the East, and despite a philosophical outlook, it has an equally significant physical basis for healing and renewal. The word yoga itself is derived from the Sanskrit root ‘yuj’, meaning ‘to yoke’, ‘to unite’ or ‘to control’. Thus, Yoga is the science that joins ‘the finite’ with ‘the Infinite’, or ‘the finite spirit’ with ‘the Supreme Spirit’.

The are many places in Ubud that offer yoga classes for every physical level, including private classes, short break yoga retreats and meditation classes in private yoga centres such as Bali Spirit; furthermore yoga facilities are often provided by villas and hotels so you can join in and achieve ultimate well-being during your vacation.

Balinese Dance and Music Lesson

Explore Bali's art and culture through Learning in Bali classes and courses, including Balinese dances and traditional instruments. Small studios located on many corners in Ubud allow you to learn and practice, in short session classes or workshops, traditional Balinese dances such as Legong, Joged Bumbung, Cendrawasih, Kecak or Fire dance, Barong, Rangda and Ramayana Epic dance, and traditional musical instruments such as rindik gamelan.

If you are a fast learner, they might even let you join their group to perform in front of a real audience on a real stage with makeup and real costumes. Nerves aside, it could be a once-in-a-lifetime unforgettable experience.

Balinese Art & Culture Classes

Enhance your holiday in Ubud with exciting cultural activities in a perfect setting of countryside tranquility. Sign up for a painting lesson provided by your hotel or even one of the small studios situated everywhere in Ubud. Although they offer different styles and approaches, it’s all aimed at bringing you into a fun day activity, perhaps with your child, together with the instructor who will teach you how to channel beautiful Balinese scenery through your artistic brushstrokes and onto a canvas.

Furthermore, there are still multifarious cultural activities on the menu you can try, including making offerings (canang sari), wood carving, kite making, wooden fish painting, making Ogoh-Ogoh (statues built for the Ngrupuk parade, which takes place on the eve of Nyepi day, normally in the form of mythological demons) and many more.

Cooking Class

Thinking of cooking à deux during your stay? Then sign up for Cooking Class at once! This activity is available at so many restaurants in Ubud. The class usually starts early in the morning when you’ll make several stops at traditional Balinese markets to collect the ingredients on the list together with the chef, before you slice, stir and sauté your way to savoury success. Normally the class will end after you have enjoyed your own lunch, concluded with a plate of tropical fruit for dessert.

Tubing

To quench your thirst for an aqua-based adrenaline rush, head up into the hills and hidden canyons of Kerta Village Payangan (just north of Ubud). You can enjoy the beautiful scenery of the canyon while drifting on this semi-wild clear stream for forty kilometres in a single inflatable tube. To guarantee your safety, well-trained guides will escort you and give detailed safety instructions, and you will be provided with a life vest, helmet and other equipment that meets EEC standards.

Along the Siap River, you will discover so many different species of plants and animals. If you are lucky, you could spot a group of monkeys playing in the trees and some rare birds flying through the clear blue sky while you meander downstream in the tube.

Quad and Buggy Ride

Ready for a rough ride? Tighten your helmet and shoelaces… it’s time to explore Bali’s tapered off-road tracks with the smallest four-wheel-drive jeep, designed to be driven in otherwise impossible terrain and making buggy riding both challenging and fun.

There’s no need to be a professional to ride along in these 250cc power machines; just go up or down the gears, keep accelerating and get ready to hit the brakes! Then you’re ready for the sensational, bumpy adventure along the narrow, curvy and crisscross tracks of the hidden part of Payangan Hills leading down to the canyon.

Flying Fox

Pump up the adrenaline with this challenging yet extremely amusing activity, flying down the canyon passing splendid views of the Siap River and Payangan forest. This fun adventurous arena is provided by PT. Bali Canyon Tubing, and is carefully constructed and designed approximately four metres above the river surface for forty kilometres down the canyon. It is suitable for anyone aged seven and over.

Kayaking

Challenge yourself and experience the thrill of kayaking down the Ayung River in a state-of-the-art, two-person inflatable kayak complete with safety lifejacket, helmet and paddles. Well-trained professional guides in a separate vessel lead kayakers through 27 sets of challenging and fun-filled rapids, stretching as far as eight kilometres and lasting approximately 90 minutes for a full-course ride. Trained experts give full instruction so even first timers can enjoy this thrilling river adventure with a sublime natural backdrop. This challenging activity is provided by Bali Adventure Tours.

Bird Watching

Established by ornithologist Victor Mason, Bali Bird Walk invites you to meander through countryside neighbouring Ubud on a variety of trails. Watch out for over 100 species of birds, of which you are bound to see 30 or so, including Indonesian endemics such as the Java Kingfisher, Bar-winged Prinia, Java Sparrow, Scarlet-headed Flowerpecker and many other dazzling birds.

You will also have a chance to see Birdwings, Swallowtails, Butterflies, magnificent tress and wildflowers. To join this bird walk group, submit your name to Beggard's Bush Café in Campuhan. The walk activity takes place on every Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Hashes

Take advantage of an incredible view of jungle, ravine, pristine rice terraces and an amazing Balinese culture in Ubud in a fascinating and unique way. Hook up with Bali Hash House Harriers – an open membership activity club where tourists, expats and locals gather every Monday and Thursday afternoon to enjoy what this wonderful island has to offer while running or strolling along the track on a gentle walk.

At the end of every run a truck of Bintang Beer is waiting for you to gulp it down. Drop by Beggard’s Bush Café to join the regulars.