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

Jungle chaos, then river adrenaline. This Ubud combo mixes Ayung River rafting with a quad-bike ride through rice paddies and the Gorilla Face Cave area, run with an English-speaking guide and a clear plan from start to finish.

I especially like the ATV format: you can ride tandem with a friend or go solo, and the guides tend to teach you fast so you’re not stuck feeling clueless with muddy tracks.

One big consideration: the rafting side is physical. Expect a steep walk and stairs down and back up, with some riders counting hundreds of steps—so if your knees or back are fragile, think carefully before booking.

Key things that make this combo worth your day

• Gorilla Face Cave track: a jungle-and-river style ATV route that includes a “Gorilla Face” cave stop, not just a generic loop.
• Long quad track near Ubud: the ride feels like it has real distance and variation, with muddy roads and wet terrain.
• 2.5 hours on the Ayung River: you get sustained time on the water, not a rushed paddle.
• Humor + safety from the guides: multiple guides (including people named Alit, Rambo, Ady, Dony, Edy, and others) got praised for keeping things fun while staying safety-first.
• Showers, lockers, towels, and a meal: you’re not just changing back into dry clothes and hoping for the best.

The day’s flow: ATV first, rafting second, then lunch and showers

This is a full-day combo built around two adrenaline hits, with time carved out for getting wet, changing, and eating without turning your day into a logistics headache.

After you meet at Graha Adventure Rafting (show your voucher at registration), you’ll get a safety briefing and gear up. Then you move to the quad-bike experience, where the goal is simple: get you comfortable on the ATV and then send you through jungle greenery, rice paddies, and muddy tracks.

After that comes the water. You’ll hop in a raft for about 2.5 hours on the Ayung River. Expect jungle views, waterfall scenery along the route, and the kind of “you’re getting splashed whether you planned for it or not” rafting energy. After the rafting, the team takes you back to the meeting point so you can shower, change, and eat lunch (fried rice or fried noodles), then head home or back to your pickup drop-off.

ATV riding in Ubud: rice paddies, puddles, and Gorilla Face Cave vibes

The ATV portion is where the scenery stays close-up. This ride is described as running through tropical jungle scenery, with rice paddies and wet ground along the way.

You’ll face mixed terrain: puddles, muddy sections, and occasional bumpy stretches. Several reviews point out the ride can be really muddy—so it’s not one of those “light dirt track” days. It’s more like: you came to Bali for nature, so you’ll leave with mud on purpose.

Tandem vs solo ATV: pick the right comfort level

If you book tandem, you ride with a friend and share the same ATV setup. The good news: some tandems get the chance to switch who’s driving partway through the ride, which is a nice compromise if one person is more nervous or new to ATVs.

If you’re booking tandem and there’s an odd number of participants, the process can get adjusted on the ground: one person may need to ride solo with an additional charge payable on-site. That’s not necessarily a deal-breaker, but it’s good to know before you show up with a group plan.

What Gorilla Face Cave means on the ground

One of the signature stops here is the Gorilla Face Cave trail area. The ATV route brings you through a mix of river-adjacent and paddy-adjacent scenery and then to that Gorilla Face point, which tends to be the memorable “we actually did something specific” moment in the ride. If you like your activities with a clear theme (jungle + that cave stop), this is the section that delivers.

Ayung River rafting: 2.5 hours of green-jungle scenery and real splashes

The rafting segment is the highlight for many people on this combo. You get about 2.5 hours on the Ayung River, which is long enough that you don’t feel like it was just a quick demo.

The rafting route is described as offering sweeping jungle views and waterfall scenery. In practical terms, that means you’re spending time on the water while the scenery keeps changing—so you’re not stuck staring at the same stretch the whole time.

Expect an energy range from fun to fairly adrenaline-focused

Based on the reviews, this rafting ride hits a sweet spot for most first-timers: it’s exciting and sometimes intense, but it’s not described as out of control. Guides also seemed to inject energy—some noted guides being funny and high-energy, which helps the rafting feel like an experience instead of a technical exercise.

Also, you might get a chance to swim in the river depending on conditions and how your guide runs things. If you’d love a “wetsuit-free” kind of splashing moment, this is the activity portion that tends to create it.

Safety and guide style

Rafting guides get repeated praise for safety and navigation skills. People mention being well cared for and protected throughout, with clear guidance from start to finish. Specific named guides show up in reviews, including Rambo (for one group) and others like Roma and Chap in a separate account.

So yes, it’s wild enough for fun photos. But you’re also meant to feel held in the process.

The part people forget: stairs and steep walking to reach the raft

Here’s the reality check you’ll want before you book: getting to the water and back up is not flat.

You’ll walk about 15–20 minutes up and down a hill for the rafting activity, and at the bottom you face stairs. Multiple reviews mention step counts like 386 steps and even 500+ steps depending on the route and pace.

What this means for you:

• If you have knee issues, back problems, or you’re not comfortable with steep stairs, consider this a major downside.
• Even if you’re generally fit, the combination of stairs, wet footing, and heavy damp gear can feel harder than you expected.
• If your plan is to sit back and enjoy nature with minimal effort, this part might frustrate you.

Also note that this activity runs rain or shine. Wet conditions can make stairs slicker and the walk feel more demanding—so pack with comfort and grip in mind.

Clothes, shoes, lockers, and showers: you’ll get cleaned up properly

This combo is thoughtful about the mess. You get access to lockers, towels, changing areas, and showers after the rafting.

That’s more important than it sounds. ATV + rafting means wet clothing, muddy shoes, and that sticky, sandy feeling that lingers. The shower time lets you reset before you move on to lunch or get picked up again.

Footwear rules that matter

For rafting, water shoes or flip-flops are required. Regular sneakers might not be the best option if you’re told water footwear is needed, especially since you’ll be on steps and near river edges.

What to bring (and what to skip)

Bring:

• A change of clothes
• Camera (if you’re comfortable with how wet you’ll get)
• Flip-flops or water shoes
• Cash

Lockers are provided, but cash is still useful for whatever isn’t included, including incidental items. Also, alcohol and drugs aren’t allowed.

Photos and videos are not included

If you want the “big splash” shots, don’t count on free photos/video from the operator. You’ll need to bring your own camera plan or accept that you’re mainly capturing your own memories.

Lunch afterward: fried rice/noodles that actually fit the day

Lunch is included, but it’s a simple meal: fried rice or fried noodles.

That’s a sensible choice after wet activities—you need calories, not a delicate meal that hates humidity. Reviews describe the lunch as good, though at least one person noted that drinks weren’t included, so you may want to be ready to buy or bring extra hydration if you’re picky about beverages.

The bigger win is timing: you can shower, dry off, and then eat without the day collapsing into a long wait.

How pickup and meeting point logistics work in real life

If you choose pickup, the operator covers areas including Ubud, Sanur, Kuta, Canggu, Seminyak, Legian, and Kintamani. If your hotel is outside coverage, there’s an additional charge paid directly to the driver.

If you don’t choose pickup, you go to the meeting point on your own. Either way, you’ll be contacted one day before with directions.

For meeting: Graha Adventure Rafting is your anchor. Show your voucher at registration so the day moves fast once you arrive.

One more practical note: if you book pickup, the time slot you select is your actual pickup time. That matters if you’re trying to juggle other Ubud plans.

Price and value: why this $19 combo sells itself

At $19 per person, the value comes from stacking several “paid elsewhere” items into one package.

You’re getting:

• A solo or tandem ATV tour (about 1.5 hours)
• A 2.5-hour rafting tour
• A guide for both segments
• Safety equipment
• Lockers, towels, and showers
• Bottled water
• Lunch

For many people, the shower + changing setup alone is a big part of the value—because otherwise you’re stuck paying for convenience later or ruining your day with wet clothes.

Also, transportation is optional based on your area. If you’re in the covered pickup zones, that’s a convenience bump. If you’re outside them, you’ll pay extra for pickup drop-off, which can change the math—but you still get two main activities plus meal and cleanup.

And performance matters. This tour is described as having strong ratings for transport quality, with 89% of reviewers giving a perfect score.

Who should book this ATV + Ayung rafting day?

Book it if you want:

• Two activities in one day without building your own schedule
• Real muddy ATV riding and jungle-style scenery
• A rafting session long enough to feel like rafting, not a teaser
• Guides who bring energy and keep things organized

You might skip it if you:

• Have knee or back problems due to the steep stairs and steep walking demands
• Use mobility aids, are unable to handle hills and stairs, or can’t manage the movement needed to reach the river
• Are pregnant or have conditions listed as not suitable

If you’re a solo traveler and you’re unsure what to do in Ubud, this is also a straightforward way to get action without needing a buddy to plan it.

Real-world guide and driver highlights (the kind you’ll feel all day)

What makes this combo work for many people isn’t just the activities—it’s the human rhythm around them.

Several reviews praise drivers and guides by name:

• Alit gets high praise for communication and keeping the itinerary feeling clear, plus attentive safety guidance.
• Rambo is singled out for an excellent rafting experience with strong safety focus.
• Ady is praised for friendly help and strong English.
• Dony is praised as encouraging for people new to the activities.
• TuGus, Agus, and EKA show up as prompt, helpful drivers who handle details smoothly and keep you comfortable through the long day.

Even when the quad experience hits bumpy or muddy moments, guides are described as patient—especially when someone is learning the ATV controls on the fly.

And yes: some notes mention ATVs that can feel older or occasionally stall. The bigger pattern in reviews is that staff stay helpful and keep you moving safely.

Should you book this Ubud ATV and Ayung rafting combo?

If you’re comfortable with wet, muddy fun and you’re okay with stairs and steep walking, this is an easy yes. The price-to-experience ratio is strong because it bundles ATV + rafting + meal + shower setup into one coordinated day.

If you want a low-effort nature day, or your knees/back aren’t reliable with steep steps, I’d be cautious. The rafting access walk is the part that can turn an otherwise great day into a painful one.

If you can handle that tradeoff, you’ll likely come away with two very different Bali thrills: muddy jungle quad tracks and a proper chunk of time on the Ayung River.

FAQ

Where do I meet for the ATV and rafting portion?

You meet at Graha Adventure Rafting for your rafting adventure and show your voucher for registration. The activity provider contacts you one day before with directions.

Is pickup included?

Pickup is optional. Pickup and drop-off are covered for areas including Ubud, Sanur, Kuta, Canggu, Seminyak, Legian, and Kintamani. Different hotel locations outside coverage can require an extra charge paid directly to the driver.

What should I bring for rafting?

You’ll need a change of clothes. Water shoes or flip-flops are required for rafting. A camera can be helpful, and cash is recommended.

How long are the ATV and rafting activities?

The ATV portion is about 1.5 hours (for the option you select), and the rafting portion is about 2.5 hours.

Is lunch included, and what is it?

Yes. Lunch is included after the rafting, and it’s fried rice or fried noodles. Showers and changing room access, plus lockers and towels, are provided at the location.

Who should not book this tour?

It is not suitable for pregnant women, people with back problems, people with mobility impairments, and wheelchair users.