Canyoning Bali, Excalibur Canyon (Adventure, discovery, nature)

Canyoning Bali starts before sunrise. Excalibur Canyon in Ubud is a non-stop gorge adventure that mixes up to three vertical rappels (to 12 m) with optional jump-and-slide fun, plus choices if you’d rather not leap.

You’ll move from open-canyon rappels with big views to tighter gorges with repeated drops into clear water pools.

What I like most is how much control you get over your comfort level, without losing the adrenaline. You can do the jumping route, or swap in rappelling into natural water pools and even zip lining to avoid jumping when you want. The other big win is the ICOpro Canyoneer Initiation (CAI) training before you enter the canyon, so you’re not just guessing with gear strapped on.

One consideration: it starts early, with a 6:00am departure, and you need moderate physical fitness. Also, if you truly dislike heights or going under waterfalls, you’ll want to talk through your limits during the briefing so you pick the right options.

Key things I’d plan around

• 6:00am start means you should be ready to leave early from your hotel area
• Three vertical rappels up to 12 m plus repeated water action through the gorge
• More than 6 jumps are optional, with alternatives like rappelling into pools or zip lining
• ICOpro CAI training at basecamp helps you learn skills before the descent
• Meals + shower after: breakfast and lunch (veg/vegan possible), plus shampoo/soap/towel
• Free photos and video are included, so you can focus on the canyon

What Excalibur Canyon Feels Like: Choices Inside the Action

Excalibur Canyon is built for momentum. It’s an aquatic canyon experience where the day doesn’t really pause: rappels, swimming, sliding, and repeated jumps come in a chain. That matters, because canyoning is one of those activities where your brain settles after the first few moves—then you can fully enjoy the rest.

If you love to jump, this one is close to a dream. The canyon includes more than 6 jumps (optional) and it’s described as a gorge with endless jump opportunities. You also get vertical sections where you’ll feel the drop and the controlled tension of the rope system, then hit water that feels refreshing as you move through the gorge.

If you don’t want to jump, you still have options. The experience is designed so you can choose rappelling into natural water pools, and there’s also zip lining if you want to avoid leaping into the water. In other words, you don’t have to force yourself into every element to finish the trip.

The 6:00am Pickup and Basecamp Setup (Coffee, Gear, and Training)

This tour is built around an early start: 6:00am. If you’re the type who needs time to wake up, plan a simple morning—sleep, water, and a quick breakfast at home if you can. You’ll still get a light breakfast at basecamp, but arriving alert makes everything easier when you’re about to gear up.

Pickup is offered from your accommodation in a specified area, and you’ll get a mobile ticket. After pickup, you drive to the basecamp. Here’s what to expect:

• Registration
• Coffee/tea and a light breakfast
• Equipping with canyoning gear
• Canyoneer initiation training (ICOpro standard)

That training is more than a formality. It’s the moment where you learn how the system works and what you’ll do when you reach the canyon sections. This is where the day becomes safer and less stressful. You don’t need to be an athlete; you do need to listen and follow instructions.

The Drive and Short Downhill Approach: Where Nerves Catch Up

After basecamp, you’ll drive to the start point for about 10 minutes in a small truck. Then there’s a hike downhill to reach the river.

This part is brief, but it’s useful. It separates the morning drive from the actual canyon work, and it helps you transition from “I’m here” to “I’m doing it.” It’s also a good time to:

• check that your footwear and gear feel secure
• mentally decide which options you want if jumping isn’t your thing
• hydrate before you start descending

The canyoning itself is where adrenaline rises, but the approach is when you set your mindset.

The First Big Moment: Rappelling Into Open Canyons

The canyon includes three vertical rappels up to 12 meters. Those rappels are where you feel height and rope control at close range. The descriptions highlight open canyon rappels with breathtaking vistas, which is one reason Excalibur Canyon can feel different from more cramped canyon routes.

Why this matters for you: rappels change your perspective. You go from hiking in the landscape to moving as a line along the rock and air. You’ll likely feel your body switching from walking mode to controlled movement mode. That’s exactly why ICOpro-style instruction before you start is so valuable.

And because the tour includes both technical rappels and water sections, you get a good rhythm: command from the guides, brief focus, then cooling water when you need it.

More Than 6 Optional Jumps: When You Can Choose Your Level of Fear

The main crowd-pleaser is the jumping. Excalibur is described as a non-stop gorge where jumps keep coming. The trip includes more than 6 jumps, and they’re optional—this isn’t an all-or-nothing situation.

Here’s how I think about optional jumps as a decision:

• If you enjoy heights and want the full adrenaline effect, choose the jump route when your guides present it.
• If you’re nervous, ask to do alternatives at the jump moments so you still participate without forcing panic.

Your job is to listen to guidance at each jump area. The canyon includes waterfalls, natural pools, swimming, and sliding sections, so you’ll move through changing water conditions as the day goes. The guides help you read what’s coming next—where you enter, how to position yourself, and how to transition after impact.

Rappelling and Water Pools: A Cooler, Calmer Way Through

If jumping isn’t your style, you can opt to rappel into natural water pools. This keeps the action going while giving you a different kind of thrill: instead of a leap, you get controlled descent and an immediate payoff when you hit the water.

This option is also a smart choice if you like adrenaline but want a more predictable entry. You’ll still do real rappelling, but you’re not committing to the same jump timing or body position.

The canyon includes crystal-clear pools and powerful cascades, so even the “calmer” path still feels like a real canyon adventure, not a watered-down version.

Zip Lining as a Jump Alternative

The experience also mentions zip lining as an option to avoid jumping into natural water pools. For some people, that’s the best compromise: you still get a fast, fun move and the canyon keeps flowing, but you don’t have to jump.

When zip lining is available, treat it as another skills moment. Stay close to your guides’ instruction and keep your attention on the equipment and timing. You’ll get the most enjoyment when you’re not trying to invent moves on your own.

Timing: 2.5 to 4 Hours of Descent Action (Plus Walks and Vehicle Time)

The canyoning portion is described as 2.5 to 4 hours. That range matters because water conditions, group pace, and the mix of rappels and jump options can shift the schedule.

In addition, there’s an approach and return walk of roughly 15–20 minutes. Expect the day to run longer than just the canyon time because you’re also factoring:

• hotel pickup
• basecamp training and meal moments
• a short drive to the start point
• shower and lunch after

If you’re planning other activities in Ubud the same day, keep it loose. This kind of adventure leaves you tired in the body and hungry in the best way.

Food, Shower, and Free Media: The Post-Canyon Bonus

Most adventure trips end with sore legs and a sketchy plan for getting clean. This one handles that part well.

After the descent, you return to basecamp for:

• shower / shampoo / soap
• towel
• lunch
• photos and videos

Breakfast and lunch are included, and the food can be vegetarian or vegan. You also get fresh fruits, plus tea/coffee/water and snacks.

The free photos and video are a practical win. When you’re busy rappelling or jumping, you can’t stop to shoot good footage. Having the media sorted for you means you’ll actually remember what the canyon looks like, not just how intense it felt.

Equipment and Safety: What’s Included (and Why You Should Care)

This is one of those activities where safety isn’t a slogan—it’s part of the product.

Included safety and gear:

• All canyoning equipment ICOpro and CE-standard
• International technical equipment
• High-performance canyoning rope with international standard from Korda’s
• Supervision by an ICOpro Instructor and assistant team
• Accident insurance up to USD 10,000/pax

Why this matters for your decision: canyoning has real risk if equipment or instruction is sloppy. Here, the tour specifically calls out equipment standards and rope sourcing. It also builds in supervised instruction from certified staff before you start descending.

You’ll still want to be honest about your comfort level and physical limits. Moderate fitness is required, and you’ll get the best experience when you follow the safety cues and communicate clearly.

Price and Value: Is About $109 Fair?

At $109, this canyoning experience includes a lot more than the activity itself.

Here’s what you’re effectively paying for:

• pickup and drop-off from your hotel area (specified areas)
• full canyoning equipment
• ICOpro CAI training
• supervision by qualified instructors and assistants
• breakfast and lunch (veg/vegan possible), plus fruits and drinks
• shower and towel
• accident insurance up to USD 10,000/pax
• free photos and video

A lot of outdoor tours make you buy equipment, arrange transport, and figure out food. Here, those pieces are bundled. The only potential cost you might see is an additional transport surcharge depending on the pickup section.

So for most people, the value is in how much is included: you arrive, you’re equipped and taught, you do the canyoning, then you eat and rinse off—without scrambling.

Who This Tour Fits Best (And Who Might Want Another Option)

Excalibur Canyon fits best if you want a physical, technical nature adventure in Bali that’s action-heavy from start to finish. It’s ideal for:

• people who enjoy adventure and discovery
• anyone who likes the idea of rappels up to 12 m
• jumper lovers who want optional jump-heavy excitement
• nervous first-timers who want alternatives like rappelling into pools or zip lining

It may be a mismatch if you:

• dislike early mornings (it starts at 6:00am)
• can’t manage moderate physical demands
• strongly fear heights and would struggle even with controlled rappels

If you’re in that middle zone, don’t guess. Use the briefing and training time to tell the instructors what you’re comfortable with. The trip is built to give options, and you’ll enjoy it more when it matches your comfort level.

Should You Book Excalibur Canyon in Ubud?

If you’re choosing between a “view-only” Bali day and a real action outing, this is the one to book. You get technical canyoning, real water moments, and choices that let you match your bravery to the route. The big quality marker here is the training: ICOpro CAI initiation plus CE-standard gear and insurance.

Book it if you want adrenaline with structure, and you like the idea of finishing the day with lunch, a shower, and free photos/videos—not just muddy clothes and a memory you can’t fully picture.

Skip it if early starts and vertical movement sound like misery. You can’t fake comfort in a canyon.

FAQ

Where is this canyoning tour located?

It runs in Ubud, Indonesia, in Bali.

What time does the tour start?

The start time is 6:00am.

How long is the Excalibur Canyon experience?

The canyoning descent lasts about 2.5 to 4 hours, and the overall tour is listed at about 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.).

Do I have to jump into the water?

No. Jumps are optional, and you can choose rappelling into natural water pools or zip lining if you want to avoid jumping.

How high are the rappels?

The canyon includes three vertical rappels up to 12 meters.

Is there training before you enter the canyon?

Yes. You get ICOpro Canyoneer Initiation (CAI) training at basecamp, plus canyon initiation training so you know what to do in the canyon.

What food is included, and can it be vegetarian or vegan?

Breakfast and lunch are included, and they can be vegetarian or vegan. You also get fresh fruits and tea/coffee/water and snacks.

What safety gear and insurance are included?

You’ll receive all canyoning equipment (ICOpro and CE-standard), plus supervision by an ICOpro instructor and assistant team. Accident insurance is included up to USD 10,000 per person.

What happens if the weather is bad?

This activity requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.