Telaga Waja or Ayung: which Bali rafting river should you choose?
By Telaga Waja Adventures. Updated .
Bali has two rivers where almost all rafting trips run: the Ayung, near Ubud, and the Telaga Waja, in Karangasem in the east of the island. Both are safe, guided trips through jungle. They feel quite different once you are on the water.
The short answer
Choose the Ayung if you want an easy first rafting trip close to Ubud. Choose the Telaga Waja if you want more rapids, more time on the river and a dam drop, and you do not mind a longer drive.
Side by side
| Telaga Waja | Ayung | |
|---|---|---|
| Where | Muncan, Karangasem, East Bali | Near Ubud, central Bali |
| Rapids | Grade III–IV | Grade II–III |
| Time on the water | 2–2.5 hours on our route | Around 1.5–2 hours |
| Signature moment | A dam drop of about 4 m | A deep, green gorge |
| Stairs | No long staircase at our start or finish | Usually a long walk down into the gorge and back up |
| Drive from Kuta | About 2 hours | Shorter |
The rapids
The Ayung is rated Grade II to III. The raft bounces and you get splashed, but there are long calm stretches where you can look around. It suits nervous first-timers.
The Telaga Waja is rated Grade III to IV. The water is clearer and moves faster, the rapids come closer together, and near the end the raft slides over a dam. You still do not need experience, because a guide steers every raft, but you will paddle more and hold on more.
Stairs, and why they matter
The Ayung runs at the bottom of a steep gorge. At most start points you walk down a long flight of steps before the trip and climb back out at the end, which is tiring when you are wet.
At Telaga Waja Adventures the river is close to both our start point and our finish point, so there is no long staircase. If stairs are a concern for anyone in your group, that alone can decide it.
Getting there
The Ayung wins on convenience if you are staying in Ubud. The Telaga Waja is about two hours from Kuta and roughly 1 to 1.5 hours from Ubud, depending on traffic. The road east passes rice terraces and views of Mount Agung, and it is easy to combine rafting with a stop in Sidemen or at a temple on the way back.
So which one?
- First time, short on time, staying in Ubud: the Ayung.
- You want the bigger adventure: the Telaga Waja.
- You would rather avoid a long staircase: the Telaga Waja with us.
If the Telaga Waja sounds right, see the full trip details and prices.