15 Best Adventure Activities in Bali For Adrenaline-Seekers

While Bali may be best known for its beaches, the island's diverse terrain stretches far beyond its coastline. From rugged volcanic landscapes to dense tropical forests and fast-flowing rivers, Bali is a playground for thrill-seekers and adrenaline junkies.

We love trying new things, so we've made it our mission to try as many of Bali's best adventure activities as possible over the last several years. We've bounced along muddy jungle tracks on ATVs, rafted under massive waterfalls, and so much more.

With so many exciting experiences to pick from, this is our ultimate list of the most adventurous things to do in Bali, and lots of helpful tips based on our own adventures.

1. Ride ATVs through Bali's jungles

An ATV tour is our favourite way to experience central Bali’s magnificant jungle landscapes. We've done it several times now, racing our way through dense forests, while discovering secret caves, valleys, and waterfalls along the way.

Several companies offer ATV adventures in Bali. We've tried a couple, but our favourite was this one near Ubud, which included the area's famous Gorilla Face cave. It was affordable, the staff were great, and lunch was even included.

Whether it's your first time riding a quad or your 50th, it doesn't matter - ATVs are accessible to everyone. The route we took was fun but manageable. We even had the opportunity to hit the accelerator and take a few fast circuits at the end.

During our last experience, we sped through riverbeds and drove close to waterfalls, so we ended up pretty wet and muddy. Waterproof boots were provided, but our clothes got pretty dirty. There were showers and changing rooms at the endpoint.

2. Go on a white water rafting adventure

White water rafting is an exciting fast-paced adventure where you get to speed down one of Bali's rivers, surrounded by stunning natural scenery. The two main places to go rafting in Bali are the Ayung River near Ubud and the Telaga Waja River near Sidemen.

Technically, the Ayung River is more intermediate with class II to III rapids, compared to the Telaga Waja River's class III to IV. But having tried both for ourselves, we'd say they are both very similar, so we'd suggest choosing the one that's nearest to you.

Rafting in Bali is suitable for all abilities. We were newbies but felt in safe hands with our on-board instructor. Our guide handled the navigation and told us exactly what to do at each set of rapids, so we could just have fun and enjoy the experience.

3. Zoom through rural Bali on Jungle Carts

Jungle Carts Bali felt like a real-life Mario Kart experience, where we zoomed through the rice terraces and rural villages of central Bali on gravity-powered tricycles.

The little engineless carts may look innocent, but we hit some impressive speeds as we flew along the 4.5km downhill track, swerving around corners and flying over speed bumps along the way.

Jungle Carts has an agreement with the local villages to use this stretch of road between Kintamani and Ubud (they support the villages in return), which has been fitted with signs, barriers, and even a pit stop halfway through for a quick drink break.

As you can see from our photos, we weren't the luckiest with the weather on the day we did the carts with a group of friends. But once we committed to getting drenched, the torrential rain made the experience surprisingly more fun. Don't be afraid to book during the rainy season!

The start point is around 40 minutes north of Ubud, but transport is included back and forth from their office in central Ubud.

4. Go river tubing with a thrilling twist

When Kieren suggested going river tubing to me, I assumed it was going to be a relaxing lazy river-type experience. Little did I know that, in Bali, it's actually a lot more similar to white water rafting, but on a smaller (yet equally thrilling) scale.

Instead of large rafts, we got into smaller one or two person boats - I was too scared to go alone, so we went on a double! We then sped off down the fast-flowing river in north Ubud, which alternated between leisurely stretches and thrilling rapids.

While there weren't any instructors on the boats with us, there were plenty along the river, making sure we were safe, didn't get stuck, and, of course, getting lots of photos!

The experience was far more exhilarating than expected, and I screamed my way down every set of rapids, getting drenched at each one. Despite the booking saying 30 minutes, we were out for around an hour in total.

An important thing to note is that, while the activity itself is fairly accessible, there's a tough, steep walk up a long staircase at the end of the experience to get back to the road.

5. Drive a buggy on West Bali's black sand beaches

Most of Bali's top adventure activities take place inland, but one activity that you can do on the coast is beach buggies.

Bali's west coast (around 30 minutes up from Canggu) is famous for its rich volcanic black sand beaches, with sand so dense that it's possible to drive on right onto it.

We recently took a guided beach buggy experience with CC Adventures, which started in Kedungu and took us through the rice terraces and villages to reach Yeh Gangga Beach. Once on the black sand beach, we had free time to speed around on the sand and splash through the tidal rivers.

It was a fun experience and a nice mix of sightseeing and adventure. You can drive a beach buggy each, but we chose to go tandem to enjoy the experience together!

6. Zipline across the rice terraces in Ubud

Alas Haram is a large agrotourism venue in Tegallalang, just north of Ubud. While best known for their pool club Cretya, they have several other exciting adventure activities and experiences too, including ziplining and skybiking.

The flying fox zip wire is 300m long and lets you soar right over the famous Tegallalang rice terraces, giving a bird's eye view of the lush green fields and intricate patterns below.

For something more unique, the sky biking experience lets you pedal across a shorter 50m suspended track on either a single or tandem bicycle.

You don't have to book the zipline and sky bike is advance, but you save up to a third if you do. We recommend booking on Klook and select the option "meet at venue."

7. Go cliff jumping at Aling Aling Waterfall

Aling Aling is one of the biggest and most impressive waterfalls in Bali. But that's not why we've included it. On the way to Aling Aling are three other smaller waterfalls which are famous for another reason - cliff jumping!

All three waterfalls here also have cliff jumping points between 5-15m high. We've not actually done the jumps here ourselves (I'm far too scared of heights!), but we have watched other people do it and it definitely looks like a rush!

Kroya waterfall also doubles up as a giant waterslide. It's 12m high and cascades down the rocks with a slight S-shaped curve in its flow. The bottom half is a straight drop so you gain some speed before plunging into the river below.

It’s essential to have a guide to take part in the waterfall sliding and jumping. The prices for a guide begin at 125,000 IDR ⓘ per person. If you're not jumping, you can pay 20,000 IDR ⓘ for standard entry to the waterfall - you have to specifically ask for this ticket.

We'd suggest giving yourself at least 2 hours at Aling Aling to complete all of the slides and cliff jumps, as well as exploring the waterfalls.

8. Join a downhill cycling adventure

One of Kieren's all time favourite activities is cycling. Unfortunately, there's not many (enjoyable) places to cycle in south Bali. That's why we often go up to the north for cycling adventures.

The best cycling experience we've done in Bali was downhill cycling between Kintamani and Ubud. It's a fantastic way to enjoy the area's beautiful landscapes. And given that it's all downhill, it doesn't actually require too much effort!

Routes are often unclear so it's not always the easiest to cycle on your own. These are some great organised cycling tours in Bali that we'd recommend:

9. Go canyoneering through a gorge

Canyoneering is another exhilarating way to explore Bali’s beautiful natural surroundings. There are several spots across the island offering such adventures.

I first went canyoneering with friends through Tabanan’s amazing Blue Gorge Canyon back in 2022 with local company Adventure & Spirit, and it’s still one of my favourite experiences in Bali to date.

The half-day trip had us trekking, jumping, repelling, ziplining, sliding, and swimming through thick untouched jungles and the gorge’s vibrant blue/green waters.

The activity started and ended at their Tabanan Base Camp, around 2 hours from Ubud or 1hr30 from Canggu. It included all safety equipment, two experienced instructors, plus breakfast before the trip and a homemade lunch afterwards.

10. Take a helicopter ride over Bali

A helicopter ride is an exhilarating way to experience some of the island’s top landmarks and picturesque landscapes from a unique vantage point.

Bali Heli offers amazing helicopter trips for up to 6 people. The shortest journey is a 12 minute trip around the highlights of the Buit Peninsula. You’ll fly right across the pristine beaches of southern Bali and enjoy a close-up encounter with the GWK statue which is the tallest in Indonesia.

Several other packages offer longer routes (up to one hour) that head further inland so you can experience the thrill of soaring over Bali’s unique rice terraces.

11. Hike a volcano at sunrise

Bali has two active volcanoes, both of which offer the thrilling opportunity for a summit hike. Most visitors (including us) stick to smaller Mount Batur, but if you're feeling extra adventurous, you can try Mount Agung instead. Below is a little more information about both treks.

Mount Batur

Mount Batur is the island’s second-tallest volcano and the easiest option to climb, with the popular trek taking around two hours each way.

We've both hiked Mount Batur and didn’t find it too challenging. You only need a moderate level of fitness. But if hiking isn’t for you, there is also the option to go up the volcano by 4WD Jeep instead, which we also did and found just as fun.

Many people choose to head to the summit for sunrise, meaning it does get very busy at the top each morning. Still, it’s worth it when you’re enjoying the beautiful sea of oranges and reds in the sky over Lake Batur.

Mount Agung

Mount Agung towers more than 3,000m above sea level, making it the tallest point in all of Bali. Climbing this volcano is a lot less common and best reserved for more experienced and prepared hikers.

There are two routes to the summit. The shorter route from Pasar Agung takes 5-8 hours, while the longer route from Besakih Temple takes between 10-14 hours. Only a few dozen climbers attempt this each day, so you won’t have to deal with crowds like on Mount Batur.

We don’t have first-hand experience climbing Agung, but from speaking to friends we know that both routes are challenging from a fitness standpoint and in terms of terrain. Expect to be scrambling over unstable rocks for parts of the journey.

12. Launch sky-high on one of Bali’s extreme swings

Bali is an island known for its many swings. But Canggu’s G-Swing and Kuta’s 5GX Reverse Bungee take it to a whole new level. Forget about dreamy Instagram photo spots, these extreme swings launch you into the sky at crazy speeds.

13. Paraglide over the Bukit Peninsula

The towering cliffs and picturesque views of Bali’s Bukit Peninsula make it an ideal destination for paragliding. While several launch sites sit along the coast, the best experiences take off near Timbis Beach.

Most paragliding experiences last for around 10-15 minutes, with spectacular views of the region's turquoise blue waters and white sands below.

This is a tandem adventure - you’re always assisted by an experienced instructor who takes charge of the technical parts so you can relax and enjoy the view. They'll also capture plenty of footage so you can relive the experience again later.

14. Go jet skiing in Sanur

Jet skiing is one of our favourite water sports in Bali. We recommend heading to Sanur, where there’s plenty of space to whizz up and down the coast. The waves are calm and the ocean is fairly shallow, making it a great spot for beginners and families.

The benefit of jet skiing in Sanur is that you get free reign of the jet ski, provided you stay within the allotted area. At some other places in Bali, like on the Tanjung Benoa peninsula, you have to go out with an instructor who drives with you.

Just be careful as you get more confident on the jet ski. It’s very much possible to fall off – as we found out the hard way!

Most companies in Bali rent jet skis in 15 minute time slots. We used Surya (here) and negotiated a price of 400,000 IDR ⓘ for 2 people. Advanced booking isn't required, but make sure you arrive at high tide.

15. Try watersports on the Tanjung Benoa Peninsula

Nusa Dua’s Tanjung Benoa peninsula is a renowned spot for watersports. They have all the classic water-based activities, including parasailing, waterskiing, banana boats, and wakeboarding.

You can even try some more unusual options, such as flyboarding, a type of hydro-jetpack that propels you above the water, and sea-walking, a unique scuba-style helmet that lets you walk on the ocean floor.

There are plenty of shops offering activity packages along Tanjung Benoa Beach. You can walk up and negotiate a price on the spot. Or, if you suck at negotiating (like us), you can book activities in advance, with some pretty affordable options on Klook.