In Reply to: White Water Rafting- questions. posted by mrsxtro on Wednesday, 4. March 2009 at 12:02 Bali Time:
I have notice how confused you seem to be over the white water rafting in Bali I have done the white water rafting many times, using many different companies and down several rivers. I will try to help if possible, firstly I suspect the river you went rafting on with your hubby was the Telaga Waja and not the Ayung River, Trust the comments on the forum as to the number of steps there are a lot (and I mean a lot) on both rivers, I do not know of any rafting in Bali where you don't have to climb a lot of steps to get to or to get away from the river. Some of the companies have their restaurants in the valley along side the river (hence the five - twenty steps) but you still have to climb out of the valley after you have eaten to get to your transport and some of the companies have their restaurant at the top of the hill. I have never actually counted the number of steps but the postings on the forum (i.e. 90 to 100 down 150+ coming out) sound about right. So if dad can't do steps it's not for him, you can take as much time as you like getting out, the driver will wait. Is dad's problem with his knee's or general ill health? If it's his knees leave him behind but I have seen 80 year olds doing the rafting down the Ayung and yes they were very slow getting out of the valley, but seemed to be really enjoying themselves.
Which river is most suitable for children (10 & 15)? Which is a reputable and safe company?
I would pick the Ayung but that's me the problem is the river changes all the time I have gone down the Ayung with my then 15 year old and its been quite calm almost bordering on boring but the river was very low and not moving very fast at all, I have also been down the Ayung after an extremely heavy down fall, had the best time ever, but was thrown out of the raft and washed away (great fun but scary) the rest of the family left on the boat said the guide on the raft went from being a friendly fun loving typical Balinese boy to a totally professional guide, in total control of the raft got to me eventually (I probably drifted about a km down the river) and got me back aboard. To me the major point is not which river or what's the best cost etc but safety and how professional are the tour company. Over the years I have tried to stay away from the cheaper providers so I can not comment to much on them but I have seen some patched up older rafts on the river (and hey everybody on board seemed to be having a ball) but I have been with Bali International Rafting and Sobek both very, very Professional. We used BIR last in May 2008 they were very good. The year before which was I when I came out of the raft we used Sobek it was the craziest I have ever seen the river and to be honest when we go back this year in May if we go WWR we will probably use Sobek. And just to give you a laugh the very first time I did WWR I had just climbed all the way up the Valley only for my friend to say he had left his camera down at the river near the showers, so like an idiot or a really good friend I walk back down with him to retrieve it.
Hope that helps, Have left email address open if you're still lost or confused