Ride-only
First-timers
Briefing, no experience
- BriefingSafety briefing included
- ExperienceNone required
- GroupUp to 6 ATVs
- Ride itselfJust 1.5 hours
Checkbox list
Is an ATV ride in Bali safe? What to check first
Pack and check · 11 items
A safety checklist for the ATV day
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Nothing left to check. Only the booking is left: your spot on the quads and the raft.
Save my rideA guided quad ride near Ubud can suit first-timers, yet it is still a motor vehicle on wet ground. Here is what the listings promise, what the safety agencies say and the questions worth asking before you pay.
Editorial team, atvubud.quest · Updated November 2, 2026 · About 6 min to read
Skim this first
- ExperienceA ride-only listing includes a safety briefing and states that no prior experience is required.
- ChildrenOne listing lets children from 5 ride along as a tandem passenger beside an adult.
- FitnessA private listing suits adults and teens with moderate fitness and does not recommend it for pregnant guests.
- ClothesThe US safety commission advises a helmet, boots, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt.1
- InsuranceSmartraveller says not to take it for granted that insurance covers adventure activities.2
What the risk looks like on a guided quad ride
A quad bike is a straddle-seat vehicle with handlebars and low-pressure tires, and by definition it carries no seatbelts.3,4 That is the honest starting point: it is a motor vehicle you steer and balance yourself, on tracks that near Ubud are muddy, wet and uneven.
A guided ride adds structure. The ride-only listings include a safety briefing, cap a group at 6 ATVs and provide safety gear on site, and one of them says no prior experience is required. Another wants guests on site 30 minutes ahead for sign-in, the briefing and a short trial run. None of that removes the risk, but it is what separates a guided ride from lending a stranger a quad.
Smartraveller, Australia's travel advice service, cautions that firms in Indonesia, adventure outfits among them, may fall short of Australian norms for safety and upkeep.5 The practical answer is not to avoid the ride, but to read the listing closely, watch how the staff behave at the base and be ready to walk away if the equipment or the briefing looks careless.
Rules by listing
Who a listing is meant for
| Listing | Rider rule | Health note | Gear |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ride-only with lunch | No riding experience asked | Muddy, wet tracks | Provided on site |
| Falls and cave ride | Children from 5 as passenger | Can be wet and muddy | Boots, helmet, towel |
| Private zip-line | Adults and teens | A moderate fitness level | Safety briefings |
| Tubing and ATV | Tandem 100 kg each | Beginners, children | Life jacket for tubing |
As each listing states it; the operator's own terms apply at the base.
What a sound operator does before you start
Look for a proper registration step. One waterfall-and-caves listing asks guests to arrive 25 to 30 minutes before their time for registration and the safety briefing, and the same listing supplies a locker, a towel, boots and a helmet at the base. A base that rushes you onto a machine in a few minutes is a warning sign.
Ask about training. The US safety commission recommends hands-on training from a qualified instructor, and a short practice session before the trail is the tour-sized version of that.6 Smartraveller also advises asking about safety, search and rescue procedures before you accept and pay for an activity.7
Finally, test the fit. A helmet that wobbles or a pair of boots that slip are things to say out loud before the engine starts, not afterwards. Following all safety instructions, as Smartraveller puts it, includes the instruction to stop and fix a problem when you see one.8
The ATV age limit in Bali, and who may ride
There is no single age limit for ATV riding in Bali; the operator's listing is the rule that applies. The waterfall-and-caves listing says children from 5 years old can ride along as a tandem passenger beside an adult. The private zip-line listing suits adults and teens with moderate fitness, and its Cretya pool is adults only, with anyone under 18 not allowed in.
For an ATV in Bali with kids, the commission's view of who drives is the first thing to know. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission is firm about who drives: under-16s belong on youth-sized models and never on adult machines.13 It adds that most ATVs are built for a single rider, and advises never carrying more passengers than there are seats.14 For a family, those two points mean checking exactly how a child would sit and who would drive.
A tandem ATV puts an adult at the handlebars and the child behind, and one tubing-and-ATV listing states a maximum of 100 kg each for tandem riding. Treat a child's seat on a quad as a decision for you and the operator together, in writing before you travel, not something to settle on the morning.
Your situation, answered
Which ride suits your health and age?
Match your group to the closest line and check it against the listing itself.
If I am riding with a child
Check the passenger rule
One listing lets children from 5 ride along as a tandem passenger beside an adult.
If I am expecting a baby
Do not book the private ride
That listing does not recommend it for pregnant guests.
If My back gives me trouble
Query the operator directly
The private listing does not recommend it with back or heart conditions.
If I have never ridden a quad
A guided ride-only listing
It includes a safety briefing and needs no prior experience.
If It is the wet season
Expect more mud
The listings run rain or shine.
If I am a weak swimmer
Say so before rafting
Certain buoyancy aids are not designed for weak swimmers or non-swimmers.11
Three listings, three rules
Pick the rule set that fits your group
Quick ride
Families
Child as passenger
- ChildrenFrom 5, as a passenger
- Arrive25 to 30 minutes early
- GearBoots, helmet, towel
- LengthFrom 1 to 1.5 hours
Private
Teens and adults
Private with a pool
- SuitsAdults and teens
- FitnessModerate
- PoolAdults only, under 18 out
- Per transfer carUp to 5 guests
What to wear for an ATV ride in Bali
Wear clothes you can lose to mud and carry a full change. The combined listing asks for comfortable clothes and a change for muddy and wet tracks, and provides lockers, safety gear, towels and showers on site. The US safety commission lists a helmet plus eye cover, boots, gloves, long trousers and a long-sleeved top.1
Long, loose, light clothing also helps with mosquitoes. Dengue occurs in Bali, and Smartraveller's advice is repellent, long, loose, pale clothing and closed shoes, with extra care at dawn and in the late afternoon, when mosquitoes bite most.15,16,17 A morning ride falls inside that window.
Footwear decides how the day feels. Closed shoes protect your feet on the quad, and if your outing continues to a river, the combined listing makes water shoes or flip-flops a must for the rafting. Bring a second pair of socks and a bag for wet things, and leave jewelry and valuables in the locker.
Price the safer choices
Compare three ride types for your group
Enter how many are riding and see the from-prices of three guided options.
Set 3 rides side by side
Compare three ride types for your group
Enter how many are riding and see the from-prices of three guided options.
- First-timer rideBriefing, no experience · each, from $22
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View - Short family rideChildren from 5 · each, from $39
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View - Ride and raftATV plus river · each, from $16
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View
Lowest GetYourGuide prices converted at the ECB rate; the exact total shows at checkout.
At the ATV base
What a safe start looks like, step by step
Get there ahead of time
Registration
The waterfall ride asks for 25 to 30 minutes ahead; the long-tunnel ride for 30.
Kit up at the base
Helmet and boots
Safety gear is provided on site on the ride-only listings.
Briefing
The safety talk
The long-tunnel ride lists a safety briefing; listen for how to start, stop and recover from a stall.
Practice
A short trial
The long-tunnel ride includes a short practice session before the trail.
Ride
Stay with the group leader
Stay in the group of up to 6 ATVs and keep your place.
Afterwards
Wash and change
Lockers, towels and showers are provided on site.
Mud, rain and the wet season
The listings run rain or shine: the combined day, the ride-only listings and the Kuber ride all state that they operate in the rain. Rain changes the ground rather than cancelling the plan, so expect more mud and a slower, wetter ride.
The tourism ministry's wet season for Bali runs November to March, while Smartraveller puts it at roughly October to April and warns that conditions can turn quickly within it.18,19 Floods, landslides and mudslides occur regularly in the wet season.20
Water carries its own health note. Smartraveller says heavy rains and floods can bring outbreaks of waterborne disease such as leptospirosis, and advises staying out of floodwater and covering up for freshwater activities.21,22 Cover cuts before you ride and wash well at the showers afterwards.
Video
Our Bali family day of white water rafting and quad biking in Ubud
Hopes adventures on YouTube · The clip stays idle until you press play.
Stay off paved roads. Never ride on public roads, except to cross, where permitted by law.
The river half of a ride-and-raft day
If your outing ends on a raft, Smartraveller includes rafting on its list of risky adventure activities in Indonesia and advises always using the safety gear available, such as life jackets.23,24 The river's behavior depends on the season, and the ministry grades the Ayung II to III when dry and IV when the rains raise it.25,26
On the raft, the safety talk is the part to listen to. International Rafting Federation guide trainers coach a simple routine for a fall: stay cheerful, keep your paddle and swim back to the raft, while looking around and helping with your own rescue.27,28 They also say a life jacket is meant to keep your head above water.29
Be honest about your swimming. Certain buoyancy aids are not designed for weak swimmers or non-swimmers, and the river listings add that you should expect a hill walk to the water and wear water shoes for it.11 The combined page of this guide covers the river in more detail.
FAQ
Asked often, answered plainly.
Is an ATV ride in Bali safe?
A guided ride has structure, but it is never risk-free.
The listings add a safety briefing, safety gear and group caps, while Smartraveller warns that providers may not meet Australian standards.5
Can kids ride an ATV in Bali?
Some listings take children as tandem passengers.
One listing says children from 5 can ride along as a tandem passenger beside an adult, while another listing's pool is adults only.
What should I wear for an ATV ride in Bali?
Clothes you can get muddy in, plus closed shoes.
The listing asks for a change of clothes, and the US safety commission lists long pants and a long-sleeved shirt.1
Do I need riding experience?
Not on the ride-only listing.
It includes a safety briefing and states that no prior experience is required.
Does an ATV ride go ahead in the rain?
The listings say it does.
The combined day and the ride-only listings run rain or shine.
Can pregnant guests join an ATV ride?
One private listing does not recommend it.
It also does not recommend the outing for guests with back or heart conditions.
Is there a weight limit for tandem riding?
One listing gives 100 kg each.
That is the tubing-and-ATV listing's rule for tandem rides; ask the operator of yours.
Does travel insurance cover an ATV ride?
Check, and do not assume.
Smartraveller says not to take cover for granted when an activity is adventurous or high-risk.2
Sources
- US Consumer Product Safety Commission · ATV Safety Info Hub ↩
- Smartraveller (Australian Government, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) · Indonesia travel advice ↩
- US Consumer Product Safety Commission · 2024 figures on deaths and injuries with off-highway vehicles that have over two wheels ↩
- US Consumer Product Safety Commission · 2024 figures on deaths and injuries with off-highway vehicles that have over two wheels ↩
- Smartraveller (Australian Government, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) · Indonesia travel advice ↩
- US Consumer Product Safety Commission · ATV Safety Info Hub ↩
- Smartraveller (Australian Government, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) · Indonesia travel advice ↩
- Smartraveller (Australian Government, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) · Indonesia travel advice ↩
- Indonesia Travel (Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia) · Five reasons riders enjoy rafting the Ayung River near Ubud ↩
- Sobek Bali Adventures · Bali Rafting FAQ ↩
- U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety · Wearing a life jacket the right way ↩
- US Consumer Product Safety Commission · ATV Safety Info Hub
- US Consumer Product Safety Commission · ATV Safety Info Hub ↩
- US Consumer Product Safety Commission · ATV Safety Info Hub ↩
- Smartraveller (Australian Government, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) · Indonesia travel advice ↩
- Smartraveller (Australian Government, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) · Indonesia travel advice ↩
- Smartraveller (Australian Government, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) · Indonesia travel advice ↩
- Indonesia Travel (Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia) · Ubud's weather and the best season for quads ↩
- Smartraveller (Australian Government, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) · Indonesia travel advice ↩
- Smartraveller (Australian Government, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) · Indonesia travel advice ↩
- Smartraveller (Australian Government, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) · Indonesia travel advice ↩
- Smartraveller (Australian Government, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) · Indonesia travel advice ↩
- Smartraveller (Australian Government, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) · Indonesia travel advice ↩
- Smartraveller (Australian Government, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) · Indonesia travel advice ↩
- Indonesia Travel (Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia) · Five reasons riders enjoy rafting the Ayung River near Ubud ↩
- Indonesia Travel (Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia) · Five reasons riders enjoy rafting the Ayung River near Ubud ↩
- International Rafting Federation · Safety talks done properly! ↩
- International Rafting Federation · Safety talks done properly! ↩
- International Rafting Federation · Buoyancy aid or life jacket: what separates them ↩
- Smartraveller (Australian Government, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) · Indonesia travel advice
- Smartraveller (Australian Government, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) · Indonesia travel advice
- Smartraveller (Australian Government, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) · Indonesia travel advice
- US Consumer Product Safety Commission · ATV Safety Info Hub
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