When you think of Bali you are probably imagining a relaxing getaway on an amazing tropical island with great food, pristine beaches, tropical cocktails, and luxurious spa treatments. If all of those things come to mind then you are right! Bali offers all of those things and more. This wonderful Indonesian Islands offers one of he most relaxing getaways on the planet for vacationers.
Rappel Down Cliff
If you are like me, you need a little bit more when on vacation than eating, drinking, and lounging around. I am always looking to do something that is off the beaten path, unique, and a little extreme. I found exactly that at Kalimudah Canyon in North Bali. Adventure and Spirit is the company that you will want to look up if you are intrigued by what you see.
Natural Water Slide
Check out Bali Canyoning here- http://adventureandspirit.com/en/home/
Price for Canyoning is about $150 USD per person. Book online through A&S website
When you book your canyoning excursion with Adventure and Spirit via their website you will be all set to go. Make sure you let them know where you are staying so they can set up your ride. They will pick you up anywhere you are staying on the island for your adventure. The ride is included in the price and duration will obviously depend on where you are staying. We were staying in Ubud, and our drive to the drop off point was about 1.5 hours each way A couple who also joined us for canyoning came from the east coast of the island, and their drive to North Bali was over three hours.
Ulan Danu Beratan
The private ride up into mountainous north Bali was beautiful. On the way from Ubud we passed Ulun Danu Beratan, the well known temple on the lake which is a spectacular location to visit. Our driver was nice enough to stop there and give us some time to tour around on our return drive to Ubud. You will also see plenty of rice paddies and some monkeys hanging out on the side of the road on your drive. There are plenty of things to look at to help the drive go by quickly.
Upon reaching the Adventure and Spirit office there are some release forms to fill out, you will be fed a simple breakfast, and get suited up for your day of canyoning. All of the gear that you will need is provided. After putting on your wetsuit, water boots, helmet, and harness, it's time to head up to the canyon. You don't need to keep anything with you for the canyoning part, it will get soaked. Just leave your valuables at the office and the staff will lock it up for you. A camera is not necessary, your guides are carrying a professional waterproof camera to document everything that's happening. They will email you the link to all of the photos and videos that they take for about $20 USD. Totally worth it!
Pre Canyoning Briefing
After a short safety briefing you will take a brief truck ride up to the entry of the canyon. After a short hike you'll be standing in the water ready for your adventure down the canyon! You'll notice the temperature in the canyon is much cooler than anywhere else you have been on the island. This was very refreshing for me, I was happy to not be sweating my ass off for a couple of hours! The water running through the canyon is also nice and cool and feels wonderful. Once you settle into the quickly flowing mountain water, get ready for some fun!
Flippin' into the Canyon
For the next few hours you will be sliding down natural water slides, rappelling down cliffs and waterfalls, and jumping into deep pools of water. All of the time you will be surrounded by jagged canyon walls and unbelievable jungle scenery. The jumps, rappels, and slides are sure to get the adrenaline pumping through your veins. Our two guides were very knowledgeable of every part of the canyon and informed us of what to expect on each feature. They were also a lot of fun to be around. Very professional, yet entertaining.
Waterfall Rappel
I felt very safe through the entire experience. I have never done anything like this before, and that was not a problem. All you need to be able to do is swim and you'll be fine. Our guides were sure to give us great instructions as we continued down the amazing canyon. If someone was ever uncomfortable with a feature, they always had an alternative way to get to the next section. We could not have asked for better guides.
Waterfall (We came down that one)
The entire experience of heading down the canyon was like nothing I had ever experienced. Between the cliff jumps, waterfall rappels, and the unbelievably gorgeous setting in the jungle canyon, I was overwhelmed with joy during the entire excursion. The only problem was the adventure ended a little too soon.
Big Jump
After completing the final feature of the journey, which was a stunning rappel down a 14 meter waterfall, we joined our guides in a natural hot springs for some snacks and fun conversation. It was great hearing some of the stories our guides had about canyoning and life in Indonesia. (They were both from Indonesia, but not from Bali) We once again jumped in the truck to head back to A&S office to ditch our gear and enjoy lunch* before heading back to the hotel in Ubud.
Our Group of Canyoners
*Lunch and breakfast were included in tour price, the food was ok, but that's not why you're there. If you want to learn about some of the great cuisine in Bali click here- https://steemit.com/bali/@quantumtravels/the-amazing-cuisine-of-bali
We made sure to leave a tip for our guides before leaving and paid for the photo package too. The pictures were in our email just a few hours later. (they're the ones you see in the article except for temple pictures) On the drive home we made the stop at the temple on the lake before getting to our hotel. After the excursion we were tired, a little sore, ready for a beer, and definitely ready to do it again. I recommend this experience for anyone who is looking to have some fun in Bali beyond the temples and rice terraces.
Bali is full of so many wonderful things to do. I hope that you take some time to enjoy some canyoning when you plan your next vacation. It will be a unique experience that you will remember for the rest of your life. It is definitely worth your time and money!