Tourists Warned Of Dangers Of Bali’s Famous Rafting Trips During Monsoon Season 

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Bali’s adventure activities are seriously good fun.

For travelers who love to get the adrenaline pumping, there is nothing quite like whizzing through the jungle on an ATV or bounding down Bali’s white water rivers on a raft.

Fun as they may be, there are some serious considerations to make before booking these kinds of experiences, especially during the monsoon season.

The Regional Disaster Management Agency for Karangasem Regency in East Bali is urging tourists and tour operators to reconsider white water rafting experiences this high season.

They are also calling for providers to exercise extreme caution when conducting snorkeling and diving trips too. 

The Head of the Regional Disaster Management Agency for Karangasem Regency, Ida Bagus Ketut Arimbawa, told reporters, “Regarding the appeal, we have coordinated with the Karangasem Regency Tourism Office to inform tourism actors in Karangasem Regency, especially those engaged in water tourism.”

“We provide only an appeal, not a prohibition. Because when it rains heavily, the river water that is usually used for rafting activities will flow very fast, making it dangerous.”

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Arimbawa called for tourists who are considering booking snorkeling and dive trips to be extra aware of the weather forecast. Heavy rain and storms can seriously reduce visibility for diving and make conditions at sea treacherous for boat operators. 

Arimbawa also called for tour operators who run treks up Karangasem Regency’s Mount Agung to err on the side of caution after heavy rains on the volcano have been so intense that new waterfalls have appeared, and the existing trekking routes have become laden with mud, and the risk of landslides are increased. The advice rings true for Mount Batur, Mount Batukaru, Mount Abang, and Trunyan Hill.

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He concluded, “Hopefully, this appeal can be obeyed by all parties so that unexpected things do not happen.”

White water rafting is one of the most popular adventure activities in Bali, but with rivers bursting their banks across the province and flash flooding claiming the lives of both local people and one of Bali Zoo’s much-loved elephants in the last week alone, getting close to Bali’s waterways is a big risk right now. 

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Footage from the super popular Tegenungan Waterfall recorded on Tuesday, 17th December, shows unprecedented torrents of muddy flood water gushing over the waterfall and into the river flow below. Tourists are also advised to exercise extreme caution when visiting Bali’s many waterfalls.

Even if the water flow appears to be steady and ‘normal,’ flash flood waters can flow downstream in an instant. The same risk factor is faced in river rafting experiences. 

In 2022 and 2023, dozens of Bali’s river rafting experiences during the rainy season turned into disasters, even tragedies, as monsoon rains and flash flooding made for dangerous conditions on the water.

More than five tourists died, and more were injured and left shaken during a series of shocking incidents that many felt could have been avoided if conditions on the river were respected and responded to properly. 

Tourists visiting Bali who wish to take part in any adventure activity, whether that be trekking, hiking, rafting, ATV riding, surfing, or the like, must double-check that their travel insurance and medical insurance policy covers each activity specifically.

Many travel insurance policies only offer cover in the event of injury or an accident during adventure activities as part of an add-on policy package.

This has been the unfortunate reality for all too many Bali travelers over the years who have found themselves injured during adventure activities, facing rising medical bills and the stark realization that their insurance provider won’t pay out due to an oversight on their part. 

Tourists can keep up to date with the latest weather warnings in Bali on the Bali Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency Instagram page.