If you’re looking for something adventurous, messy, and wildly fun to break up your Bali itinerary, an ATV ride through jungles, rivers, and rice fields might just be it. Here’s what our Bali ATV experience was really like — no filters, no fluff, just honest tips.
I signed up for “a gentle scenic ride.”
Ten seconds in, I was eating mud, laughing like a maniac, and realising adrenaline might just be my new skincare routine.
Read This Your Way
(Best enjoyed in order — but jump to what you need)
The Calm Before the (Mud) Storm
If you’ve ever googled “family-friendly ATV Bali” and thought, How bad can it be? — let me save you a load of laundry.
It’s fantastic and filthy in equal measure.
We booked our ride with All New Bali Adventure, a company that confidently promised “fun for all ages.”
They were not exaggerating.
Our group spanned from ZenZen at 2 to AG’s mum at 70 — all determined to conquer Bali’s mud trails in high fashion… or at least high rain boots.
Four ATVs lined up like a family parade of chaos:
- Me, leading the convoy with Miemie behind me, her tiny hands gripping my t-shirt like a co-pilot on a mission.
- AG, next — calm-faced but secretly competitive — with ZenZen wedged between him and her sister Nik.
- Behind them, AG’s brother-in-law and his niece, already laughing.
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And finally, our driver with AG’s mum riding pillion, her grin wider than her helmet.
Ages two to seventy.
One muddy track.
No idea what we’d signed up for.
The Great Balinese Crawl
We were told — politely but firmly — that racing was not allowed.
This was a scenic, guided tour.
Not Fast & Furious: Ubud Drift Edition.
Still, the energy at the start line was electric.
Engines revving. Helmets snug.
We looked like the least intimidating biker gang Bali had ever seen.
The guide up front flashed a thumbs-up.
And just like that, the convoy rolled out — one ATV neatly behind the other.
The air smelled of wet earth and petrol.
Sunlight filtered through palm leaves like confetti.
Within minutes, the path turned from dirt… to puddle… to glorious, splattering mud.
We didn’t just drive through it — we became part of it
Thick brown splashes arced through the air, smacking our boots.
Not drenched — artfully spattered, like Jackson Pollock had designed our outfits.
Miemie shrieked every time mud hit us — half delight, half disbelief.
“Mum! It’s raining chocolate!”
Behind me, I could hear AG’s muffled laugh — the sound of a man who had finally met a thrill loud enough to match my energy.
Through Tunnels, Rivers, and Squeals
The ride stretched across 1 hour and 40 minutes — a muddy symphony of squeals, splashes, and small miracles.
We followed the guide through forest trails, ducked under hanging vines, crossed a shallow river, and even drove through a tunnel that echoed with our laughter.
A separate photographer zigzagged between us, somehow capturing perfect action shots while staying spotless.
Sorcery, I tell you.
(We later paid for the $40 photography package — worth every cent.)
Halfway through, we stopped for a quick break and a seat swap.
ZenZen switched to my ATV, sitting behind me like a pint-sized rally instructor.
“Bump, bump, big bump!” she yelled every five seconds — even though “faster” wasn’t an option in our dignified conga line of riders.
Meanwhile, Miemie moved to AG’s ATV, her voice carrying through the jungle:
“Dad, I think Mum’s winning.”
To which AG, ever the gentleman, shouted back:
“We’re not racing!”
He said it.
But his throttle told a different story.
The Family That Rides Together...
By the time we looped back toward base, our ATVs looked like chocolate-coated sculptures.
The kids were radiant — hair matted, eyes wide, joy dripping off them like Bali sunshine.
AG’s mum stepped off her ATV looking every bit the rockstar grandmother.
“That was amazing!” she said, grinning from ear to ear.
For someone who’d never even driven a scooter, she’d just conquered the jungle.
It hit me right then — adventure really doesn’t care how old you are.
From toddlers to grandmothers, we all spoke the same language that day — laughter, squeals, and muddy triumph.
Lunch, Photos, and the Afterglow
We peeled off helmets and rain boots, revealing the true aftermath: streaks of mud, tangled hair, and faces glowing with adrenaline.
The All New Bali Adventure team guided us to lunch — part victory feast, part therapy session.
Plates of nasi goreng and mie goreng arrived, steaming and fragrant, alongside French fries and chicken nuggets for the kids — because even in Bali, parental bribery remains international.
The food hit like heaven.
Simple. Hearty. Perfect after 100 minutes of joyful chaos.
We sat there laughing, scrolling through our photos — every shot an action movie still: helmets tilted, mud flying, grins unstoppable.
Miemie proudly declared,
“Mum’s the best driver!”
I accepted the title with grace… and a cramp in both arms.
Sid’s Honest Review of All New Bali Adventure
Overall Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
(5/5 – mud-splattered excellence)
What I Loved
- Impeccably organised team — friendly, professional, and safety-first without killing the fun
- Pristine equipment with thoughtful touches like rain boots, towels, and water bottles
- Routes that balance thrill and scenery — tunnels, rivers, forests, and photo ops galore
- The $40 photo package — pure gold (you’ll look like a National Geographic adventurer even if you screamed the whole way)
- Surprisingly great lunch — fresh nasi goreng, hot fries, happy kids
What Could Be Better
- You’ll want to bring a change of clothes
Verdict
An absolute must-do for families, couples, or anyone who wants to trade beach calm for jungle chaos.
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Value for money
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Unique experience
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Great photos
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Memorable for kids/adults
All New Bali Adventure turns mud into memories — and I’d do it again in a heartbeat.
If You Go: Family Tips for All New Bali Adventure
Because preparation is just another word for less screaming later.
📍 Location
All New Bali Adventure — 10 Kms or 20 mins from Ubud City
⏰ Duration
Around 1 hour 40 minutes of riding + a well-earned lunch
👨👩👧👦 Who Can Ride
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Riders must be 2+ to sit as passengers and 16+ to drive
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We had riders aged 2 to 70 (yes, Grandma conquered the mud)
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Little ones ride safely with an adult — and they love it
🧤 What to Bring
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Change of clothes (trust me — mud happens)
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Sunscreen & bug spray
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Hair ties if you enjoy seeing after the tunnel
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Wet wipes (You w
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Dry bag for phones
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Sense of humour — non-negotiable
🧥 What They Provide
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High rain boots & helmets (fresh, clean, and photo-friendly)
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Friendly guides & a clear safety briefing
📸 Don’t Skip
The $40 photo package — cinematic, frame-worthy, zero regrets
🍜 Post-Ride Feast
Nasi goreng or mie goreng, plus fries and nuggets for kids
Think: Michelin-star comfort food for the freshly filthy
💬 Sidvice (Mum Hack)
Book a mid-morning slot — fewer crowds, cooler weather, and a guaranteed nap-time silence later (for kids and parents).
Final Thoughts
Adventure doesn’t ask for perfect timing, matching shoes, or dry clothes.
It just asks for a yes.
From two to seventy, we all said yes that day — to laughter, to mud, to a little bit of madness. And if you’re looking for an experience that blends family bonding with mild chaos, All New Bali Adventure is an absolute must.
You’ll leave muddy, happy, and possibly questioning your definition of a “gentle ride.”
Somewhere between the tunnel and the river, I remembered something important:
We followed the trail and found our fearless selves.
Turns out, joy has a throttle — and I just learnt how to ride it.
If you’re heading to Bali and want an adventure that’s safe, scenic, and genuinely unforgettable, check out All New Bali Adventure (not sponsored, just sincerely impressed).
Tell them the mum who rode through it all and captured every moment sent you — and definitely grab the photo package.
Then share your story in the comments or tag me on Instagram @eatplaytravelwithsid — I’ll be cheering from the next muddy trail.
2 Comments
Hey,!! A marvel in writing, loved the flow, the simplicity, the rhythm and fluidity of the peice…..your language and vocabulary is impeccable!
It was so beautifully put together and I was so immersed while reading it that my imagination took flight n transported me to Bali….lock, stock and barrel……..
That minute to minute flow of adrenaline so hit my blood vessels and I was right there with all of you……. enjoying every bit of your fun n frolic!!!
Great job Sids, a superb opening n look forward to a long n intresting innings, with every article being a gourmet meal.
Thank you so, so much for such incredibly generous words 💛
Reading this truly left me speechless — knowing the story carried you all the way to Bali and let you feel every rush of adrenaline means everything to me as a writer. Your encouragement and faith in my writing give me so much motivation to keep going.
I’m deeply grateful for your support and can’t thank you enough for reading so thoughtfully 🤍