An ATV ride is one of the messier ways to spend a morning in Bali, and that is the point. You sit on a small four-wheeled quad bike, follow a guide along a dirt track, and come back caked in mud. The rides are short, they need no experience, and they pass through scenery that is hard to reach any other way. This guide covers where the parks are, what a ride involves, the age and height rules, what to wear, and the insurance and licence questions that are easy to overlook. The table below compares the tours currently on sale.
Where the ATV parks are
Most of the ATV tours in the table below name Ubud in its title. The tracks use a mix of rice terraces, village lanes, plantations and patches of jungle, which is why the area suits the activity: the land is steep enough to be interesting, and the soil turns to mud quickly after rain.
Because the parks cluster there, hotel pick-up from Ubud is usually straightforward, and a transfer from the south of the island is possible but adds time on the road. Browse Ubud tours for other half-day activities that fit alongside a ride, and read the Ubud destination page if you are still choosing where to stay.
What a ride involves
A typical outing starts with a safety briefing and a few minutes on a practice loop. After that you ride in single file behind a guide at a modest pace, stopping for photos. One listing says beginners can ride solo after a short briefing and familiarisation.
Routes are usually sold by their main feature:
- Mud and jungle circuits. The simplest option, with deep puddles, slopes and bumpy tracks.
- Tunnel routes. The track runs through a short cave-like tunnel dug through the hillside. One listing describes a 9 km circuit through rice terraces with a cave-like tunnel and a mini waterfall.
- River and waterfall routes. You cross shallow streams, and some tours finish at a small waterfall where you can wash off.
- Rice-field routes. Flatter and cleaner, good if you care more about the view than the mud.
The same listing rates the ride as moderate fitness: you need to sit upright and control a small ATV over bumps and shallow inclines. It is not a stunt ride, but a bumpy track will find any sore back.
Single or tandem
On a single ride you have your own bike. On a tandem ride a rider and a passenger share one, and the passenger holds on behind. Tandem bookings are often sold in multiples of two, because the operator needs to match riders with passengers, so check how a solo traveller books a tandem seat.
Single is more fun for adults who want to control their own speed. Tandem suits children, nervous riders and anyone who would rather be driven. Passengers get the same mud as the rider, and sometimes more. One more point on tandem: insurance can treat a pillion differently from a rider, which is covered below.
Age, height and weight
The rules vary by operator, so never assume. One listing says children aged 9 to 15 should ride tandem with an adult, asks for a minimum age of 16 to ride a bike alone, caps riders at age 59, and gives a maximum weight of 120 kg a bike. Another operator lists a maximum weight of 165 kg and does not state a minimum age at all, while a third source says it has no formal height or weight limit but recommends riders are at least about five feet tall. Where sources differ, the operator’s own booking page is the one that counts.
One listing says the activity may not suit pregnant women. If you have a bad back, a neck injury or a heart condition, treat the ride as you would a rough road trip and ask before you book.
What to wear and bring
- Closed-toe shoes or sport sandals. Flip-flops are a bad idea on the foot pedals.
- Long, light clothes you are happy to ruin. Waterproof clothing helps if the route includes river crossings.
- Sunglasses or goggles to keep dirt out of your eyes.
- A change of clothes, towel and cash for tips or extras.
- A waterproof camera or case, because phones and mud do not mix.
Helmets are provided, and many operators also supply gloves, boots and knee and elbow guards. If a company offers no helmet at all, go somewhere else. One insurer notes that some operators do not enforce safety gear or follow strict safety rules, so choose a reputable, licensed company and follow the briefing even if your guide is relaxed about it.
Insurance and licence
This is the part most visitors skip, and it is worth five minutes. A travel insurance policy does not automatically cover you for quad bike riding. In a guide dated 10 July 2026, one Australian insurer, Fast Cover, says its cover is available only with an add-on, and only if you ride under the direct supervision of a properly licensed recreational organisation, obey the safety codes, wear gloves and a crash helmet, are a single rider with at most one passenger, and do not jump, race or compete.
The same insurer notes that the add-on does not come with its Basics policy. Other insurers write their own rules, and some exclude quad bikes entirely, so read your own product disclosure statement instead of relying on a general statement. If you plan to ride tandem, ask specifically whether a passenger is covered.
On licences, the track is private land, and tour operators generally let beginners ride after a briefing. That does not settle your insurance position. The same insurer’s guide says riders need a licence valid for the vehicle and country for its motorcycle cover, and that riding without the right licence can put a claim at risk. Whether that applies to an ATV on private tracks depends on the policy, so ask your insurer in writing if you are unsure.
Combining a ride with rafting
The Ayung River, which runs through the hills near Ubud, is the standard pairing. A common day is an ATV ride in the morning and white-water rafting in the afternoon, or the reverse. Both leave you wet and tired, so a combined day suits people who want one big outing and a quiet evening.
Most companies sell the two as a package with a single transfer, which is easier than arranging separate pick-ups. If you book separately, leave a gap for lunch and a shower, because the second operator will not want a rider dripping with mud. Read our white water rafting guide for the river itself, then use the table to match an ATV tour to the slot you have free.
