GORGE LANDMARKS
The Carved Reliefs and Waterfalls of the Ayung Gorge
A closer look at the Ayung gorge's hand-carved stone reliefs and waterfalls — what they are, why they're only visible from the water, and how to shoot them.
See Ayung River rafting trips on GetYourGuide ↗Stone reliefs carved into the canyon wall
Partway down the rafting run, the river passes beneath a stretch of rock face carved with figures and scenes — Balinese imagery cut directly into the canyon wall, set at a height and angle that makes it visible only from raft level on the water. Exactly when these reliefs were carved and by whom isn't consistently documented across operators, and they read as a relatively recent addition tied to specific rafting companies rather than an ancient temple carving, so treat any precise dating or attribution you hear on the day as local colour rather than verified history. What's not in doubt is the effect: an unexpected, striking sight in the middle of moving white water.
Not every operator's stretch has them
Because the carvings sit on one particular section of the gorge, whether you pass them depends on which operator's put-in and take-out points you use, not just on booking 'Ayung rafting' in general. Most of the well-established companies running the popular Ubud stretch do pass the carved section, since it's become one of the run's signature landmarks, but it's a reasonable question to ask when comparing listings if seeing the reliefs matters to you. Guides typically point them out and may slow the raft briefly as you pass, rather than expecting you to spot them yourself in the middle of a rapid.
The waterfalls along the run
Several waterfalls drop into the Ayung gorge along the rafted stretch, ranging from modest trickles down mossy rock to fuller cascades that can send spray across the raft if your guide steers in close. The exact number and scale you'll pass varies by operator's route and by how much water the falls are carrying that day, so it's not worth fixating on a specific count promised in marketing material. What's consistent is that the falls, like the carvings, are part of what makes this particular gorge more scenic than a typical white-water run — a mix of jungle, rock and falling water rather than rapids alone.
Wet-season vs dry-season waterfalls
Season changes how the waterfalls look as much as it changes the rapids. During the wetter months (roughly November to March), the falls typically run fuller and more forceful, feeding into the higher water levels that can also push some rapids toward class IV. In the dry season (April to October), the same falls tend to run thinner and more delicate, sometimes reduced to a light curtain rather than a full cascade, alongside calmer class II–III rapids. Neither version is objectively better — it depends whether you want a dramatic, powerful gorge or a gentler, clearer one — but it's worth knowing the same landmark can look quite different depending on when you go.
Photographing carvings and falls from a moving raft
Getting a usable photo of the reliefs or a waterfall from a raft in motion is genuinely tricky — you're moving, often paddling, and everything is wet. A floating wrist strap or a waterproof action camera mounted on the raft or a paddler gives far better odds than a phone held loosely in hand, and a chest or head mount frees you to keep paddling through the actual rapids. Ask your guide in advance if you want a moment to pause near the carvings; many will slow down briefly for photos if the water allows it, though safety and the group's pace always come first.
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