With marathon season upon us, there’s much discussion about traveling for sport. People will book vacations just to participate in a race and push their bodily limits in unique destinations.
So, when one luxury hotel wanted to celebrate the opening of a new 105-foot-long suspension bridge that crosses the sacred Ayung River, they decided to create a one-of-a-kind athletic experience: a jungle biathlon.
Four Seasons Bali at Sayan just launched this sporting event, making it the first-ever jungle biathlon in Bali. The three-hour adventure starts with a cycling tour of a rice-farming village before switching over to a trek through the jungle on a secluded trail that is otherwise inaccessible. From here, you follow the path to the river where you cross the new bridge back to the resort.
Though it has a type of race name, there is no actual competition. Instead, a Four Seasons guide will lead the way to ensure you make it through the jungle. Of course, that doesn’t mean you won’t feel like you just accomplished a feat. Plus, you’ll be one of the first to explore this previously off-limits wilderness thanks to the newly-built Sayan Bridge.
“We call it our ‘bridge over sacred waters’ as it crosses Bali’s longest and most sacred river, the Ayung,” resort manager Gianni Costa, said in a statement. “It unlocks completely new outdoor adventures for guests wanting to explore the beautiful nature on the other side of the river. They can embark on a ‘jungle biathlon’ led by expert Balinese guides, or opt for a culinary experience with a picnic lunch or river-top romantic dinner.”
The 60-room resort has long been known for its cocooned location in the Ayung Valley overlooking the river and undeveloped forest on the other side. With the addition of the bridge, which hovers 20 feet above the river, guests get access to a previously untouched piece of land and a unique dining experience. While you can trek over the structure during the day, it transforms into a private dining venue at night, where you’ll be served a four-course meal in the middle of the bridge.
Both the bridge and biathlon come after the property already introduced the world’s first rafting check-in. In lieu of a 90-minute drive to transfer between Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay on the south-west coast of Bali to the Four Seasons Sayan, you can take a two-hour rafting adventure.
“Bali is a familiar destination, but there are many layers to it and secret sites for guests seeking authentic discovery,” said Gianni. “It’s about creating an experience that will stay with them for a lifetime.”
