Dare to Jump: Inside the Thrills and Challenges of Extreme Park Bali

A new extreme adventure destination, Extreme Park Bali (or Xpark Bali), has recently opened on Nusa Penida, offering thrill-seekers a breath-taking way to experience the island’s dramatic landscapes. Rather than just taking in the iconic view of Kelingking Beach from afar, visitors now have the chance to leap into adventure—literally—with a 130-meter rope jump that propels them over the ocean for an adrenaline-pumping experience.

In early 2024, Extreme Park Bali officially launched on the cliffs above Turtle Beach on Nusa Penida. What makes this park truly extraordinary is that it was built entirely by hand. From the intricate rigging system to the jump platform itself, everything was crafted manually, showcasing the founders' dedication and passion for creating one of the most unique adventure parks in the world.

Alexey Pykhov, the founder of the park and an experienced rope jumper, along with his team, has completed jumps from more than 50 structures worldwide. He even set a world record by jumping from the 492-meter Siduhe Bridge in Hubei Province, China, achieving a 486-meter free fall. Now, Alexey and his partner Alexander are in the process of building one of the most unique adventure parks in the world. We spoke with these thrill-seekers to learn more about their passion for rope jumping.

Alexey: I had been searching for a location in Southeast Asia since 2013,” Alexey shares. “I wanted a place where the laws allowed it, where it was safe, and where there was a steady flow of tourists. My search eventually brought me to Nusa Penida.

Alexey: This activity is known as rope jumping or rope swing—it’s not the same as bungee jumping or any other type of jump. Unlike bungee jumping, where you leap headfirst with an elastic rope attached to your ankles, leading to uncontrolled rebounds, rope jumping uses mountaineering ropes, harnesses, and specialized equipment. While there’s free fall and suspension involved, the technique is entirely different.

Alexey: The jump starts with about five seconds of free fall from a 130-meter cliff. As the ropes extend, they absorb the shock, and you transition into a horizontal swing, which prevents any rebound toward the cliff. The vertical speed slows down, and you remain suspended while we lower a recovery rope to pull you back up using a winch. The load is evenly distributed across the harness, which is securely attached to the ropes.

At Extreme Park Bali, we offer video recordings of every jump, using both handheld cameras and helmet-mounted devices. The footage is then uploaded to cloud storage, making it easy for participants to share their experiences on social media. Our park's popularity has grown rapidly, and Instagram reels of the jumps have already garnered millions of views.

The price for a jump starts at 2,000,000 IDR, with pre-bookings available via Instagram at @xparkbali. Since January, we’ve seen a steady stream of visitors, with a big increase in May. Currently, we have at least 15 people jumping every day, with our record-breaking day hosting 29 participants, all jumping one after the other.

Alexey: The park implements strict safety measures to minimize the risks associated with each jump. Every participant undergoes a thorough inspection, and we personally oversee each jump from beginning to end. In addition, we’ve trained a team of five local Indonesian staff members to assist with the process and ensure safety protocols are followed.

Although Xpark Bali is located on Turtle Beach, it’s not a beach in the traditional sense—it’s actually a steep cliff with no direct path down to the water. The cliff forms a U-shape, and we’ve secured safety ropes to create a reliable jumping point. We also constructed a protruding platform to ensure jumpers remain clear of the cliff face during their descent.

At Xpark Bali, we use only certified gear from top international climbing and mountaineering brands, all of which is sourced from Europe. The rigging system, which I originally developed in 2011 when I first started jumping, has been rigorously tested and is now used by teams worldwide. Every component of the system is doubled—two ropes, two carabiners—adding an extra layer of safety. In fact, our safety standards at Xpark Bali go beyond those of traditional bungee jumping, which typically relies on a single rubber cord.

The park's approach to safety is founded on years of experience, the use of top-tier equipment, and a rigging system that has been thoroughly tested through thousands of successful jumps.

Alexey: From February to July 2023, I gathered information, created a business plan, and secured an investor—because I couldn’t do it alone. That’s when things really started moving forward.

One of the biggest challenges is that it’s impossible to conduct jumps without permission from the landowner. Finding the right person took quite some time. You can’t simply go to an office and ask who owns the land; instead, you have to ask around among the locals to identify the owner and negotiate a lease or purchase. The language barrier made this process even more complicated.

The landowner was selling 7 hectares, but we only needed 750 square meters, which was more than enough for our purposes. Much of the construction was done by hand due to budget limitations.

Building and installing the rigging system was particularly tough, especially along the cliff by the sea. I used my engineering skills to design the system and handled most of the climbing and rigging, with Alexander helping whenever possible.

Alexey: I first visited Bali in 2016 and returned just before COVID. I was scouting potential locations, focusing on the Uluwatu area. Initially, we were told that jumping near the Uluwatu Temple wasn’t allowed, but after lengthy negotiations, we reached an agreement. However, the cliffs ultimately weren’t suitable for my needs, as the wind made jumping unsafe.

During my third visit in February last year, I was determined to make it happen. By that time, my team, based in Vladivostok, had already tested jumps on the cliff where the park now operates, but due to various circumstances, including the pandemic, they didn’t settle there. I pushed through with the project—everyone else, including Alexander, who supported the idea, joined later.

Turtle Beach is just a kilometre away from Kelingking Beach, one of Bali’s most iconic postcard destinations. That famous dinosaur-shaped cliff is one of the most Instagrammed spots in the world, and we’re fortunate to be located so close. The location truly speaks for itself—no other team has a site by the sea as breath-taking as ours. It’s unlikely that another spot like this will appear anytime soon. In terms of scenic beauty, our only real competition might be the Brazilians, who jump near a stunning waterfall.

Alexey: We’re planning to add more greenery, create terraces, and build three additional geodesic domes (we currently have just one). After each jump, participants will receive certificates, t-shirts, and stickers. We’re also working on a foam pit, a small bouldering wall, and a high extreme swing. Bali is famous for its swings, but most of them are between palm trees—ours will be over a cliff.

Interestingly, we leased 750 square meters of land and got 2 hectares of vertical cliff as a bonus. For regular renters, that might not mean much, but for us, it’s 2 hectares of opportunity! We’re planning to build a via ferrata—a rock climbing route with metal rungs and safety cables—so people can climb vertically with waves crashing below them.

The park is expanding, business is booming, and we’re already seeing a healthy profit. Soon, our extreme park will offer more than just jumps as we introduce a variety of other adventure-based activities.

We’re not looking to limit ourselves to one location. Extreme Park is a way to fund future expeditions and new discoveries. We’re already planning a project at Sipiso-Piso We’re also planning a project at a waterfall in Sumatra and are in discussions for a potential world-record jump in China. The Chinese have opened a 565-meter bridge and are constructing a 625-meter bridge. We’re also keeping an eye on the glass elevator at Kelingking Beach. For investors and the government, these are infrastructure projects, but for us, they’re new challenges and opportunities to set records.