Two reefs, one easy day. This Bali snorkeling tour takes you from Ubud out to Bali’s east coast for guided snorkel time at Blue Lagoon and Tanjung Jepun, with a chance to see sea turtles and plenty of reef fish. I like that it’s built around real snorkeling spots (not just a beach stop), and that the day includes the small comfort stuff that keeps things relaxed.
What I really appreciate is the hassle-free pickup and round-trip transfers from your Bali hotel, plus air-conditioned car comfort. You’ll also get the core inclusions that matter out on the water: all snorkeling equipment, a set menu lunch, and shower/change facilities afterward.
One thing to plan for: getting on and off the smaller boat can be awkward. The metal ladder setup is a common sticking point, especially if you’re not feeling steady about your footing.
In This Review
- Key things to know before you go
- Bali’s Blue Lagoon: Why this east-coast snorkel day works
- The Ubud-to-coast drive: long-ish, but handled
- Puri Rai Restaurant: the pre-snorkel reset point
- Blue Lagoon Beach: reef views and real chances for turtles
- Getting in and out of the small boat
- Tanjung Jepun: your second snorkeling location for variety
- Equipment, lunch, and the “comfort details” that matter
- Wildlife chances: what to look for while the guide works
- Length, group size, and who this fits best
- Who should book it
- Who should think twice
- Value check: why the $40 price can make sense
- Quick practical tips before you go
- Should you book Bali Snorkeling at Blue Lagoon Beach?
- FAQ
- What snorkeling sites are included?
- Is pickup from my Bali hotel included?
- What’s included in the price?
- Do I need to bring swimwear or a towel?
- What marine life might I see?
- What if the weather is bad or I need to cancel?
Key things to know before you go
- East-coast snorkel time: Blue Lagoon and Tanjung Jepun are a quieter alternative to the south and west side.
- Small-group feel: capped at 15 travelers, and you may find the boat carries only a handful of people.
- Full “day service” included: equipment, lunch, insurance, and changing/shower facilities.
- Guides do the searching: some groups report guides actively calling out fish and wildlife sightings.
- Plan around weather: visibility can change with conditions, so clear-water days matter.
Bali’s Blue Lagoon: Why this east-coast snorkel day works
If you’re choosing between snorkel tours in Bali, I think the best ones focus on two things: good water access and smart guiding. This one is built around two snorkeling locations on the east side, where you generally get fewer crowds than you’d see closer to the most famous beach areas.
Blue Lagoon sits in Padang Bay Village, and it’s not right around the corner. That far-enough drive is part of the value: you’re paying for a full transportation setup, not just a local beach morning. And the tour keeps the rhythm simple—pickup, briefing, water time, then lunch and a clean exit.
Wildlife odds are a major reason to pick this tour. The tour description lists a solid lineup you could spot, including moray eels, butterfly fish, and sea turtles. It also adds reef sharks, lionfish, and squid to the possibility list, which tells me the guiding is meant to be active, not just scenic.
You can also read our reviews of more snorkeling tours in Ubud
The Ubud-to-coast drive: long-ish, but handled
Your day starts with pickup. The tour offers a private, comfortable air-conditioned car and round-trip transfers from your hotel or a designated meeting point. Expect the ride to the east coast to take about an hour from places like Kuta or the airport, and from Ubud it can feel longer depending on traffic.
This matters because comfort on transport is often where budget tours get sloppy. Here, the inclusions stay practical: private AC car, organized timing, and a driver who’s part of the whole experience. Reviews specifically mention drivers like Aldeii, Johnny, Septa, Nova, and Rukmana being friendly and keeping things running smoothly, with some pointing out what to look for along the way.
My tip: treat the drive as part of your plan. Bring water, wear something easy to change out of later, and don’t underestimate Bali traffic. If you’re the type who gets antsy in transit, this tour’s door-to-door approach is a real quality-of-life upgrade.
Puri Rai Restaurant: the pre-snorkel reset point
Before you hit the water, you’ll stop at Puri Rai Restaurant. It’s basically your staging area before and after the snorkeling. The location is convenient and near the beach, and the setup gives you a comfortable spot to prepare and receive briefings without feeling rushed.
That briefing step is more important than it sounds. Snorkeling is simple, but small mistakes—gear fit, entry technique, where to stay—can turn an easy day into a tiring one. The tour’s rhythm, with time at the restaurant and then a clean transition to the boat area, helps you get oriented.
Also, because the tour includes shower and changing facilities later, having a consistent meeting point makes the “after” part less stressful. You’re not guessing where to go or where to regroup once you’re wet and sandy.
Blue Lagoon Beach: reef views and real chances for turtles
Blue Lagoon Beach is the headline stop, and it’s the one people talk about when they describe clear water and colorful fish. It’s also the spot that’s built around reef snorkeling—meaning you’re not just hanging around on a sand edge.
From what the tour description promises, this is where you’ll spend time looking for coral and reef life, including fish like butterfly fish, plus the highlight animals like sea turtles. Reviews support the idea that the snorkel experience can beat expectations, with people describing clean water and strong coral-and-fish moments.
There’s also an environmental reality check. One common theme in the feedback is that there can be plastic or rubbish in the area, especially around boat entry/exit zones. The good news: guides in at least some groups reportedly picked up plastic they saw in the water. That’s not a substitute for responsible tourism everywhere, but it’s a signal that the crew is paying attention, not ignoring what’s floating around.
Getting in and out of the small boat
Here’s the practical sticking point. The tour uses small boats, and getting onto them can involve a metal ladder. Reviews mention this can be difficult for some people, especially older travelers or anyone who isn’t comfortable stepping down or up quickly.
If that’s you, plan like this:
- Wear sturdy footwear on shore until you’re fully on the boat.
- Take your time at the ladder, even if others move faster.
- Avoid rushing your gear adjustment right at the entry point.
Even if you’re fit, this is the kind of detail that can turn a great day into an annoying one if you don’t anticipate it.
Tanjung Jepun: your second snorkeling location for variety
This tour doesn’t just do one site. You also go to Tanjung Jepun, which is included as one of the two top snorkel stops. The value here is variety: different reef areas can mean different fish groupings and different visibility patterns, so your odds improve simply because you’re not betting everything on a single spot.
The tour description also frames this as guided snorkeling with an expert snorkeling instructor. In practice, that means you should expect active help with technique and staying in the right zones to see marine life.
One more smart reason to like a second stop: even if one area isn’t as clear, the day doesn’t collapse. Instead, you get another chance for coral, fish, and the possibility of seeing animals like sea turtles again.
Equipment, lunch, and the “comfort details” that matter
This tour is sold as all-inclusive, and the inclusions are the ones you actually want for a smooth day:
- All snorkeling equipment (so you’re not hunting gear in Ubud at the last minute)
- A set menu lunch in the tour flow
- Shower facilities and changing room
- Insurance
- Free Wi-Fi (useful for quick messages and sharing photos once you’re done)
Reviews describe lunch as good, though not always fancy. That’s normal for a beach lunch setup, and it’s usually best viewed as fuel—not a dining experience. I’d rather have a reliable lunch than a long restaurant detour that kills water time.
Also, the tour notes that swimwear isn’t included. Bring it, or you’ll be stuck figuring out an emergency workaround with wet clothing later. The tour asks you to bring a change of clothes and towel, and the shower/changing facilities afterward make that request feel intentional, not optional.
Wildlife chances: what to look for while the guide works
This is one of the tour’s strongest selling points: the chance to see more than the basics. The description lists moray eels, butterfly fish, sea turtles, reef sharks, lionfish, and squid as possible sightings.
Reviews add more color on what a good guiding day can feel like. People mention guides calling out interesting spots once they’re found, and one review highlights a snorkel guide who was always searching and actively pointing out what to see. Names that show up include Soma as a guide/driver and Deyoo as a snorkeling guide described as friendly and helpful.
My advice: treat wildlife sightings like a partnership with your guide. If you look where they point and stay calm and slow in the water, your chances improve. The fish tend to notice less commotion, and you’ll have time to actually enjoy what you’re seeing.
Length, group size, and who this fits best
The tour runs about 6 hours. That’s a good sweet spot: enough time to travel, gear up, snorkel at two sites, and still get lunch and a shower afterward.
Group size is capped at 15 travelers, which helps keep the boat experience from turning into a cattle-car situation. Some reviews even point to smaller boat numbers in real life, which usually translates to better guidance and less jostling at entry points.
This tour is labeled for moderate physical fitness with a minimum age of 5 years. That doesn’t mean it’s “easy mode.” It does mean it’s designed to be approachable, but you’ll still be doing water movement and handling equipment and ladder entry.
Who should book it
You’ll likely enjoy this if:
- You want an all-in-one day with pickup, gear, lunch, and showers.
- You’re chasing reef fish and possibly sea turtles, not just a quick swim.
- You like the idea of Bali’s east coast being calmer than the most crowded areas.
Who should think twice
You might want a different tour if:
- Boat ladder entry is a concern for you or your group.
- You’re extremely sensitive to heat in transit and worry the AC might not feel strong enough (one review mentions inadequate AC).
- You need ironclad communication about exact pickup timing and can’t handle last-minute uncertainty (there are a couple of communication/pickup timing complaints).
Value check: why the $40 price can make sense
At $40 per person, this tour is priced in a way that often works if you compare it to the real costs of doing snorkeling independently. You’re paying for:
- private AC transport
- snorkeling gear
- lunch
- showers/changing
- insurance
If you tried to cobble those together yourself—gear rental, driver, and a reliable schedule—you’d likely spend more time and money than the tour price, especially with Bali traffic and the need to coordinate pickup around the coast.
My take: this looks like good value as long as you go in with realistic expectations. You’re not paying for a five-star spa lunch. You’re paying for a well-run day that gets you to two snorkeling sites without you planning every step.
Quick practical tips before you go
- Bring swimwear (not included) and your own towel/change clothes for after.
- Use sunscreen, but rinse off in the provided shower/change area after.
- If you get motion or heat discomfort, plan your gear and clothing so you’re not changing in panic.
- If you’re sensitive to ladder entry, consider taking a slower approach at the boat steps.
Should you book Bali Snorkeling at Blue Lagoon Beach?
I’d recommend booking this tour if you want a straightforward, all-inclusive snorkeling day out of Ubud with real guide support and the chance to see sea turtles and lots of reef fish. The combination of Blue Lagoon plus Tanjung Jepun, plus equipment and lunch, makes it a strong value play.
I’d only hesitate if boat entry logistics (the ladder) are a dealbreaker for you, or if you know you’ll struggle with any pickup timing communication issues. If those aren’t big concerns, you’re set up for a fun, fish-focused day on Bali’s east coast that doesn’t require you to micromanage the details.
FAQ
What snorkeling sites are included?
You visit Blue Lagoon Beach and Tanjung Jepun for guided snorkel time at two locations.
Is pickup from my Bali hotel included?
Yes. The tour offers pickup from your hotel or a designated meeting point, with round-trip transfers included.
What’s included in the price?
The tour includes a private air-conditioned car, snorkeling equipment, a set menu lunch, shower facilities and a changing room, free Wi-Fi, and insurance.
Do I need to bring swimwear or a towel?
Swimwear is not included, so you should bring it. The tour also asks you to bring a change of clothes and a towel.
What marine life might I see?
The description highlights moray eels, butterfly fish, sea turtles, reef sharks, lionfish, and squid. Visibility depends on weather conditions.
What if the weather is bad or I need to cancel?
The experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.




























