Blue Lagoon Bali Snorkeling Experience

Tour review · TOUR REVIEWS

Blue Lagoon Bali Snorkeling Experience

5.0 · 412 reviews From $45 Operated by Bali SUN Tours · Bookable on Viator
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Saltwater and temples in one day. This Bali Sun Tours outing blends snorkeling at two sites plus a traditional beach lunch, then lets you tack on big-name sights like Lempuyang Temple, Tirta Gangga, Ubud rice terraces, or waterfalls.

I like that you get a real safety setup, not just a quick handoff. I also really appreciate the practical extras, like included snorkeling equipment and a shower plus changing room after you swim. Two snorkeling spots means you are not betting the whole day on one patch of water.

One consideration: water conditions can change fast. At Blue Lagoon, the current can be strong and visibility can vary, so it helps if you go in with flexible expectations.

Key Things to Know Before You Go

Blue Lagoon Bali Snorkeling Experience - Key Things to Know Before You Go

  • Two snorkeling sites, not just one: You swim at two locations, commonly Tanjung Jepun and Blue Lagoon, which boosts your odds of seeing fish and turtles.
  • Guide + equipment built into the day: You get instructions and all snorkeling gear, plus boat transfers.
  • Beach lunch and a reset afterward: A traditional Indonesian lunch is included, and you can use the shower and changing room.
  • Optional big cultural add-ons: Choose packages that add Gate of Heaven (Lempuyang Temple), Tirta Gangga, Ubud sights, or two waterfalls.
  • Marine life is a highlight, but conditions rule: Some days bring eels, angelfish, turtles, and more, while other days bring murkier water or fewer fish.

How the Two-Site Snorkeling Runs from Ubud

Blue Lagoon Bali Snorkeling Experience - How the Two-Site Snorkeling Runs from Ubud
This is built for a long, full day. From Ubud, you are usually picked up and then moved door-to-door in private transportation, with the total experience running about 7 to 12 hours depending on the pickup point and the package you choose. The snorkeling portion is designed as a smooth sequence, equipment first, then time in the water, and then back on the boat.

Because it is a private tour, the pace stays in your group’s hands. That matters when you are new to snorkeling or you just want a day that feels organized. You’ll also be dealing with the real Bali reality: travel time, weather, and sea conditions all affect how the day feels.

If you are comparing prices, here is the value angle. You are not just paying to get into the water, you are paying for transport, boat transfers, a guide, equipment, and lunch. At $45.45 per person, that adds up fast if you would otherwise be booking these pieces separately.

You can also read our reviews of more snorkeling tours in Ubud

Blue Lagoon Beach: Your First Real Swim

Blue Lagoon Beach is where the day starts to feel like a snorkeling outing. After you arrive, your local snorkeling guide gives instructions on how to snorkel, then you put on the provided safety gear and head out. One highlight that pops up in guide and driver stories is helpful staff, including names like Andre and Yanbulu showing up as part of the experience.

Expect that the time here can be a bit longer than just the water minutes. The schedule lists about 3 hours tied to the Blue Lagoon stop, with snorkeling and the handoffs that go with it. That gives you room to settle in, get positioned, and get comfortable before you start looking for marine life.

What you can hope to see includes angelfish, eels, and turtles, and several accounts specifically mention a sea turtle sighting. When conditions are good, the area can feel alive with fish close enough to watch calmly.

Now the part to take seriously. At Blue Lagoon, the current can be strong. In some cases, water clarity can be only fair, and there can be a lot of boats in the same area. If you are sensitive to movement, or if you hate feeling pulled around, ask your guide about what the water is doing right now and stay close to their guidance.

Practical tip: bring a towel and a change of clothes, since the tour includes a shower and changing room but you still want to dry off fast.

Tanjung Jepun: Second Chance for Fish and Turtles

Blue Lagoon Bali Snorkeling Experience - Tanjung Jepun: Second Chance for Fish and Turtles
The tour is designed around two snorkeling spots, and Tanjung Jepun is one of them. The logic is simple: you snorkel one site, then move to a second. That reduces the chance of your day being ruined by one cloudy patch of water or one spot that is less active.

I like that this setup is built for real-world sea conditions. In Bali, visibility is not guaranteed, and marine life can be more present in one area than another. A second site gives you a better shot at eels, turtles, and the smaller fish that make snorkeling feel special.

Keep expectations honest. Some experiences report that reefs can look stressed and that fish counts can be lower when water is murkier. But even in those cases, the same-day structure still has value because you are not locked into only one try.

Also, follow the guide closely around boats. One negative note mentioned boats being dangerously close together, which can create risk when fins and people are all moving at once. You cannot control other boats, but you can control your position, spacing, and attention level.

Lunch on the Beach and Shower Time That You’ll Appreciate

Blue Lagoon Bali Snorkeling Experience - Lunch on the Beach and Shower Time That You’ll Appreciate
After snorkeling, you eat. The tour includes lunch, and it is described as traditional Indonesian beach-style. In positive notes, the food comes across as yummy or at least satisfying, and several people call it a nice add-on rather than an afterthought.

The honest downside is that meals are not identical day to day. One lower rating called the food bland and not enough for one person. That does not mean every lunch will be like that, but it does tell you to treat lunch as included energy, not a gourmet mission.

What I really like is the post-swim comfort plan. The tour includes a shower and changing room, and the staff setup usually helps you get out of wet gear fast. That is a small thing that makes the rest of the day feel less sweaty and more pleasant, especially if your package adds temples or waterfalls.

Bring a camera if you want to capture the boat ride and underwater moments. And yes, bring a towel and a change of clothes because they are explicitly recommended, and you will use them.

Choosing the Gate of Heaven Upgrade at Lempuyang Temple

Blue Lagoon Bali Snorkeling Experience - Choosing the Gate of Heaven Upgrade at Lempuyang Temple
If you pick the Snorkeling w/ Gate of Heaven package, you add temple time after your water session. Lempuyang Temple is the star stop here, and it is tied to the famous Gate of Heaven photos with Mount Agung in the background.

The schedule shows about 1 hour at Lempuyang Temple, with admission ticket not listed as included for this add-on portion. That matters for budgeting, so check what your package covers before you assume every ticket is included.

This upgrade is a good match if you want two different kinds of Bali beauty. Snorkeling gives you marine life and calm ocean time, while Lempuyang adds a dramatic, spiritual photo moment and a chance to see temple grounds firsthand.

The tradeoff is time. Temple stops are rarely fast if you want photos and a chance to move without rushing. Add in the waiting and the movement between stops, and your day becomes more about schedule management than floating.

Here's some more things to do in Ubud

Tirta Gangga Gardens: Short, Scenic Royal Palace Time

Blue Lagoon Bali Snorkeling Experience - Tirta Gangga Gardens: Short, Scenic Royal Palace Time
Still in the Gate of Heaven upgrade, Tirta Gangga Park is the next add-on. This is described as a former royal palace, with tiered fountains, gardens, and stone structures. The itinerary lists about 30 minutes here, which tells you this stop is designed as a quick scenic break, not a long deep exploration.

If you like photogenic water features and pretty garden settings, you will likely enjoy the contrast with your snorkeling time. You go from ocean swimmers to fountains and pools, and it keeps the theme of water moving through the day.

If you are the type who prefers slow wandering, 30 minutes may feel short. But for most people, it works well as an energy reset.

The Ubud Tour Add-On: Tegalalang, Monkey Forest, and SUBAK

Blue Lagoon Bali Snorkeling Experience - The Ubud Tour Add-On: Tegalalang, Monkey Forest, and SUBAK
Pick the Snorkeling w/ Ubud tour option and you get a cultural side to the day. The itinerary adds Tegalalang Rice Terrace, plus Ubud Arts Handicraft, and Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary.

Tegalalang Rice Terrace gets about 30 minutes, and it is described as a cliff set roughly 600 meters above sea level. You also get a chance to understand Bali’s irrigation system called SUBAK. That angle makes the scenery more than just views. It explains how water controls farming, and that is part of why rice terraces look the way they do.

Then you have Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary for about 1 hour. The description notes nearly 900 Bali long tail macaques in their real habitat, plus the iconic Dragon Bridge and lush forest and river canyon areas. This is one of those stops where you should keep your expectations grounded. The monkeys are wild, and the environment is active, so you need to watch your belongings and follow guide instructions.

This is a great add-on if you want a “Bali day” that mixes sea and land. It is less ideal if you want a purely water-focused trip or if you hate crowds, since monkey forest and popular viewpoints can get busy.

Waterfall Day: Tibumana and Tegenungan in One Package

Blue Lagoon Bali Snorkeling Experience - Waterfall Day: Tibumana and Tegenungan in One Package
Choose the Snorkeling w/ Waterfalls tour and you add two waterfalls: Tibumana and Tegenungan. Admission tickets are listed as included for these waterfall stops.

Tibumana gets about 30 minutes. It is described as beautiful and serene, and it is framed as lesser-known compared to the most famous waterfalls. That can be a good thing if you want a calmer stop where you can actually hear the water and take a few photos without feeling like you are in a photo line.

Tegenungan is another 30 minutes. It is described as one of Bali’s most popular and easily accessible waterfalls, near the village of Kemenuh in Gianyar Regency. That accessibility is part of the appeal, but it also means you should expect a busier atmosphere.

The practical advice here is simple: wear shoes that handle slippery ground, and be careful around misty rocks. Even when time is short, safety matters.

Price and Value: Why $45.45 Can Make Sense

Let’s talk value in real terms. At $45.45 per person, you are getting private transportation, snorkeling equipment, boat transfers, snorkeling time, a guide, a beach lunch, and use of a shower plus changing room. That is a lot bundled into one line item.

If you tried to build this day yourself, you would likely pay separately for a guide, equipment rental, boat transport, and a proper itinerary that keeps you moving efficiently between Ubud and the coast area. Here, the tour is already stitched together.

One more value clue comes from demand. This kind of experience is commonly booked around 20 days in advance on average, which usually means good seasonal timing and a solid reputation for people who want snorkeling plus extra sights.

Who it suits best: beginners and casual snorkelers, people who want a structured day without micromanaging transport, and anyone who likes combining sea time with cultural stops. The tour notes that most people can participate, with a minimum age of 6, so it can also fit families with older kids.

Should You Book This Blue Lagoon Snorkeling Experience?

I’d book this if you want a well-paced, all-in-one day where snorkeling is the centerpiece but you also want the option to add serious Bali sightseeing. The two-site approach is the biggest reason. It improves your odds when one location has stronger current or less clear water than expected.

Choose it also if you like practical planning. Instructions, equipment, boat transfers, lunch, and shower time are included, so you are not scrambling for basics on the spot. That is the kind of value that actually matters when you are spending all day outside.

Skip or at least think twice if you are extremely sensitive to current, or if you get bothered easily by stings. One negative note mentioned jellyfish stinging during the swim, and another flagged roughboat spacing and murkier water. It does not mean every day is like that, but it is a reminder to take conditions seriously, listen to your guide, and keep your focus.

If you are deciding between packages, pick based on energy level. Snorkeling only keeps the day simpler. Gate of Heaven adds dramatic temple photography. The Ubud tour adds SUBAK and monkeys. The waterfall option adds two scenic stops in a row.

FAQ

What is included in the snorkeling portion?

You get round-trip transport, a guide, snorkeling equipment, boat transfers, and about 2 hours of snorkeling. Lunch is included as well, plus shower and changing room access.

How long does the experience take?

The duration is listed as about 7 to 12 hours, depending on your pickup point and which package you choose.

Where does the tour start?

The experience is based in Ubud, Indonesia, and pickup and drop-off in the area are included.

What snorkeling sites are included?

The day includes snorkeling at two different spots, including Blue Lagoon and Tanjung Jepun.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A traditional Indonesian lunch on the beach is included.

Do I need to pay for temple or waterfall admission tickets?

It depends on the package. Admission ticket inclusion is listed for Tibumana and Tegenungan waterfalls, while tickets for Lempuyang Temple and Tirta Gangga are noted as not included in the itinerary details shown.

What packages can I choose?

You can book snorkeling as the core experience, or upgrade to:

  • Snorkeling w/ Gate of Heaven (Lempuyang Temple and Tirta Gangga)
  • Snorkeling w/ Ubud tour (Tegalalang Rice Terrace, Ubud Arts Handicraft, Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary)
  • Snorkeling w/ Waterfalls tour (Tibumana and Tegenungan)

What should I bring with me?

Bring towels, a camera, and a change of clothes.

What are the requirements to join?

The minimum age to participate is 6 years, and most travelers can participate.

What happens if weather conditions are bad?

The tour requires good weather for clear snorkeling visibility. If it is canceled due to poor weather, you will be offered a different date or a full refund.