Blue Lagoon Bali Snorkeling Experience

REVIEW · UBUD

Blue Lagoon Bali Snorkeling Experience

  • 5.0412 reviews
  • From $45.45
Book on Viator →

Operated by Bali SUN Tours · Bookable on Viator

Bali has a way of turning one day into a story, and this snorkeling outing does just that. You get two snorkel stops (Blue Lagoon and Tanjung Jepun) with a real guide onboard coaching you, then you wrap it up with a traditional Indonesian beach lunch. It’s a simple plan that fits well if you want marine life plus a second “Bali sights” chapter in the same day.

My favorite part is the built-in pacing: you’re not just dropped at one site and left to figure it out. The second big win is the included basics—private transport, snorkeling equipment, boat transfers, and even a place to shower/change afterward. One thing to keep in mind: conditions at Blue Lagoon can vary, and I’d be ready for stronger current or less-than-crystal clarity on rougher days.

Quick hits before you go

Blue Lagoon Bali Snorkeling Experience - Quick hits before you go

  • Two snorkel sites: Blue Lagoon Beach plus Tanjung Jepun, so your odds of seeing turtles and lots of fish improve
  • Guided coaching: your local snorkeling guide gives instructions on how to snorkel before you hit the water
  • Included gear and boat transfers: snorkeling equipment and boat rides are part of the package, not extra add-ons
  • Beach lunch is covered: you’ll have a traditional Indonesian lunch on the beach
  • Pick a full-day theme: Gates of Heaven, an Ubud day, or waterfalls can be added to the snorkeling
  • Weather affects visibility: clear snorkeling depends on favorable conditions, so plan for a weather pivot

Why this Bali snorkeling day makes sense from Ubud

Blue Lagoon Bali Snorkeling Experience - Why this Bali snorkeling day makes sense from Ubud
If you’re staying in or around Ubud, this kind of outing is practical. You start with pickup and round-trip transport, then you head out for a focused snorkeling block. After that, you’re not stuck returning immediately—you can add temple stops, rice terraces, forests, or waterfalls depending on which package you choose.

What makes it feel like good value is how much is handled for you. You’re not just paying for “a chance to snorkel.” You’re paying for the equipment, the guide, the boat transfers, and the lunch. Those pieces usually cost extra when you cobble together your own day.

One more subtle plus: the tour is private. That matters in snorkeling. Less waiting, fewer schedule compromises, and more chance to get your footing before the water time.

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

Two stops instead of one: Blue Lagoon Beach and Tanjung Jepun

Most snorkeling days in Bali are built around one main site. This one splits it into two: Blue Lagoon Beach and Tanjung Jepun. For you, that’s smart because the underwater experience can change with current, visibility, and water conditions.

At Blue Lagoon, the experience tends to be scenic and busy with other boats. Some snorkelers love the fish density and the chance of seeing turtles. Others have found the water can be murkier or the current stronger, which can make it harder to take calm, slow looks at the reef.

Tanjung Jepun works as your second attempt. Even if Blue Lagoon isn’t perfect, you still have another chance at a more comfortable drift and different underwater scenery. In other words: two sites give you a buffer day-to-day.

What I’d watch for in your head is this: snorkeling isn’t guaranteed perfection. Your goal is “good marine time.” Two stops help you reach that goal more often.

What snorkeling feels like here: gear, guide, and boat timing

Blue Lagoon Bali Snorkeling Experience - What snorkeling feels like here: gear, guide, and boat timing
You’ll get instructions from your local professional snorkeling guide before you go in. Then you don your safety equipment, using the snorkeling equipment provided.

The tour includes boat transfers, which matters for two reasons:

  • You’re not fighting “who wants to swim where” logistics on your own.
  • It usually keeps you closer to the best snorkeling areas without turning the day into a long slog.

In reviews tied to this experience, I kept seeing a pattern: people rate the day highly when the guide gives clear help and when the group stays calm in the water. One group called out the help and friendliness of their guide, and another highlighted how manageable it was even for someone around 60 years old.

Still, it’s not a zero-risk hobby. One review described jellyfish stings and getting out when that happened. Another mentioned boats being close together and feeling unsafe in the swim zone. That doesn’t mean the tour is automatically unsafe, but it does mean you should bring a realistic mindset:

  • Keep your head clear about what to do if you feel discomfort.
  • Stay aware of where other snorkelers are around you.
  • If you struggle in current, tell your guide immediately rather than forcing it.

Lunch on the beach: the underrated part of a snorkeling day

Blue Lagoon Bali Snorkeling Experience - Lunch on the beach: the underrated part of a snorkeling day
A lot of snorkeling tours treat lunch like an afterthought. Here, lunch is included and described as traditional Indonesian lunch on the beach. That’s a meaningful difference because a good meal helps you enjoy the second half of your day—especially if you add temples or waterfalls afterward.

Another practical win: the tour includes a shower and changing room. That means you can rinse off and reset instead of ending the day sandy, salty, and sticky.

If you’re doing the full day version (snorkeling plus a sights package), the beach lunch acts like the hinge. You’ll appreciate having time and a proper place to eat before your next stop.

Picking your add-on: Gates of Heaven, an Ubud tour, or waterfalls

Blue Lagoon Bali Snorkeling Experience - Picking your add-on: Gates of Heaven, an Ubud tour, or waterfalls
The snorkeling is the constant. What changes is what you do after the water. You choose among three main upgrade directions.

Here's some more things to do in Ubud

Gates of Heaven: Lempuyang Temple and Tirta Gangga

If you pick Snorkeling w/ Gate of Heaven, you’ll explore the famous Gates of Heaven at Lempuyang Temple and then move on to Tirta Gangga Park.

Why this pairing works:

  • Lempuyang Temple gives you the Mount Agung backdrop and one of Bali’s most recognizable photo scenes.
  • Tirta Gangga adds a calmer garden-and-water atmosphere, tied to the idea of sacred water.

Ticket notes matter here: the temple and Tirta Gangga stops are listed as admission ticket not included in this package description. So budget for entry costs if you choose this route.

Snorkeling w/ Ubud Tour: rice terraces, crafts, and Sacred Monkey Forest

If you want Bali flavor without committing to the waterfall circuit, choose Snorkeling w/ Ubud Tour. This adds:

  • Tegalalang Rice Terrace (noted as about 600 meters above sea level)
  • Ubud Arts Handicraft
  • Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary

The rice terraces are a strong stop because you get a direct look at Bali’s irrigation system called SUBAK. If you like landscapes with practical meaning—not just scenic views—this is a good match.

At Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, you’re looking at an active habitat for long-tailed macaques—described as nearly 900 in the sanctuary. It’s also where you’ll find the iconic dragon bridge and lush forest-and-canyon scenery.

Ticket notes again matter: these Ubud stops are listed as admission ticket not included.

Snorkeling w/ Waterfalls Tour: Tibumana and Tegenungan

If waterfalls are your thing, go with Snorkeling w/ Waterfall Tour. You’ll visit Tibumana Waterfall and Tegenungan Waterfall.

Tibumana is positioned as more serene and lesser-known compared with Bali’s biggest waterfall headlines. Tegenungan, in contrast, is called one of Bali’s most popular and easily accessible waterfalls.

Here’s the value angle: both waterfall stops are listed as admission ticket included. That means fewer “oops, that costs extra” moments once you’re on the ground.

Timing and logistics: how to plan a 7–12 hour day

Blue Lagoon Bali Snorkeling Experience - Timing and logistics: how to plan a 7–12 hour day
The overall duration is listed as 7 to 12 hours, and the exact timing can shift based on your pickup point and the package you select. You should think of this as a full-day plan, not a quick half-day fix.

What you can control in your planning:

  • Start early if you can. Earlier pickup tends to keep the day from turning into a late-night scramble at the end.
  • Bring a towel and a change of clothes, since you’ll get wet and you’ll want to reset.
  • Bring a camera if you have one—Bali’s snorkeling moments are one thing, but temple and waterfall photo ops are another.

Also, the tour notes that clear visibility for snorkeling depends on favorable weather conditions. That doesn’t mean you’ll get bad water. It means you should treat snorkeling as weather-sensitive fun, not a guaranteed photo postcard.

Value check: is $45.45 worth it?

Blue Lagoon Bali Snorkeling Experience - Value check: is $45.45 worth it?
At $45.45 per person, the big question is what’s included versus what you’d pay separately.

Here’s what’s covered in the package set-up you’ll be choosing:

  • private transportation
  • 2 hours snorkeling
  • boat transfers
  • all snorkeling equipment
  • lunch
  • shower and changing room
  • tickets and places visited depending on your chosen package

When you price that out elsewhere, you usually end up paying separately for gear, guide, transport, boat access, and meals. This tour bundles those pieces into one schedule, which is why it rates so well for people who want a smooth day.

Is it perfect value in every situation? Not always. If visibility is poor or currents are rough, the snorkeling can feel less rewarding. And if you happen to dislike the snorkel conditions at one site, having a second site helps, but it’s still a nature experience.

What to expect underwater: fish, turtles, and the reality of reef conditions

Blue Lagoon Bali Snorkeling Experience - What to expect underwater: fish, turtles, and the reality of reef conditions
From the feedback tied to this tour, the most commonly celebrated moments are marine sightings—especially turtles and a lot of fish life. People often describe being shocked by how many fish they saw.

Still, snorkeling quality isn’t constant. Some snorkeling reports mention strong currents at Blue Lagoon, murky water, or fewer fish than expected. One mentioned reef conditions not looking healthy.

So, for you: keep your expectations in the right place.

  • Aim to enjoy the experience and the chance of turtles and fish.
  • Know that water clarity and reef health can vary.
  • Follow your guide’s instructions on timing, positioning, and how to handle the water flow.

Who this tour is best for (and who should think twice)

This is a good fit if you want:

  • guided snorkeling with equipment and boat support
  • a full day with a built-in lunch
  • optional add-ons that make the day more than just swimming

It’s also a solid beginner-friendly choice compared to self-planned snorkeling, because you’re getting instruction before you go in.

You might think twice if:

  • you’re very sensitive to stings and can’t handle jellyfish risk (rare, but it’s been reported)
  • you have trouble in current and want a guaranteed calm-water experience
  • you’re strict about reef conditions being pristine (sometimes nature doesn’t cooperate)

Should you book Blue Lagoon Bali Snorkeling?

I’d book it if you want a well-paced snorkeling day where most of the moving parts are handled—transport, gear, boat transfers, lunch, and a guide. The two-site plan (Blue Lagoon plus Tanjung Jepun) gives you a better shot at seeing turtles and plenty of fish than a one-site itinerary.

If your top priority is one specific view spot, then match your add-on choice carefully:

  • Go Gate of Heaven for the temple-photo scene plus Tirta Gangga.
  • Choose Ubud Tour if you want rice terraces and Sacred Monkey Forest.
  • Pick Waterfalls Tour if you’d rather keep it nature-heavy and budget entry costs since waterfall tickets are listed as included.

If the weather is iffy, don’t panic. The tour is designed around weather-dependent snorkeling, and that’s part of the deal in Bali waters.

FAQ

Where do I snorkel on this tour?

You snorkel at two locations: Blue Lagoon Beach and Tanjung Jepun.

How long is the snorkeling time?

You get 2 hours of snorkeling as part of the tour.

Does the tour include transportation and snorkeling gear?

Yes. It includes private transportation, snorkeling equipment, and boat transfers.

Is lunch included?

Yes. You’ll enjoy a traditional Indonesian lunch on the beach, and it’s included.

Do I get a shower and changing room?

Yes. The tour includes shower and changing room access.

Which add-on options are available besides snorkeling?

You can upgrade to include Gates of Heaven (Lempuyang Temple and Tirta Gangga), an Ubud tour (Tegalalang Rice Terrace, Ubud Arts Handicraft, Sacred Monkey Forest), or a waterfalls tour (Tibumana and Tegenungan Waterfalls).

Are admission tickets included for the extra stops?

It depends on the package. The notes specify that admission tickets are not included for Lempuyang Temple, Tirta Gangga Park, Tegalalang Rice Terrace, and Sacred Monkey Forest, while Tibumana and Tegenungan are listed as admission ticket included.

What weather conditions do I need for snorkeling?

The experience requires good weather. Snorkeling clarity is subject to favorable conditions, and if it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Not for you? Here's more nearby things to do in Ubud we have reviewed