Snorkeling Day Trip To Lembongan and Penida

Mantas, reefs, and mangroves fill one long day. This $35.27 excursion combines three snorkeling areas around Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida with a buffet lunch and a short kayak trip, making it a strong value for a full day on the water. I especially like the chance to see manta rays, turtles, and reef fish, plus the convenience of transport from much of southern Bali.

I also like that equipment, towels, lockers, bottled water, snacks, and lunch are included. The main consideration is that the day can feel crowded, especially around Manta Bay, and conditions may be rough. This is not suitable for non-swimmers or people with several listed health conditions, and the operator requires a risk waiver.

Key points to know before booking

• Manta Bay is weather dependent: The crew may visit Manta Bay or Manta Point when conditions allow, but manta sightings are never guaranteed.
• Three snorkeling areas: The usual choices include Manta Point or Manta Bay, Toyapakeh Wall or Gamat Bay, and Mangrove Point.
• Kayaking comes last: Expect about 30 minutes through the mangroves after lunch, with a guide available to help if steering proves tricky.
• Pickup covers much of southern Bali: Transfers are offered from Legian, Seminyak, Kuta, Nusa Dua, Sanur, central Jimbaran, and Nusa Lembongan.
• The advertised price is good value: Gear, lunch, kayaking, water, towels, lockers, and Bali mainland transfers are included, but a government fee of IDR100,000 per person is extra.
• Safety needs your attention: Rough water, large groups, and mixed swimming ability can affect the day, so be honest about your fitness and swimming skills before booking.

Why this $35.27 day trip offers good value

At $35.27 per person, this is an inexpensive way to combine transport, boat time, snorkeling, food, and kayaking in one package. You are not paying separately for mask, snorkel, fins, life jackets, lunch, towels, or lockers. If you are staying on Bali’s southern coast, the included mainland transfer adds even more value.

The fee does not cover the government charge of IDR100,000 per person. Alcoholic drinks and underwater photos or videos cost extra, and pickup from Ubud, Canggu, Uluwatu, Pecatu, Bingin, Balangan, Melasti, and south Nusa Dua costs IDR350,000 per booking.

The day is listed at about nine hours, though time in the water and at the Lembongan base is the heart of the experience. One important practical point is that the schedule can include waiting for ferry transfers and pickup, so do not treat every minute as active snorkeling.

The group limit is 100 people. That is a sizable operation, not a quiet private outing. The boat and guides divide people into smaller groups in the water, but popular sites can still feel busy.

Starting at Serangan Port from Bali

If you book from Bali’s mainland, the day begins at Serangan Port, with the listed meeting point at Warung Osaka Yakiniku. The mainland transfer starts around 7:30 a.m. and the boat ride to Lembongan takes roughly 40 minutes according to the scheduled plan.

Pickup is offered from many hotels in Seminyak and nearby areas, but confirm your exact location and pickup time. Locations outside the main service zone may require an extra payment or may not be covered.

The ferry ride gives you your first taste of the day’s setting. You will see the coast from the water, and several people praised the boat views and the smooth hotel pickup. If you are prone to seasickness, take the possibility of choppy water seriously. One participant specifically noted that the sea was rough but appreciated help from the crew.

If you choose the meeting point option instead of hotel pickup, you finish back at Serangan Port. The pickup option includes a drop-off after the ferry ride, but the exact end time depends on the boat and road traffic.

Settling in at the Lembongan watersport base

After arriving in Lembongan, you go to the operator’s base. This is where mainland and Lembongan participants come together, receive welcome drinks and snacks, and get fitted with snorkeling equipment.

The base also provides towels and lockers. That matters because you can leave larger items behind instead of carrying them onto the boat. A buffet lunch and shower are also provided here after the snorkeling portion.

The stop is scheduled for about 20 minutes, so expect a practical changeover rather than a long break. Guides fit equipment and explain the next part of the day. Several people praised the friendly welcome, clear organization, and attentive staff.

Bring sunscreen, a swimsuit, and a way to protect your phone during transfers. The tour supplies basic snorkeling equipment, but if you rely on prescription goggles or have a preferred mask, bringing your own may make the day more comfortable.

Three snorkeling areas between Lembongan and Penida

The main activity lasts about three hours, with three snorkeling areas chosen according to sea and weather conditions. The usual plan gives priority to Manta Bay or Manta Point, followed by a reef location such as Toyapakeh Wall or Gamat Bay, then Mangrove Point.

You may enter the water several times at three sites. The precise order can change, and the crew decides where to go after checking the conditions. That flexibility is useful because the sea around Nusa Penida can change quickly.

Manta Bay or Manta Point

This is the headline stop. Manta rays are often the reason people book the excursion, and several accounts describe close encounters with rays, along with turtles, dolphins, starfish, and large numbers of tropical fish.

Still, manta sightings are not guaranteed. One person saw only brief glimpses, while another saw several rays and a turtle. Your result depends on weather, sea conditions, animal movement, and the crew’s choice of site.

Manta Bay can also be the roughest and most crowded part of the day. One account described many boats and people rushing into the water, which made the stop stressful. Another described rough water but felt comfortable holding a life ring with guide support.

If you are not a strong swimmer, this is the point where you need to be most cautious. The supplied information says the tour is not suitable for non-swimmers, even though guides may offer life jackets and flotation aids. Do not assume a life vest turns rough open water into a beginner activity.

Toyapakeh Wall or Gamat Bay

The second location is generally the more relaxed reef experience. Clearer, shallower water may reveal coral, reef fish, moray eels, and turtles. Several people praised the tropical fish and coral at the reef stops, even when manta sightings were limited.

Gamat Bay and Toyapakeh Wall are not interchangeable from a visitor’s point of view, so the exact site matters. Conditions determine the choice. If the water is rough at one area, the crew may use another location.

The guides remain with smaller groups in the water and help people who need assistance. This was one of the most praised features of the day. Still, you should be comfortable floating and following instructions before signing up.

Mangrove Point

Mangrove Point may serve as the third snorkeling location or as the final kayaking area, depending on the day’s plan. The mangroves provide a calmer contrast to the open sea, with narrow waterways and a slower pace.

Do not expect a long guided nature tour by kayak. The kayaking section is scheduled for about 30 minutes, and some people found it brief or lacking much explanation. The appeal is the peaceful setting and a chance to move under your own power after several hours in the water.

Steering can take practice. Two people had trouble controlling their kayak, and one account raised concern after a pair fell behind. The guide stayed with one struggling pair, but the experience shows why you should paddle at a comfortable pace and keep the group in sight.

Lunch, showers, and a useful break from the water

After snorkeling, you return to the Lembongan base for a buffet lunch and shower. The Indonesian food received repeated praise, with fresh fruit, hot drinks, fruit juice, tofu for a vegetarian request, and several meal choices mentioned.

The lunch is more than a nice extra. Three hours in the sea, boat movement, sun, and repeated entries into the water can drain you. A hot buffet and a shower make the second half of the day much easier.

Water is included, but bring your own refillable bottle if you drink often. One person felt the supplied water was not enough, while the operator stated that larger bottles were available both on the boat and at the restaurant. The safest plan is to carry extra water if you can.

Alcohol is not included, though it can be purchased. Underwater photos and videos are also available at an extra cost. If you want pictures, ask about the price before agreeing.

What the guides do well, and where caution matters

The strongest praise goes to the crew. People repeatedly described the staff as friendly, attentive, funny, and serious about helping participants in the water. Guides helped less confident swimmers, offered flotation support, took underwater pictures for an additional fee, and adapted when someone was too tired to kayak.

That human support is important in a mixed group. Some people may be confident swimmers, while others are comfortable only with a life jacket. The guides appear to divide people into smaller groups, but a large overall operation can still make personal attention uneven.

I also need to flag the serious safety concern in the supplied accounts. One person reported that a young woman drowned in rough conditions and claimed there was no suitable airway first-aid equipment or meaningful support afterward. The details cannot be independently checked here, but the allegation is grave and should not be ignored.

The tour states that participants must have moderate physical fitness, sign a liability waiver, and be free of listed medical issues. It specifically excludes people with heart, respiratory, asthma, epilepsy, blood pressure, chronic illness, or mobility problems. Insurance covers ages 10 through 64 only, and people outside that range may be denied entry without a refund.

Before booking, answer the health and swimming questions honestly. If you have any doubt, choose a calmer, more controlled water activity instead.

Crowds, timing, and the real feel of the day

The biggest tradeoff is scale. A maximum of 100 people allows the company to offer a low price, but it also means you may share popular sites with many other boats and groups.

Manta Bay is especially prone to congestion. You may find people shouting directions, swimming close together, and trying to reach the same animals. The experience can still be memorable, but it is not the quiet marine encounter some visitors imagine.

The day also depends on conditions. Rough water may limit visibility or make entry and exit tiring. Manta Bay may be skipped, replaced, or approached differently. That is not necessarily poor planning. It is the sensible response to sea conditions, but you should book for the overall water experience rather than for a guaranteed manta photograph.

The listed duration is about nine hours, but active time can feel shorter once transfers and waiting are counted. One account felt the usable activity time was closer to four or five hours. Keep your schedule flexible at the end of the day.

Who should book this Lembongan and Penida trip

I would consider this tour if you want a low-cost, all-in-one day and are comfortable in open water. It suits people who like variety: reef snorkeling in the morning, Indonesian food at midday, and a short mangrove paddle afterward.

It is also a practical choice if you are staying in Seminyak, Kuta, Sanur, Nusa Dua, Legian, or central Jimbaran and want transport arranged. Staying on Lembongan makes the day simpler, since the base provides the starting point and hotel transfers are included there.

You should think twice if you dislike crowds, get seasick easily, or want a private guide. Strong swimmers who are happy with changing conditions will get the most from it. Families should pay close attention to the age limit and health rules, especially since insurance covers only ages 10 to 64.

Should you book it?

Book this trip if value, variety, and a chance to see manta rays matter more to you than privacy. The included gear, lunch, ferry transfer, water, towels, lockers, and kayak make the price attractive, and the crew receives strong praise for friendliness and in-water help.

Skip it if you are a non-swimmer, have one of the listed medical conditions, or need a calm and tightly controlled outing. Also skip it if seeing manta rays is your only goal, since the site is weather dependent and crowded.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. That gives you a useful safety net while you check the forecast, but changes or cancellations inside 24 hours are not refunded.

FAQ

How long does the snorkeling trip take?

The full experience lasts about nine hours, including transfers, snorkeling, lunch, kayaking, and the return journey.

Where does the tour start?

Mainland participants meet at Serangan Port, with the listed meeting point at Warung Osaka Yakiniku. People staying on Nusa Lembongan start at the Lembongan watersport base.

Is hotel pickup included?

Pickup is offered from hotels in Legian, Seminyak, Kuta, Nusa Dua, Sanur, and central Jimbaran, along with Nusa Lembongan hotels. Pickup from several other areas costs IDR350,000 per booking.

Are manta rays guaranteed?

No. The crew prioritizes Manta Bay or Manta Point when weather and sea conditions are suitable, but manta sightings are not guaranteed.

Is lunch included?

Yes. An Indonesian buffet lunch is included, along with bottled water, snacks, welcome drinks, and hot drinks or fruit juice at the base.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. The package includes snorkeling equipment, towels, and lockers. Underwater photos and videos are available for an additional charge.

Can non-swimmers join?

No. The tour is not suitable for non-swimmers. Participants also need moderate physical fitness and must not have the listed heart, respiratory, neurological, blood pressure, chronic health, or mobility conditions. Insurance covers ages 10 to 64 only.