Manta Swim, Optional Lunch & Kayak

Bali: Swim with Manta Rays in Penida, Optional Lunch & Kayak runs 6 to 9.5 hours under Lembongan Water Sport and holds a 4.4 rating across 2,518 reviews. Kayaking and lunch are optional, with free cancellation.

Overview

This day trip from Bali packs three snorkeling stops around Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan into a single outing, with the manta ray encounter as the main draw. The crossing leaves from Sanur Port on a large aluminum ferry, which the operator describes as steadier than the smaller boats commonly used on this route. After arrival on Nusa Lembongan, guests get a welcome drink and a light bite before the boats head out toward sites such as Manta Bay, Manta Point, Crystal Bay, Toyapakeh, or Gamat Bay, depending on conditions.

Each snorkeling session runs about half an hour, and the operator keeps swimmers at shallow depth near the mantas, monitoring the Indian Ocean swells closely and rerouting to calmer spots when the water is too rough. Back on Lembongan, an Indonesian buffet lunch is served next to the mangrove forest. The afternoon varies by option: some guests paddle a kayak or stand-up paddleboard through the mangroves, others take a 30-minute back or foot massage at Karuna Island Spa, and a snorkeling-only option skips the extras.

Hotel pickup from areas including Sanur, Kuta, Seminyak, Nusa Dua, Jimbaran, and Legian is available on select options. The full day runs between 6 and 9.5 hours. Insurance covers guests aged 10 to 64, and the operator monitors ocean conditions throughout, adjusting the itinerary when the swells make a site unsafe.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Pickup or meeting pointDepending on the option booked, guests are collected from selected Bali hotel areas or meet at Sanur Port.
2. Ferry crossingA large aluminum ferry runs from Sanur Port to Nusa Lembongan, taking 40 minutes.
3. Welcome refreshmentsAt Mesari Beach Restaurant, guests receive a welcome drink and a light bite for 15 minutes.
4. Manta Bay snorkelingThe first in-water session at Manta Bay lasts 30 minutes, conditions permitting.
5. Gamat Bay snorkelingA second 30-minute snorkeling stop at Gamat Bay.
6. Mangrove Point snorkelingA final 30-minute snorkeling session at Mangrove Point.
7. Buffet lunchAn Indonesian buffet lunch is served at Mesari Beach Restaurant for 30 minutes, next to the mangrove forest. Not included in the snorkeling-only package.
8. Kayaking or massageAt Green Lagoon Lembongan, guests kayak or stand-up paddleboard for 30 minutes, or take a 30-minute massage at Karuna Island Spa, depending on the option selected.
9. Return ferryThe ferry back to Sanur Harbour takes 45 minutes, with an optional 15-minute hop-on hop-off stop, then drop-off at one of 17 locations.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will shape how this day goes, from swim fitness to what the water is doing on the day.

• Swim fitness. One reviewer describes the water at the manta site as horrendously rough and choppy, and advises a life jacket for anyone who is not a strong swimmer. Another mentions rough water at the start of the day. Confidence in open water matters here.
• Manta sightings. The listing is clear that mantas are wild animals and sightings are not guaranteed on every tour. Weather and water conditions decide whether the boats can reach Manta Point or Manta Bay at all. If not, the crew switches to a safer alternative spot.
• What to bring. The listing asks guests to bring swimwear, a change of clothes, sunscreen, and cash. Towels, mask, snorkel, and fins are provided. Drinks outside the buffet are not included, so bring money for those and for tips.
• Food and allergies. Lunch is an Indonesian buffet, and several reviewers called it tasty. Anyone with allergies should bring their own food, since the listing notes all food is processed in the same kitchen.
• Photos. Underwater cameras and photo or video results are not included but can be purchased on the day. Bring cash if you want them.
• Timing and pace. Expect a long day, between 6 and 9.5 hours door to door, with each snorkeling stop capped at 30 minutes. Some reviewers mention waiting and confusion around port logistics in Sanur. The tour runs rain or shine.

Common issues. The honest caveats are mostly about the sea and the port. The manta sites can be horrendously choppy, as one reviewer put it, and the listing warns the itinerary may be adjusted at the last minute for safety, with manta sightings never guaranteed. Several reviewers and the listing's own summary point to transport and port logistics in Sanur as a source of waiting and confusion, separate from the tour itself. Insurance covers ages 10 to 64, and the listing states that guests under 10 or over 60 with listed conditions can be denied entry without refund if they insist on coming. One reviewer also reported port-area organization as the weak point of an otherwise strong day.

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