Original author Pig in the Forest agreed to republish with edits
Bali Dolphin Experience Guide | Bali Exotic Marine Park: A Must-Visit for Families! You Can Actually Get in the Water to Touch, Feed, and Swim with Dolphins
If you’re bringing kids to Bali and looking for an activity that they’ll still be talking about long after you return home, then Bali Exotic Marine Park (BEMP) is one I’d seriously recommend adding to your family itinerary.
Because the biggest draw here isn’t just watching a dolphin show from the stands.
It’s that—
You can actually put on a life jacket, step into the water, and interact with dolphins up close!
You can touch, feed, and even kiss the dolphins, and with some packages, you can swim alongside them.
For many families visiting Bali for the first time, this shift from ‘watching from the sidelines’ to ‘being part of the action’ often becomes the most unforgettable memory of the entire trip.
👉 Bali Travel Guide | Complete Guide to Bali Exotic Marine Park
🐬 What Makes Bali Exotic Marine Park So Special?
Bali has plenty of spots where you can see marine life, but Bali Exotic Marine Park stands out with a different approach.
It’s not just about watching fish through glass or waiting for dolphins to leap from a grandstand.
The park’s biggest draw is offering close-up dolphin interaction experiences at various levels.
From shore-side encounters to actually getting in the water with the dolphins, you can choose based on your child’s age, swimming ability, and family needs.
The most popular option for families with kids is the Discovery series.
In simple terms:
If you just ‘watch dolphins,’ you might forget it quickly; but if you let your child step into the water, that memory could stay with them for years.
👨👩👧 Which Option Is Best for Families with Kids?
Bali Exotic Marine Park offers different experience packages, and not all of them require getting into the water.
Explorer | Light Dolphin Interaction
This is more suitable for younger children, first-time dolphin encounters, or kids who are still hesitant to go into the water.
It mainly involves close interaction with dolphins at the water’s edge, including touching, kissing, and taking photos with them.
If a child feels nervous around large animals, this approach is actually less stressful.
Encounter | Shoreline Interaction
This package offers a longer interaction time, allowing dolphin encounters along the shore, including activities like feeding.
It’s a more comfortable choice for families with children who can’t swim yet, or for parents who prefer not to have their kids enter deeper water.
Discovery | In-Water Dolphin Interaction
If your goal is:
“After traveling all the way to Bali, I really want my child to actually swim with the dolphins!”
Then Discovery is worth considering.
During the experience, you’ll wear a life jacket and enter the water with a guide for close-up interaction with the dolphins.
Kids can touch the dolphins, interact with them, and under the instructor’s guidance, experience the feeling of swimming alongside them.
This is not riding on the dolphin’s back.
The current experience at the park involves natural interaction between dolphins and guests, guided by professional instructors.
Discovery+ | Better for Families or Groups Booking a Private Session
If you happen to be traveling with a group of friends or family, Discovery+ is worth looking into.
The private package can accommodate up to 6 people, and the biggest advantage is not having to share the experience time with other families.
For example, if two families go together:
2 adults + 1 child + 2 adults + 1 child
This setup works well for groups considering this option.
Some packages also include extra meals, drinks, or experience photos—be sure to check the current offer before booking.
💰 Is it expensive? Is it worth it?
This is where I think honesty matters most.
It’s not cheap.
If you’re used to Bali’s low-cost activities, seeing the price for a dolphin experience might make you think:
“Huh? That expensive?”
But look at it differently—it’s not your typical ticketed attraction.
💰 Want to know more about ticket prices? Check out the Bali Ticket Price Guide for real-time prices on 49 popular attractions, plus Klook/Trip.com comparison links.
What you’re buying is a special experience that lasts about a few dozen minutes.
Especially when traveling with kids, I’ve always felt that some activities can’t just be measured by ‘how much per hour.’
As children grow up, they might not remember which hotel they stayed at on this trip.
They might not even recall which restaurant they ate at.
But they’ll likely remember:
‘I once touched a dolphin in Bali!’
That’s the greatest value of this experience.
📸 Important: You can’t hold your phone when you’re in the water
This is crucial.
The first thing many people think is:
‘Then can’t I just take my own phone and snap photos when I get in the water?’
In reality, you’re usually not allowed to bring your own electronic devices into the activity area during water experiences, so don’t count on ‘taking selfies with my phone the whole time’ as part of the trip.
Staff at the venue will help take photos, and some packages include photos, or you can purchase the full set separately.
So if photos are really important to you, make sure to check whether they’re included in the package when booking.
Don’t wait until after the experience to realize:
‘Wait, I have to pay extra for the photos?’
This kind of thing happens all the time in travel 😂
Here’s how it actually works:
The Discovery+ package already includes all digital photo files. But if you join a Discovery activity and want to buy additional on-site photos, you’ll need to pay extra.
The current on-site price is 650K Indonesian Rupiah, and you can take all the photos home in one go.
👕 What to Pack for a Family Trip?
If you’re planning water activities like Discovery, I’d recommend bringing at least:
- Swimwear
- Towel
- Change of clothes
- Waterproof bag
- Sunscreen
- Sandals or flip-flops
- Water
Especially with kids, bringing an extra set of clothes really gives peace of mind.
By the end of the activity, the kids are usually soaked through. If you’re heading to a restaurant, mall, or other attractions afterward, not having dry clothes can be a real mess.
⏰ How much time should you set aside?
Just signing up for the dolphin interaction doesn’t mean it’s over as soon as you walk in.
You’ll also need to account for check-in, changing clothes, instructor briefings, waiting, and the actual experience time.
So here’s my advice:
Don’t cram it in as a tight squeeze between two other stops.
Especially for family trips—it’s better to allow extra time than to rush everyone through.
If you’re planning to include other facilities in the park, I’d suggest setting aside at least half a day for a more relaxed experience.
📍 Biggest advantage: No need to travel all the way to northern Bali
This is one reason why I think Bali Exotic Marine Park is a great fit for family itineraries.
In the past, when many people thought of ‘seeing dolphins in Bali,’ the first place that came to mind was likely Lovina.
The dolphin-watching experience at sea in Lovina is certainly a unique type of activity, but the biggest issue is its distance from the popular accommodation areas in southern Bali.
If you’re staying in:
Kuta, Jimbaran, Seminyak, or Nusa Dua
Bali Exotic Marine Park’s transportation arrangements are usually much more convenient than making a dedicated trip up north.
So if your trip is only 4 to 6 days long and you don’t want to spend a lot of travel time on just one activity, this option becomes quite appealing.
🏝️ How to Plan a One-Day Itinerary?
If you’re staying in southern Bali, I’d recommend arranging it as a ‘Southern Bali Family Day Trip.’
For example:
Morning
Bali Exotic Marine Park ↓ Dolphin Interaction Experience ↓ Other Marine Life Facilities in the Park
Noon
Lunch nearby
Afternoon
Nusa Dua / Jimbaran / Beach Attractions
Evening
Seafood dinner in Jimbaran or return to hotel to rest
This is much more family-friendly for those with young children than rushing to a faraway attraction in the morning and then hurrying back south in the afternoon.
🐠 Can non-swimmers also enjoy it?
Yes, that’s possible.
This is especially important for families where parents take turns looking after the kids.
If you have a child who wants to get in the water but the other parent doesn’t want to join, you can check the park’s entry and accompanying rules for that day in advance.
Besides the dolphin activities, the park also offers other marine life exhibits and interactive experiences, including fish, sea turtles, and other ocean-related facilities.
So it’s not like there’s nothing to see if you don’t get in the water.
But if you ask me,
“What’s the best thing to spend money on here?”
The answer is still clear:
👉 Dolphin interaction.
If you just want to visit an aquarium, there are other options in Bali.
👦 What’s the Best Age for Kids?
If you’re traveling with family, I’d especially recommend this for:
Kids around 5 to 13 years old.
At this age, they can usually understand the instructor’s directions and truly enjoy the experience of interacting with dolphins.
However, whether they can actually join the water activities depends on the park’s current rules on age, height, swimming ability, and safety requirements.
So don’t just read a blog post saying “kids can join” and book right away.
Always check the current regulations before booking.
⭐ Would I Recommend It?
If you ask me:
“With so many attractions in Bali, is Bali Exotic Marine Park worth a special trip?”
My answer is:
If you’re traveling with kids, I would recommend it.
Especially if your children love animals, the ocean, and are interested in dolphins—this activity leaves a strong impression.
But if you’re two adults traveling independently and don’t have a particular interest in dolphins, then I wouldn’t say it’s a must-do.
Because the ticket and interactive experience costs aren’t exactly cheap.
It’s an attraction that feels totally worth it for the right people, but expensive for those who aren’t into it.
I think it’s important to know this upfront.
🎟️ If you want to go, it’s best to book in advance
The dolphin interaction at Bali Exotic Marine Park isn’t like typical attractions where you can just buy tickets on the spot.
Because the dolphin interactions have fixed sessions, and each time slot has limited capacity.
Especially:
Weekends, summer vacation, winter break, Chinese New Year, and Bali’s peak tourist season
Popular time slots tend to get booked up quickly.
If your Bali itinerary is already set, I’d recommend booking the dolphin experience first, then arranging other attractions around it.
🐬 Want to Book Bali Exotic Marine Park?
If you’ve already decided to go, it’s best to check current prices, available dates, age restrictions, and package details in advance through an online platform.
👉 Check Bali Exotic Marine Park Tickets & Dolphin Experience Deals Now
Our ‘Bali Travel Guide’ also includes a complete Bali Exotic Marine Park guide, covering:
✔️ Various dolphin experience packages ✔️ Differences between Discovery and Discovery+ ✔️ How to choose for families with kids ✔️ Transportation and itinerary planning ✔️ Important notes ✔️ Photo tips ✔️ Other park facilities ✔️ Suitable age groups for children
If you’ve already decided to go, don’t wait until you’re in Bali to scramble for tickets.
First, lock in your dates and itinerary—it’ll make the trip much smoother.
Family Travel Must-Sees:
- Enchanted Rainforest at Night: Hikaria's Immersive Light Art Experience in Ubud, Bali
- 【Bali's Little Switzerland】Bali Farm House Guide: European-Style Estate in the Bali Highlands & Alpaca Encounters
- Bali Family Travel Guide: Sanur Edition
- Bali Family Water Parks: Top 15 Family Resorts with Water Slides and Pools
- Magic Garden at Nuanu Creative City
- Bali's Largest Kids' Playground: Mookiland Park Bali – A Family Paradise
- Bali's Enchanted Journey: Underwater Magic at the Varuna Show in Bali Marine Park
- Best Beach for Family Vacations in Bali: Sanur Guide Map with 45 Things to Do
- Recommended 18 Family-Friendly Resorts in Bali: Best Choices for Family Vacations and Relaxation
- Bali Family Day Trip Guide: Exploring the Safari Park and Flamingo Beach Club
- Bali Family Travel Guide: Nusa Dua Edition
- Ubud Jungle Mario Kart Adventure
🐬 Final Thoughts
Bali has plenty of spots where you just snap a photo and leave.
But what truly stays with you from a trip isn’t the pictures.
It’s when your child suddenly says years later:
‘Remember that time we went to Bali and swam with dolphins?’
In that moment, you might realize—
that money you spent wasn’t for tickets at all,
but for a memory your whole family shared together.
If I were traveling to Bali with kids, I’d definitely include Bali Exotic Marine Park as a ‘worth-the-splurge’ experience.
Booking tickets first, then planning other attractions, usually gives you more peace of mind than taking your chances on the spot.
Original article here: https://vocus.cc/article/6a8074bcfd897800013a2d85
👉 View the complete Bali Exotic Marine Park guide + booking link | Bali Travel Guide
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