North Bali

Lovina Dolphin Tour at Sunrise, North Bali

Wild dolphins at sunrise on Bali's north coast

from IDR 600k per day, custom trip

Spinner dolphins leaping at sunrise off Lovina, North Bali

Lovina Dolphin Tour tour at a glance

The Lovina dolphin tour is an early-morning trip on Bali's north coast to watch wild dolphins at sunrise from a jukung, a traditional Balinese outrigger boat. The dolphins seen off Lovina are mainly dwarf spinner dolphins, usually 3-4 km from the shore, and a boat trip lasts about two hours. We run it as a private custom day with your own car and driver, from IDR 600K per day; the boat ticket is paid separately, or ask us for an all-in price.

Tour type: Private day tour, just your group
Area: North Bali, Bali
The day: Early pick-up and drive north, Jukung boat at sunrise, Watching the dolphins, More of North Bali, or home
Price: From IDR 600k per day; entrance, park or boat tickets extra
Pick-up: Included in Denpasar, Badung and Ubud
Booking: On WhatsApp, confirmed by our team

Get to know Lovina's dolphins

Lovina is a quiet stretch of beach villages on Bali's north coast, west of Singaraja. Dolphin watching here began in the late 1980s, when local fishermen formed cooperatives to take visitors out in their jukungs. The dolphins they go looking for are mainly dwarf spinner dolphins, which are usually found 3-4 km offshore and are known for leaping and spinning out of the water in the early morning.

Sunrise over the sea seen from a jukung on a Lovina dolphin trip

What to expect

Wild spinner dolphins
The dolphins off Lovina are mostly dwarf spinner dolphins, living free in the open sea.
Sunrise from a jukung
You go out in a jukung, the traditional Balinese outrigger boat, as the sun comes up over the sea.
Lovina's beach
Lovina is a quiet stretch of beach villages on the north coast, where the jukungs wait on the sand for the morning trip.

How a Lovina Dolphin Tour day works

Tap a stop to see it. Every stop is flexible: add, skip or swap on the day.

We pick you up before dawn and drive you over the mountains to Lovina on the north coast. We set the pick-up time with you, depending on where you stay.
At the beach you board a jukung with a local boatman and head out to sea as the sun rises.
About two hours on the water looking for the dolphin pods, usually 3-4 km offshore. Ask your boatman to keep a respectful distance.
Back on shore by mid-morning, with time for breakfast in Lovina and a look at the dolphin statue on the beachfront.
Add other stops on the way back if you like, such as the old Buddhist stupa at Kalibukbuk in Lovina or the Lemukih village natural waterslide, then your driver takes you back to your hotel or villa.

Good to know before you go

The boats go out at sunrise, when the sea is usually calm, so pick-up is very early, especially from the south of Bali.
These are wild dolphins in open sea: sightings are likely but never guaranteed.
The dolphins off Lovina are mostly dwarf spinner dolphins, known for spinning leaps out of the water.
Researchers recommend boats stay at least 50 m from the dolphins and never chase or surround a pod. Ask your boatman to keep a respectful distance and cut the engine near them.
The jukung boat ticket is paid on the beach, on top of the day rate, unless you ask us for an all-in price.
Bring sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat for the boat.

Lovina Dolphin Tour price (IDR)

A custom day: the final price depends on your group, route and whether you want tickets included. Payment, pick-up and cancellation.

Lovina Dolphin Tour prices by group size
Group	Price
Custom day tour, from	IDR 600k

Check a date

Pick your date and group size. We’ll confirm on WhatsApp.

Photos from this trip

Jukung boat on the beach at sunrise in Lovina

Dolphin leaping near a jukung full of guests in life jackets off Lovina

Jukung boat in the shallows at sunrise in Lovina

Sources

Photo credits

Spinner dolphins leaping at sunrise off Lovina, North Bali: Michelle Maria, CC BY 3.0
Sunrise over the sea seen from a jukung on a Lovina dolphin trip: Currawong 276, Public domain
Spinner dolphins off the northern coast of Bali: Oleg Kosterin, CC BY 4.0
Dolphins seen from the side of a jukung boat off Lovina: Kahadni, CC BY-SA 4.0
Jukung outrigger boats pulled up on the beach at Lovina: Ken Eckert, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quiet tree-lined road in north-west Bali: Lasthib, CC BY-SA 4.0
Jukung boat on the water at dawn off Lovina: Michelle Maria, CC BY 3.0
Two dolphins jumping out of the water off Lovina: Michelle Maria, CC BY 3.0
Dolphin statue on the beachfront at Lovina: DayakSibiriak, CC BY-SA 4.0
Brick Buddhist stupas at Kalibukbuk, Lovina: DayakSibiriak, CC BY-SA 4.0
Jukung boat on the beach at sunrise in Lovina: Michelle Maria, CC BY 3.0
Jukung boats on the water at Lovina: Tiomax80, CC BY 2.0
Dolphin leaping near a jukung full of guests in life jackets off Lovina: Michelle Maria, CC BY 3.0
Jukung boat in the shallows at sunrise in Lovina: Michelle Maria, CC BY 3.0

Lovina Dolphin Tour tour FAQ

More questions? Booking & travel info, or ask us on WhatsApp.

Where is Lovina?

Lovina is a strip of beach villages on Bali's north coast, west of Singaraja in Buleleng regency. The dolphin boats leave from the beaches around Kalibukbuk.

What time does the Lovina dolphin tour start?

The boats go out around sunrise and the trip on the water takes about two hours. Because Lovina is on the north coast, pick-up from the south of Bali is very early; we set the exact time with you when you book.

What kind of dolphins will I see?

Mostly dwarf spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris roseiventris), which researchers found usually 3-4 km from the Lovina shore. They are wild, so numbers change from day to day.

Is dolphin watching in Lovina ethical?

It can be, if boats keep their distance. Research on Lovina found boats often get far closer than the recommended 50 m minimum and crowd the dolphins. Ask your boatman to hang back, not to chase or circle the pod, and to cut the engine near them.

Are dolphin sightings guaranteed?

No. The dolphins are wild and free, so no one can guarantee them, though researchers describe them as predictably found off Lovina.

How much is a Lovina dolphin tour?

We run it as a custom private day from IDR 600K per day for the car and driver. The boat ticket is paid separately at the beach, or ask us on WhatsApp for an all-in price for your group and date.

Where do you pick up?

Prices include pick-up in Denpasar, Badung and Ubud. Other areas of Bali have an extra charge for distance. Tell us your hotel or villa when you book.

What is your cancellation policy?

Cancel at least 1 day before your trip: 50% refund. Cancellations on the day of the trip can’t be refunded. Bad weather: we reschedule your trip. Nusa Penida boats cancelled: 100% refund. More booking info.

How do I book?

Send us your date and number of travelers on WhatsApp (+62 877 0093 0070), or use the date form on this page. Full payment, by cash or bank transfer.