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Turtle Conservation Project in Bali
Interested to do volunteer in a Sea Turtle Conservation Project in Bali? Volunteering Solutions offers sea turtle conservation project in Serangan which is a small island located just south of Denpasar, Bali,. Volunteers will gain experience in turtle care and conservation.
You work at a sea turtle conservation center on Serangan island, just south of Denpasar in Bali, close to Sanur. Day to day you monitor hatching turtles, help feed them (including preparing fish and collecting seaweed), clean turtle tanks, assist with rescues, and support release events and school or group educational visits. The program suits fluent English speakers who are fit, self-reliant and genuinely interested in marine conservation, not casual sightseers.
Placements run 1–12 weeks, starting every week (sundays), with the next start on 20 Sep 2026. You stay in a traditional Balinese homestay a walking distance from the beach and about 15-20 minutes by scooter from the turtle site, and you self-cater from the warungs and restaurants around Sanur. Prices start at $1,246 (deposit included). The homestay's beachside location in the calmer Sanur area, with weekends free to explore Bali, is the main draw of this particular placement.
- Help ensure the survival of endangered sea turtles
- Explore the beauty of Bali and travel and explore other places on the island
- Stay in a traditional Balinese homestay close to the beach
- Meet other likeminded participants from around the world
Your role on this program
- Monitor and document the status of hatching turtles
- Assist with turtle rescue when required
- Assist with turtle hatching and give necessary medication to injured turtles when required
- Help prepare food for the turtles, including preparing fish and collecting seaweed, and feed the turtles
- Represent the conservation center by welcoming and informing visitors
- Support conservation events such as turtle releases and school or group educational visits
- Clean turtle tanks and keep the site clean and safe for turtles and visitors
Exact duties vary with the placement's needs, the season and your experience.
Role boundaries
You handle turtles only under the conservation center's instruction; there is no riding, bathing, cuddling or posing with the turtles as part of this program. Medication for injured turtles and rescue work are carried out under staff direction, and the local Balinese team supervises all tasks at the site; duties may vary with the placement's needs.
A typical day and week
As a volunteer for the Turtle Conservation Program in Bali, your general schedule would be:
Day 1 – (Friday/Saturday) – Arrival
Volunteers are expected to arrive at least 1 day before your program starts and check in to the volunteer accommodation. Our program coordinator will assist with your airport pick up transfer to your accommodation. Our team members will pick you up at the Ngurah Rai International airport of Bali. You will also receive a local SIM card on this day or the upcoming day depending on your arrival time.
Day 2 – Your first introduction day
Our program coordinator will announce at what time our team will pick you up the next day for the first orientation day at the turtle center via Whatsapp text message. As soon as you arrive at the site, our team will introduce and accompany you for your first orientation day, you will get a tour around the premises, getting introduced to all the team members. On this day, we will ensure you have received all of the information we prepare on the welcome checklist. Important safety information ,emergency contact, important addresses, visa information and so forth. You will start your volunteering program on this day, you will start assisting the site with all of the assignments discussed.
Weekends
By the weekend volunteers are having days off, you may relax or travel and explore Bali. Travel with other volunteers or interns in a group for many beneficial reasons.
End of your volunteering day
In your last week, Friday is your official last day in the program. You will check out from the accommodation on Saturday so you will have enough time to pack and continue your travels in Bali or take flight back home. Please inform our team if you wish us to arrange an airport pick up or any type of transportation for you if you need our assistance.
Timings are the placement's usual pattern; the local team confirms your hours at orientation, and they can change with school terms, clinic rotas, weather and the project's needs.
Who can join and what you need
- Minimum age 18
- Fluent English
- Fit, self-reliant, motivated, and independent
- Willing to complete a criminal background check (issued within 12 months of the start date)
- Genuine interest in marine life, marine rehabilitation and conservation
- Travel/medical insurance, either your own policy or the one Volunteering Solutions arranges
The placement, its limits and your part in it
The program places you with a sea turtle conservation center on Serangan island that works on turtle rehabilitation and public education, engaging local community members, the national government, and visiting students and volunteers. A local Balinese team runs the center day to day and directs the work volunteers do, from feeding and tank cleaning to supporting release events and school visits.
Any hands-on contact with turtles, including giving medication to injured animals, happens under staff instruction rather than at a volunteer's own initiative, and there is no riding, bathing or handling of turtles for photos. As a volunteer you provide practical, supervised support to the center's existing routine, monitoring, feeding, cleaning and visitor education, rather than running the conservation work or making rehabilitation decisions yourself.
Our standards
- Responsible volunteer travel policyHow we choose, run and review every project
- Animal welfare policyOur rules for wildlife, marine and animal-care projects
- Certified B CorporationSocial and environmental performance verified by B Lab
- How we volunteer responsibly in BaliCountry-level partner context and standards
Start dates
Weekly start dates, year-round — pick any week across the next two years.
Program fees by duration
Prices include your $249 booking deposit — which is deducted from your total program fee. Your deposit stays valid for one year, during which you may enroll in multiple programs. A 5% international banking fee applies to credit-card payments in USD or AUD.
| Duration | Total price | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 week | $1,246 | |
| 2 weeks | $1,399 | |
| 3 weeks | $1,549 | |
| 4 weeks | $1,699 | |
| 5 weeks | $1,849 | |
| 6 weeks | $1,849 | |
| 7 weeks | $1,999 | |
| 8 weeks | $2,099 | |
| Each additional week | +$150 / week |
Indicative conversion — your booking is charged in the currency you choose at checkout.
✓ What you're paying for
-
- Pre departure support and assistance
- Visa assistance (incl. visa documents)
- Airport pick-up
- Welcome package
- Indonesian SIM card number (Purchase and registration at GSM Provider Center)
- Voucher for the first students dinner
- Accommodation
- Introduction to the project at the first orientation day
- Local contact person & support during your volunteer program
- Project visits & satisfaction assessment
- Information about events and intern meetings
- Assistance with visa extension
- Contribution to the program deducted from the program fee
- Travel & Medical Insurance (available at extra charges)
Not included
-
-
- Flights
- Visa application, visa extension fees
- Meals
- Personal Expenses
- Transfer back to the airport at the end of the program
- Tourism/leisure activities during free time
-
Accommodation & meals
Airport Transfer
All volunteers will have to reach Ngurah Rai International Airport, Denpasar (DPS), on Saturday. The local team will arrange your transfer from the airport and a designated driver shall be there to pick you up.
Accommodation
Volunteers are accommodated in Balinese owned local homestay.You will stay in accommodations at traditional Balinese house home stays located walking distance to the beach and around 15 to 20 minutes scooter ride to the turtle site. Each room has a sit out area and an air conditioner is installed. There is WiFi within the accommodation and common areas where volunteers can have meals or can sit and chat. Towels are provided. At a short distance from the accommodation, amenities such as ATM, department stores are available.
Orientation
You will be provided with all the details about the project, about the work that you’ll have to do, as well as information about the place. If you have any questions regarding safety issues, traveling and projects, the local team will be there to assist you.
Meals
In the area of your accommodation, there are plenty of food options, from traditional food markets to many options of local warungs (food stalls) at affordable prices. Simple yet nutritious and fresh meals of a typical Indonesian meal consisting of rice or noodles with side dishes of steamed vegetables or saute vegetables and meat or tofu and soya cake are available at affordable prices. The Sanur area is also famous for delicious and endless options of international restaurants.
During Free Time
During your time in Bali, you will be based in Sanur, this region is rather calmer in comparison to other touristic parts of the island. During your extended weekend from Friday to Sunday, you can travel and explore other parts of Bali such as Ubud or head down south to Uluwatu or Seminyak.Taxis and other modes of transport are easily available for traveling within the island.
Transportation
To hire any motor vehicles, volunteers must possess an international drivers license. Regular automatic scooter rental per day is starting from 100,000 IDr or around 6 USD, monthly rental is starting from 79 USD or around 1,200,000 IDR (110 CC). The bigger engine costs more. For those who do not own any drivers licenses to drive internationally, getting transported via online translation app is one of the best ways to get around, please download Gojek app. Please be informed that in some areas of Bali, Gojek does not operate due to infrastructure and different region’s public transportation regulations, always ask questions to us, to your neighbors or anyone to make sure you are able to travel around with this app.
Life on the program
Getting there and who looks after you in Bali
Airport pickup
You arrive at Ngurah Rai International Airport, Denpasar (DPS) on a Saturday, at least one day before the program starts, and the local team meets you for transfer to your accommodation. You also receive a local SIM card on arrival day or shortly after.
First night
You check in to your Balinese homestay in the Sanur area, within walking distance of the beach.
Orientation day
On day 2 the team picks you up for a tour of the turtle center, introduces you to the staff, and goes through the welcome checklist covering safety information, the emergency contact, key addresses and visa information.
First project day and ongoing support
You start assisting with your assigned tasks the same day as orientation. A local contact person and 24-hour emergency assistance are available throughout the placement.
From volunteers in Bali
Frequently asked questions
What tasks do volunteers actually do on this turtle project?
You monitor hatching turtles, help prepare food and feed the turtles, clean tanks, assist with rescues, support turtle release events and educational visits, and represent the center to visitors, all under the center's supervision.
Who is this program suitable for?
It suits fluent English speakers aged 18 and over who are fit, self-reliant and motivated, with a genuine interest in marine life and conservation rather than a background in marine biology.
What does a typical working day look like?
Volunteers work Monday to Friday in one of two shifts, either 9am to 1pm or 1pm to 4pm, with weekends free.
How long can I stay and when do programs start?
Placements run 1–12 weeks, with a new start every week (sundays); the next start date is 20 Sep 2026.
What does the program cost and what is included?
Prices start at $1,246, deposit included, covering pre-departure support, visa assistance, airport pickup, welcome package, SIM card, accommodation, orientation, and a local contact person throughout; meals, flights, and visa fees are not included.
Where do I stay and what about meals?
You stay in a Balinese-owned homestay near the beach in the Sanur area, a 15-20 minute scooter ride from the turtle site; meals are self-catered from the many affordable warungs and restaurants nearby.
How does airport pickup work?
All volunteers fly into Ngurah Rai International Airport, Denpasar (DPS) on a Saturday, and the local team arranges your transfer to the homestay with a designated driver.
What support is available if something goes wrong?
A local contact person and 24-hour emergency assistance are provided throughout, alongside orientation on your first day covering safety information and emergency contacts.
What about visas and insurance?
The program includes visa assistance and documents, and travel/medical insurance is compulsory, using either your own policy or the one Volunteering Solutions arranges; further guidance is sent before departure.
Will I be handling turtles directly?
Any contact with turtles, including feeding, monitoring or giving medication to injured animals, happens under staff instruction; there is no riding, bathing or handling turtles for photos.
Is a background check required?
Yes, volunteers must complete a criminal background check issued within 12 months of the start date, since the placement involves work with a conservation program open to school and community visitors.
What can I do in my free time?
Weekends are free, and Sanur's calmer setting makes it easy to explore other parts of Bali such as Ubud, Uluwatu or Seminyak.
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