Dolphin Show Phuket: Tickets, Show Times, Seats and Honest Tips

The single dolphin performance in Phuket takes place in the Dolphins Bay Phuket complex, which is located in Chalong – about 15 minutes south of Phuket Town. It lasts for 45 minutes and involves dolphins and fur seals. The performance runs three times a day at 11:00, 14:00 and 17:00 (Tuesday through Sunday). Monday is the closure day for this venue. Ticket prices at the ticket office start from 700 THB per person in the back-row seats to 1,200 THB in the front row; children’s tickets cost less, and entrance for children shorter than 90 cm is free but with no seat provided.

If dolphin show Phuket was the keyword combination you’ve typed in a search bar, then you are done with reading this section. This guide also contains information on what goes on during the performance, what is the best seat to choose if you want to avoid soaking your toddler, what is the price for extras, how to get there, and last but not least, the ongoing debate on keeping dolphins in captivity and alternatives to seeing them wild.

Quick Facts Before You Book:

It is all here in one place.

Detail	Dolphins Bay Phuket
Location	Chalong, Mueang Phuket, about 8 km from Phuket Town
Show times	11:00, 14:00 and 17:00
Open days	Tuesday to Sunday, closed Mondays
Show length	About 45 minutes
Animals	Dolphins and fur seals
Adult gate price	About 700 to 1,200 THB, by seat
Child gate price	About 400 to 700 THB, by seat
Free entry	Children under 90 cm, sharing a lap
Arrive	30 minutes before the show
Opened	31 October 2015

What the Show Is Actually Like:

The facility looks like a large tent of the circus style with open walls. There is a circular pool in the centre, with plastic blue seats rising around it row upon row and ceiling fans trying their best in this Phuket heat. Hence, there are yellow balls hanging from ropes above the pool, and you are going to discover what for within the first ten minutes.

There are dolphin and fur seal performances and commentary during the show. Dolphins jump up to touch the balls suspended in the air, spin the hoop on their noses, pull the trainers across the pool, and in some cases even paint pictures using a brush in their fins. The seals entertain the audience by waddling along the edge of the pool and occasionally greeting people in the first rows. It all goes very fast, with the help of music and claps, and almost all children are absolutely fascinated.

After the show is finished, there is a paid photo opportunity organized and offered right near the pool. The swim program can be purchased at this time as well. At this point, your visit finishes, and the whole trip takes about 90 minutes.

Dolphin Show Times and Opening Days:

The usual program involves three performances a day at 11:00, 14:00, and 17:00 from Tuesday till Sunday. Monday is the day off with no performances at all, which often fools many people who book a Monday tour in the hotel.

In quiet months some sellers provide only two performances at 11:00 and 14:00, so consider the third one not as definite but as possible and clarify that in advance. The entrance to the cave opens 15 to 20 minutes before the performance, and most of the sellers require you to be there 30 minutes early to exchange a voucher for tickets. The late comers will lose their reservations.

The morning performance at 11:00 will be the best choice for the family with kids. This performance will be cooler, and the audience will probably be less numerous in week days.

Ticket Prices and Seat Types:

The tickets are classified by tiers, and the tier will determine your view and how much you will get wet during the show. This is the entrance fee that has been widely advertised for the show venue. Online booking websites offer the same seats at around 15% to 25% less.

Seat	Row	Adult	Child	What to expect
VVIP	A	1,200 THB	700 THB	Soaked, seals come right up
VIP	B	1,000 THB	600 THB	Likely wet, great view
Deluxe	C and D	900 THB	500 THB	Light spray at most
Regular	E to G	700 THB	400 THB	Dry, full view of the pool

Children rates usually apply to children who range between 90 cm and 130 cm tall or 4 years old to 12 years old depending on the supplier. Those below 90 cm get in for free but have to sit on their parents’ laps. The tickets from some of the suppliers also come with a hotel pick up service from Patong, Kata or Karon beach.

Which Seat Should You Book:

The first two rows make up the splash zone. If you are sitting in row A, you are guaranteed to get soaked with salt water and there is also a good chance that the seals will come to kiss you or hug you. Even some companies give free raincoats along with tickets to this row. This row suits both teenagers and adults.

Toddlers are quite a different case altogether. All visitor reviews have one common message – very small children get panic-stricken when splashed with cold water and then their parents end up leaving the show midway or moving towards the back. For children less than five years old, get either Deluxe or Regular seats.

Deluxe seats in rows C and D are recommended for most people. The best thing about this row is that you can enjoy watching the dolphins without being wet all the way through till the end. The seats from E to G are classified as regular but offer a clear view of the pool because of the circular shape of the tent.

Swimming With Dolphins and Other Add-ons:

In addition to the show, Dolphins Bay offers several experiences that are additional services available individually from the main show. The swim experience includes the ability to be in the water with a dolphin in the presence of a trainer, who can offer you the swim experience only after the performance. The price for it ranges between 5,000 and 6,000 THB per person; the service requires prior booking, and the minimum age is about six; otherwise, the child has to be accompanied by an adult and pay an additional fee. The touch and young trainer experience may also be available.

Another kind of experience is taking photos with the dolphins and seals on the poolside platform for the price of 400 THB for up to four people.

How to Get to Dolphins Bay Phuket:

The dolphinarium is situated in the Chalong area which is located south of Phuket Town. The dolphinarium’s address is 33/50 Moo 2, Chalong, Mueang Phuket 83130. If you use Google Maps or Grab to search for Dolphins Bay Phuket, you will be directed straight to the entrance. 

Starting from	Rough drive time	Easiest option
Phuket Town	About 15 minutes	Grab, Bolt or a metered taxi
Chalong and Rawai	10 to 20 minutes	Scooter or Grab
Patong	About 30 minutes	Grab or a ticket with pickup
Kata and Karon	About 25 to 30 minutes	Grab or a ticket with pickup
Phuket Airport	45 to 60 minutes (39 km)	Private transfer or Grab

Travel times will be longer in the afternoon, especially in the area of the Chalong roundabout and on the road that goes out from Patong. Please allow time for the 17:00 show. Grab and Bolt taxis are cheaper than tuk-tuk taxis, and tuk-tuk drivers must quote prices before the ride starts.

Tips for a Better Visit:

Purchase your tickets one day in advance online in high season, i.e., between November and April, when all tour groups occupy good seats. Pack a handkerchief and extra clothing for children if you are seating somewhere around the front row, and put your mobile phone in a zip pouch. This tent is in the shade but is quite warm, so bring some water.

Do not place your hands or backpacks on the poolside. The employees will not allow leaning over the water or reaching out to the animals in the course of performance, and guests with any communicable skin or respiratory disease are discouraged from visiting this attraction. Lastly, make sure that your voucher contains information about the tier you paid for.

The Debate Around Captive Dolphin Shows:

One would be lying if one did not mention the controversy associated with this show when writing about it because many tourists consider it before traveling.

The opening date of this park was 31 October 2015 and was constructed for a sum of THB 100 million by Phuket Aqua Project Co Ltd. This dolphinarium has another name which is called Nemo Dolphins Bay, a title used also by a Ukrainian chain of dolphinariums, where the first five dolphins and two seals arrived from Ukraine. The project received criticism before the opening, which included petitions from the students of Prince of Songkla University, the criticism of tourism organizations of the area, and even documentations spread on the Internet about a link between the supply of dolphins from Taiji, Japan.

Overall attitudes towards the industry have changed as well. Trip Advisor continues to list the place and reviews, but does not offer tickets to it as it does not comply with their animal welfare policies. Those supporting the attraction mention the educational aspect and the excitement in the faces of the children. The other side maintains that no pool can equal the sea’s freedom a wild dolphin possesses. Both sides believe in what they say and the decision is up to you. 

Seeing Wild Dolphins Instead:

For those who would rather watch dolphins in the wild, Phuket offers some choices. Boats to Koh Maiton, a tiny island on the southeastern coast of Phuket, often try to locate a pod, while some of the companies also offer the tour in combination with snorkeling at Coral Island or the Khai Islands. Respectable companies never make any promises about meeting dolphins, and they shouldn’t.

In the Gulf, a one-day trip from Koh Samui to the Khanom coast will help you find pink dolphins – that’s the name given to Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins, because their skin becomes pink with age. For the best way to observe marine life without captivity, the Phuket Aquarium at Cape Panwa is a good choice for a half-day trip, especially for families with kids.

Nearby Stops to Pair With the Show:

Chalong offers itself perfectly for spending a whole day in the southern part of the island. Phuket’s most famous temple Wat Chalong is located nearby and can be visited beforehand in the morning hours. The Big Buddha on Nakkerd Hill offers breathtaking views across Chalong Bay; Phuket Old Town is also located nearby, and the seafood market in Rawai can be the perfect finish of the day.

The ideal program for a family includes the 11:00 performance, followed by lunch in Chalong, the visit to the Big Buddha at about 15:00, and seafood dinner in Rawai.

Is the Phuket Dolphin Show Worth It:

For families where kids are around 4 years old up to 12 years old and enjoy animal programs, most people leave satisfied. The program is professional, not very long, more budget-friendly compared to other day excursions in Phuket, and a good solution for rainy days because it takes place in a tent.

This program is not for you if animal rights issues matter a lot to you, or if you travel on Mondays, or if you prefer something relaxing and peaceful connected to nature. For such people a boat tour and the aquarium will be better options.

Mistakes to Avoid:

• Booking the Monday session through the hotel reception, only to discover the place was closed.
• Sitting in rows A and B with toddlers and trying to soothe a wet, screaming kid.
• Arriving at show time rather than 30 minutes before, thereby losing the booking.
• Paying gate prices for a ticket that costs less on the Internet.
• Believing that the 17:00 session operates daily during off-season without verifying.
• Using old instructions that lead one to Phuket Zoo across the street, which has been closed since the pandemic.

Dolphin Show Phuket Trivia:

• Dolphins Bay was launched in a low-key way on 31 October 2015, having been built for about THB 100 million.
• Its initial occupants, five dolphins and two seals, came from Ukraine.
• Also known as Nemo Dolphins Bay, it shares the same name with a Ukrainian company that opened its first dolphinarium in Odessa in 2005.
• The names of the performing dolphins are listed as Ami, Alice, Maya, Grand and Casper.
• Tripadvisor shows a listing for the park, but it refuses to sell tickets due to its animal welfare policy.
• Phuket Zoo, which was a famous landmark right next door, has been operating since 1996 until its closure after the pandemic.

Final Take:

Doing a search on “dolphin show Phuket” will yield only one result: Dolphins Bay at Chalong. Go there from Tuesday to Sunday, choose the show time 11:00, bring your children, choose Deluxe seating to avoid getting wet, and pre-book online for cheaper prices. Get there half an hour early, bring your own towel, and do your research on the matter of dolphins in captivity before coming to make sure you are comfortable with your choice. Otherwise, a morning boat tour to Koh Maiton could be what you seek.

Frequently Asked Questions: