Kurma Asih Sea Turtle Conservation Center — Attraction in Bali

Leaving the place with very mixed feelings… on the one hand the people working there have been very nice and they really seem to care about the turtles but at the same time there were a few things that seemed weird to me and after doing some research I’ve found out that my feeling was right and some activities they do are not at all ethical! The biggest issue in my opinion is that they are promoting to touch and hold the baby turtles which is NOT okay! I don’t know if they are not educated enough or if they do it because they know tourists are more willing to donate when they can take pictures holding turtles… When I was there I was very unsure about touching them so I asked the guide multiple times if I’m not gonna hurt them and he said it was okay so at some point I believed him and held one and also helped them get out of the bucket and into the water… which I know HIGHLY regret! Because after the activity I did some research and touching young turtles can get them infected and stressed! Also the fact that they are held in tanks is not good… it makes them waste their energy for the swim into the ocean and can also spread infections which can quickly be passed on to other baby turtles and even on to wild turtles once they are released! And then there are the two adult turtles… my guide told me that they were hurt and couldn’t survive in the wild which is why they are keeping them there… he told me the goal was to release them one day but I saw the same turtles on pictures from 6 years ago! If they really have to be there to survive, couldn’t they at least make their environment look a little bit nicer? I really which that they are gonna change the things mentioned above because I truly believe that they want to help the turtles and just aren’t educated well...

The Turtle Conservation Center is truly a special and meaningful place—not a tourist attraction, but a genuine sanctuary dedicated to the care and protection of turtles. Our visit was incredibly moving and educational. You can immediately feel the love, commitment, and responsibility the people here have for these animals.

The team is doing such important work, rescuing injured turtles, helping hatchlings survive, and protecting the species from threats like pollution and habitat loss. They take their mission seriously, and you can see that every turtle there is treated with dignity and care. The surroundings are calm, respectful, and focused entirely on conservation, not entertainment.

We were so impressed by the work being done that we made a donation on the spot—it felt like the least we could do to support their cause. This center relies on support from people who care, and every contribution really helps. It’s inspiring to see how much difference a small group of dedicated people can make for nature.

If you’re someone who values wildlife and wants to learn how to truly make a difference, please take the time to visit. It’s an eye-opening experience and a reminder of how we all can help protect our planet—starting with...

We had an amazing time here. We walked an hour along the beach to get there, and once we arrived there we thought we would eat lunch first and see the turtles. However, we were immediately met by a lovely volunteer that welcomed us and started showing us around. When he showed us the egg patch, he saw there were three nests hatching and we were invited to dig out the baby turtles carefully. For us, this was a moment we will never forget! Afterwards we got to release some of the older ones into the sea. He was very skilled and informative. When our European bank cards did not take for our donation, he kindly offered to take me on the back of his scooter to an ATM. I got to meet some of his family and the journey to the ATM was indescribably beautiful. Once we finally had time to eat lunch (food was amazing btw) the sun was setting and the guys from the restaurant offered us a ride to our homestay (Jembrana Bali Homestay), because it was safer than walking back. Not before we got to sing some karaoke of course! There was a friendly good-natured atmosphere that made you feel at home. All in all, unforgettable experience and we are still blown away by the friendliness and hospitality of all the people working...