If you want to see dolphins in Eilat, you should definitely take a trip to Dolphin Reef, located on the coast just outside Eilat. We visited here yesterday, and in addition to seeing a whole bunch of beautiful dolphins, we had a relaxing day in incredibly green and beautiful surroundings.
Tweet
Share
Share
Pin
Share
ShareTable of contents
Dolphin watching in Eilat
At Dolphin Reef, bottlenose dolphins can be seen coming in voluntarily to hang out in the protected bay. The dolphins are always free to move between Dolphin Reef and the open sea, and although they sometimes leave, they always come back. No food is used to attract the animals, but the contact between dolphins and humans is based entirely on the dolphins' own curiosity and desire to play, according to Dolphin Reef.
Snorkelling or diving with dolphins
You can also choose to go snorkelling or diving, possibly getting even closer to the dolphins. To be sure to get the chance, you should book in advance, as they only let a certain number of people into the water at once. There were no times left when we arrived, but we still felt happy to see the dolphins from the jetty.
Bath and restaurant
The area at Dolphin Reef is lush, intensely green like a jungle and relaxed like a beach bar in Southeast Asia. Here you can choose to sunbathe on the beach or perhaps hang out on one of the many sofas and cushioned corners that pop up here and there.
You can also sit down in the bohemian restaurant that stands on pillars, half in the water, and watch dolphins in Eilat at the same time. There are also a bunch of heated pools for relaxation.
Facts about Dolphin Reef
- Activities and booking: If you want to make sure you get to snorkel or dive with the dolphins, make sure you book it in advance. In addition to what we mentioned in the text above, there are some film screenings and some activities for children.
- Food and servicesThere are a small number of restaurants in the area serving simple meals. There is also an ice cream parlour, souvenir shop, etc.
Getting to Dolphin Reef
- Bus: You can easily travel by local bus from Eilat. We took bus 15 and paid 4,20 shekels (about 11 kroner) per person one way.
- Taxi: Travelling by taxi is easy.
- Go for a walk: It is possible to walk (about an hour's walk), on a footpath along a busy road.
You might also like:
Camel riding in Tunisia - an island tour at the gateway to the Sahara
Snorkelling at Malapascua in the Philippines - a wonderful trip
Aunt Anna looks for dugongs in Mozambique
Uganda - Aunt Anna and the ugly bird
Gorillas in Uganda - Aunt Anna and the Silverback
Ngorongoro, Tanzania - Auntie Anna in the Garden of Eden
English (UK) 
Svenska 
Deutsch 
Suomi 
Polski
Laila MA - Around the Equator says:
How wonderful. Have been to Eilat but did not get this opportunity 🙂 Nice article.
02 January 2018 - 7:27
Helena says:
Glad you were in Eilat Laila Ma! If you come here again, do not miss the dolphins 🙂.
02 January 2018 - 9:04
Solan says:
? Dolphins are considered lucky I have read...So what a kick when we saw a jumping dolphin on the first day of the year!
View from the car park east of Malaga. Keep playing with the fish in Israel and have a good time ☺?
02 January 2018 - 8:29
Helena says:
You and we both saw dolphins on the first day of the year! I am sure that 2018 will be a happy year for us and you! 🙂
02 January 2018 - 9:05
Travelsis says:
Turtles yesterday and dolphins today. You make me remember my best memories reseminnen☺️. When we were swimming on Sanibel Island, Florida, a group of dolphins came swimming and jumped just two metres away from us, what happiness and even more happiness to share this moment with the children. / Pernilla
02 January 2018 - 9:14
Helena says:
What a fantastic experience you had there in Florida! Understand that it was wonderful to be able to share it with the children! 🙂
02 January 2018 - 9:39
Marina says:
How wonderful that it can be organised with dolphins in the wild. We must believe the information that is available, that they come all by themselves. It is also very nice that a limited number of people are allowed to be in the water at the same time.
02 January 2018 - 9:32
Helena says:
They told us that many of the dolphins were born in this bay and that they see it as a protected oasis compared to the sea outside where the boat traffic is intense, with very large cargo ships etc. And yes, I only have the information that they told us of course, but we could at least see that the dolphins moved completely freely 🙂 And yes, it is of course wise not to send too many people into the water at once!
02 January 2018 - 9:43
Anki says:
Looks absolutely marvellous!
Good luck!
02 January 2018 - 9:39
Helena says:
Thank you very much Anki!
02 January 2018 - 9:43
Mr Nils-Åke Hansson says:
How wonderful to swim among dolphins. Nice pictures
02 January 2018 - 10:04
Helena says:
We didn't swim this time, but we were still so close that we could almost touch them 🙂 ).
02 January 2018 - 12:47
Ann-Sofie and Lennart says:
What a great trip you are on. Dolphins are always exciting and strange.
Wishing you a happy new year...
Ann-Sofie and Lennart
02 January 2018 - 11:11
Helena says:
Thank you very much! Wishing you a great 2018!
02 January 2018 - 12:48
Renate's travels says:
I had no idea you could do this in Eilat. How marvellous! What makes it so good is that the animals live freely and choose whether they want to be in the bay or not. I like that. 😀
02 January 2018 - 11:28
Helena says:
Agree! It felt very good that the dolphins were free and could come and go as they wished 🙂.
02 January 2018 - 12:48
Mr Steve says:
Dolphins are amazing. It is particularly appealing that they are free and that contact with humans is on the dolphins' terms.
02 January 2018 - 11:56
Helena says:
Agreed! This felt like a nice and good place for the dolphins ðŸ™'
02 January 2018 - 12:49
Ms M says:
Lovely to see Eilat with your eyes. Almost like going on holiday yourself 🙂 .
02 January 2018 - 12:01
Helena says:
Glad you appreciate our reports! 🙂
02 January 2018 - 12:50
Britt-Marie Lundgren says:
What wonderful days you had. Dolphins are awesome and it makes me think of a dolphin trip in the Azores in the early days of the digital camera. I probably had 50 photos of the sea, the dolphins had dived again before the camera reacted, but they are lovely!
Keep up the good work!
02 January 2018 - 13:16
Helena says:
Dolphin watching in the Azores sounds wonderful! I recognise that it's hard to take pictures of them ...! 😉
02 January 2018 - 16:27
Goatfish says:
What a lovely post! Looks relaxing 😀
A blank slate for me. Never been to Israel but Egypt.
Yesterday I was out filming the laser show on Lidköping's square. It was cool to see and hear!
Now I will soon go to church and practice choir singing for tomorrow's Music in Wintertime. Happy New Year 😀
02 January 2018 - 15:56
Helena says:
Here in the south, the landscape in Israel reminds me of Egypt, but I think it looks a bit different when you get to the north. Cool with the laser show!
02 January 2018 - 16:30
BP says:
Very funny post. Have only seen shows with dolphins in Florida, but they were in captivity. How much better they have it in Eilat. Read on their website that Dolphin Reef is alone in the world with this project.
The restaurant is really cool. I would be happy there:-)
02 January 2018 - 18:45
Helena says:
Glad you like the post BP and that you read more! Yes, it seems to be a good and special project. And the restaurant was really nice! 🙂
02 January 2018 - 20:50
Lots of other stuff and some concrete says:
How nice that there were free dolphins! Must be fun to see them like that.
What beautiful surroundings it seems to be. Lovely with sun and warmth!
Good luck!
Agneta
02 January 2018 - 21:44
Helena says:
Judt that they were free felt very good! 🙂
03 January 2018 - 5:57
Ditte says:
We were also out here and had a nice day. But the area has probably grown a lot since we were here and been spruced up. We also skipped the diving here and did it at sea. Hope Peter gets a couple of dives here in the sea because it was in any case previously very nice dives.
Wishing you continued good days.
02 January 2018 - 22:48
Helena says:
Glad you were here too! And good if the places are maintained and spruced up over time 🙂 .
03 January 2018 - 5:58
Veiken says:
Nice to go with you and experience everything again, although not everything is the same! Everything changes with time! 🙂
03 January 2018 - 4:36
Helena says:
Yes, everything changes! In the next post there will be more from Eilat in general, let's see if you recognise yourself! 🙂
03 January 2018 - 5:59
Lena - good for the soul says:
What a great place with both a tourist attraction like the dolphins and sun and bathing. That pillow corner looked really cosy.
Hug Lena
03 January 2018 - 6:17