Whales . Yoga . Freediving
7 nights accommodation
7 nights accommodation in a beautifully styled waterfront villa with private jetty, just 5 mins from Neiafu town centre. Daily yoga on the deck with @yogawithkris
5 days on the water
5 days on the water on our fast and comfortable 10 m Flybridge Cruiser, Its the best boat in Vava`u with a spacious cabin and toilet, upstairs viewing bridge and plenty of deck space, perfect for long days on the water. Lunch and refreshments included.
World class freediving
Plenty of opportunities for World class free diving and snorkelling and visiting the spectacular Swallows and Mariners Caves, as well as countless islands and reefs. PADI Freediver course included
COVID 19
Tonga requires all visitors to be fully vaccinated and provide a negative RAT test taken prior to arrival and another within 24 hours of entry. If Tongas borders do not open for September or close again you will be offered a full refund or roll over to the 2023 season.
THE EXPERIENCE
If you are a confident swimmer and can breathe thru a snorkel you can swim with the whales, you don’t need to be a SCUBA diver or Freediver!
Tonga is the best place in the world to swim with Humpback whales. Warm blue tropical waters and the surrounding coral reefs and islands make Tonga the perfect nursery for the whales to birth their calves and socialise. The Local government adheres to a strict whale swim policy. Only 4 people are allowed in the water with a whale at any time. The experienced boat operators are careful not to stress the whales and ultimately the whales choose whether they want to swim with us or not. That said we swim with whales every day!
The water in Tonga averages a balmy tropical 26’C , and air temperatures are a comfortable 23 -30′ C July to October. The Trade winds can sometimes feel a bit cool when you`re wet on the boat. Most days its sunshine and bikinis, but its good to have a 3mm wetsuit for days when the winds up and its cloudy.
TONGA WHALESWIM
If you are looking for an unforgettable experience, swimming with Humpback whales in Tonga will deliver! Daily yoga to help you relax and unwind, delicious fresh fruit and seafood, and tropical paradise on your doorstep!
FREEDIVING
Free diving is the most natural way to explore the underwater world. uninhibited on a single breath.Its a great way to experience a state of connectedness and relaxation, free of gravity in a meditative state of flow. Free diving is the perfect way to experience close interactions with the whales.
YOGA
Daily yoga sessions will have you feeling your best, balancing strength, flexibilty and peace of mind. Blending Vinyasa, Yin and Yang styles, our yoga sessions will elevate you to heightened states that the whales will be able to relate to.
ACCOMMODATION
7 nights accommodation in a beautifully styled waterfront villa with private jetty, just 5 mins from Neiafu town centre. Our villa has a fully equipped kitchen and outdoor entertaining area with BBQ. Guests can prepare meals at home or dine out in town. Fresh local produce is readily available from the farmers market everyday. Our private jetty is a perfect place for swimming amongst fish and corals in front of the villa.
Getting to Vava`u Tonga
- www.fijiairways.com flys to Vavau via Nadi from various international airports.
- The Nadi -Vavau flight leaves in the morning so you need to overnight in Nadi, Fiji. Return flights from Vavau often link thru that day.
- Virgin flys from Sydney to Nuku Alofa, you will overnight there and take a domestic flight to Vavau with www.realtonga.to the next day.
- Air NZ flys Auckland to Nuku Alofa, again you will need to take a domestic flight to Vavau with www.realtonga.to
- We prefer flying thru Fiji, its a much easier transfer and more relaxed.
- A deposit of US$2000 is required to secure your spot, balance of payment is due no later than 90 days before tour commences.
- If you have any questions about the trip please ask!
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whales migrate from their feeding grounds in Antarctica to the warm waters of Tonga to mate and give birth. They begin to arrive in June/July and calves are born between July and September. As well as having calves, single male Whales compete for the attention of a female, listen to the trumpet blows and witness the mighty displays of breaching, spy hopping, tail slapping and pectoral fin in the battle to mate for the following season. Put your head underwater and hear, see and feel the song of the male humpback whale as he fills the ocean with notes, clicks, grunts and whistles to attract a female and warn off smaller males.
Humpbacks are Baleen Whales which means they have no teeth but baleen, which is like big toothbrush bristles, which they use to sieve the krill they feed on. However, they don’t eat during the time spent in Tonga as there is no krill to feed on. The females, known as cows, weigh up to 45 tonnes and are 16 meters in length. The calf when born weighs 1-2 tonnes and measures 1.5 meters. They rapidly grow in size from their mother’s milk which is like double cream and very fatty. The mother expresses 100 litres a day from either of her two breasts.
Usually mothers and calves are the best encounters, with the mother lying at about 10 metres, often sleeping with one eye closed for up to 20 minutes with the calf surfacing every 3 to 5 minutes and playing on the surface. The calves are very inquisitive and will approach swimmers so you are able to eyeball each other.Often there is a male escort with the mother and calf. The female has come back into season even though she is lactating and it is possible for her to mate.
Location
TONGA
The Vava’u Island group in the Kingdom of Tonga is a spectacular tropical island paradise in the Pacific Ocean. It has a year-round climate suitable for swimming, snorkeling, diving and sailing. Some islands are ringed by white sand beaches while others have tropical forests, sea-level caves, and dramatic limestone cliffs with breathtaking vistas.
Remote and truly unspoiled, the waters around Vava’u are crystal clear with visibility exceeding 100 feet/30 metres. Most of the islands are uninhabited, a few have villages, a few have very small unique resorts with exceptional food. There is abundant sea life with over 100 species of colorful tropical fish, giant clams, manta rays, sea turtles, spinner dolphins, and July-October the Humpback whales!
Truly a paradise with the only Polynesian Monarchy this is a truly remarkable place to explore.
