Swim with humpback whales with expert guides in a respectful and ethical space
All departures are 8 days / 7 nights and start and end at our secret island airport, via a short domestic flight from Tongatapu.
From $6,250 USD, twin share. One private room is available per departure.
To secure your spot, we require a deposit of $1,500 for our Tonga Humpback Classic Expedition. The deposit is non-refundable once paid. However, if you cancel 120 or more days before departure, the deposit may be transferred as credit to another trip within 24 months of the original departure date.
The remaining balance is then paid in two installments: 50% of the remaining balance is due 150 days before departure, and the final balance is due 90 days before departure.
You can find our full terms and conditions here.
Dates don't work for you?Our Tonga Humpback Intentional Immersion runs on the same island, with the same whales and season, plus optional yoga, breathwork and sound healing woven into the week.
Find out moreJoin us on a secret archipelago in Tonga and swim with gentle giants for the experience of a lifetime. We’ve travelled the world in search of unique marine encounters, and this might be our best find yet: a quiet island paradise with very limited tourism and only a handful of boats in the water.
Every year, humpback whales gather here to give birth, nurse their calves, and socialise after migrating thousands of miles from Antarctica. Witness mothers and calves resting together, curious juveniles drifting closer, and sometimes males breaching nearby. Drop the hydrophone in and you’ll hear humpback song echoing through the ocean.
With just seven of us, encounters stay small and calm. Only four swimmers enter the water at a time with a guide, and only when the whales are relaxed and open to a visit.
Whale encounters are snorkel-only, with no chasing and no crowds.
Beyond the whales, expect dolphins riding the bow, manta rays gliding below, and occasionally false killer whales passing through. Evenings bring beach bonfires, shared meals, talks on whale behaviour, and the quiet beauty of a remote Pacific island.
Catch the 50-minute domestic flight from Tongatapu (TBU, Tonga’s main airport) to our secret location. To make things as seamless as possible, we book these flights for you. They usually depart around 10am, but schedules do change, so we recommend arriving the day before and spending a night in Tongatapu.
Our team will greet you at the airport and transfer you by boat to our remote island base, surrounded by turquoise water and coral reefs. If we’re lucky, we’ll spot our first breaching whales on the way. Once you’ve settled into your beachfront fale (one of just five), we’ll gather for a welcome dinner and trip briefing as the sun sets over the Pacific.
The heart of the week is five full days on the water searching for humpback whales. After breakfast, we head out by boat across the surrounding islands, scanning the horizon for blows and tail slaps and listening for whale song through the hydrophone.
When we find whales, our guides watch their behaviour to see if they’re open to a visit. When they are, we gently slip into the water in groups of four swimmers with a guide. We never chase whales and never force an encounter.
We spend around five to six hours on the water each day, with lunch onboard or on a nearby island and stops at vibrant coral reefs for snorkeling. Afternoons are free to relax, snorkel the reef, or soak up the island pace.
Sundays are a day of rest in Tonga, and no boats are allowed to operate. It’s the perfect day to unwind, learn about the island’s sustainability practices, and enjoy yoga, island trails, paddleboarding, kayaking, shore snorkeling, or games.
Evenings are for sunset dinners, bonfires on the beach, and, if you’re interested, talks on humpback behaviour and conservation. You can also get involved with a local project identifying and cataloguing the whales passing through.
