Watch & Swim with the Humpback Whales in Tonga
Tahi Tonga’s small group excursions are the perfect way to encounter Tonga’s majestic humpback whales during their mating & breeding season.
Tahi Tonga’s Day Trips depart from Nuku’alofa in Tongatapu, from 1st July til late October.
Before booking, please read beyond the pricing for important information on this excursion.
Whale Trips & Pricing
Pricing is in Tongan Pa’anga (TOP). Pricing valid for 2026 and is subject to change*
Whale Watch & Swim
ULTIMATE DAY TRIP
$650pp
Tongan Pa’anga
- 7-hour full-day trip
- Lunch stop at or near a picturesque island (a trip highlight).
- Morning tea, lunch, snorkel equipment & boat jackets provided
- Maximum of two swim groups (8 Swimmers)= more opportunities to swim
- Experienced & Professional Team
- Please read the detailed information below before booking.
Whale Watch & Swim – 3 Day Special
RECOMMENDED
$1,850pp
Tongan Pa’anga
- 3 individual day trips allowing for more opportunities to observe & to swim with the whales.
- Lunch on picture perfect islands.
- Please read the detailed information below before booking.
- FRINGE SEASON SPECIAL $1,500 Tongan Pa’anga. Book any 3 days between:
- 1-19 July 2026. Use Promo Code: FRINGE2026-JUL
- 12-31 October 2026. Use Promo Code: FRINGE2026-OCT
Whale Watch & Swim – 5 Day Special
MAKE THE MOST OF IT
$3,000pp
Tongan Pa’anga
- 5 individual day trips allowing for more opportunities to observe & to swim with the whales.
- Best daily rate
- Lunch on picture perfect islands & a snorkelling on stunning reefs.
- Please read the detailed information below before booking.
Whale Watch & Swim Charter
Up to 8 swimmers
$4,800
Tongan Pa’anga
Still availability for 2026
- Book the entire boat to have more say over your time (up to 7 hours).
- Further discount for multi-day charters & group leaders
- Morning tea, lunch, jackets and snorkel gear supplied
- Option to add 2 watchers
- Exclusive, licenced boat with qualified and experienced Guide and Skipper
Important Information
- Swimming with the whales is done with flippers/fins and a mask & snorkel, in the open ocean.
- To get the most out of this experience you will need to be comfortable swimming in the ocean using this equipment and able to climb a ladder to get back onto the boat.
- Ocean conditions can range from very calm waters to swells & wind chop.
- You can only swim with whales in Tonga with a fully licensed operator. Tahi Tonga is fully licensed, experienced and locally owned and owner operated.
- Only 4 swimmers are permitted (under Tonga regulations) in the water at a time and must be accompanied by a qualified guide. Tahi Tonga takes a maximum of 2 swim groups per trip and uses the full 7-hours (with a break for lunch) to improve your opportunities.
- Swimming with the whales in Tonga is regulated, and Tahi Tonga requires all guests to respect and abide by those regulations. This includes no duck diving, free diving, chasing or approaching within 5m of a whale.
- Watching & swimming with the whales is a wildlife encounter in the whales natural environment (a bit like a safari). There are no guarantee’s of what will happen and what you will get to see – every day is unique. We always recommend booking multiple days to give you a greater opportunity to truely experience the magic.
- Please read our Booking Terms & Conditions and our Frequently Asked Questions
What to expect
Our Humpback whale watch & swim season officially starts on July 1, to coincide with the start of the whales arriving in the tropical waters of Tonga for their mating and breeding season.
The season winds down in October, as the last of the Humpback whales begin the return journey to their feeding grounds in Antartica.
Our whale swim trip is a full day excursion (7 hours) leaving Faua wharf in Nuku’alofa at around 8.30am and returning around 3.30pm.
We will spend the day looking for opportunities to observe and snorkel with the Humpback whales. Taking a break on a beautiful island for lunch, and possibly even enjoying a snorkel, all depending how the day goes and the weather conditions.
Each day out on the water is unique and our approach and our experience & understanding of mutual encounters, where the whales are respected and comfortable, often allows for longer more magical interactions, where there is a higher chance of guests having longer more engaging swims.
However, nothing can be guaranteed in the wild (the weather or the whales)! So, if you do have the chance to book more days, then we do highly recommend that.
Inclusions:
- Water. Please bring your own bottle to refill from our refillable Tonga Water.
- Morning Tea. Locally baked cake and the offer of a hot drink.
- Lunch. This varies but normally includes a filled roll, local fruit and a coconut.
- Snorkelling gear. This includes a 2.5mm Springsuit, flippers, snorkel and mask. We do also have a small selection of long wetsuits available. We also supply jackets on the boat as needed.
- A visit to a picturesque island, and a snorkel – if the day allows!
- Our commitment to reducing single use plastic, and sourcing locally grown produce.
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*All prices are quoted in Tongan Pa’anga and are subject to change without notice. Rates may be adjusted annually and may also be subject to fuel surcharges or adjustments in the event of significant increases in operating costs.
Why Choose Tahi Tonga
- Our experience & understanding of respectful whale interactions and approaches often leads to longer ,more magical encounters
- We only allow a maximum of 2 swim groups on board, giving you more opportunities and more time in the water – often with multiple swims throughout the day.
- We make use of the full day (up to 7 hours), allowing time to search for and interact with those truely special whales.
- Most days we enjoy our lunch break on a picturesque uninhabited island – a highlight for many guests
- We are committed to an environmentally friendly and ethical approach.
- Our trips are run out of NZ-built hard-top vessels.
- Our team is one of our greatest strengths. With extensive experience both on and off the water, we provide friendly, open communication and personalised care from your first enquiry through to your unforgettable day at sea.
- We are fully locally owned and operated and supporting the local community is at the heart of everything we do.
- We are owner operators, we are deeply passionate about what we do and personally invested in delivering the very best experience.
