Answer: No not for this trip, we will be snorkeling with the whales. There is also a really nice reef out the front of the bungalows that you can snorkel.

Answer: All main meals are included, you will need to just buy your own snacks and drinks.

Answer: You can pay at the end via credit card.

Answer: It will be Tonga's winter when the whales arrive. The days can be quite warm, usually sitting somewhere between 24-28 degrees Celsius but you must also be prepared for some colder weather.

Answer: The boat leaves from the beach just outside your bungalow, it is about a 50m walk to the boats. You will be on the boat for usually about 6 hours each day.

Answer: Swimmers, sunscreen, something to protect you from the wind like a wetsuit or spray jacket, flippers, snorkels and of course a camera. (water and lunch will be provided)

Answer: Kayaking, snorkeling, laying on hammocks reading books, horse riding, bike riding.

Answer: They are wild animals so we can never give 100% guarantee but we do everything possible to maximise the chance of swimming with them.  We do 5 days on the water for this reason.  We can say that so far we have never taken a tour that hasn't swam with the whales and some even swim on all 5 days.  So the chances are high.

Answer: We are allowed 4 guests plus a guide as stipulated by Responsible Whale Watching.

In Tonga you can expect seasonal fruits during the whale season such as watermelon, pineapple, bananas, papaya and sometimes apples.  There are a small variety of vegetables grown on the island mostly root vegetables such as Taro, Tapioca, Yams and Sweet Potatoes.  There are quite a lot of carbohydrates used as a staple in Tonga (white bread, white rice, pasta) Most meat is all imported however there is plenty of delicious fish and crustaceans caught locally.

If there is a dietary requirement you particularly need please email us asap to let us know and we can let the resort know.  It is also advisable to bring what you might require with you as there is only one small store when you reach Ha’apai which has a limited supply of foods.

Sandy Beach provides rain water for drinking in your bungalows each day. It is clean and probably the sweetest water you will come across.

Answer: Yes of course, just let us know upon booking.

Answer: Yes of course if you decide to you’d like to stay longer please let us know asap so we can arrange this for you.

Answer: It’s about a 20 minute drive from the airport to the resort.

Answer: Yes kids are very welcome on tours. Please contact us for details on which tour to take. Children can also swim with the whales if they are confident in the water and snorkelling in deep water with large animals!

Answer:

You don’t need to be super fit for this tour. You will need to be able to get in and out of a boat (using a ladder) and it is a good idea to make sure that you are confident snorkeling in the open ocean.  We do have flotation devices should you need them and our guides will help you every step of the way should you need it.

Answer:

The water temperature generally sits between 23.5 and 26.5 degrees.  Most guests will wear steamer wetsuits on the boat (long arms and legs) to keep warm as we tend to spend a lot of time in the water.

Answer:

There is internet at your accommodation, however being on an island it doesn’t always work and can be rather patchy and slow.  We encourage our guests to try very hard to get on to island time, relax, enjoy the experience and leave the electronic world behind for a while if you can.  I know it’s a hard ask but it can be totally worth the effort!

Answer:

Your tour will be led by a Majestic Whale Encounters guide.  They will be taking some photos during your tour however they are not professional photographers as their job is to focus on our guests needs.  Many of our guests find that the quality of Go Pro cameras are amazing, especially for underwater video.  They’re very small to travel with and user friendly.  Please contact us if you would like more information on this.

Answer:

From the end of July till the beginning of October these months are all great for whales.  It really doesn’t matter what time within this frame that you go, as the whales do their thing and you can never really know what weeks will be better than others.  We have certainly noticed a massive increase in the number of whales that visit Tonga throughout the season over the past 5 years of at least 30%.

Answer:

There are other islands you can visit and explore which include:

• The mainland of  Tongatapu
• The island of  Eua
• The islands of  Vava’u

Please ask us if you would like specific recommendations.

Answer:

The local airline is called Lulutai Airlines and yes the return island flights are included in your package.  The domestic airlines in Tonga have always been very tricky to deal with (which is why we do this on your behalf).  Please always keep in mind that flight and schedule changes can be a common occurrence within the islands of Tonga and we do our very best to notify you of any changes as they are brought to our attention.  We always recommend that once we have sent you your flight itinerary that you personally call and confirm with the airline the night before your flight to ensure no un-notified changes have been made.

*There is an overnight passenger ferry that goes to Ha’apai, this is only used as a backup in case there are any cancellation issues.

Answer:

There certainly is a single supplement available for this tour, please contact us directly for details.

Answer:

Why of course, there is absolutely no doubt ;)

Answer:

You are going to Freaking LOVE this tour so much you will want to Freaking book again and again and again.