Vava'u and Swimming with Whales

The Vava'u archipelago, a cluster of some 60 forested islands and islets threaded by sheltered turquoise channels, is one of the most beautiful corners of the Kingdom of Tonga and a world-renowned destination for one extraordinary experience: swimming with whales. Each year between roughly July and October, humpback whales migrate to the warm, calm Tongan waters to mate and give birth, and Tonga is one of the very few places on earth where visitors can, under strict regulation and with licensed guides, slip quietly into the water to snorkel alongside these gentle giants and their calves, an intimate and profoundly moving encounter.

What you actually see

• Swimming with humpbacks - the guided in-water whale encounters.
• The island archipelago - the forested isles and turquoise channels.
• The sailing and kayaking - the sheltered waters ideal for boats.
• The reefs and caves - the snorkelling, diving and sea caves.

When to go

July to October is the humpback whale season, the prime time to visit for the chance to swim with the whales; the archipelago is also a superb sailing and kayaking destination during these calmer months. Whale swims are tightly regulated to protect the animals, so book with a licensed operator, and note that sightings and in-water encounters are never guaranteed.

Honest expectations

Swimming with whales is a wild encounter, so it depends on finding the animals and on their behaviour, and it is never guaranteed even in season; it is also strictly regulated for the whales' welfare, with limited numbers, so it should only be done with licensed operators. Tonga is remote and low-key, with simple facilities. For the rare and unforgettable privilege of snorkelling beside a humpback whale and its calf in beautiful island waters, though, Vava'u is genuinely magical.

Nearby

The Ha'apai islands and the main island of Tongatapu are within reach by air.