WT18 catalog single pgs

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FOR MORE DETAILS ON OUR PACIFIC TRIPS, VISIT 101
In Tonga’s enchanting Ha’apai Islands, we’ll don masks
and snorkels, slip into the water, and swim with
humpback whales! They migrate here each summer, and
Tonga is one of the few places in the world where one
can swim close to these magnificent creatures—it’s one
of the greatest thrills the natural world has to offer. With
luck, our heart-pounding experiences will include watching
spyhopping, breaching, and mother-calf
interactions. Of the 62 islands in the
Ha’apai group, 45 are uninhabited and
the rest are lightly populated, so we’ll
have a real “South Seas” feeling as we
explore. We’ll also paddle sea kayaks,
snorkel vibrant reefs, and meet
the Ha’apai islanders, who welcome
us with time-honored hospitality. Our
overnights are in a traditional Tongan-
style lodge set on a white-sand beach.
Day 1 Tongatapu / Snorkeling / Kayaking A morning
flight from Tongatapu, Tonga’s capital, brings us to Foa Island
in the remote Ha’apai Islands. We settle in and enjoy the long,
sandy beach right out the front door of our lodge. The lodge’s
restaurant includes meals with delicious, locally caught seafood.
Tonight, we can stargaze under the bright Milky Way and learn
how early Polynesians used the stars to navigate.
Days 2-8 Whale Watching / Snorkeling / Kayaking We’re
off on our search for the whales. Each year, humpback
whales make a 2,800-mile migratory journey across the great
Southern Ocean, along the coast of New Zealand, and into
the wide expanse of the South Pacific Ocean, finally arriving
in the sheltered waters of the kingdom of Tonga. From June
through October, the whales court, mate, and bear their
young here. We’ve chosen the best time of year (September)
to see this activity, during the latter part of the season, when
the whales are more relaxed, the calves are larger, more
independent, and tend to be curious, rewarding us with amazing
encounters. We set out by boat each morning in search of
them, and we seldom have to travel far before sighting the
first whales of the day. We approach them slowly to avoid
disturbing them, and observe their behavior. Then, slipping
into the water, we swim alongside them! We also stop at
times to listen for the ethereal sounds of whale song. Male
humpbacks sing elaborate “ballads” whose stanzas evolve over
generations. One of our days, we take a break from whale
watching and paddle our kayaks to Nukunamu, “The King’s
Island,” where we snorkel the channel between Nukunamu
and Ha’ano Islands, looking for colorful reef fish. With luck,
we might even catch a glimpse of the elegant stingrays and
sea turtles that inhabit these reefs. Back at our lodge each
afternoon, we can snorkel, kayak, or enjoy a bike ride around
the island. On the Sunday that we are here, we have the
option to attend a church service and listen to the renowned
harmonies of Tongan singing. Depart on Day 8.
Swimming with a 40-ton humpback whale is one of the world’s most thrilling wildlife experiences.
PHOTO: MASA USHIODA
MICHAEL POWERS
WOLFGANG KAEHLER
HIGHLIGHTS
• Swim with humpback
whales—the experience
of a lifetime!
• Sea kayak in a remote,
untouched South Pacific
paradise
• Optional paddle boarding
• Option to attend a
Sunday church service
in a village and hear
Tongan singing
• Enjoy your spacious
beachfront cabana set
in a tropical garden,
with sunrise views from
your lanai
• Stargaze under the
clear skies and bright
Milky Way
DETAILS
• 8-day trip begins and
ends in Tongatapu
• 7 nights Tongan-style
beach resort
• All meals included
DATES
Sep 13-20, 2018
Sep 20-27
TRIP COST
$5195 (6-8 members)
$5595 (4-5 members)
Single supplement: $795
Internal airfare:
$210 (subject to change)
TRIP LEVEL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Sea kayaking (no previous
experience necessary),
whale watching, swimming,
beachcombing