2020 Wilderness Travel Catalog of Adventures

Swimming with Humpback Whales IN TONGA’S REMOTE TROPICAL ISLES

It’s an unbelievable thrill to snorkel with a humpback whale, and on this adventure, you have many opportunities! PHOTO: REINHARD DIRSCHERL

Days 1-8 Tongatapu / Foa Island / Whale Watching / Snorkeling / Kayaking A flight from Tongatapu, Tonga’s capital, brings us to Foa Island, set in an outer archipelago of Tonga that sees few visitors. Our days on this palm- fringed island follow the rhythm of the whales and the weather. Here we’ll have the opportunity to swim with humpback whales in their natural environment, one of the greatest wildlife experiences the natural world has to offer, and Tonga is one of the few places in the world where you are allowed to do this. We’ve chosen the best time of year for our adventure. The whale season starts in June, but we select the later months because the whales are more settled and relaxed, providing better opportunities to snorkel with them. We seldom have to travel far before sighting the first whales of the day. Setting out by boat each morning, we search for these magical creatures, and when we find them, we slip into the water, and have the thrill of swimming alongside them. We’ll stop at times to listen for the haunting sounds of whale song, perhaps hearing male humpbacks’ elaborate “ballads,” whose stanzas evolve over generations. Our in-water encounters range from swim-bys, where the whales simply swim past us as we snorkel (sometimes changing course to get a closer look at us) to extended courtship displays. Afternoons are for snorkeling, kayaking, or biking around the island. Our kayaking adventures include the channel between Nukunamu and Ha’ano Islands, and we’ll beach our kayaks to snorkel among brilliant Moorish idol, butterflyfish, wrasse, and clownfish. We also watch for the elegant stingrays and sea turtles that inhabit these reefs. Depart on Day 8 via Tongatapu.

Each summer, humpback whales migrate more than 3,000 miles from their feeding

grounds in Antarctica to the Kingdom of Tonga to court, mate, and give birth in the pristine, warm waters. On this

“Such a well designed itinerary, with plenty of time swimming with the whales...I just couldn’t get enough of that! It was the highlight of the trip.” Jeanne S., Charlotte NC

HIGHLIGHTS • Swim with humpback whales—the experience of a lifetime! • Sea kayak and snorkel, optional paddleboarding • Enjoy your beachfront cabana set in a tropical garden, with sunrise views from your lanai • Stargaze in clear skies under the Milky Way • Learn about the skills of early Polynesian navigators DETAILS • 8-day trip begins and ends in Tongatapu • 7 nights Tongan-style beach resort • All meals included

journey, we bring you one of the great thrills of the natural world: the chance to swim and snorkel close to humpback whales. We’ll have exhilarating encounters with them, including seeing spyhopping, breaching, and mother-calf interactions. In addition to our adventures with whales, we paddle sea kayaks, snorkel above extensive coral reefs, and meet the local islanders, who welcome us with time-honored hospitality. Our Tongan- style lodge is set right on a white-sand beach.

DATES Aug 20-27, 2020 Aug 27-Sep 3

Sep 3-10 Sep 10-17 Sep 17-24 Sep 24-Oct 1

TRIP COST $5895 (7-8 members) $6295 (4-6 members) Single supplement: $895 Internal airfare: $310 (subject to change) TRIP LEVEL 1 2 3 4 5 6 Swimming with whales, snorkeling, sea kayaking, beachcombing

RICHARD ROBINSON

QUESTIONS? 1.800.368.2794 OR EMAIL PACIFIC@WILDERNESSTRAVEL.COM 107