Watch & Swim with the Whales (3-Day Special)

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[], "main_island": "Tongatapu", "return_product_info": null, "asset_info": null, "upcoming_departures": null, "route_info": null, "active_promotions": [], "name": "Watch & Swim with the Whales (3-Day Special)", "slug": "watch-swim-with-the-whales-3-day-special", "product_free_write": "", "description": "<div>Maximise your chances of magical whale encounters with this 3-day whale swim package from <strong>Tahi Tonga</strong>. Spread across three individual day trips, this locally owned, fully licensed experience gives you multiple opportunities to swim with humpback whales in the waters off Tongatapu. We especially recommend this option for the fringe season (early-July and late-October), which is why we offer a slightly discounted price during this time. Either way, each day includes time at sea, island stops, and the chance for meaningful connections with these gentle giants.&nbsp;</div>", "island": "Tonga", "price": "1140.00", "sale_price": null, "wholesale_price": null, "high_season_price": "22.00", "high_season_start_date": "2025-07-16", "high_season_end_date": "2025-10-14", "duration_type": "fixed", "certify_information_accurate": true, "confirm_tripcarver_commission": true, "booking_duration_unit": "days", "booking_duration": "3.0", "booking_duration_minimum": null, "booking_duration_maximum": null, "booking_type": "person", "full_day_booking": false, "mark_as_private": false, "allowed_start_dates": [ "Monday", "Tuesday", "Wednesday", "Thursday", "Friday", "Saturday" ], "min_days_advanced_reservation": 1, "max_days_advanced_reservation": 366, "check_in_time": "08:00:00", "check_out_time": "15:30:00", "multiply_base_price_by_number_of_people": true, "count_people_as_separate_bookings": true, "last_minute_discount": null, "minimum_number_of_people": 1, "maximum_number_of_people": 6, "extra_price_per_person": null, "buffer_time": 0, "require_confirmation": false, "enable_price_per_people_type": false, "availability_rules": {}, "deposit_percentage": "8", "verify_photo_ownership": true, "ages_allowed": "8-99", "offered_languages": "English, Tongan, Tagalog", "whats_included": "<ul><li>3 full-day whale swim tours (7 hours each)</li><li>Morning tea and lunch daily</li><li>Refillable drinking water (BYO bottle)</li><li>Snorkelling gear: mask, snorkel, fins, and wetsuit</li><li>Shared post-trip footage when possible</li><li>Qualified guide in the water</li><li>Island lunch stop on at least one of the days</li></ul>", "what_to_bring": "<ul><li>Swimsuit (it's best to wear under your clothes each day)</li><li>Towel and dry clothes for after the trip</li><li>Sunhat, reef-safe sunscreen and sunglasses</li><li>Sea sickness medication</li><li>Water bottle (for refilling on board)</li><li>If you have your own snorkelling gear, if preferred, for comfort and fit</li></ul>", "what_to_expect": "<div>Over the course of three days, you’ll join daily trips departing from Faua Wharf in Nuku’alofa at 8:30 am, returning around 3:30 pm.<br><br>We especially recommend booking our 3-day package if you plan to visit Tonga during the fringe season (early-July and late-October) when whale interactions are less prolific, but we do our best to help you maximise your time with the whales. Better yet, discounted prices are available for fringe season packages.<br><br>Whenever you book, each day offers new chances to see and swim with humpback whales, guided by a crew that values respectful interactions and natural encounters.<br><br></div><div>Lunch breaks take place on or near beautiful islands, with at least one stop at an uninhabited tropical island over the course of three days.<br><br>Mornings include tea and snacks, and your gear is provided and fitted each day.<br><br>These multiple trips give you a deeper, more rewarding whale experience and allow for weather changes, wildlife variation, and a better overall chance of connecting with the whales.</div>", "departure_and_return": "<div><strong>Departure</strong>: Faua Wharf, Nuku’alofa, Tongatapu (daily for 3 days). We are usually stationed by the shelter and benches.</div><div><strong>Time</strong>: Meet at 8:00 am for an 8:30 am departure</div><div><strong>Return</strong>: Around 3:30 pm each day</div>", "additional_info": "<ul><li>Whale swims in Tonga are regulated by law. No duck diving, free diving, or approaching closer than 5 m is allowed.</li><li>Swimming with whales is a physically demanding activity. Participants must be able to climb back on board via ladder.</li><li>This is a wildlife encounter – nothing is guaranteed, and every day is unique.</li><li>Book multiple days if possible for the best chance of quality encounters (see our other whale swimming products).</li></ul>", "faq": "<div><strong>Do the three days have to be consecutive?</strong><br>The three days upon booking are consecutive, but if you wish to have alternative days, please let us know via email after booking.<br><br><strong>Do I really need to book three days during the fringe season?</strong><br>The beginning (early July) and end of the whale season (late October) see slightly fewer whale encounters, so we strongly recommend booking a 3-day package if visiting Tonga during this time. We have reduced our prices for the fringe season due to the likelihood of seeing fewer whales compared to mid-season, as we aim to provide you with the best value, regardless of what the whales have in store.<br><br><strong>Do I need to be experienced to join?</strong><br> You don’t need to be an expert swimmer, but you must be confident in open water and able to swim with a snorkel and fins. The crew is well-experienced to support swimmers of varying abilities. Note that if you're swimming abilities are limited, this may hinder your chances of joining every swim. For example, if it is a rougher day, this may reduce opportunities for less-experienced swimmers further.<br><br><strong>Can children join the tour?</strong><br> Children aged 8 and over are welcome if confident in the water. All children under 14 must be accompanied by a responsible adult in the water and on board. Please enquire if you have younger guests who would like to join.<br><br><strong>What happens if the weather is bad?</strong><br>Tours may be shortened or cancelled if the captain deems conditions unsafe. You’ll be offered a spot on another trip or a refund (less your deposit) if rescheduling isn’t possible.<br><br><strong>Can I join just to watch the whales?<br></strong>Yes! There are often one or two spots available for non-swimmers who just want to watch whales from the boat. Please state if you'd just like to watch in the booking notes on checkout.<br><br><strong>How long will I spend swimming with the whales?<br></strong>Every day is different – swims may be short or last 20 minutes or more, depending on whale behaviour. For shorter swims, you usually have multiple opportunities to swim with the whales.<br><br><strong>What kind of wetsuits and snorkel gear do you provide?</strong><br> You’ll be fitted with a 2.5 mm shortie wetsuit (or long wetsuit if available), plus mask, snorkel, and fins. You're also welcome to bring your own gear for the best fit.<br><br><strong>Can I use a full-face mask or freediving fins?</strong><br> No. Full-face masks are not permitted for safety reasons and to comply with Tonga whale swim regulations. Freediving fins are acceptable but note that you are not permitted to freedive with the whales.<br><br></div><div><strong>Are Sundays available?</strong><br> No. Due to Tongan laws and customs, no tours operate on Sundays.<br><br></div><div><strong>Do you offer transfers?</strong><br> No transfers are included, but most accommodations will assist with getting to Faua Wharf. You can also ask us for taxi recommendations (Typically TOP$10 within Nuku'alofa).</div>", "pg_review": "", "product_help": null, "featured": false, "cancellation_policy": "moderate", "cancellation_policy_extra_info": "", "fitness_rating": "3", "fitness_notes": "<div>Swimming with whales is a physically demanding activity. Participants must be able to climb back on board via ladder multiple times throughout the trip.&nbsp;</div>", "accessibility_rating": "0", "accessibility_notes": null, "highlights": "<ul><li>3 separate full-day whale swim excursions</li><li>Fringe season discount applies (early-July and late-October)</li><li>Each day increases your chance of magical encounters</li><li>Visit picture-perfect uninhabited islands for lunch</li><li>Only 2 swim groups per trip = more time in the water</li><li>Single-use plastic-free boat</li><li>Locally owned and fully licensed whale swim operator</li><li>Experienced and knowledgeable crew with over 10 years’ experience</li></ul>", "facilities": [], "itinerary": [], "total_bookmarks": 15, "featured_image": "https://tripcarverbucket.s3.amazonaws.com/product_images/product_images/GPTempDownload-4.webp", "featured_image_caption": "Whale swimming 3-day package with Tahi Tonga - swim with the whales in Tongatapu", "extra_notes": "", "all_public_holidays_closed": false, "cruise_extra_information": "", "custom_accordion_item_title": null, "custom_accordion_item_content": "", "display_hours_publicly": false, "allow_single_bookings_once_capacity_is_reached": false, "require_fully_booked_before_next_available": false, "require_minimum_capacity_for_booking_confirmation": false, "minimum_capacity_required_for_booking_confirmation": null, "is_active": true, "email_extra_information_to_customer": "", "return_option_available": false, "minimum_duration_for_customer_defined_booking": null, "is_rental_product": false, "rental_inventory_count": null, "rental_unit_label": "", "allow_customer_duration": false, "business": "6c6c21df-ba5d-4860-bb2a-c2fe230fc152", "accommodation": null, "asset": null, "asset_pool": null, "route": null, "return_product": null, "awards": [] }