Polynesia · WHALE WATCHING

The 15 Best Whale Watching Trips in Polynesia

25 tours  ·  from $128 a head

Humpbacks calve here between August and November, and licensed boats take small groups into the water with them. The 15 below are priced and timed, with a note on which permit a swim and which watch from the deck.

Swimming with Whales in Moorea (Half Day tour) - The small-group rule matters
Tour Reviews, Tours in Moorea, Whale Watching, Whale Watching in Moorea

Swimming with Whales in Moorea (Half Day tour)

1.Swimming with Whales in Moorea (Half Day tour)

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 264 reviews · from $305Our pick

Spend about four hours on a small boat from Moorea searching for humpback whales from July through late November. With a maximum of six people allowed in the water, guides such as Johnny, Joe, Grace, or Laura may lead carefully managed swims. Strong open-water skills are required, and dolphins, rays, sharks, and turtles may also appear.

“We had an amazing day out with the whales. Our guides and captain were so knowledgeable and made sure to keep everyone safe and having a good time. We were lucky enough to get in the water three times today. Saw dolphins and whales. What an amazing experience. Thanks Moorea Expeditions!”

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Whale Watching Tours in Bora Bora - What the 3.5-hour itinerary feels like
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Whale Watching Tours in Bora Bora

2.Whale Watching Tours in Bora Bora

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 250 reviews · from $305

Spend about 3.5 hours offshore with Tohora Bora Bora, led by Simon or a trained team member. Listen to humpback songs through a directional hydrophone, watch for whales, and enter the open sea only if conditions, animal behavior, and your swimming ability allow. Groups are limited to six.

“Wonderful excursion! So happy we got to see not only one whale, but several! Incredible experience and Simon was exceptional as a captain! Highly recommend!!”

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Humpback whale watching and marine life in Moorea - Three hours of searching, listening, and watching
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Humpback whale watching and marine life in Moorea

3.Humpback whale watching and marine life in Moorea

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 199 reviews · from $327Top rated

Spend about three hours on Moorea’s open water searching for humpback whales and other marine life. Guides such as O’Neil, Doris, Mata, and Chewy explain whale behavior, use an underwater microphone, and may offer a swim when conditions and wildlife behavior allow. Early departures can bring calmer seas and sunrise light.

“Le guide sono state davvero brave, a timonare la barca con le onde, a trovare le Balene grazie al microfono marino e soprattutto abbiamo avuto la possibilità di nuotare con 2 balene!”

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Half day whale tour 4h00 - What the whale encounter is really like
Tour Reviews, Tours in Moorea, Whale Watching, Whale Watching in Moorea

Half day whale tour 4h00

4.Half day whale tour 4h00

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 181 reviews · from $191

Spend four hours searching Moorea’s waters for humpback whales with guides Kevin and Mahai. The small boat carries up to 12 people, though only six may enter the water at once. Masks, snorkels, fins, and drinks are included. Strong swimming skills are important, and whale swims depend on sea conditions and animal behavior.

“Wow! Just wow. Absolutely amazing! All of the employees are very knowledgeable. But beware, you must act quickly and you must swim a lot in the open ocean… was fine for us but I could see many people not enjoying that part. Experience of a lifetime!”

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Private tour observing and swimming with humpback whales in Moorea - Humpback Whales From July Through November
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Private tour observing and swimming with humpback whales in Moorea

5.Private tour observing and swimming with humpback whales in Moorea

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 126 reviews · from $1,640

Spend about four hours aboard Mana Moorea Tours’ private Mana’hau boat with a marine biologist and lifeguard guide. Search for humpback whales from July to November, snorkel with rays, sharks, and turtles, visit Moorea’s two bays, and try the subwin board. Pickup is available, and groups are capped at eight.

“Pick up was on time, the boat was exactly as pictured and our guides were so knowledgeable and accommodating. Would definitely recommend.”

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Respectful whale excursion to Tahiti in 4h30 - What swimming with whales is really like
Island Tours & Excursions, Island Tours in Tahiti, Tour Reviews, Tours in Tahiti, Whale Watching, Whale Watching in Tahiti

Respectful whale excursion to Tahiti in 4h30

6.Respectful whale excursion to Tahiti in 4h30

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 123 reviews · from $222

Set out from Papeete Marina for a 4.5-hour search for humpback whales and spinner dolphins aboard a boat carrying up to 12 people. Guides such as Moana, Israel, Remy, or Bernardo may lead the trip, sharing local marine knowledge and managing any whale encounter with care. If conditions allow, you can swim near the whales before snorkeling in the lagoon with tropical fish.

“Outstanding, knowledgeable guide - he was able to predict when the whales would surface, then the six of us left our boat 300ft away and swam fast to get close. Fantastic experience. (He actually assisted our swimming by pulling us on a Read more”

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Half Day Small Group Whale Watching - Setting out for Moorea’s humpback whales
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Half Day Small Group Whale Watching

7.Half Day Small Group Whale Watching

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 88 reviews · from $267

Join Moorea Sea Experience for a four-hour whale-watching trip limited to six people. From August to November, look for humpback whales from Antarctica, with experienced guides such as Mana or Johnny helping you in and out of the water. Fresh fruit, drinks, and snorkeling gear are included.

“We got to swim with an entire family of whales (mama, calf, and dad), not once but twice! It was truly a life changing experience! The crew was super knowledgeable. Our guide was both caring in terms of watching out for folks who wereRead more”

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Tahiti island: Whale watching Experience - The whale season runs from July 20 to November 20
Tour Reviews, Tours in Tahiti, Whale Watching, Whale Watching in Tahiti

Tahiti island: Whale watching Experience

8.Tahiti island: Whale watching Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 79 reviews · 5 hours · from $227

Set out from Tahiti for a five-hour whale-watching trip with a maximum of 12 passengers. Guides such as Israel, Teva, and Moana help you spot humpback whales, dolphins, and other marine life. If sea conditions and whale behavior allow, you may enter the water. Drinks, fruit, and snorkeling equipment are included.

“A superb afternoon out on the boat, seeing some absolutely amazing sights - the 3 humpback whales breaching right out of the water was incredible. Would highly recommend!”

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Whale watching and snorkelling in Moorea - Why the group size makes a real difference
Snorkeling, Snorkeling in Moorea, Tour Reviews, Tours in Moorea, Whale Watching, Whale Watching in Moorea

Whale watching and snorkelling in Moorea

9.Whale watching and snorkelling in Moorea

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 64 reviews · from $230

Spend about four hours off Moorea with Lagoon Vibes guides Ivy and Christophe, searching for humpback whales and, when conditions allow, swimming near them with fins and a mask. Groups are limited to six, and the trip may also include dolphins, turtles, sharks, and rays.

“The team at Lagoon Vibes was fantastic! They were friendly and knowledgeable and provided all of the gear that we needed. My wife and I were able to get in the water and see the whales at two different locations. Thank you for a wonderful experience!”

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Whale watching in Moorea - Starting at 8:30 a.m. near Temae
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Whale watching in Moorea

10.Whale watching in Moorea

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 58 reviews · from $194

Join Top Jet & Top Quad Moorea from July 20 to November 20 for a three-hour whale outing with up to 12 people. Depart at 8:30 a.m., search for humpbacks offshore, then snorkel in the lagoon for turtles, rays, blacktip sharks, and dolphins. Strong swimming skills are required for whale swims.

“Esperienza incredibile mai fatta finora; ascoltare le balene e vederle a pochissimi metri di distanza è stato surreale! Abbiamo fatto tre ingressi in acqua per le balene, i globicefali e le tartarughe. Due guide erano in acqua con noi.”

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Guided Small Group Whale Watching and Swim Tour Tahiti - The rules around entering the water
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Guided Small Group Whale Watching and Swim Tour Tahiti

11.Guided Small Group Whale Watching and Swim Tour Tahiti

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 57 reviews · from $238

Join Teiki and captain Michael for a four-and-a-half-hour whale search from Papeete Marina, limited to six people. From July to November, you may watch humpbacks and, only when conditions and whale behavior allow, enter the water. Gear, wetsuits, towels, drinks, snacks, and lagoon stops are included.

“Swimming with humpback whales has been my dream my entire life, and it finally happened!! It was even better than I imagined. This was one of the best experiences of my life! I cannot recommend this enough!”

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Moorea 4H Shared Boat Tour Whale Swimming and Snorkeling - What the Whale Swim Feels Like in Practice
Boat Trips & Charters, Boat Trips in Tahiti, Snorkeling, Snorkeling in Tahiti, Tour Reviews, Tours in Tahiti, Whale Watching, Whale Watching in Tahiti

Moorea 4H Shared Boat Tour Whale Swimming and Snorkeling

12.Moorea 4H Shared Boat Tour Whale Swimming and Snorkeling

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 52 reviews · 4 hours · from $259

Join Ariki Tours for a four-hour Moorea boat trip with a maximum of six people. In season, Captain Yannick and water guide Clovis search for humpback whales and help you enter the sea safely. You may also swim with rays, blacktip sharks, turtles, and reef fish, with fruit and drinks served aboard.

“This was one of the most beautiful and breathtaking experiences I have ever had in my life. I was not expecting to get so close to the whales. 100000% recommend!”

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WHALE TOUR - Watching and Swimming with Whales - When the guide says it is time to enter the water
Tour Reviews, Tours in Moorea, Whale Watching, Whale Watching in Moorea

WHALE TOUR – Watching and Swimming with Whales

13.WHALE TOUR – Watching and Swimming with Whales

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 52 reviews · from $327

Spend about four hours off Moorea with Temoana Tours, looking for humpback whales and, when conditions allow, entering the water with a guide. The six-person maximum, experienced crew, and strict whale-distance rules make this a serious wildlife outing, not a guaranteed photo stop. Guides such as Henua and Nicolas help manage the boat and swimmers.

“What an incredible experience, with an incredible guide! We were travelling to Moorea on a cruise so I was very worried about communication without having wifi. At first I was very upset, I tried reaching out on several occasions looking for aRead more”

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Whale Watching Bora Bora - The small boat and the open-water feel
Tour Reviews, Tours in Bora Bora, Whale Watching

Whale Watching Bora Bora

14.Whale Watching Bora Bora

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 46 reviews · from $304

Spend about 3.5 hours offshore with Bora Ocean Adventures, searching for humpback whales, dolphins, orcas, rorquals, and other marine life. Your captain and guide provide snorkel gear, towels, water, tea, snacks, and waterproof bags. Swimming near whales is possible but never guaranteed, and boat pickup is available from selected hotels or meeting points.

“Le moment où l’on s’est retrouvé face à la baleine et son baleineau Les voir descendre au fond et remonter pour prendre de l’air”

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Sacred Experience Swimming with a Whale in Moorea - From Marina Vai’are to the open sea
Tour Reviews, Tours in Moorea, Whale Watching, Whale Watching in Moorea

Sacred Experience Swimming with a Whale in Moorea

15.Sacred Experience Swimming with a Whale in Moorea

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 46 reviews · from $157

Join Moorea Reo Tours for a four-hour whale-watching trip from Marina Vai’are. With only six swimmers, a certified local guide, and captain-guide team Averii and Anthony, you may enter the water when conditions and whale behavior allow. Expect clear safety rules, possible dolphin sightings, snorkeling gear, drinks, tropical fruit, and a maximum of four hours at sea.

“Well organized, good boot and equipment. Great guide who takes pride in what he does. Did everything to give us a once in a lifetime experience!!! Certainly book these guys!!”

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New in Whale Watching

★ 5.0Private Half Day Whale Watching Tour18 reviews
★ 5.0Half Day Whale Watching in a Small Shared GroupFrom $23633 reviews
★ 5.0Private Whale Watching Adventure in Mo’orea32 reviews
★ 4.5Bora Bora Whale WatchingFrom $30932 reviews

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