Humpback SwimsReviews of humpbackswims.com

I loved our trip swimming with humpback whales in Tonga! Nadia organized the trip beautifully, from recommendations on flight itineraries, to organizing our housing in Vava'u, to choosing one of the most experienced and reputable day boat operators on the island. We had interactions with whales every day! It's a fantastic trip, I highly recommend it.

I waited a year for this trip and it went without a hitch from beginning to end... I am booking the 8 day package as the 5 was phenomenal however I was more time in the water. The owner Nadia is amazing!! The crew above and beyond.. As far as the people from Tonga 🇹🇴 warm and genuine.. I would highly recommend this trip!!!!!! Out of 10 stars this is a 15

Our experience in Tonga was nothing short of amazing. Nadia arranged everything from our airport pick up, to drop off. Our accommodation was super cute and clean with snorkeling off the dock, our boat captain and guide kept us safe, and there the experience in the water with the whales was OUT OF THIS WORLD! The resort host owner and family are absolutely the sweetest people that work hard all day to make sure you have anything you need, including accommodating to dietary needs. There wasn't a time that we felt unsafe while in the water with the whales and these guys had an eye to find them, even when the seas were a little rough. Nothing compares to swimming with these animals, having one on one encounters with them, and at times being a fly on the wall watching mom-baby interactions... it was so incredibly special, we feel fortunate to have experienced it all. We were sad to leave Tonga, and have a countdown to when we can return and swim again!

“The swim of a lifetime” would not be an overstatement: Nadia Aly and her very carefully chosen colleagues helped us have a trip we never imagined possible. Every detail was thoughtfully anticipated. Nadia never stops working to ensure a phenomenal experience and has an incredible depth of knowledge, savvy to navigate the variability that is inherent in a wildlife experience and in a part of the world that is not always predictable. Seven hours a day on the water in pursuit of incredible swimming was simultaneously exhilarating and satisfyingly tiring. One day there may be seemingly too many whales to count and another, they may be sparse. Their beauty is also in the unpredictability of their behavior and their willingness to trust you to swim with them. This is the adventure of everything that a manicured, finely orchestrated Disney vacation is not. No 400 channel cable on wide screens, no chain food establishments on every corner, no excess of anything but beauty and true relaxation. There is a peace to the rhythm of Tonga and the warmth of the people that settled over one's entire experience. The accommodations at Mystic Sands were perfectly delightful with an attentive and caring staff at the that made us feel like we were in their home as cherished guests and family at the same time. Clean and spacious rooms with thoughtful details including light cooking facilities to use as desired, a private pool and dock, great snorkeling right off the shore, and kayaks for use would be a great vacation in and of itself. But the whales are the reason we and many others make the long and occasionally challenging trip here. Well worth it would be the other appropriate understatement. We are grateful to the entire team who gave us such a fantastic glimpse into the world of the humpback.

I spent a lot of time researching swimming with the whales in Vava'u, Tonga. I know from friends who have been, that you can get stuck with awful operators if you don't book your trip ahead of time. Not only that, the good boats and crews get blocked off years in advance. This is why it's important to book with a company like Humpback Swims. My first impression was wonderful, through the timely manner and response rate from Nadia and her team. All my questions were answered in what seemed like seconds after me sending my first email. Upon arrival I was greeted by a driver and whisked me off to Mystic Sands, the accommodation I chose for my stay. I was very very pleased with this decision. The staff their quickly became family and they took VERY good care of everyone. Mosi makes wonderful food! We had a welcome briefing from the Humpback Swims team, then relaxation. Sundays in Tonga are rest days, so we were not able to go out swimming until Monday (I arrived on a Saturday). The whale swims are hard to describe, I don't think it's easy to communicate how amazing it is to swim with whales, it just takes your breath away. Every day, and every encounter, was so different, just like the team said. I was very glad I chose the 8 swim day package. At first I thought it would be too long, but no, no it wasn't. It went by so quickly. It's nature so we had some slower days than others, so keep that in mind when you are choosing what length of trip, don't think 8 swim days is too much. It's also nice having 6 people on the boat, it's clear to see that some boats take 10 or more people, you are only allowed 4 people in the water at a time, I can't imagine being on a boat load of people, it would truly ruin the experience. So glad I chose Humpback Swims with their smaller group sizes. The crew were OUT OF THIS WORLD! They took such great care of us! They are experts in and out of the water. I think this is this most important thing to note, the crew really made sure that we got to swim with whales, even on the harder days, they kept us in great spirits and even took us to snorkel in some caves. We got to swim with whales every day on the trip! What else can you ask for? Moms and their calves, a small heat run. Big ones, small ones, shy ones, curious ones, so much diversity in the types of encounters you can have. Every whale has their own personality, that's for sure! I am 100% coming back with Humpback Swims in the coming years, Nadia and her team did an amazing job! You really can't go wrong!

After 5 days of swimming with the humpbacks in August I am truly the happiest person on the planet! What an awesome experience!! Nadia and her partners are running a 5-star operation, everything is taken care of. Great accommodation, great boat and skipper, and great guides who stick to the rules of max. 4 people plus 1 guide per whale. Lovely evenings out with really good food (loved the Mongolian BBQ!). We saw whales every single day, moms and playful calves, a heat run, encountered an incredible male singer which touched our hearts - a life changing experience, which I highly, highly recommend!! I will be back! Thank you soooooo much Nadia Aly for making it happen and for taking care of everything- loved every second! 😍

The young humpback calf swam by, no more than an arm's length in front of me, and turned away. We were in open water off the island of Vava'u, in Tonga, in August in the midst of her migratory journey. She slid through the water and moved away into the blue depths, then abruptly rolled onto her back, showing me her great white belly, pivoting and turning back toward me, circling closer until she almost touched my camera lens. Then, as she looked directly into my eyes, curious and docile, her massive gray flank within easy reach, her mother loomed up behind her, 40 tons of maternal presence suddenly only feet away, and together they sped away. Enough play, mom seemed to signal. And they were gone. No animal experience I have had compares with snorkeling with humpback whales in Tonga. Nadia Aly's Humpback Swims is a fabulous adventure. My wife and I traveled there in August, and joined four other travelers for eight days of chasing, watching, swimming with, and getting to know these magnificent humpbacks. The logistics and accommodations were exceptional. Nadia took care of all the details, the Tongan islands were charming and welcoming, the weather was perfect, and the memories will last forever. Or maybe they won't, because we will go back with additional family members in tow and replace them with new ones. I cannot recommend Humpback Swims with Nadia Aly highly enough: six stars out of five!

I had a wonderful time out with Humpback Swims. Everything was amazing, from the island, to the whales and the friendly locals. It's true that you need to be redundant with your gear, there is nowhere to buy things like gopro batteries or any sort of camera gear. I recommend this company, they did an outstanding job!