Swimming with Humpback Whales: The 8 Best Trips

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

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

Join Moorea Expedition for a four-hour ocean trip limited to six swimmers per boat under 2025 rules. From July through late November, the crew searches for humpback whales, with possible encounters with dolphins, stingrays, sharks, and turtles. Strong open-water swimming and snorkeling skills are required. Guides including Johnny, Joe, and Laura have led memorable outings.

“This was an amazing experience from pick up to drop off. Taxi was on time at resort and super pleasant. Johnny and his captain were tremendous, safety was a priority for the whales and participants. He explained everything wonderfully and offered in both French and English. We were able to make two entries into the water the first with a mom and two calves and the second the same, except from the boat you could see there were two pods meeting up. The captain and Johnny navigating to the second entry point was amazing to watch — how they understood the ocean, whales and movements. We didn’t focus on taking…”

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2.Whale Tour – Observe and swim with whales

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 257 reviews · from $270Top rated

Set out from Moorea with an experienced boat crew to look for humpback whales, dolphins, and sharks. If conditions and animal behavior allow, you may enter the water in groups of six guests plus a guide. The trip also includes lagoon snorkeling with stingrays and reef sharks. Pickup, gear, water, and a flotation device are included.

“Wow, what an incredible experience! Really surreal. With only a few days left in the season, there was a good chance we weren't going to see any whales but we got super lucky in seeing a mother and calf not once, but twice! The first time shRead more”

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3.Swim with humpback whales

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 224 reviews · from $264

Set out from Moorea at 8:30 a.m. with Corallina Tours for a three-hour boat trip in search of humpback whales, then swim with rays and black-tip sharks in a lagoon. English and French-speaking guides, snorkeling gear, water, and round-trip transport are included. Expect open-ocean swimming and a maximum of 12 people.

“Although we saw whales, it's unfortunate that the whales were constantly moving, so we couldn't swim together with them.”

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4.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 limited to six people. Captain Yannick and water guide Clovis may take you to humpback whales from August to November, followed by lagoon swims with rays, blacktip sharks, turtles, and tropical fish. Fruit, drinks, gear, and selected hotel-pier pickups are included.

“The tour was excellent, the crew were excellent, everything exceeded our expectation. We would recommend this to everyone!”

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5.WHALE TOUR – Watching and Swimming with Whales

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

From Moorea’s cruise pier, Temoana Tours takes you out for about four hours to watch and possibly swim with humpback whales. Guides such as Henua, Nicolas, Nico, and Johan assess the sea and whale behavior before each launch. The boat is open-air, the activity is strenuous, and the advertised group size is six.

“Wonderful experience! It is a lot of waiting but absolutely worth it and one of the most amazing experiences we have had. The guide and captain were wonderful and very knowledgeable. We look forward to going again”

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6.Observe and Swim with Whales in Tahiti

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 14 reviews · from $169Best value

Spend about three hours on a comfortable boat off Tahiti with an instructor, captain, and guide Johannes. Look for humpback whales and calves, learn respectful water practices, and swim only when conditions allow. Fins, mask, snorkel, and towel are supplied. The outing ends with a turtle and reef swim.

“We end up seeing a juvenile male that sang underwater and it was incredible. Our bodies were vibrating with the frequency. We then found another group and were so fortunate to have a beautiful female swim up and under the boat aRead more”

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7.Private boat tour to swim with whales and sharks

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews

Set out from Moorea with captain Stephane and aquatic guide Louis for about four hours searching for humpback whales and, when conditions allow, swimming near them. The private boat carries only your group of up to four. Shark encounters are part of the tour description, but whale sightings and swims depend on animal behavior, sea conditions, and safety decisions.

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8.Watch and Swim with Humpback Whales in Moorea

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · from $267

Meet at Coco Beach Restaurant Parking in Moorea for a roughly four-hour whale encounter with KoaBoatTour. A trained guide and captain lead a maximum of four participants, providing snorkeling gear, drinks, ponchos, and life jackets. Whale sightings and swimming depend on wildlife behavior and weather, and any interaction follows protective rules.

“Wow, what an experience!!!!! To snorkel with whales was the ultimate activity we have ever done. The staff was great and spotted the whales so we could have this memory. I’d highly recommend this company . They even videotape the experience for us, and sent it to us for no extra charge .”

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