FAQ

The best time to swim with humpback whales in French Polynesia is generally from mid August to early November, with all of September and the first two weeks in October being considered the “peak” of the season. However, this can vary year by year and it’s not easy to predict how a season will turn out.

During these months, the whales have migrated north from Antarctica in order to mate, give birth, raise calves, and escape the Arctic winter freeze in the warm waters of the South Pacific.

No, we do not offer any day tours of any sort. All of our whale programs are structured as full multi-day expeditions. This is partly due to the logistics of the places where we operate and the nature of whale behaviour, which can vary day to day. We’ve found that shorter visits simply don’t offer a meaningful or reliable experience.

This is definitely not a luxury vacation. It’s an immersive, real-world adventure in the Austral Islands (and you’ve likely never heard about them before). This is a place where whales and island rhythms dictate the pace of the week far more than we ever could, but we’ve carved out something structured just enough to make for an emotional action packed week.

You’re coming to Rurutu not just to swim with humpbacks, but to be part of a living Polynesian community. That means home-cooked meals, shared spaces, island hospitality, and the kinds of moments you’ll never find in a brochure. It also means things won’t always go as planned: the internet might go down, the water pump might stop working, or a house might flood (it’s happened). There is no concierge or maintenance team; just us and the family doing our best, together, with what we’ve got.

We aim for 10 water sessions per week (about ~30 hours), but sometimes nature or the Polynesian government has other ideas. Whales may be elusive, winds may rise, swells may build. Regulations may hit in ways we didn’t expect (the island is still learning even after the 2025 season). We’ll adapt each day based on conditions, with a focus on safe, respectful encounters and deep connection to the environment.

This trip is ideal for open-hearted, adaptable travellers who value raw nature, cultural immersion, and real human connection. We are not an all day on the boat whale trip (those exist, but for us, that misses the point of local connection). If that sounds like you, you’re in the right place, and this may be one of the most meaningful travel experiences you’ve ever had.

Yes, with proper guidance from experienced whale guides and adherence to safety guidelines, swimming with humpback whales is a safe activity. Our job is to ensure that interactions are respectful to the whales and safe for participants. We have two guides in the water at all times, one focused on safety and the other focused on interactions and documentation.

When we find playful whales, our captain and trip leaders will discuss our approach based on the behaviour they can see at the surface. Each situation is different; we may encounter extremely playful adults, moms and calves, juveniles, singing whales, and even an occasional heat run where males are jostling for position in pursuit of a female in heat.

It’s imperative to listen to the whale guide and captain before getting into the water. Our goal is to keep both whales and humans safe and feeling unthreatened. Part of this means that our boat will never come closer than 100 meters from the whales and that we swim gently and carefully in the water.

Yes, as long as we have space and capacity, we can work with groups, families, film crews etc on special custom and private trips. Please reach out to chat with us about what you’re looking for.

No specific certification is required for snorkelling with humpback whales, as you will be primarily snorkelling with them at the surface. Strong swimming skills in open water are necessary to participate in this activity. You should be able to easily swim 300 meters unaided in deep, often choppy, open water. Anyone who wishes to use weights for anything below surface level neutral buoyancy must be free dive certified (AIIDA or PADI).

While no wildlife encounter can be guaranteed, French Polynesia is one of the best places in the world to see humpback whales up close, as the migration to these islands is an annual occurrence. However, how many whales choose to settle around the island for the season varies from year to year.

On average, we believe the chances of seeing whales from the boat are about 85% every day, while the chances of successfully getting into the water with them are about 70% every day.

We often have high success rates, but it's important to remember that sightings can vary. We have had lucky weeks that swam with whales every day for hours on end, and unlucky weeks that have struggled to get solid interactions at all.

Weather, moon phase, hormones, and season play a big role in this. In all our years of experience, good days typically last for several days in a row, and bad days (skunk days) also may last for several days in a row, as environmental factors are at play. So there is a strong element of luck.

By regulation (2025) you may not continue to approach a whale once you are about 15 metres (50 feet) from the whale. Then it is up to the whale if it wants to approach any closer or not. This entirely depends on the interaction and conditions of the day. Normally with pass-bys and approaches, you can get about 2 meters from a whale.

Besides humpback whales, you may see some small fish, sea turtles, reef sharks, and on very rare occasions pilot whales, tiger sharks, and oceanic white-tip sharks.

Rurutu is in the Austral Archipelago, a remote group of volcanic islands in the southern part of French Polynesia. Polynesian traditions remain strong in Rurutu, where the local language flourishes, culture and practices are maintained, and many things on the island originate from the island, including food and produce.

Rurutu (airport code RUR) is reachable from Tahiti (airport code PPT) on Air Tahiti three to four days a week. The flight takes about an hour and a half to reach Rurutu’s little airport and tickets can be reserved online directly from Air Tahiti’s website. We’ll pick you up from the airport when you arrive.

Yes, but it’s rare. We’ve been running seasonal whale swimming programs since 2017 in not only Rurutu, but also in Vava’u, Tonga, Moorea, French Polynesia, and Aitutaki, Cook Islands, and have had amazing weeks and terrible weeks on the water. Long story short, it’s nature and we never know how the calving season will go until we’re in the middle of it.

While it’s very rare to get zero days in the water with whales over the course of a week, we have had some very challenging weeks, due to a combination of weather, early whale departures, and weaker seasons.

A weak season is typically defined as having fewer seasonally resident whales around the island, which is normally the case when fewer whales are born around the island. We have had years with 6-8 babies born around the island, which results in dozens of whales, and we have had years with only 2-3 babies born around the island, which results in a weaker season with only 10-14 whales.

Sometimes whales arrive in July only to leave in August for other islands, and other times whales depart in mid-October instead of Mid-November. We’ve had strong storms push the whales far off shore for 4-5 days in a row before as well.

This being said, a really bad week is very rare— in the last 8 years of running these trips it’s only happened once. That’s not to say it’s impossible, but it is very rare.

To stack the best odds in your favour, we suggest signing up for weeks we consider to be the normal “peak” of the season, meaning all of September and the first half of October.

We aim for around 30–35 hours of water time over 10 sessions across 6 boat days. A session is roughly 3~3.5 hours, and that includes launching, gearing up, transit, off-loading and in-water time. We prepay for this number of sessions with our captains and do everything possible to make sure they happen.

That said, weather, ocean conditions, whale behavior, and local logistics all play a role, especially with regulations recently introduced to the island and lots of unknowns surrounding how those will be implemented and enforced. In some cases we may combine or shorten sessions to avoid poor weather or shift timings depending on other boats and regulations. We will always do our best to maximize whale time without pushing beyond safety or community agreements.

If your priority is being on the water all day every day, this might not be the perfect fit. As we are a project that combines whale swimming with genuine cultural and social engagement with the local community. This is our mandate and our ethos. We are not simply whale, whale, whale, but really try to strike a balance between whale swimming and community learning; fostering meaningful connection between you and whales, people, and the land.

But if you’re excited for an immersive, community-rooted whale experience in a stunning, remote island setting, with incredible visibility, this is it.

Yes, it's crucial to choose operators and boat captains committed to sustainable and respectful wildlife tourism practices. This includes limiting disturbances to the animals, not positioning motorized boats too close to the whales (100-meter minimum distance), adhering to strict guidelines on interactions, and supporting conservation efforts.

Likewise, human behaviour needs to be respectful toward the whales— this means not touching them, not swimming directly at them, not swimming in front of their heads, and not chasing them. Humans should swim parallel to the whales at a distance of 15 meters or more from the whale unless the whale approaches you.

Because swimming with humpback whales in French Polynesia is an expensive investment, we ask all participants to bring their own gear that they are sure will fit them perfectly. Limited rentals are available on an emergency basis, but we really don’t suggest using any rental equipment.

The way we see it, you’re already paying enough to come on the trip and fly all the way to the South Pacific, to use rental gear that does not fit your face or give you the proper propulsion in the water is a shame.

All participants should bring at minimum a mask, snorkel, and long fins that they are comfortable using, fit their faces and bodies, and give them enough power to swim quickly and silently in the water. We also recommend carrying anti-fog as well.

A full packing list is provided to all participants before their trip.

We try to make our program as all inclusive as possible so you don’t have to deal with cash. Therefore, we really don’t suggest bringing too much spending money.

You may use some of your own money to buy small snacks (chocolates, cookies, chips, and wine) from the local shop, or purchase some of the Rurutuan locally made handicrafts from straw, pandanus leaves and seeds. That being said, on the trip there is never a need to pay for things, since all your activities and meals are included. If you think you’ll want to get a few gifts and snacks, $50-$200 would be sufficient.

Keep in mind the island entirely uses Pacific Francs (Dollars and Euros are not accepted on the island, you can get local cash from an ATM or exchange currency at the bank).

You can book a trip with us by checking the available dates above and choosing the date that works best for your schedule.

A non-refundable, non-transferable deposit is needed to secure your spot. You may check our standard Terms and Conditions here regarding cancellations and deposits.

We offer a very limited number of single rooms at an added supplement, and they’re reserved on a first-come, first-served basis. That said, this is a remote island setting, and rare events (like flooding or home repairs) may occasionally force us to reshuffle accommodations.

If we can’t honor a single room due to unforeseen issues, you’ll receive a full refund of the supplement.

We do our best to match roommates thoughtfully if needed, and we’ve found that shared spaces often spark new friendships. But we’ll always communicate clearly in advance if changes are needed.

Rurutu is one of the most remote inhabited islands in French Polynesia, over 100 km from its nearest neighbour, and reachable only by small plane or the occasional cargo boat. It’s home to fewer than 2,500 people, most of whom are closely connected through family, tradition, and land.

This is not a commercial or touristy island. There are no big hotels, t-shirts for sale, no coffee shops, and that’s what makes it extraordinary. You’re not arriving at a polished resort. You’re being welcomed into a living, breathing community that operates on island time and island rhythm.

This is an ethical, respectful, and non-chase program built around swimming with humpbacks when conditions are ideal— for you and the whales. Some days the ocean gives us magic; other days it humbles us. We’ll never push or chase whales that are showing signs of stress or disinterest.

Over 8 years, we’ve had extraordinary success, but as with all truly wild encounters, there are no guarantees. That’s part of what makes it so powerful when it does happen.

This experience is ideal for people who:

• Want meaningful whale encounters but understand it’s not SeaWorld.

• Appreciate local culture and community-based travel.

• Can roll with flexibility when nature calls the shots.

• Are okay with the rustic beauty (and real-life quirks) of island logistics.

If you’re looking for strict luxury, guaranteed sightings, or a highly scripted schedule, there are other trips that may suit you better. But if you’re into raw nature, real connection, and traditional community-oriented tiny island vibes, you’re in the right place.

Trip Formats: 6-Guest vs. 8-Guest Weeks

Starting in 2025, new regulations in Rurutu limit the number of swimmers in the water with whales to a maximum of 6 guests and 1 guide at a time. While enforcement of these rules is still developing and sometimes inconsistently applied, we are structuring our weeks based on the assumption that all official regulations will be enforced in good faith.

As such, we now offer two trip formats depending on group size:

6-Guest Weeks

• All six guests can be in the water every time the group drops in — no rotations needed.

• More flexibility for those seeking maximum water time and a simpler, more intimate boat dynamic.

• Higher per-person price, as the trip operates with two fewer guests but the same core costs (boat, crew, logistics).

• Greater availability of single rooms, since fewer people are sharing the same accommodation footprint.

8-Guest Weeks

• Our standard format. If regulations are enforced, rotations may be required during whale drops — typically 6 guests in water, 2 resting or rotating.

• Lower per-person cost, as all 8 spots are filled and shared costs are spread across more guests.

• Accommodations and itinerary are identical to 6-guest weeks.

Regardless of group size, all weeks include the same immersive experience: 10 whale sessions (about ~30 hours of boat time per week), meals, land activities, and deep connection with the local Rurutu community.

We always do our absolute best; but part of the beauty (and challenge) of Rurutu is that some things simply aren’t in our control.

In over 8 years of running trips here, every single season has brought a curveball: a flooded house, a delayed cargo ship, a broken pipe, a power outage, or a downed internet line from some roadwork at the airport, the list goes on. Heck, we only got internet at the house in 2021. When something breaks here, it can take days, weeks or months to fix. Spare parts arrive by cargo boat every couple of weeks. There is no “backup” villa down the street, but we have lots of aunties and uncles willing to pitch in to help.

But what we can promise is that we’ll show up fully, adapt quickly, and work side-by-side with our local hosts to find the best possible solution. We ask for your patience, flexibility, and trust. This is not a place of polished logistics, and we’d know, it’s been 8 years! It’s a place of raw magic and human connection. And despite the bumps, we wouldn’t trade it for anywhere else because we know it’s being done the right way with people who deeply care.

We first began offering whale swim experiences in 2017, originally in Tonga. In 2019, we shifted our program to Rurutu and have returned every year since. We’ve also tested weeks in Moorea, Tahiti and Aitutaki (Cook Islands).

Over the past seven seasons in Rurutu, we’ve adapted constantly—learning not only from the whales, but also from the rhythms of the island and the dynamics of a truly community-based program. Every year has brought its own flow: different whale behaviors, environmental conditions, cultural exchanges, and unexpected logistical hurdles. We’ve built deep relationships with families and captains here, and we continue to refine the experience year by year.

In 2025, new national regulations were introduced around whale tourism in French Polynesia. While the intent of the rules was to improve sustainability and reduce pressure on the animals, enforcement was inconsistent and often unclear, especially in Rurutu. Some rules were applied sporadically, while others were not at all, while paperwork requirements were generally strictly applied. As we look toward 2026, we are preparing for more clarity, but it’s important to know this is still a developing framework, and enforcement remains uncertain.

We continue to operate with respect, flexibility, and the long-term health of the whales and the island community at the heart of what we do.

Yes, all the whale and island images you see on this site (aside from those that illustrate our other trips in places like Dominica, Mexico, Norway, and Timor-Leste) were taken in Rurutu.

Even more meaningfully, they were all captured by us, the guides, photographers, and founding team behind One With Whales. There are no stock images here. What you’re seeing are real moments from past seasons: the actual whales, the people, and the island we return to year after year.