Embark on a remote expedition with us to the virtually untouched island of Uoleva, Tonga. During this trip, we’ll have the rare opportunity to swim with humpback whales by day and photograph the Southern Hemisphere Milky Way by night.
We are running this Whales of Tonga Photo Tour in September, during the dry season. This time of year offers clear skies for astrophotography and ideal conditions for spotting whales, especially playful calves.
Every year, humpback whales travel thousands of miles from the icy waters of Antarctica to the warm, calm seas of Tonga. They choose this remote archipelago for a reason: shallow lagoons with no predators, water temperatures that are perfect for newborn calves, and a peaceful sanctuary where mothers can nurse their young before making the long journey south again.
We’re running our photo tour in September, one of the best months to encounter mother whales and their curious calves. During the day, we’ll set out on the boat to snorkel with the whales, following our local guides’ protocols. Tonga has strict whale-swim regulations, so we’ll use a rotation system to enter and exit the boat.
At night, we’ll shift our focus to astrophotography and show you the best techniques to shoot the Southern Hemisphere Milky Way. Light pollution here is minimal, so on clear nights, you can capture the bright Milky Way core.
This “Milky Whales” adventure is a unique off-grid experience. This is not a luxury resort trip; it’s a rare wildlife and astro expedition in one of the most remote island nations in the world.
We’ll stay in a small, eco-style beach resort in Uoleva. This island is almost completely uninhabited, making it one of those rare places where you can totally disconnect. Uoleva lacks many conveniences, such as roads and infrastructure, relying instead on small-scale solar power and rainwater collection. The eco-resort is a very rustic accommodation with no electricity in the rooms and solar-heated garden showers, but it’s a piece of paradise on Earth.
Before you continue reading, it’s important to note that the whale-swim activities on this tour require a certain level of fitness. You should be in reasonably good health, especially to swim in open water. Getting into and out of the boat is easy since the boat has an attached metal ladder. However, you’ll need to be able to swim as your whale guide directs you.
All the activities on land, such as the landscape and Milky Way sessions, are suitable for all fitness levels.
If you don’t want to take part in the whale-swim/snorkeling activities, you are still more than welcome to join us on the boat for a unique perspective and to photograph the whales and landscapes.
Most importantly, keep in mind that this is a one-of-a-kind tour on a remote island with no roads and no electricity except for solar power. The rooms don’t have electricity and rely on solar lights. There’s also no hot running water, just a private solar garden shower outside your room. While the common area has internet, it’s spotty at best and is only available for about 4 hours during the day.
We want to be clear that this hotel is very basic, so if you don’t think you can be comfortable without modern amenities, this isn’t the tour for you. However, it’s one of the few options on this remote island, and we believe it’s worth it for the unforgettable experience to swim with whales!
Like any wildlife activity, sightings are not guaranteed. Of course, our guides and skippers have years of experience and will be on the constant lookout for whales, and they’ll do their best so we can enjoy memorable encounters.
The Milky Way sessions also depend on the clouds. Uoleva is one of the best places in the world for astrophotography, thanks to its remoteness and minimal light pollution.
After arrival day, we’ll spend the next six days (with the exception of Sunday) taking the boat out to sea for potential whale sightings. It’s impossible to predict the movement of wild animals, so each day will bring something different and an entirely new encounter with these gentle giants.
On Sunday, we’ll have a mandatory rest day. It’s against the law in Tonga to provide any commercial services on Sunday, but the resort will still serve meals, and you’re welcome to join us for a walk around the island or go snorkeling on the reef in front where you can spot turtles and blacktip reef sharks.
The process of getting to Uoleva is tedious. First, you’ll fly into Fuaʻamotu International Airport in Nuku’alofa on Tonga’s main island, Tongatapu. From there, you’ll take a domestic flight to Salote Pilolevu Airport on Lifuka, one of the Ha’apai Islands. From there, a staff member from the resort will meet the group and together, you’ll take a boat transfer to nearby Uoleva Island.
At the resort, the staff member will show you around and take you to your room so you can settle in and get all your gear ready for the following day. Then, we’ll meet up as a group for our onboarding talk and first safety briefing (we’ll go over the whale-swim regulations the following day on the boat).
We’ll take a break for dinner, then head out for our first Astro session if weather cooperates.
For the next few days, we’ll do daily boat trips to go snorkeling and capture whale photos. After breakfast, we’ll board the boat in groups of 8 and set out. Our resort has access to both sides of the shoreline, and our local guides will decide which side to depart from for the best conditions that day.
On the first day our local guides will give a brief overview, explaining the whale-swim regulation system. Groups of no more than 4 swimmers can be in the water at any given time, and group swims are limited to 90 minutes. The guides will search the horizon for a blow, signaling that humpback whales are nearby. Some days, we may just get a glimpse, while others, we’ll spend more time with the whales.
Part of the fun is waiting to see what kind of encounter we’ll have that day. A curious juvenile could be waiting under the water, or perhaps a mother whale supervising or nursing her calf. Another rare phenomenon you can be lucky to witness is a “heat run,” in which multiple males pursue a female at high speed. Not the easier moment to photograph, but for sure one that will leave you speechless.
Even from the boat, we can spot different whale behaviors like calf breaching (launching its body into the air), spyhopping (raising its head above the surface to have a peer), fluking (lifting its tail out of the water), or lobtailing (slapping its tail on the surface). The older the calves are, the more playful and curious they become. That’s why September has historically offered a high concentration of whales, with calves at an age when mothers feel more confident letting them approach swimmers more closely.
Photographing these mammoth creatures is both a privilege and a challenge. Sometimes it requires a lot of patience, but the result is a special moment. Watching these wild whales in the clear turquoise waters of a remote tropical island is something you’ll never forget.
Our whale-swim guides will get the boat as close as possible, so we’ll have the best photo opportunities. Sometimes, we’ll spot pods of humpback whales circling our group; other times, we may catch a whale breaching. One of the most breathtaking moments is seeing a mother whale closely watch her calf as it practices its first dives.
You’re always free to decide if you want to take part in the swimming activities or not. If you choose not to snorkel, you’ll still have the opportunity to photograph the whales from the boat at a very close distance. We’ll also capture beautiful images of the pristine shoreline in the distance.
We’ll have lunch during the tour – either on the boat or on one of the tiny uninhabited islands nearby. After a few hours, we’ll head back to shore and return to the hotel for showers and some downtime. This is the perfect time to check your email and leave your electronic charging.
We’ll have an early dinner at the hotel before embarking on our Milky Way session. Uoleva is one of the most ideal locations in the world for astrophotography. With almost no light pollution, there are plenty of opportunities to photograph the Milky Way arching across the sky.
We’ll help you find stunning compositions, work with the tide conditions, and capture panoramas so you return home with incredible images.
Tongan law requires that all non-essential businesses close on Sunday. That means many activities are off-limits, including our boat and whale-swim tours. The Serenity resort will still provide meals for us.
We’ll spend this quiet day enjoying leisurely walks along the beach and naps in the hammock. You may also go snorkeling around the coral reef in front of the property where some days you can spot turtles and blacktip reef sharks. Most importantly, we’ll rest up so we’re prepared for the next few days of whale swims.
After breakfast at 8:00 AM, we’ll pack up and bid farewell to the group. You can fly back home at any time or extend your stay in Tongatapu or one of the other islands in Tonga. We’ll coordinate with the rest of the tour participants to determine what time we need to be at the Ha’apai airport, and we’ll arrange a group transfer off the island.
Deposit: $3,000 USD
A non-refundable deposit of $3,000 USD is required to reserve your spot for this tour. You can also pay in full at any time. The remaining balance is due 4 months before the start of the tour. If the remaining balance is not paid in full by the due date, you will lose your spot.
If you’re booking the No-Wait upgrade, the deposit is $5,000.
This trip is focused on wildlife, underwater, and Milky Way photography.
What you learn during the workshop will vary according to your goals and skills. Your instructors are professional photographers with extensive experience who will help you take your photography to the next level.
During the tour you’ll have the opportunity to learn:
Dan Zafra is a professional landscape and astrophotographer based in the Southwest desert of the United States. Renowned for his mastery of wide-field nightscapes and Milky Way photography, Dan blends artistic vision with cutting-edge technical skills.
Dan will ensure you get the most out of this retreat, guiding you through editing techniques and offering personalized one-on-one support to bring your astrophotography to life. With a passion for teaching, he’ll help you refine your creative process and master post-processing workflows tailored to your images.
Dan has led countless workshops and tours for Capture the Atlas in iconic locations like Death Valley, Utah, Monument Valley, and beyond. His work has been celebrated by NASA, National Geographic, and Forbes, earning him the People’s Choice Award in the 2022 Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition. He’s also a sought-after speaker, sharing expertise at events like the Nightscaper Photo Conference and Night Photo Summit, and curates resources like the Capture the Atlas Milky Way Calendars to inspire photographers worldwide.
Ascen will be the co-leader on this whale-swimming in Tonga photo tour.
Her main passion is wildlife photography, and her dream since she was a kid has been to swim with wild whales, a dream that she’ll help you fulfill on this tour! She has experience swimming with whales in Tonga and other destinations, and she will provide constant tips and instruction so you can capture the best possible images.
She also specializes in landscape photography and astrophotography, using advanced techniques such as the use of star trackers to extract all the details of the Milky Way. Ascen will provide the best settings and methods to help you capture all the action on the tour.
Below, you can find a summary of things you might need:
*Zoom telephoto lenses are ideal for capturing the best possible whale images. From the shore, we recommend a lens in the 200-600 mm range and, for the boat, a lens in the 70-400 mm range.
Some camera gear like telephoto lenses or housing cases can be very expensive, so we always recommend the option of renting for the trip. We always rent our camera gear through Lensrentals. You can find more information on how Lensrentals works and get a discount here.
The weather in Tonga in September is hot and dry, with average daytime temperatures between 66°F (19°C) and 84°F (29°C). The water temperature is pretty warm, at around 75°F (24°C), but a wetsuit is still recommended. Some items that we recommend bringing on this Tonga whales photo tour are:
You’ll find more items and details on the official list of recommendations that we provide upon registration.
You’ll need the following gear to take part in the swimming with whales activity:
IMPORTANT – You must bring your own mask and snorkel. The resort may have some shorties your size, but we really recommend you bring your own long wetsuit. 5mm suit or 7mm if you usually run cold. Fins are usually available to borrow at the resort, but they can be a bit old. You can bring your own if you want to make sure you have some comfy ones for long swims.
All of our photography locations for the Milky Way sessions are just a short walk away. However, if you’d like to take a walk around the island, be aware that it’s a 4-hour walk. This is something you can do on Sunday during the tour.
The snorkeling activity is intended for people in reasonably good health. You must be a decent swimmer and feel comfortable swimming in open water.
You’ll also need to have a good level of fitness and strength to get in and out of the boat. We won’t go out in choppy waters, but sometimes there are currents that you’ll have to swim against. Some of the best whale encounters require you to be in great shape so you can swim along with the whales.
If you don’t want to take part in the snorkeling, you are still more than welcome to join us in the boat for a unique perspective to see and photograph the whales and landscapes.
Of course, we’ll be in an open-ocean environment, so it’s crucial that you listen to the guides and adhere to their rules.
The currency in Tonga is the pa’anga (TOP). During your stay in the resort, all meals and activities are covered, but if you want to bring some snacks, you will likely purchase them in Pangai (the main town in Ha’apai) or Tongatapu, where not all stores accept credit cards. That is why you will need some cash on hand.
Besides, all establishments accepting credit cards charge around 3% on top of what your card may charge you on foreign transaction fees.
Even the big hotels and businesses charge processing fees. You can bring TOP from your home country, although if that is not possible, you could exchange it at the Fua’amotu Airport.
Travelers from the U.S., Canada, Australia, and parts of Europe can get a free 30-day visitor’s visa upon arrival in Tonga. Schengen Area countries don’t require a visa at all. Please make sure your passport is valid for at least six months beyond the tour departure date.
You can check if you need a visa to enter Tonga here. We can also help you with the process.
We want to be fully transparent about our accommodation for this Tonga Whales Photo Tour. We’ll be staying at the Serenity Beaches Resort in Uoleva. This is a small, eco-style accommodation with very few services and amenities. The rooms are basic, with no electricity or internet, just solar lights. There’s also no hot running water, just a private solar garden shower right outside your room. There is running water that will help to rinse your camera gear, but we don’t recommend using it for drinking or washing your teeth.
The hotel’s common area has internet and a charging station. However, everything runs on solar power, so these services are available for only the sunny hours a day. There is an on-site kitchen where the hotel chefs will prepare our daily meals.
Although this is a rustic accommodation with very few modern conveniences and old plumbing, it’s safe and inviting, and our group will be well taken care of here. The rooms have direct access to the beach and large windows to let in the tropical breeze. The property blends into the surrounding nature, so we’ll feel like the only ones on the island.
In fact, Uoleva is almost completely uninhabited, with no roads or shops. Everything relies on small-scale solar power and rainwater collection, making this a unique off-grid experience.
Tonga has strict whale-swim regulations, so we’ll use a rotation system to enter and exit the boat.
We’ll go out on the boat in groups consisting of 7 participants, 1 CTA guide, 1 local whale guide, and the skipper. Only 4 swimmers can join the whale guide in the water at any given time, so while the first group of participants go snorkeling, the second group will wait on the boat.
It’s crucial that everyone follows the boat regulations and the local guides’ protocols, so we have the best possible experience. The guides are certified and trained on how to safely approach the whales, and they’ll adhere to the strictest regulations to keep everyone safe:
All participants must follow the specific instructions and requests of our whale guide and skipper at all times when on the boat. Failure to do so will result in being barred from any further whales swims, and no refunds will be issued for any missed swims if this should occur. These regulations keep everyone safe and prevent any stress on the whales.
If we encounter relaxed or playful whales, both groups will have the opportunity to jump in the water with them, in turns. The local whale guide will decide when the first group need to get back to the boat and the second group can jump in the water. It’s important that you follow all the protocols and whale guide instructions. Please get out of the water quickly when your local guide told you to do so, so everyone on the second group can also have a good encounter. If we jump in the water with a whale that is moving fast and not so willing to interact with the swimmers, we will move to try to find a different whale for the second group.
If you don’t want to wait your tour in the boat, you can purchase the No-Wait upgrade (your total will be 10,300 USD, but this spot also includes a private room). This allows you to take up two spots rather than one, so there will be 7 swimmers in the boat instead of 8. With the upgrade, you can do back-to-back swims, rather than doing one swim and waiting for the other group to finish their turn.
If you have the time, it’s better to book two tour dates instead of paying for the No-wait upgrade.
From our experience, we’ve found that when it’s a good day for one swimmer, it’s a good day for everyone in the boat, and vice versa; if it’s a bad day, it’s likely that everyone will strike out, too.
Even if you get the No-Wait upgrade and do back-to-back swims, it won’t matter if it’s a quiet day with very few or no whale sightings. Plus, good whale encounters often last long enough for everyone in your boat to get in the water and take photos.
In other words, the chances of getting a great encounter increase if you stay on the island longer and take more trips out on the boat.
The price of round-trip flights to Tonga from the U.S. can range from $1,000 to $2,000, and $2,000 to $3,000 from Europe.
The main airlines flying to Tonga are American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, and Turkish Airlines. There are no direct flights from the U.S; most trips involve a layover in Fiji or New Zealand. From Europe, there will be at least two connections, one in Asia or North America, followed by another in Oceania.
Getting to Uoleva is a process. First, you fly to Fua’amotu International Airport (TBU) in Nuku’alofa, then take a domestic flight to Lifuka Island Airport, also known as Salote Pilolevu Airport (HPA). Only Lulatai airlines operates there. We will help you arrange your flights. From Lifuka, it’s a short boat transfer to Uoleva, and we will take care of arranging this for you.
We strongly recommend booking your flight so you arrive a day or two in Tonga before the start of the tour to recover from the flight and/or travel delays. We will let you know which domestic flight to take on the starting date of the tour so we can coordinate with the group.
All resort meals are included (3 meals a day). On snorkeling days, lunch will be on the boat.
Serenity Beaches Resort has an on-site kitchen and two local chefs who will prepare wonderful dishes for us every day. They focus on high-quality food and can accommodate dietary restrictions, so let us know in advance if you need dishes that are vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, etc. Most of their food is brought to the hotel by local farmers and fishermen, so the menu changes daily depending on the catch of the day.
You can expect fresh, unprocessed food and healthy ingredients with a South Pacific influence. The meals are one of the highlights of this trip, and you’ll look forward to enjoying freshly-cooked meals daily!
This is a truly off-grid experience, so expect very limited connectivity. There is Wi-Fi in the resort’s common area, but it’s often spotty. Pocket Wi-Fi devices aren’t likely to work here, and while the resort has Starlink, it’s only operational for a few hours (in the afternoons after our whale swims, and just before dinner). Everything runs on solar power, so after dark, you won’t be able to connect.
The main common area has a charging station where you may be able to connect to the internet. However, be aware that connectivity is extremely limited to a few hours a day, and never after dark. Everything runs on solar power, so you should bring enough batteries for at least 3 days, just in case it’s cloudy.
Important – Don’t forget to leave your batteries charging while we’re on the boat tour. This way, they’ll be charged for the following day. You should also try to get all your devices fully charged before embarking on the boat trip to Uoleva from the main island.
There is no electricity in the rooms, so if you rely on a CPAP machine, this isn’t the ideal tour.
Our photo tours are completely centered on photography: finding the best moments to shoot and creating an intensive experience that is conducive to learning and taking the best possible images.
This Tonga whales photo tour is limited to a small group of 14 photographers. This is also an important factor for providing the attentive instruction you need during the tour.
This is the only photo tour you’ll find that focuses on photographing wild whales in Tonga as well as the tropical landscape and Southern Hemisphere Milky Way.
We’ll discuss your goals before the tour so we can create a dedicated instruction plan for you. It doesn’t matter your age or skills; we’ll design your plan and provide you with materials before, during, and after the workshop so the learning process is not limited to just the tour.
We have spent years organizing national and international photo tours with successful results, helping photographers with everything from the simple task of getting off Auto to capturing complex images. Dan’s online courses have also helped more than 1000 photographers over the last few years.
Beyond the photography, our tours help build strong bonds that last forever. After our trip, you’ll feel like you have been with a group of friends rather than on a standard tour. We are thankful to have plenty of repeat participants who keep traveling and learning with us.
We welcome all levels, whether you’re just starting out in photography or you want to develop advanced techniques. We’ll work together to help you progress your skills and return home with a deeper knowledge of many photography topics.
Swimming with humpbacks and other whale species is safe as long as you follow the safety protocols. Our local guides are certified and adhere to the strictest regulations to ensure a memorable and safe encounter. Some of the rules that we need to follow:
To offer the best possible experience, we’ll only have 4 swimmers in the water at any time. The guides are trained to know how to safely approach the whales. Your guide will enforce the rules and keep your group together while in the water.
The water temperature in Tonga is around 75°F (24°C). The resort has some wetsuits (shorties) to borrow, but if you get cold, we strongly recommend bringing your own long wetsuit. We recommend a minimum thickness of 5mm, or even 7mm if you get cold easily.
No, you don’t need a diving certification to take a whale-swim tour in Tonga. However, you should have a good fitness level and be comfortable swimming in the open ocean.
All on-land activities, including the Milky Way sessions, are suitable for all fitness levels. The whale-swim activity is intended for people in reasonably good health. You should have a certain level of fitness and strength in order to participate, especially to swim in the open sea.
If you don’t want to take part in the swimming, you are still more than welcome to join us in the boat for a unique perspective to see and photograph the whales and landscapes.
There is no age limit. This trip is perfect for anyone over 18 years old who wants to photograph the whales of Tonga with us.
Like any wildlife or weather-dependent activity, seeing whales in Tonga is not guaranteed. That said, our guides have years of experience and will be on the constant lookout for them, so our chances of encountering whales are very good.
The whale seasons runs from June to October, with August and September having the best chances of multiple humpback whale sightings.
No, the hotel doesn’t have hot water heaters, but it does use solar-heated water in bags for the outdoor showers.
The rooms don’t have electricity, but there are solar-powered chargers in the common area that you can use. Please bring extra batteries to use in case there is a cloudy day. We recommend charging all your devices while you’re on the main island, so you arrive at Uoleva with a full charge.
We recommend bringing a GoPro to shoot and film underwater, or a SeaLife case for your smartphone. You can also bring your standard camera (DSLR or Mirrorless) and use a housing case to keep it protected underwater. However, please note that this is a more advanced setup and only recommended if you have experience swimming in open water.
There are many drone restrictions in Tonga. For example, you need to declare if you’re traveling with a drone ahead of time. We don’t recommend bringing a drone, as they’re not allowed to fly over the whales anyway.
We’ve had the opportunity to work with and help countless photographers over the last years:
This tour is governed by specific cancellations & refunds terms to meet the terms and conditions of our local provider.
This photo tour takes place in a remote outdoor environment, where participants and their equipment may be exposed to both natural and man-made hazards that can result in serious bodily injury (including permanent disability, paralysis, and death), as well as risks and dangers to photography equipment and others. By joining a Capture the Atlas Photo Tour, each participant acknowledges that they are voluntarily participating with full understanding of the inherent risks involved. Each participant affirms that they have read, understood, and voluntarily signed the separate Liability Waiver before participating.
Each participant is solely responsible for evaluating their physical capabilities and arriving adequately prepared for the demands of this photo tour. Capture the Atlas cannot be held liable for any injuries, health complications, or dissatisfaction resulting from a participant’s failure to meet the stated requirements.
By agreeing to these terms and conditions, participants confirm that they understand the physical demands, accept full responsibility for their own health and safety, and acknowledge that failure to comply may result in exclusion from the tour without refund or compensation.
Our standard Terms and Conditions also apply for this photo tour with the exception of the CANCELLATIONS & REFUNDS section.
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