Whale Watching · FRENCH POLYNESIA

Top 15 French Polynesia Whale Watching Tours

44 tours  ·  from $128 a head

The good French Polynesia whale watching tours fill up weeks ahead in season and the best ones go first. Below: the 15 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.

Swimming with Whales in Moorea (Half Day tour) - Four hours on the water around Moorea
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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 Moorea Expedition boat searching for humpback whales from July through late November. You may enter the water with whales, dolphins, rays, or sharks. Guides such as Johnny, Joe, and Laura provide safety instructions, but you must be a confident open-water swimmer.

“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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Whale Tour - Observe and swim with whales - What swimming with whales actually demands
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Whale Tour – Observe and swim with whales

2.Whale Tour – Observe and swim with whales

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

Spend about four hours off Moorea searching for humpback whales, dolphins, sharks, and turtles. Guides such as Joaquin, Carlos, Tamuti, Ike, Alfred, Amo, and Mankato have been praised for spotting animals and guiding swimmers. Expect small groups, snorkeling gear, water, and a possible lagoon stop with stingrays and reef sharks.

“These guys were amazing. They are very friendly, and professional. The tour was really nice, and fun, everybody of the crew were in a good mod making the ride very pleasant. The tour pick up us on time. Gave us snorkeling equipment. They explain everything that we were supposed to do, and not to do (both in English and French). Also they have a profissional photographer that you can buy photos and videos at the end. Makes our life so much easier, and your experience so much better, totally worth it. 10/10”

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Whale Watching Tours in Bora Bora - Hearing whale song through the directional hydrophone
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Whale Watching Tours in Bora Bora

3.Whale Watching Tours in Bora Bora

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

Join Simon or his team for a 3.5-hour whale-watching trip from Bora Bora. Listen through a directional hydrophone, watch humpback whales from the boat, and, when conditions and animal behavior allow, enter the open sea for a swim. Groups are limited to six.

“Simon was a fantastic guide and made sure we were able to get the most out of our time in the water. He makes sure everyone is safe and is great at finding the elusive whales. Be prepared to swim long distances as the whales move arouRead more”

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Swim with humpback whales - The boat ride from the lagoon to open water
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Swim with humpback whales

4.Swim with humpback whales

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

Set out from Moorea at 8:30 am with Corallina Tours for three to four hours on the lagoon and open ocean. Guides such as Francesca and Tamahere lead whale swims, then take you to rays and black-tip sharks. Snorkel gear and water are included.

“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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Humpback whale watching and marine life in Moorea - Watching whales from the boat
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Humpback whale watching and marine life in Moorea

5.Humpback whale watching and marine life in Moorea

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

Spend about three hours off Moorea seeking humpback whales and other marine life with guides such as O’Neil, Doris, Mata, or Chewy. You may hear whale song, watch mothers and calves, and swim near whales when conditions and wildlife behavior allow. The whale season runs July 20 to November 20.

“Unfortunately we didn't have a good whale watching experience. This tour was supposedly operated by Pacifik Attitude per Viator but instead Moorea Moana Tours showed up. There was a large group of us who got divided into 2 groups anRead more”

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Half day whale tour 4h00 - The whale swim is exciting, but it is not easy
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Half day whale tour 4h00

6.Half day whale tour 4h00

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

Spend four hours searching Moorea’s waters for humpback whales, with possible swims near mothers and calves from July to November. Kevin, Mahai, and other local crew members guide the outing, provide snorkeling gear and drinks, and finish with lagoon wildlife when conditions allow.

“What an incredible experience! Our guides were entertaining, professionally, and respectful of the whales.”

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Private tour observing and swimming with humpback whales in Moorea - Rays, sharks, turtles, and the two bays
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Private tour observing and swimming with humpback whales in Moorea

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

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

Spend four hours aboard Mana’hau with guides such as Nicky, Fabien, Lolo, or Lingee, seeking humpback whales from July to November. Swim or snorkel with marine life, visit Moorea’s bays, and try the towed subwin board on a private trip for up to eight people.

“Such a wonderful experience with our guide, Nicki, and her father! Knowledgeable and personable, they geared the trip to our needs and wants. We never felt rushed as we snorkeled with stingrays, sharks, and turtles. And you cannot beat the scenery!”

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Respectful whale excursion to Tahiti in 4h30 - Spending up to four hours searching offshore
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Respectful whale excursion to Tahiti in 4h30

8.Respectful whale excursion to Tahiti in 4h30

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

Set out from Papeete Marina for a 4.5-hour whale search aboard a boat carrying up to 12 people. Guides such as Moana, Israel, Remy, and Bernardo look for humpbacks and dolphins, then offer lagoon snorkeling, fruit, juice, water, and local beer. Swimming with whales depends on conditions and animal behavior.

“One of the best whale watching excursions I ever attended. Snorkelling in the presence of Humpback whales is an experience I’ll never forget.”

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Half Day Small Group Whale Watching - Meeting humpback whales between August and November
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Half Day Small Group Whale Watching

9.Half Day Small Group Whale Watching

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

Join Moorea Sea Experience for a four-hour whale-watching trip from Coco Beach Restaurant. With a maximum of six people, guides such as Mana or Johnny can give close attention on board and in the water. Humpback season runs August to November, with snorkeling gear, fruit, and drinks included.

“Magnifique journée le bateau au top l’équipe au top nous avons eu la chance de voir une maman baleine et son bébé après à peine 20 minutes sur le bateau puis tout le long de notre trajet jusqu’a la fin de l’excursion 🐳🫶🏼🌺”

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Tahiti island: Whale watching Experience - Five hours on a small Tahitian boat
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Tahiti island: Whale watching Experience

10.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 up to 12 passengers. Guides such as Israel, Teva, and Moana help you watch humpbacks, dolphins, and other marine life. If sea conditions and whale behavior allow, you may enter the water. Fruit, drinks, and snorkeling gear are included.

“Excellent. The whales were amazing. Teva and Moana were a great team. We didn’t get to swim with the whales but that was not for lack of trying. They did put on a wonderful show for us though. I was crying, the experience was that awesome.”

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Whale watching and snorkelling in Moorea - What the four-hour outing is like
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Whale watching and snorkelling in Moorea

11.Whale watching and snorkelling in Moorea

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

Join Lagoon Vibes guides Ivy and Christophe for about four hours around Moorea, watching humpback whales from a six-person boat and snorkeling near them when sea conditions and animal behavior allow. Gear, drinks, and safety guidance are provided.

“Fantastic, experience. Lagoon Vibes have a great and knowledgeable team, expertly guided us to meet a family of whales. With full respect for the whales, distance, number of boats etc. Lagoon Vibes also gave us an unexpected bonus videos of our experience, who’s quality was must better than mine. We fully recommend Lagoon Vibe.”

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Whale watching in Moorea - The open ocean is where the real adventure begins
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Whale watching in Moorea

12.Whale watching in Moorea

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

Join Top Jet & Top Quad Moorea for a three-hour, small-group trip from Temae, available July 20 to November 20. Look for humpback whales offshore, then snorkel Moorea Lagoon among turtles, rays, blacktip sharks, and dolphins. Strong swimming skills are required for whale encounters.

“Full disclosure; if there are whales and it’s safe ..U will swim with them! Amazing crew, safety, execution etc. Price is reasonable and you can tell they love their job! Amazing experience all around! Choose this company!You won’t regret!”

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Guided Small Group Whale Watching and Swim Tour Tahiti - Starting at 8 a.m. from the Papeete area
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Guided Small Group Whale Watching and Swim Tour Tahiti

13.Guided Small Group Whale Watching and Swim Tour Tahiti

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

Join Wild Explorer Tahiti from Papeete Marina for a four-and-a-half-hour whale-watching trip limited to six people. Guide Teiki and the captain search for humpback whales from July to November, with swimming offered only when whale behavior and sea conditions are safe. Turtles, rays, coral gardens, and wreck sites add value.

“What can we say but WOW, INCREDIBLE, AMAZING EXPERIENCE! Teiki and captain Michael went way above beyond to insure we had the best adventure! We did three dives to see a mama humpback and her baby. Once in a lifetime memorRead more”

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Moorea 4H Shared Boat Tour Whale Swimming and Snorkeling - A small boat makes a real difference
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Moorea 4H Shared Boat Tour Whale Swimming and Snorkeling

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

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

Join Captain Yannick and guides such as Clovis for a four-hour Moorea boat trip limited to six people. From August to November, you may swim near humpback whales, then snorkel with rays, blacktip sharks, turtles, and tropical fish. Fruit and a drink are included.

“Brilliant tour! The guides and captain were very knowledgeable. We saw whales pretty much right away and had plenty of time in the water with them. We also then stopped to see rays and reef sharks as well as turtles. I would highly recommend this tour.”

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WHALE TOUR - Watching and Swimming with Whales - The reward: whales, calves, and quiet seconds
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WHALE TOUR – Watching and Swimming with Whales

15.WHALE TOUR – Watching and Swimming with Whales

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

Spend about four hours off Moorea searching for humpback whales, with the chance to enter the water under guide supervision. Henua, Nicolas, and other Temoana Tours crew members work in small groups, follow whale-protection rules, and may extend the outing when conditions allow.

“We weren’t sure that we would see whales, let alone swim with them. Once we got on the water, we realized how difficult it was to get close to the whales. We ended up seeing several whales from the boat and tried to get into the water to get closer and swim with them. The third time was the charm …. We ended up seeing a mother and baby whale! What an amazing experience! Thank you to Henua (our guide) and Nico (our captain) for working hard, calling friends on the water and looking out for the whales. We honestly would have been fine with seeing the whales fr the…”

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