2025 Booking Terms
Please read carefully the below booking terms and information for 2025 bookings with Tahi Tonga.
By confirming the booking you agree to hold harmless and release from any liability Tahi Tonga and all of its owners, employees and associates.
All our tours are subject to the weather, sea conditions, wildlife behaviour and minimum numbers to operate.
Confirming the booking is accepting the following terms:
PAYMENT
A 10% non-refundable booking deposit is taken shortly after the time of booking. Payment of this fee secures your spot on a specific date and covers booking administration costs. This deposit is non-refundable under any circumstance.
The balance of payment is taken prior to trip departure. Payment is currently accepted by card, cash (Tongan Pa’anga) and by advance bank payment.
FEES & TAXES
All prices are inclusive of Tongas local taxes. Card Payment & Bank Fees are an additional cost.
CANCELATION POLICY
Cancellations, changes and no-shows within 72 hours of trip departure will be charged for the entire trip.
The 10% deposit is non-refundable under any circumstance.
Cancellation policy applies to situations beyond your control. Appropriate travel cancellation and medical insurance is highly recommended.
Any refunds made are in Tongan Pa’anga only less the 10% non-refundable deposit and any bank fees.
CANCELLATIONS MADE BY TAHI TONGA
If Tahi Tonga needs to cancel / adjust a trip due to unforeseen circumstances, or forecast conditions being deemed to be unsafe, this may be at very short notice.
Due to limited numbers on our tours we may not be able to move you onto another tour. A full refund in Tongan Pa’anga only less the 10% non-refundable deposit and any bank fees applies if we cannot re-accommodate you.
If you had cancelled prior to us making a notification of cancellation, no refund will apply.
Should weather conditions change during a tour that you are on, or something happens, resulting in the tour ending early (and in the case of a whale tour you not seeing any whales); a partial refund may apply, at the discretion of management.
Please note that conditions vary daily, and unless conditions are beyond our safety limits, you can expect to go out.
DEPARTURE LOCATION & TIME
Passengers should report to Faua Wharf (behind Ngutulei Restaurant) on Vuna road. Report times may vary. Please check your report time if you are unsure. Should you not arrive in time for departure you are still required to pay the full amount.
Here is a link to the the reporting location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/M5n7jkUj58SQJ5VN9
INFORMATION REQUIRED
It is the responsibility of the guest to confirm with us in writing all food allergies, dietary requirements, medical & mobility concerns.
SEASICKNESS
Because our tours take place on the open ocean, sea conditions vary and can change. If you suffer or may suffer from motion sickness, it is advisable that you take something to prevent seasickness.
Sourcing suitable medication in advance from a pharmacy or from your doctor and taking it before (even the night before) your tour may make the tour more enjoyable. Even with the help of medication, there is no guarantee against the effects of motion sickness. Seasickness is not grounds for seeking a refund for the tour.
CHILDREN
All children aged under 14 years must be accompanied by an adult, who must take full responsibility for that child, in the water, on land and on board the boat at all times.
For whale swim tours we recommend a minimum age of 8 years old, due to the length of time spent on the boat, and the nature of the activity. Children will need to be confident in the water and comfortable spending the day onboard. Crew reserve the right to not allow a child to enter the water if they deem conditions to be high risk. This is not grounds for seeking a refund for the tour.
Please enquire with management about taking children under the age of 8 years old.
HEALTH & SAFETY
Tahi Tonga requires that all passengers:
Consider themselves medically fit to be able to participate in a tour.
Comply with all instructions given by the crew.
Act in a respectful and safe manner onboard, in the water and on land.
Comply with local laws, regulations and guidelines. For whale swimming this includes but is not limited to:
-No duck diving or free diving while swimming with the whales
-No approaching within 5 metres of a whale
-No attempts to touch a whale
Understand that should they (or someone they are responsible for) act in a manner that is deemed not to comply with guidelines, regulations, local laws or is deemed to be a safety risk, they will no longer be able to participate in the activity. This is not grounds for seeking a refund.
Acknowledge that as with any outdoor or ocean-based activity there are inherent risks and thereby take full responsibility for their health and actions, releasing Tahi Tonga from any claim, action and/or liability.
ADDITIONAL TERMS AND INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO WHALE SWIMMING
SWIMMING ABILITY REQUIRED FOR SNORKELLING WITH THE WHALES
The whale swim excursion is an open ocean experience. For maximum enjoyment, swimmers should be confident in the ocean and have a reasonable level of snorkelling experience and fitness.
Our crew will work with you to accommodate your ability in the water, however requiring assistance will limit your experience and potentially your time in the water. You are required to accept the limitations if assistance is required, and that these limitations are not grounds for a refund.
Guests will need to be able to climb a ladder under their own power to get out of the water and onto the boat.
WHALE BEHAVIOUR
Watching and swimming with humpback whales is a wildlife encounter in the whales natural environment. While we have a high success rate, sightings and swims vary largely from day to day. Sometimes sea conditions, seasonal timings or whale behaviour can result in only a short encounter, or us not being able to swim with or watch the whales at all.
As we still incur operating costs, refunds are not provided if you do not get to watch or swim with the whales.