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ONE WITH WHALES

Swim with humpback whales and immerse yourself in the culture of Polynesia’s rugged Austral Islands.

Every year from August to October, thousands of humpback whales migrate from their feeding grounds in Antarctica to the crystal clear shallows of the South Pacific to give birth, raise their calves, and mate. This program combines swimming with humpback whales and Polynesian cultural immersion— our goal is to help you become one with the people, whales, and ocean.

The small island of Rurutu (pop. 2400) in French Polynesia’s remote Austral Archipelago becomes your home and the Tavita family becomes your family for the week. During this trip, you live with them and learn about what makes Rurutu unique through the smiles, music, food, humpback whales, nature, legends, and mana— the life force of this magical place.

Strong swimming skills- you must be able to swim at least 200 meters unaided in open water. No certification is required to participate in this program. This trip is open to all adult participants.
This trip spans one week from Sunday to Sunday. With each trip, we include seven on-water sessions, with each session lasting 3-4 hours. Each week also includes 3 half-day land excursions to enjoy Rurutu’s rugged landscape and traditional Polynesian culture.
$4250 USD per person (double occupancy in twin rooms).
$590 single supplement (optional, only 1-2 available upgrades per week).
Service level:
This trip is designed to be an immersive pelagic and social adventure. We stick to local involvement and integration as much as possible. It’s comfortable, fun, and dynamic, but not luxury.
Your meals are delicious and locally sourced from a local Rurutun family. The family runs the crew and the accommodations.
You can expect a cozy 6-bedroom house with clean and basic rooms, a shared living room, a dining room, and a garden, all a 5-minute walk to the beach. All rooms have hot water showers and high-speed internet access.
Included:
Professional trip leader, certified whale guide, captain and crew, 7 on-water sessions (approximately 28 hours per week of boat time), 7 nights of accommodation, breakfasts, lunches, dinners, airport pick up and drop off on the start day and end day of the trip, 3 half-day land excursions, entrance fees, and payment processing fees by Visa/MasterCard.
Excluded:
Gear (limited rentals available, all participants should bring their own gear), airfare, insurance, gratuities (optional), optional accommodation upgrades (we offer first come first serve upgrades to single rooms), and anything not explicitly mentioned as included.
This trip is limited to 8 participants per week.

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LOOKING FOR HUMPBACKS

Experience a typical day on this trip.

DAILY PROGRAM

All participants are met at the airport on arrival and are transferred to our house just five minutes from the runway. Once settled down, we’ll do group introductions on the beach followed by a wonderful homecooked Polynesian dinner at our house. This evening, everyone will get together for a trip briefing and gear check before sleep.
During your week in Rurutu, you're set to enjoy seven half-day boat sessions and three diverse half-day land excursions.
Given the unpredictable weather of the Austral Islands, with its vast open ocean stretching over 100 km to the nearest island, we've designed our schedule with flexibility in mind. This approach ensures we can capitalize on the best sea conditions for our boat outings. Rest assured, you'll have around 28 hours on the water, ample time for in-water whale encounters.
Our boat days typically begin at 9 AM, setting sail from the marina by 9:30 AM and returning around 1:30 PM for a well-deserved late lunch. Afternoons are reserved for rest or engaging land-based activities until dinner. On particularly calm days, we may extend our sea journey from 8 AM to 5 PM, offering an immersive 7-8 hours of exploration. Conversely, should the weather turn, we'll opt for land excursions or perhaps a culinary lesson, ensuring every moment on the trip is well spent.
The land excursions, varying with the week's weather and events, promise a comprehensive tour of Rurutu's rich traditions, local artisans, and stunning natural landscapes. You might find yourself hiking Manureva (the highest peak on the island) or the craggy Monster’s Head, learning the art of traditional cooking, engaging in taro farming, or even line or spearfishing.
Life on Rurutu deeply reflects its traditions, from hand-line fishing and wooden hook crafting to taro cultivation and fruit farming. Our program is designed to weave you into the fabric of this vibrant local culture, ensuring a deep connection with the island life beyond the mesmerizing whale encounters.
Evenings bring us together for dinner at the house, lovingly prepared by Teiti, a culinary talent trained on the big island of Tahiti who skillfully blends Polynesian and French cuisine using the freshest local ingredients.
The camaraderie among guests, crew, and trip leaders forms the heart of the Inertia experience. Beyond the day's adventures, fostering connections and sharing stories are what truly enrich your journey. Our trip leader is dedicated to nurturing these bonds, making every moment an opportunity for group engagement and collective adventure
This morning we prepare a late breakfast (or brunch if you’d rather) full of tasty French pastries, scrambled eggs, baguettes, and local fruit. Transportation back to Rurutu airport is provided for everyone to match your flight departure time.

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THE HOUSE

We stay at the Tavita family's clean and cozy six-bedroom guesthouse situated on their ancestral land in Una’a, just a five-minute walk from the beach near Rurutu Airport on the island's northern tip.

Participants will share rooms with someone of the same gender, though single rooms can be requested on a first-come, first-serve basis. Couples can be accommodated in one of the two rooms with large beds; the other rooms all have twin beds.

The guesthouse features a communal living area with seating, a dining space for meals, and bedrooms with ensuite showers and toilets. Note that water pressure and temperature may vary, and hot water is more easily available if usage is staggered.

Outside, there's a garden, patio, and a laundry area. We offer a washing machine for guests. With the recent installation of a fiber optic internet line, high-speed internet is available, supporting video streaming and ensuring a reliable connection for all your online needs. Enjoy unlimited access to fresh fruit and coconuts.

THE BOAT

Our vessel, the Apo Apo 2, is a seven-meter steel boat equipped with a sunroof, wooden side benches, and a central metal seating area, ideal for snorkeling activities. It features convenient access for entering and exiting the water both from the rear and by jumping off the sides.

The Apo Apo 2 can comfortably accommodate up to 8 guests, alongside our captain and whale guide, ensuring intimate wildlife encounters. This aligns with our maximum group size for personalized experiences.

We operate the boat daily from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM. Weather permitting, alternative afternoon sessions (1 PM to 5 PM) may be scheduled. The boat is moored opposite our dive shop in Moerai, but may dock in Avera on Rurutu’s west coast, subject to sea conditions.

THE ISLAND

Rurutu, part of the remote Austral Archipelago, lies in the southern reaches of French Polynesia. This volcanic island cluster retains a rich tapestry of Polynesian culture, where the local language and traditions are vibrant, and much of the food and produce are locally sourced.

The island boasts white sand beaches along its coastline, complemented by nearby coral reefs. Its interior features fertile lands, coniferous forests, and quaint farms. With a population of around 2,400, Rurutu is a community spread across three towns and six villages.

Access to Rurutu is via Air Tahiti, offering flights from Tahiti three to four times a week. The journey lasts approximately an hour and a half, and reservations can be made directly through Air Tahiti. Upon arrival at Rurutu’s tiny airport, our team will be there to greet you.

HOST FAMILY & CREW

Teiti Tavita

COORDINATOR, CHEF, CAPTAIN
Hervé Coupel

CERTIFIED WHALE GUIDE
Jamie Lally

TRIP LEADER
Onoï Tavita

CAPTAIN
Chris Adair

TRIP LEADER
Matt Reichel

TRIP LEADER
Nahuma Tavita

CAPTAIN, FISHERMAN, FARMER
Gisèle Tavita

TEACHER, ISLAND TOUR GUIDE

FAQ

The best time to swim with humpback whales in French Polynesia is generally from August to November, with all of September and the first two weeks in October being the peak of the season.
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.
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.
Swimming with whales is still a relatively new ecotourism activity in Rurutu— having established itself on the island about a decade ago.
When we find playful whales, our captain and trip leaders will discuss our approach based on the behaviors 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.
No specific certification is required for snorkeling with humpback whales, as you will be primarily snorkeling 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.
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 and season play a big role in this.
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 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, 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 behavior 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 3 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.
A full packing list is provided to all participants before their trip.
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.