Moorea Small-Group Whale Swim and Snorkel Tour

About This Experience

Ariki Tours runs this shared whale trip on a small canopied boat from Moorea, with guides who speak French and English. The listing caps groups at 6 guests. On afternoon departures the operator sometimes takes 2 extra guests and splits the boat into two groups of up to 6, and a few guests who expected a six-person boat have mentioned this in reviews.

The operator's base is listed as Moorea Ariki Private Boat Tours in Piahena. Pickup by boat may be possible from Manava Beach Resort, Hilton Moorea or the Cook's Bay hotel, but only if you arrange it with the operator on WhatsApp before the day. Road transfers are not included and depend on where you are staying.

Out on the open ocean the crew searches for humpbacks, watches them from the boat and decides whether a swim is possible. If it is, you swim roughly 100 meters from the boat toward the whales behind the guide. Recent guests describe swimming with a mother, calf and yearling, and seeing dolphins on the way. Boats often take turns with the same whales, and the lower reviews describe waiting up to two hours in a rolling swell before their group's turn, with some guests too seasick to swim by then. Once your group has had its swim the trip can end early; if there is time, the guide may add a lagoon stop with stingrays, blacktip reef sharks and turtles.

It suits confident swimmers who want a small group and can cope with open-ocean chop. Non-swimmers, pregnant women and people with limited mobility should choose something else, and if you only want to watch, a watch-only trip costs less. The operator's own listing gives its whale season as August to November, and one guest on 28 July 2026 saw no whales at all.

It costs from $250 per person and holds a 4.6 rating from 134 reviews. You can cancel up to 24 hours ahead for a full refund.

Highlights

• Groups of no more than 6 guests on the boat
• Swims of about 100 meters from the boat toward the whales, led by the guide
• Recent guests report swimming with a mother, calf and yearling
• Dolphins and pilot whales are sometimes seen during the search
• Views of Moorea's peaks from the boat on the way out
• About four hours on the water, ending early once a swim has happened

What's Included

• ✓ Guided boat tour with a captain and local guide
• ✓ Whale search with the chance to swim when conditions allow (in season)
• ✓ Snorkeling equipment on board
• ✓ Life jackets for swimmers without a wetsuit
• ✓ Choice of water or juice
• ✓ Snorkel with stingrays, blacktip reef sharks and turtles if time allows

Not Included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off by road (depends on your area)
• Lunch
• Towels
• Raincoat
• Sunscreen

What to Bring

• Swimwear
• Your own mask and snorkel, for a better fit
• A wetsuit if you would prefer not to wear a life jacket
• Sunscreen
• Hat and sunglasses
• Waterproof camera or a protective case for your phone

Good to Know & Caveats

• Licensed whale watching and swimming is only allowed from 20 July to 20 November; this operator runs its whale searches from August to November.
• Whale sightings and swims are never guaranteed and depend on the whales' behavior and sea conditions.
• Operators require a life jacket for whale swims unless you wear a neoprene wetsuit (a shorty is enough); the boat provides life jackets.
• If your group swims early, the trip may finish before the scheduled time.
• Afternoon trips may carry 8 guests split into two swim groups of up to 6.
• Several boats often take turns with the same whales, so expect waiting in open-ocean swell; take seasickness tablets before boarding if you need them.

Meeting Point

Ariki Tours' base, listed as Moorea Ariki Private Boat Tours, Piahena, Moorea; boat pickup from Manava Beach Resort, Hilton Moorea or the Cook's Bay hotel may be possible if arranged on WhatsApp.