A journey not only across the ocean, but into the depths of your soul.
Each year, humpback whales migrate to the warm, protected waters of Tonga to rest, sing, and nurture their young. For one extraordinary week on the island of 'Eua, you are invited into respectful, ethical, in-water encounters with these gentle giants.
This is not a thrill-seeking adventure. It is a slow, reverent meeting with the ocean, the whales, and yourself - supported by daily yoga, breathwork, and integration practices. Tonga is one of the only places in the world where ethical, in-water whale encounters are legal and regulated, ensuring safety and respect for the whales.
About seven hours a day on the pristine ocean - watching the whales breach and play, witnessing mothers with their curious calves, and swimming alongside them when they invite us in.
Mornings prepare body and heart; evenings hold space for integration, so the wisdom of what you meet in the water can settle within you.
Whale-consciousness workshops and guided healing experiences help you receive what the whales awaken - clarity, compassion, and connection to the flow of life.
A bonfire with a traditional Tongan kava ceremony shared with the locals, plus a half-day island tour and two marine biology presentations on the whales of Tonga.
Rest and restore between ocean days with an ice bath, spa bath and sauna - your nervous system will thank you.
Every room has an ensuite with hot water, a private veranda and uninterrupted ocean views - you might hear whale song drift through the night.
There is a moment out there that changes people. A whale turns, holds your eye, and everything in you goes quiet. Nothing prepared you for it, and afterwards nothing is quite the same.
Five days on the open ocean, with everything in between held for you. Mornings begin with yoga, pranayama and meditation, so your body is open and your heart is ready before you enter the water. Evenings make space for what the ocean stirred up, because these encounters land far deeper than the mind can process on its own.
This is how a week of extraordinary moments becomes something you actually carry home, rather than something that fades into a photo album.
Whales have been singing since long before we arrived. Their songs travel through water and through the body, carrying healing, transformation and a knowing that feels older than language. Meeting them with an open heart tends to mirror something back at you: your own depth, your own purpose, the dreams you quietly set aside.
You are held throughout. Eight years of running ocean retreats has taught me how to hold a week like this, and everything around the ocean days is taken care of, so that when the whales open something up in you, you have the space and the support to sit with it, and to hear what their song is asking of your own life.
You will leave with more than memories. The stillness of the deep. The moment of shared eye contact. Friendships forged in saltwater and sunlight. A renewed sense of presence, clarity and connection, and the quiet certainty that you have fallen in love with the ocean, and with yourself, all over again.
This is a rebirth. Life takes on new meaning here, and your dreams are finally given room to wake up.
A whale turns, holds your eye, and everything in you goes quiet. Nothing prepared you for it, and afterwards nothing is quite the same.
Arrive with an open heart - the rest is handled.
We recommend arriving in Tonga 24-48 hours before the retreat begins. Fly into Fua'amotu International Airport (TBU) - flights arrive from Auckland, Nadi, Sydney and Brisbane.
Secure your place with a €1,000 deposit · payment plans available.
Private rooms subject to availability - enquire when booking.
Secure your place with a €1,000 deposit · payment plans available.
"This is my fourth year guiding retreats in Sataya and co-creating with the dolphins for the highest good of the planet and humanity. True change begins within - with YOU."
If you're feeling the call but have questions, or simply want to connect before booking, Maja would love to speak with you. Schedule a free 30-minute call - no pressure, just a conversation.
Five full days on the open ocean, roughly seven hours each day, from 9am to 4pm. We watch the whales breach and play, witness tender moments between mothers and calves, listen to their songs through the water, and swim alongside them when they invite us. 4 people in the water at any given time, we will take turns in a group of 8 ensuring everyone has life changing encounters.
Mornings begin with yoga, pranayama and meditation to prepare body and heart. The middle of the day belongs to the ocean. Evenings hold space for integration, so that the wisdom of what you meet in the water can settle within you.
Alongside our days at sea there are two marine biology presentations on the whales of Tonga, whale-consciousness workshops and guided healing experiences, a half-day island tour, and a bonfire with a traditional Tongan kava ceremony shared with the locals. There is also time to rest and restore using the wellness facilities, which include an ice bath, jacuzzi and sauna.
The time in the water is only half of it. The whales are ancient guides and protectors, and when they are approached with an open heart their truth mirrors our own. What we build around those encounters, the morning practice, the evening integration, the workshops and the shared meals, is what allows that mirroring to actually land and stay with you. This is not just a "whale swim", this is a deep dive within oneself.
Each year from July to November, humpback whales travel thousands of kilometres from Antarctica to Tonga's sheltered lagoons to breed and nurse their calves. Tonga is one of the only places in the world where ethical, in-water encounters with these whales are legal and regulated, which protects both you and them. Encounters often happen just metres away, close enough to see their immense beauty, hear their songs and feel the hum of their presence move through the water.
Very much so. Tonga is a place of deep spiritual significance, and the whales are seen by many as ancient teachers and messengers, guardians of the ocean's wisdom and carriers of healing vibrations. Their songs echo timeless stories of connection, transformation and unity, inviting us to remember our own place within the web of life. To be here is to enter a sacred sanctuary where the boundaries between human and nature dissolve.
Yes. All in-water time is legal, regulated and guided by local experts who honour both the whales and Tongan culture. We enter the water on the whales' terms, never chasing and never crowding, and we swim with them only when they invite us.
We spend five long days out on the water during peak season, so the odds are very much in your favour. What I cannot do is promise an encounter in every session, because the whales set the terms and the pace. If you need a guaranteed interaction, this is not the retreat for you. If you can meet the ocean on its own terms, it tends to give you far more than you asked for.
This is for you if you feel a deep, long-standing connection to whales and the ocean, and if you value ethical, respectful encounters over spectacle or performance. It is for you if you are drawn to depth, presence and integration rather than rushing from one experience to the next, and if you are open to inner transformation alongside outer experience.
You will thrive here if you are comfortable spending long days on the ocean and allowing nature to set the pace, if you appreciate small groups, shared spaces and a sense of community, and if you are seeking meaning, clarity or reconnection rather than distraction. Above all, this is for you if you feel called to listen, soften, and be changed by what you meet.
This retreat may not be the right fit if you are looking for constant stimulation or nightlife, if you want guaranteed whale interactions every session, or if you prefer fast-paced or luxury-focused travel.
Not at all. Around 95% of guests arrive on their own, so travelling solo is the norm here rather than the exception. You come as a group of individuals and you leave with friendships forged in saltwater and sunlight.
Rooms are shared. If you would prefer a room of your own, please enquire when you book and we will do our best to arrange it for you.
Yes, we can cater to most needs. Let me know what yours are when you book, and please be especially clear about any specific allergies so that everything is in place before you arrive.
Yes. What matters is that you feel comfortable in the water, not that you are a fast or powerful swimmer. You are provided with a wetsuit and fins, and these do a great deal of the work for you: the wetsuit keeps you buoyant and warm, and the fins make moving through the water far easier than you might expect. You do not need any freediving experience to be here.
If you know you are prone to it, bring seasickness tablets or your own preferred remedy and take them as a precaution before we head out. That one small step makes a real difference to how you experience the day. If you do feel very unwell out on the water, we can bring you back in, so please tell us how you are feeling rather than trying to push through it alone.
Your journey to the whales begins at Fua'amotu International Airport (TBU) on Tongatapu, Tonga's main island. From there we take a short domestic flight together to 'Eua. Flights arrive from Auckland with Air New Zealand, from Nadi with Fiji Airways, from Sydney via Fiji or Auckland, and from Brisbane on limited service, so do check seasonal schedules for that route.
I strongly recommend arriving in Tonga 24 to 48 hours before the retreat begins, and departing 24 to 48 hours after it ends. This gives you room for any unexpected flight delays and lets you adjust to island time before we set off for 'Eua.
Accommodation on Tongatapu, before and after your stay on 'Eua, is not included in your retreat package, so you will arrange those nights yourself. I am very happy to recommend trusted options and to coordinate so that our group stays in the same hotel, which makes transfers and meals simpler and gives you a chance to get to know each other before the adventure begins.
Fall in love with the ocean - and with yourself - all over again. Secure your place with a €1,000 deposit, or book a free call with Maja first.