Welcome to Sacred Island  Retreats

Join one of our 10 day adventure and whale swim retreats this winter in Tonga.

Unforgettable adventures await you exploring Eua the 40 million year old sacred island off the coast of mainland Tonga.

Approximately 4 hours flight from New Zealand and Australia. 

Swim in the crystal-clear waters alongside majestic humpback whales and their young.

Explore the sacred island with us, meet the Spirit Trees and explore caves, secret beaches and ancient portals.

Run with wild horses, pick papayas and coconuts from the side of the road.

Experience the medicine of the whales and their ancient lands with us.

It's Raw, it's Beautiful it's Real.

The perfect reset from the default world 

Book into our 2025 Retreat Program and experience 10 days in paradise. 

Or book a private stay, whale swim or adventure excursion. We operate from July to September 2025.

2025 Sacred Island

Whale Adventure Retreats

Our first retreat date is

August 14 2025 to August 23 2025

is intended to be slower paced and more suitable for 35 years + participants.

Our second retreat is

August 25th to September 3rd 2025

and is suitable for families and all ages and includes a visit to a local school

Our third retreat is

September 5th to 16th 2025

This is intended as a spiritual deep dive for whale lovers.  It includes a special celebration for Tahu Ua's birthday (the baby whale Jimmy our co-host saw being born last season).

Our retreat is happening on Eua Island (pronounced Aywah) it 2.5hrs by boat from mainland Tonga.

Participants are responsible for booking and paying for their own return flights to Tonga Tapu the main island which can range from $550 to $950 depending on when you book.

We will advise the flights to book, if you choose an alternate flight you would need to cover your own airport transfers

The retreat cost includes

Airport transfers

Mainland accommodation

Transfers to Eua Island by Charter boat

Camping or cottage accomodation on Eua Island

Transport on Eua Island

2 x Humpback whale swims

All activities including 

Spirit Tree jungle walk

Cave adventure

Mauis Spearhole

Wild Horses

Umu celebration

Quigong/yoga/somatic movement

The retreat includes an evening meal, breakfasts, lunches and snacks are not included.

 The cottage has cooking facilities and there is a basic camp kitchen with cups, plates, curlery etc. There will be opportunities to purchase groceries and local produce on the mainland before we depart for Eua and there are several small local stores on the island.

2025 Retreat pricing is as follows

10 day retreat per person

*price is for activities listed above

plus your choice of accommodation below

CAMPING $3300 (b.y.o tent)

COTTAGE QUEEN room

single occupancy $3800pp

COTTAGE QUEEN room

shared/couple $3500pp

SINGLE BED twin share room $3500pp

KIDS $3000 each Camping or cottage

Deposit to confirm is $500

*Retreat Three is an extra $100

for one day extra accomodation

and Tahu Ua's birthday party!

Payment plans available

Trip must be paid in full 4 weeks before departure

Trip is non refundable

Travel insurance that covers trip cancellation due to weather events and health insurance is highly recommended.

You will need a valid passport and to check if you need a visa.

*We would ask that you keep information about the island private, we are working with locals to protect the island and whales and work towards its sustainable development.

We would hate to see the island overly commercialised or overrun.

Please feel free to call with any questions. 

We have no doubt that this trip will be life changing for all attendees and we will do our utmost to care for everyone so they have a positive experience. That said this is not luxury trip, more of an adventure on a remote island. All activities undertaken are at your own risk.

Let us know what dates you are interested in and we can send through the suggested flights. Retreat daily schedules are listed in the drop down tab under 'frequently asked questions'.

Can you feel the sacred island calling?

Its time to meet the whales and gather

with your tribe.

Best wishes

Lyndal and Jimmy

Your tour hosts

 + 64 021 2644 622 

Sacredislandretreats@gmail.com 

The Sacred Island of Eua

Our retreat is happening on Eua (pronounced Aywah) Island 2.5hrs by boat from mainland Tonga.

This ancient 40 million year old island  waa inspiration for the Avatar movies. Yes, the Spirit Tree is there a 1000 year old Strangling Fig tree in fact there are two a grandmother and grandfather tree. The island also features Mauis spearhole a huge hole in the cliffs where wild horses roam. There is an abundance of fresh coconuts and papayas and lots of local produce available. We have a swimmable beach below our campsite however the island can be rocky and reef shoes are advised.

The island is undeveloped (no restaurants, cafes or big resorts) where we stay has a lovely campground with share facilities and a small basic cottage, just above the beach.

This is not a luxury island or a luxury retreat. It is a raw deep dive into the beauty of nature and island life and our retreats are for adventurers.

Swimming with Whales

Swim with whales, create lasting memories. 

The Tongan whale 'tribe' has 3000 whales that visit each year. to birth their young and then take them back to Antarctica.

The whales are protected and strict rules apply for swimming with them, however with professional local native guides we are often able to spend time underwater with the whales who are as equally curious about us and we are about them!

At this time of year we are in Tonga July - September they will have newborns up to 6 weeks old with them.  We only swim with the whales in the morning until 2pm so in the afternoons they can rest and feed their young.

Please note all participants in the whale swims need to be able to swim at least 100m in open water using a snorkel, mask and flippers. They must follow instructions from our guides. We cannot touch the whales or dive below the surface at them. These are the international rules. Whales are wild animals and there are no guarantees that they will interact with swimmers. However on our last trip we swum with whales every single time and also saw them regularly from land.

Snorkel, mask, wetsuits and flippers are provided with the whale swims, however we encourage participants to bring their own well fitting mask and snorkel as sizes differ.

2 x Whale swims are part of our 2025 Adventure Retreats.

Extra whale swims are $300usd each. We can book extra whale swims for you if you wish to swim more than 2 x with the whales 🐋

 

Accomodation Options

We have a 3 bedroom cottage and tent camping available on a nice flat site.

The cottage has two queen rooms a twin room and a bathroom, kitchen and dining room and outdoor patio area with a view of the sea, which whales are often seen from

The camping pricing is for people who bring their own tents. We can organise tent hire at an extra cost. Glamping pricing will be available soon. Nightime temperatures are never below 22 degrees so nice and easy for camping/outdoor living.

Please note there is no luxury accomodation on offer on Eua Island. The island is undeveloped and that's just how we like it!

Accomodation is included in our  2025 Retreats pricing for accomodation pricing outside of our retreat times please email sacredislandretreats@gmail.com 

Explore Eua Island

Join our adventure retreat program which includes whale and island adventures.

or book an adventure tour with our guide Jimmy.

Visit the 1000 year old Spirit Trees.

Run with wild horses. 

Walk in the jungle

Visit Eua Islands famous caves.

Spend a day snorkelling and drinking coconuts at a private beach.

Discover Mauis Spearhole the famous landbridge (featured in the Avatar movie).

Spend the day swimming with whales

Frequently Asked Questions

2025 Sacred Island Adventure Tours Trip Schedules

SCHEDULE WHALE RETREATS 2025

*Each retreat schedule differs slightly because no whale tours/boats/flights on Sundays. Retreat Three is one day longer and includes a special event and is an additional $100 nzd.

RETREAT ONE

AUGUST 14 – 23 2025

(10 days 40+ slower paced for an older age group)

RETREAT TWO 

AUGUST 25 – 3 SEPT 2025

10 days families and all ages

RETREAT THREE 

SEPTEMBER 5 – 16 2025

11 day spiritual deep dive for adventurers. This trip is an extra $100 and includes a special Umu and music and birthday celebration on the beach for Taha Ua (the baby whale our guide Jimmy saw being birthed last season))

RETREAT ONE SCHEDULE

Day 1 - Thurs 14/08/2

Fly into Tonga Tapu stay overnight at Tony's guesthouse. Dinner at friends.

Day 2 - Fri 15/08/25

Food market shopping charter boat/plane to Eua Island.

Camp/cottage set up.

Introduction/ sharing circle

Share dinner

Day 3 - Saturday 16/08/25

9am Morning movement

Eua orientation day.

Walk to the big Ovava Spirit Tree - Sound circle with tree

Share dinner. Beach Fire

Day 4 - Sun 17/08/25

9am Morning movement

Visit local churchs

Mauis Spearhole

Wild horses

Share dinner

Group 1 whale trip orientation

Day 5 - Mon 18/08/25

7am-2pm Whale Swim Group 1

9am Morning movement

Group 2 Rat Cave

Share dinner.

Group 2 whale trip orientation

Beach Fire

Day 6 - Tues/19/08/25

Whale swim Group 2

Morning movement

Group 1 Rat Cave

Share dinner

 Day 7 - Wed 20/08/25

 Whale Swim Group 1

 Group 2 beach day

 Day 8 - Thurs 21/08/2025

 Whale swim Group 2

 Group 1 beach day

 UMU dinner plus Kava ceremony

Fire at camp

Day 9 - Fri 22nd Aug 2025 Depart Eua Charter boat/flight.

 Stay at Tony's guest house

 Dinner at Friends

 Day 10 - Saturday August 23

Shuttle to airport

 Flyback to N.Z

RETREAT TWO

Monday 25/08/25

Fly into Tonga Tapu stay overnight at Tony's guesthouse. Dinner at friends.

Day 2 – Tuesday 26/08/25

Food market shopping Charter boat/plane to Eua Island.

Camp/cottage set up.

Introduction/ sharing circle

Share dinner

Day 3 – Wed 27/08/25

Eua orientation day.

Walk to the big Ovava Spirit Tree

Sound circle with tree

Share dinner.

Group 1 whale orientation

Day 4 – Thursday 28/08/25

7am-2pm Whale Swim Group 1

Group 2 Rat Cave

Group 2 whale orientation evening

Share dinner.

Day 5 – Friday 29/08/25

Whale swim Group 2

Group 1 Rat Cave

Share dinner

Sharing circle / beach fire

Day 6 – Saturday  30/08/25

Whale Swim Group 1 

Group 2 beach day

Day 7 – Sunday 31/08/25

Church

Mauis Spearhole

Wild horses

Share dinner.

Day 8 – Monday  1/09/25

7am Whale swim Group 2

Group 1 beach day 

UMU dinner plus Kava ceremony

Fire at camp

Day 9 – Tuesday  2/09/25

Depart Eua Charter boat/flight.

Stay at Tony's guest house

Dinner at Friends

Day 10 – Wednesday 3/09/25

Shuttle to airport

Flyback to N.Z

RETREAT THREE –

September 5 to 16th 2025

Spirit Tribe 11 days

*Extra $100 for extra night accomodation and party.

Friday September 5/09/25

Fly into Tonga Tapu stay overnight at Tony's guesthouse.

Dinner at friends.

Day 2 – Saturday 6/09/25

Food market shopping charter boat/plane to Eua Island.

Camp/cottage set up.

Introduction/ sharing circle

Share dinner

Beach fire/song circle

Day 3 – Sunday 7/09/25

9am Morning movement

Eua orientation day

Visit churches

Walk to the big Ovava grandmother Spirit Tree

Sound circle with tree

Share dinner.

Group 1 whale orientation

Day 4 – Monday 8/09/25

7am-2pm WhaleSwim Group1

9am Morning movement 

Group 2 Rat Cave and grandfather Spirit tree 

Share dinner

Group 2 whale trip orientation

Day 5 – Tuesday 9/09/25

Whale swim Group 2

Morning movement

 Group 1 Rat Cave

Grandfather tree

Share dinner

Beach fire / song circle

Day 6 – Wednesday 10/09/25

 Whale Swim Group 1

Morning movemenr

 Group 2 beach day

Day 7 – Thursday  11/09/25

Whale swim Group 2

Morning movement

Beach Day Group 1

Share dinner

Sharing circle at camp.

Day 8 – Friday  12/09/25

Morning movement

Mauis Spearhole

Wild horses

Party prep

UMU dinner plus Kava ceremony at beach

Fire at beach

Tahu Ahus birthday party

Day 9 – Saturday 13/09/25

Morning movement

Extra optional whale swim or jungle walk with guide

Day 10 – Sunday 14/09/25

Morning movemenr

Visit local churchs

Final dinner/packdown

Final  beach fire and sharing circle

Day 11- Monday 15/09/25

Depart Eua

Charter to Tonga tapu

Stay at Tonys

Dinner at Friends

Day 12- Tuesday 16/09/25

Shuttle to airport

Fly out of Tonga Tapu

What is included in the Whale Swimming Tours?

Our Whale Swimming Tours include boat transportation, snorkelling gear, wetsuits and flippers. We work with local guides trained in whale behaviour who closely follow international rules to protect the whales.

Whale swims require attendance at an information evening the night before where you will learn about whale behaviour and the rules of swimming with whales. You will be fitted with your snorkelling gear and wetsuit to use during your swim.  You are welcome to bring your own snorkel mask to guarantee a good fit.

A light snack is offered on the whale trip, you are welcome to bring your own food and non alcoholic drinks

All participants must follow instructions from our guides at all times. If any rules are broken you will be told to leave the water and return to the boat.

Is there a minimum age requirement for the whale swimming trips?

There is no minimum age requirement for our snorkelling trips, but participants should be comfortable in the water and able to swim. Children must be accompanied by a legal guardian in the water and bringing their own well fitted life jacket is advised.

Do you offer vegetarian meal options?

Yes, we offer vegetarian meal options. Please inform us of any dietary restrictions when booking your stay.

“The experience of swimming with whales was truly magical and unlike anything I've ever experienced before. I highly recommend Sacredislandretreats.com to anyone looking for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.”

Contact us

Get in touch with us to book your unforgettable whale swimming experience!

Location

Sacredislandretreats.com
Eua Island, Tonga

About us

Sacredislandretreats.com is dedicated to providing guests with unique and unforgettable experiences on the island of Eua and in the beautiful waters of Tonga.

Our team of experienced guides and staff are committed to ensuring that every guest has a memorable stay.