Whale Watching Tours in Bora Bora
Recommended by 92% of travelers
Bora Bora, French Polynesia
- 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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What's Included
- Equipment provided on request only
Meeting and Pickup
You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup
Itinerary
1
Tohora Bora Bora Snorkeling Lagoon Tours & Whale Watching
3 hours 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travelers should have a strong physical fitness level
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 6 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
This experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or ask for an amendment, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
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Reviews
4.7
based on 250 reviews
Gabriella_H, Oct 2025
It was the PERFECT weather for the day but sadly no whales :(
However, Simon is great! I read some of the reviews and disagreee, he was a pleasure and friendly and funny in our opinion! On time to pick us up and tried to find us whales just didn’t work out that day what can ya do. Definitely worth a try and will go again with him if we come back to try again!!
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you so much Gabrielle for your kind words! We’re glad you enjoyed the tour and had a good time despite not spotting any whales.
Weather and wildlife can be unpredictable, but it’s wonderful to hear you appreciated the effort, friendliness, and humor on the tour. We always try our best to make it a fun and memorable experience for everyone!
We’d be thrilled to welcome you back anytime to try again—hopefully with some whales next time !
Simon
zhym2008, Oct 2025
Simon is highly professional and has strict requirements for tourists' swimming skills and maintaining quiet in the water. It is advisable for participants to assess their swimming abilities in advance. On that day, out of six tourists, only two successfully entered the sea for whale watching. We noticed that two other boats nearby imposed no requirements on swimming posture or the use of swim rings.
Simon promised on the boat to share the underwater video with those who did not enter the water. However, when we contacted the staff to request the video, they repeatedly asked us to leave a positive review first and mentioned that we would have to wait until Simon was available (probably two months later after high season). They also implied that they were not obligated to provide the video and mentioned that a whale-watching video in Moorea costs $600.
Overall, the experience and attitude toward those of us who did not enter the water were highly disappointing. We do not recommend this tour. This is the only tour we did not recommend among all the ones we participated in Bora Bora.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
dear Yumeng Zhang & Xu Zhao
Thank you for sharing your feedback, although we regret that your review does not fully reflect how the excursion actually took place.
Several important details were omitted: you did have the opportunity to go into the water, which you did during the first attempt. The guide never refused your participation — it was your personal choice not to continue afterward, which we completely respected. Your wife also clearly stated at the beginning that she preferred not to go into the water.
Our guide Simon applies strict safety and behavioral guidelines, as explained during the briefing, because this activity is reserved for confident swimmers and must always be conducted with the utmost respect for both safety and the whales. This professionalism is what ensures a responsible approach, unlike some operators who may appear more flexible but do not always follow the same ethical standards.
Regarding the underwater video, it is entirely complimentary — not included in the paid service and therefore not an obligation. It is a gesture of goodwill that we offer whenever possible, depending on workload and conditions. For comparison, similar video packages are sold for up to USD 600 in other islands. This is why we kindly ask for patience during high season.
Finally, at no point was a review required in exchange for the video. We simply encourage guests, if they wish, to share their experience to help support small local businesses.
We hope these clarifications will provide a more accurate understanding of your experience.
Kind regards,
Laurence
chers Yumeng Zhang & Xu Zhao
Merci d’avoir partagé votre avis, même si nous regrettons qu’il ne reflète pas fidèlement le déroulement réel de votre excursion.
Vous omettez en effet plusieurs éléments importants : vous avez bien eu la possibilité d’entrer à l’eau, ce que vous avez fait lors de la première mise à l’eau. Le guide n’a jamais refusé que vous participiez ; c’est ensuite votre propre décision de ne pas poursuivre, ce que nous respectons pleinement. Votre épouse avait, quant à elle, indiqué dès le départ qu’elle ne souhaitait pas se mettre à l’eau.
Notre guide Simon applique des consignes strictes, comme rappelé lors du briefing, car cette activité est réservée à des nageurs expérimentés et se déroule dans le respect total de la sécurité et des baleines. C’est d’ailleurs ce professionnalisme qui garantit une approche responsable, contrairement à d’autres opérateurs qui peuvent être plus permissifs, mais moins respectueux des règles.
Concernant la vidéo, elle est entièrement offerte, sans aucun supplément. Il ne s’agit pas d’un service inclus ni d’un dû, mais d’un geste commercial généreux que nous proposons à titre gracieux, lorsque les conditions et la charge de travail le permettent. À titre de comparaison, ce type de prestation est facturé jusqu’à 600 USD dans d’autres îles. Nous précisons donc à nos clients qu’un délai peut être nécessaire en haute saison, ce qui est parfaitement normal.
Enfin, nous tenons à souligner qu’il n’a jamais été demandé de laisser un avis en échange de la vidéo. Nous invitons simplement nos hôtes à partager, s’ils le souhaitent, leur expérience afin de soutenir les petites entreprises locales.
Nous espérons que ces précisions permettront de rétablir une vision plus juste de la réalité de votre excursion.
Bien cordialement,
Laurence
Niklas_L, Oct 2024
Simon was a fantastic guide and made sure we were able to get the most out of our time in the water. He makes sure everyone is safe and is great at finding the elusive whales. Be prepared to swim long distances as the whales move around. Even if you don’t get in the water, the views from the boat are awesome as well. We saw the whales playing with dolphins and in the water nearby.
Response from Host, Jun 2025
Thank you so much for your kind words Niklas!
I'm really glad to hear that you enjoyed the experience and felt safe and well-guided throughout the excursion. Swimming with whales truly is a special and unpredictable adventure, and it's always a pleasure to share these magical moments — especially when we're lucky enough to witness interactions with dolphins as well!
Thank you for pointing out that a certain level of swimming is required — it's an important part of the experience and your comment will surely help future guests prepare.
It was a pleasure having you on board, and I hope to welcome you again one day for another encounter with nature at its best!
Warm regards,
Simon
Debbie_M, Oct 2024
The positive things about this whale watching tour was it was easy to book on Viator. The tour provider responded to my message and sent me detailed information. He was on time to pick us up. We did see whales we got to swim with them, but just for a few seconds.
The negative things. We found our tour guide, Simon was harsh and abrupt. I am a dive master with more than 25 years of experience. While he was giving his dive briefing, which I agree is extremely important, I did nothing but open my dry bag to put my shirt in it, sitting less than a foot away from him, and his response was “hey you there stop that.” Clearly, I could hear him and I was not interrupting the briefing in any manner. He was rude and abrupt with other guests on the boat as well. After we had our very brief swim with the whales, we trailed the whales for a while, and then they disappeared. We had more than an hour left on our time on the boat, but he didn’t really attempt to find any more whales as far as I could tell. Another negative thing you should know is that there are 15 negative reviews on Trip Advisor that are very similar to mine and if you write a negative review, he will respond with harsh comments.
Response from Host, Jun 2025
Dear Debbie,
I remember you well, and I’m sorry the excursion didn’t meet your expectations. You mentioned being in the industry, which makes it even more surprising that you didn’t respect a crucial moment: the pre-entry briefing, where I explain the rules for approaching humpback whales without disturbing them. This is essential, as one person’s behavior can affect the entire group’s experience.
You referred to a “brief swim with the whales” — in fact, you were lucky to observe them in the water, which doesn’t always happen. Their behavior is unpredictable, and if they feel disturbed, they leave. Polynesian law requires us to end interactions in such cases, which I strictly followed.
Contrary to your claim, I did not stop searching. I was in contact with other operators around the island, but no other whales were found that day. We stayed in the best zone possible, hoping for new sightings.
I understand you didn’t like my tone, but my goal is always to offer a meaningful, respectful experience. The other guests that day didn’t share your opinion, and with only 15 negative reviews out of 1,059, I believe that speaks for itself.
I accept constructive criticism, but I must respond when comments are unfair or inaccurate.
Simon
Matthew_G, Oct 2022
Seeing a tuna jump out of the water. Knew it wasn’t a whale, just too small in the distance. The flying fish were mesmerizing and loved seeing the ocean crashing into the atoll close up and from the open ocean side. We didn’t get whales but it certainly wasn’t for lack of trying. Good experience overall
Response from Host, Nov 2022
Thank you Matthew for your comment and your honesty which is not the case for everyone when we do not find the whales, I repeat myself but it is not a zoo or an aquarium but you understood it very well thank you for that.
The conditions were perfect with long swells crashing into the coral reef offering a superb spectacle.
We were lucky to see these tuna jump even if we would have preferred to show you the whales which we strive to do on each outing but it is beyond our control!
I hope you had a great stay on Bora Bora.
Simon
Cassandra_S, Oct 2022
Where do I start? We had this booked for the 4th of Oct at 1 pm. A few days before our cruise to bora bora the tour operator messages us to change the tour to 9 am or the next day as there’s weather issues etc. or they’ll be forced to cancel the 1 pm. We thought about cancelling (which we should have because they couldn’t accommodate our original time) but decided to just reschedule. Our travel agent gave us the wrong itinerary for the cruise and long story short made it look like bora bora was on the 6th, not the 4th. We changed our reservation to the 6th at 1 pm. We then boarded the cruise and found out bora bora was actually like we originally thought on the 4th and had to contact this tour operator and tell him we can’t make it we need to reschedule for our original day. He told us we can make it for 8:15 am, to which we agreed because our ship told us they’d have tenders going out by then. We started calling this tour company at 8:00 to let them know we would be late and he ignored every call. Of course he left without us (but proceeded to pick up other guests). We even went to the tourism center to ask them to call, they did and he simply did not pick up. This tour operator is awful at communicating as well as is not accommodating in the slightest to people on cruise ships. He even told the tourism center he would simply keep our money. Little does he know we will be taking it up with the credit card company upon our return. Would not recommend this tour company to anybody taking a cruise here! You will get scammed out of your money!
Ben_S, Sep 2022
Wonderful excursion! So happy we got to see not only one whale, but several! Incredible experience and Simon was exceptional as a captain! Highly recommend!!
Response from Host, Jun 2025
Thank you so much for your kind words! 🐋✨
We're thrilled that you had such a wonderful time and that you were able to see several whales during your excursion — it's always magical! Simon will be happy to hear your compliments. Your recommendation means the world to us.
Warm wishes from Bora Bora,
The Tohora Bora Bora Team 🌺
sallysjohnston, Aug 2022
It was amazing- just do it!!!!!!
Victor was wonderful and took care of everyone !!
Once in a life time !!!
Response from Host, Jun 2025
Un grand merci pour votre enthousiasme ! 🌟
Nous sommes ravis que cette expérience ait été à la hauteur de vos attentes.
Victor sera très touché par votre message — il a à cœur de prendre soin de chaque participant pour que chacun vive un moment unique et inoubliable.
Nager avec les baleines est effectivement une expérience rare et précieuse… Merci d’avoir choisi de la vivre avec nous !
À une prochaine peut-être,
L’équipe Tohora Bora Bora 🐋💙
Valera, Aug 2022
It was an amazing journey! Simon and his team did a great job to find the location of whales!
Thank you for the impression and memories!
John_L, Oct 2021
This was the best thing we did in Bora Bora! We had the pleasure of swimming with the whales for 2 hours! Truly one of the best things we have done in our lives! The team was incredible and Simon made sure we got to spend the most time up close with the whales! Book this! It is worth it!
David_F, Oct 2021
He's good at finding whales but everything else about this tour and this guy is awful. Has a lot of good things to say regarding the safety of the whales, which I appreciated, but then proceeded do everything he told us not to do. Interesting character... good luck
Lee, Oct 2020
Really amazing experience with the whale, never thought it could be such a nice feeling to be so close to the whales
. Thank you Simon
Eugen_B, Sep 2025
Small group was top. Unfortunately little seen!
Nothing in water, actually.
Watercourse for professionals only. Not for amateur tourists like we were. Price performance: Bad
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Response from Host, Sep 2025
Guten Tag,
Schon merkwürdig: Sie sagen, Sie hätten nichts gesehen, aber Sie waren der Erste, der nach den Fotos und Videos vom Einstieg ins Wasser gefragt hat (vgl. Ihre WhatsApp-Nachricht noch am selben Abend)
"We would like to thank you for the beautiful nature. You promised to send me a few pictures at the end. Here is my email address. Thank you.
Veronika and Eugen"
Vielen Dank, dass Sie sich die Zeit genommen haben, Ihre Eindrücke zu teilen. Wir verstehen Ihre Enttäuschung, möchten jedoch einige wichtige Punkte in Erinnerung rufen, die bereits in unserer Buchungsbestätigung sowie auf unserer Website und bei Viator angegeben waren.
Zum Preis-Leistungs-Verhältnis:
Ein 3,5-stündiger Ausflug auf dem offenen Meer mit einem erfahrenen Kapitän und einem spezialisierten Guide bringt zwangsläufig erhebliche Kosten mit sich (Boot, Treibstoff, Sicherheitsausrüstung, Mannschaft usw.).
Der Preis entspricht den üblichen Tarifen für diese Art von Exkursionen in Polynesien und bleibt angesichts des menschlichen und logistischen Aufwands angemessen.
Bei einer Buchung über eine Plattform wie Viator fallen zusätzliche Gebühren an, was teilweise den Unterschied zum Direktpreis erklärt.
Wir möchten außerdem betonen:
Das Sicherheitsbriefing vor jeder Ausfahrt erklärt klar den Ablauf des Einstiegs ins Wasser, die Schwimmbedingungen und die einzuhaltenden Sicherheitsanweisungen.
Niemand wird gezwungen, ins Wasser zu gehen: Jeder Teilnehmer entscheidet frei nach seinen eigenen Fähigkeiten und seinem Wohlbefinden im Meer.
Es ist auch wichtig zu wissen, dass die Option „Ins-Wasser-Gehen“ keine Garantie für ein Schwimmen mit Walen darstellt. Dies hängt vom Verhalten der Tiere sowie von den See- und Wetterbedingungen ab. Der Respekt vor den Walen und die Sicherheit unserer Teilnehmer haben für uns immer oberste Priorität.
Wir bedauern, dass Ihre Erfahrung nicht Ihren Erwartungen entsprochen hat, möchten jedoch betonen, dass jeder Ausflug einzigartig ist – und dass gerade die Unvorhersehbarkeit ein Teil der Schönheit und Authentizität dieser Art von Exkursion ausmacht.
Bonjour,
Curieux tout de même : vous dites n’avoir rien vu, mais vous étiez le premier à demander les photos et vidéos de la mise à l’eau (cf. votre WhatsApp du soir même)
"We would like to thank you for the beautiful nature. You promised to send me a few pictures at the end. Here is my email address. Thank you.
Veronika and Eugen"
Merci d’avoir partagé votre ressenti. Nous comprenons votre déception, mais souhaitons rappeler certains points importants, déjà précisés dans notre confirmation de réservation ainsi que sur notre site internet et sur Viator.
Concernant le rapport qualité/prix :
Une sortie en mer de 3h30 avec un capitaine professionnel et un guide spécialisé représente nécessairement un coût important (bateau, carburant, matériel de sécurité, équipage, etc.).
Le tarif pratiqué est en ligne avec ce type d’excursion en Polynésie, et reste raisonnable compte tenu des moyens humains et logistiques mis en place.
En réservant via une plateforme comme Viator, des frais supplémentaires s’appliquent, ce qui explique en partie la différence de prix avec une réservation en direct.
Nous rappelons également que :
Le briefing donné avant chaque excursion détaille clairement le déroulement de la mise à l’eau, les conditions de nage et les consignes de sécurité à respecter.
Personne n’est jamais forcé à se mettre à l’eau : chaque participant reste libre de sa décision, selon ses capacités personnelles et son niveau d’aisance dans l’océan.
Enfin, il est important de préciser que l’option « mise à l’eau » n’est pas une garantie de nager avec les baleines. Cela dépend du comportement des animaux ainsi que des conditions maritimes et météorologiques. Le respect des baleines et la sécurité de nos participants sont toujours prioritaires.
Nous regrettons que votre expérience n’ait pas correspondu à vos attentes, mais nous tenons à souligner que chaque sortie est unique, et que l’imprévisibilité fait aussi partie de la beauté et de l’authenticité de ce type d’excursion.
Marion_L, Sep 2025
THANK YOU! An unforgettable day with whales 🐋🩵🫶🏼 Simon is the passionate and professional man of the sea.
Thank you for these intense moments, we were able to go several times in the water to swim with the whales! What an incredible experience to be able to admire this beauty of nature. Thank you for your perseverance and knowledge. A dream come true.
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Response from Host, Jan 2026
Merci beaucoup Marion pour ce magnifique retour !
Je suis ravi que vous ayez vécu une journée inoubliable et pu nager plusieurs fois avec les baleines.
C’est toujours un vrai plaisir de partager ces moments intenses et de montrer la beauté de la nature tout en respectant les animaux. Vos mots sur la persévérance et le savoir me touchent beaucoup.
Merci pour votre confiance, et j’espère avoir le plaisir de vous accueillir à nouveau pour d’autres expériences magiques sur le lagon !
Simon
Nicole_Y, Nov 2024
They are wonderful team!
虽然我晕船没能近距离看鲸鱼，但是Simon和他的搭档很了解鲸鱼的习性，路上会给我们介绍很多鲸鱼的知识。同一艘船的客人也很好，我晕船还给了我药。在十一月还能看到鲸鱼，只能说他真是很厉害
Response from Host, Jun 2025
Thank you very much, Nicole, for your comment. Whale watching is different on every excursion and can be more or less challenging, but one thing is certain: my team and I do everything possible to allow you to observe these magnificent creatures, always respecting the animals and the laws in force in French Polynesia regarding humpback whales!
Simon
steve_v, Oct 2024
Expérience impressionnante, même si on ne peut commander à la nature, la récompense a été la.
L’équipe a su être patiente et nous en a mis plein les yeux
Response from Host, Jun 2025
Merci beaucoup pour votre beau message Steve !
Vous avez tout à fait raison : on ne commande pas à la nature… mais quand elle décide de se montrer, c’est toujours un moment magique ! Merci d’avoir su faire preuve de patience — c’est souvent la clé pour vivre une belle rencontre.
Toute l’équipe est ravie d’avoir pu contribuer à cette expérience impressionnante. Au plaisir de vous accueillir à nouveau pour de nouvelles découvertes !
Bien cordialement,
Simon
Louise_S, Aug 2024
Activité au top ! Merci à Simon et Maui ce sont des personnes formidables qui sont à vos soin, de bonnes explications et sont prêts à patienter des heures pour vous donner le meilleur de cette sortie baleines ! Merci encore à vous pour le moment et ne changez rien !
Bisous de la backpakeuse et la casseuse de porte
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Merci Louise pour ton commentaire,
Nous faisons de nôtre mieux afin de vous permettre de vivre ces moments exceptionnels et nous sommes ravis lorsque nos clients s'en rendent compte ;)
Concernant les portes et oui en effet c'est toujours un problème lorsque vous les cassez,surtout qu'elles coutent chers et sont dures à avoir mais ne t'inquiètes pas les prochains qui cassent paieront ;)
Bisous à vous deux
Simon
Ludwig_B, Aug 2023
Leider war das Meer sehr unruhig und ich habe mich entschlossen, nicht ins Wasser zu gehen. Trotzdem hat mir, und natürlich auch den Schnorchlerm, der Wal eine super Show geboten. Mehr als 1,5 Std. begleitete er das Boot und die mit ihm schwimmenden Gäste. Manchmal konnte man meinen der Wal würde sich die Schwimmer anschauen.
Wildlife ist Natur und man kann nicht erwarten, eine solche Show wie heute nochmal zu erleben. Aber manchmal passiert es eben doch
Response from Host, Sep 2023
Danke Ludwig für deinen Kommentar,
Es ist eine Schande, dass Sie sich nicht getraut haben, sich ins Wasser zu begeben, denn die Show war großartig, aber manchmal ist es genauso gut, auf dem Boot zu bleiben und die Show ohne die geringste Angst oder Besorgnis zu genießen; Vielleicht haben Sie eines Tages noch einmal die Gelegenheit, einen Ausflug wie diesen zu machen und wagen den Sprung.
Danke
Simon
gottaryan, Sep 2022
Garnichts , unsere Tour wurde von morgens auf eine Mittag Tour verschoben keinen Wal gesehen schlechte Information…
Response from Host, Oct 2022
Wenn wir Sie von morgens auf nachmittags verlegt haben, dann deshalb, weil wir unsere Gründe hatten, in diesem Fall waren Sie nur zwei Personen und deshalb machen wir keine Ausflüge für zwei Personen, weil die Kosten für diesen Ausflug sehr hoch sind, andererseits haben wir Sie verlassen die Wahl zu kommen oder abzusagen Sie haben sich entschieden zu kommen, also beschweren Sie sich nicht, wenn Sie keinen Wal gesehen haben, denn das hängt nicht von uns ab; it's tla Nature Wenn Sie es nicht verstehen können, bleiben Sie zu Hause oder schauen Sie sich Videos im Internet an, es kostet Sie weniger!
Andererseits geben Sie nicht an, dass wir die Zeit des Ausflugs überschritten haben, um zu versuchen, Wale zu finden und Ihnen zu ermöglichen, sie zu beobachten, aber wie immer lassen Sie diesen PUNKT weg!!
Wir setzen alle uns zur Verfügung stehenden Mittel ein, um die Wale zu finden, aber trotz all unserer Bemühungen kommt es vor, dass wir sie nicht finden ... es ist weder ein Aquarium noch ein Zoo.
Und für Informationen haben wir die Verpflichtung der Mittel, aber nicht der Ergebnisse !!!
Simon
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