Tonga

OUR VENUE

Our sustainable retreat base is totally off-grid, with 100% solar power, composting toilets, and rainwater collection for drinking. We will sleep close to nature in eco-tents with one king bed or twin singles, private decking and easy beach access.

A large shady deck area at the ‘beach barn’ provides space for our yoga practice, chilling with a book, chatting with fellow retreaters, sorting through endless photos and enjoying a wholesome, communal meal.

YOGA

One to two sessions of yoga shared daily depending on other activities that day, and will be guided by Fiona (Wild Awake’s founder). Carefully tailored and accessible hatha flow and yin yoga practices will awaken your body and calm your mind. (Beginners are welcome). Guided meditation and other supportive relaxation techniques will also be offered. Experience all of this amidst the most incredible surrounds, and you’re all set for some deep rest and a blissful reboot.

FOOD

Fresh wholesome meals will be lovingly prepared by our hosts and created mainly from produce grown in the hideaways own organic garden and locally harvested foods. Special dietary requirements can be catered for with advance notice.

ITINERARY

This is a suggested outline only and subject to change depending in the days activities and timings dictated by such things as the weather.

DAY 1

Before midday (time tbc): Meet in Pangai (Ha’apai) to prepare to transfer to our island hideaway by private boat. Depending on weather and water conditions this can take anywhere from 2 – 4.5hrs. There’s a good chance we will see whales along the way!

DAY 2 – 7

0600: Morning yoga (when it fits in with on-water days)
0730: Breakfast
0900: Time will vary for whale swims (4 trips) depending on conditions. Other activities to be enjoyed are exploring Nomuka (lots of lovely hidden beach spots), exploratory island trips, cultural activities or free time for snorkelling and heaps of relaxing.
12:30: Lunch – when on the water we will enjoy lunch along the way either on a beach or on the boat.
0430: Afternoon yoga & sunset (timing determined by days activities)
0700: Dinner
0800: Evening activities – chill out time together or other local activities as they arise. Evenings are definitely a flexible occasion and time to connect and recoup from a day exploring. We might even throw in a little disco dance or movie night 😉

DAY 8

0600: Morning yoga
0700: Breakfast & pack up
0900+: Departure by boat to Pangai with arrival time approximately midday. Please make your onward arrangements with accommodation and transport accordingly, allow plenty of time for travel and possible island-style delays.

GETTING THERE

Please book flights from your home country to land in Fua’amotu International Airport (TBU), Tonga.

Please arrange your own transport to Pangai (Ha’apai) either by ferry, private boat or the local airline (Real Tonga Airlines). With Real Tonga, be sure to book the first AM flight (0700) on the morning of Day 1, or even arriving on the weekend if you would like to explore the island. You must in Pangai in time to meet the boat transfer anytime for 10am on Day 1 (time tbc).

www.realtong.to

Real Tonga airlines can be somewhat changeable, please ensure you have travel insurance that covers you for all sorts of delays, cancellations etc (including those for maintenance).

The ferry schedule is updated regularly – please check in if it suits your plans departing Nuku’alofa and gets you to Pangai on time.

http://fisa.to/index.php/schedule

If choosing to explore Pangai for the weekend, there are lots of lovely options for accommodation in and around the main hub.

TRANSFER TO AND FROM OUR ISLAND HIDEAWAY

Our transfer from Pangai will be by private boat. This can take anywhere from 2 – 4.5hrs depending on weather and water conditions. A spray jacket is worth having on hand.

EQUIPMENT

Please bring your own snorkelling equipment and wetsuit with you to ensure a hassle free, comfortable fit for our whale swims or recreational snorkelling adventures. Limited equipment is available on the island but a good fit can’t be guaranteed. It is better to feel comfortable for this experience and bring your own if possible. A suggested packing list will be sent out to guests prior to the trip, but here’s some considerations for our in water time:

Fins should be full footed style. Heel strap style fins make too much flutter in the water and can disturb the whales.

A wetsuit is advised as the water temperature can be cool. Better to be warm than cold!

A weight belt is recommended if you are a seasoned snorkeler to help keep you more upright in the water, producing less fin splash to disturb the whales.

Definitely bring a Go Pro or underwater camera if you have one!

FITNESS

To get the most out of this experience you must be able to swim, be comfortable in the open water and be of a reasonable level of fitness to be able to get on and off boats with relative ease when whale swimming. If you have any questions about this – please get in touch.

OFF GRID!

If you want to literally unplug from modern daily life, this trip is for you. Wifi access is not available (unless you purchase your own data card prior to arriving on the island) so invite yourself to detach and recharge. We highly recommend surrendering to the coconut telegraph!

Our base is solar powered and charging points will be available periodically during the day for the likes of cameras, but there are no charging/power points or lights in the tents. Please be sure to bring a hand held or head torch.

SMALL GROUP EXPERIENCE

This is a unique small group experience and will be limited to a total number of 8 guests. It is not at all possible to take any extras! The group size alone will make for a quieter, more connected and magical experience in such a pristine location. Less is more!

PROJECT SUPPORT

This part of the trip is TBC as it is ever evolving what initiatives are underway on the island, and by our hosts. Stay tuned for more details.

To support the other amazing projects being rolled out to reduce plastic waste and important educational programs, donations of the following suggested items are very welcome:

•  reusable cloth nappies
•  books for the 2 local schools (11 classrooms in total)

During our 2018 trip we began some involvement in an eco-brick project and hope to continue this in 2019. In the future we will also be supporting the construction of a marine education centre on the island. The timing for this and the tenure of land for the centre is still unfolding. But please head to this link for the heartfelt story behind this cause: https://www.gofundme.com/kais-information-displays