Tonga: A South Pacific Paradise Celebrates Twenty Years of Eco-Tourists Swimming with Whales

Online, March 25, 2013 (Newswire.com) - Pacific island paradise Kingdom of Tonga is 1 of just 3 global locations where visitors can can swim with humpback whales. The June 2013 return of these sea giants marks the 20th year that the tiny nation has offered this unique visitor experience.

Pacific island paradise the Kingdom Of Tonga continues to provide international independent travellers a unique opportunity to swim up close with Southern Humpback Whales twenty years after the first license was granted in 1993.

Unlike whale watching, swimming with Humpback Whales is an experience limited to just 3 locations worldwide, with Tonga being one of only 2 locations available in the Southern hemisphere.

Pioneered by Whale Watch Vava'u in conjunction with scientists from South Pacific Whale Research Consortium in the early 1990's, there are now more than 10 operators in Tonga successfully offering conservation minded encounters with these majestic ocean mammals every year.

Late June, the Southern Humpback Whales return annually from the icy depths of Antarctica to the warm, unspoilt, reef protected waters of the Vava'u island group in Tonga to breed and give birth to their young.

Renowned for often swimming close to shore, Humpback whales display spectacular open-mouth surface feeding techniques and courting males "sing" haunting songs of love, that can carry across the ocean for up to 60miles.

Attracting travellers from across the world, these regulated whale watch encounters have become internationally successful, and feature in media as diverse as the UK's BBC Life Documentary series & the Australian 'Getaway' TV Travel series - with Tonga's whale watching being voted one of the top 10 experiences in the world.

In addition to whale watching and swimming, the unpolluted and crystalline waters of Tonga's' 150 islands offer world class intermediate surf breaks, stunning sailing experiences and unparalleled diving and snorkelling experiences. The island tropical waters offer visibility of up 100 feet with sea life including dolphins, turtles and the magnificent manta ray.

Priced from US$1700, independent travellers can visit this unspoilt, unhurried Pacific island paradise on daily flights from Los Angeles to Auckland, New Zealand before connecting to Tonga five times a week

The Kingdom Of Tonga offers accommodation to cater to all budgets, from basic backpacker shared rooms to exclusive resorts, with whale watching day tours that start at less than US$300 per day to comprehensive week-long whale and diving encounters travellers can share with conservationists, marine biologists and professional wildlife photographers.

United States, United Kingdom and European citizens are issued a visitor's permit (valid for 31 days) free of charge on arrival in Tonga with provision of an onward/return air-ticket.

For more information go to www.thekingdomoftonga.com