Planning your outrigger tour
Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience. Ralph Waldo Emerson
To help you enjoy your Outriggers in Paradise experience as much as possible, we advise the following.
Please revisit this site before you leave for your tour for possible changes.
What's included in your canoeing/camping tour:
An amazing experience in the beautiful Vava'u archipelago in an outrigger canoe. A fully guided canoeing tour commencing with an introduction and safety briefing. Breakfast, lunch and dinner for the duration of the tour. Tea, coffee and water with meals. All safety equipment. Camping equipment except for those items noted below. All cooking equipment. Drybag to protect your valuables from the water. Snorkelling equipment (or bring your own for comfort).
A traditional Tongan Feast and Kava Ceremony on tours with four or more guests. Farewell dinner after 4-day Getaway and Fanatics Tours (food only).
What you must bring:
We will provide a full checklist with your booking confirmation. Don't forget you will be travelling by canoe, so personal belongings must be kept to a minimum. You will be required to bring the following:
Sleeping bag or cover sheet (we will provide an inflatable sleeping mat) Hydration pack or insulated water bottle Torch Adequate clothing - protective from sun, light-weight warm gear for cooler nights. Good hat and lots of good sunscreen Sturdy shoes or reef shoes Insect repellent Camera A sense of adventure!
What you must organise and pay for:
All of your travel arrangements. Travel insurance. Any necessary visas - check if you require a visa to visit Tonga. Medical check up if required or recommended. All other personal requirements to prepare you for your tour.
What we can organise and you pay for:
Airport transfers when you arrive in Vava'u. Accommodation before and after the tour in Tonga. Other tours and activities during your stay in Vava'u.
What's available at extra cost:
Beverages with your resort lunch (alcohol is not permitted during the day). Paddling gloves (we hire these at $T5/day) Salt water soap (we sell bottles for $T8) Lip balm (we sell natural sticks for $T6) Handicrafts orother items you purchase. Other personal requirements during your stay and tour
What else:
You will be responsible for your own costs incurred due to delays caused by your travel/transport providers; bad weather; or any changes to the itinerary as explained in the booking .
How to get here
The beauty of Tonga is its isolation, so when you plan a holiday in Vava'u, getting here is part of the adventure!
Via Nuku'alofa, Tongatapu
Catch a direct flight to Tongatapu (main island) from Australia, New Zealand or Fiji on Pacific Blue, Air New Zealand or Air Pacific. From Europe or North America, flights are via Los Angeles or Auckland. You then board a domestic flight (Chathams Pacific) to Vava'u. Flights to Tonga are quite limited, so it's a good idea to book well ahead (and you will get better deals too).
From Nuku'alofa you will need to catch a short domestic flight to beautiful Vava'u. There are two domestic airlines currently operating within Tonga - Chathams Pacific and Air Tonga. We recommend Chathams Pacific for your domestic flights and you can book these flights direct here www.chathamspacific.com.
If you are flying Air Tonga, ALWAYS confirm your Tongan inter-island flights the day before AND a few hours before your flight departure. Their flights change (and even sometimes leave earlier than the scheduled time) without notice. You must be at the airport one hour before departure time. Luggage is restricted to only 10kg per person on Air Tonga and up to 20kg on Chathams Pacific. If you have more than this allowance, you will be charged for the excess or your luggage may not travel on the same plane as you.
Tips for travelling to Tonga and Vava'u
Be prepared to be surprised.
The Kingdom of Tonga is a deeply cultural country with few similarities to the western world. Be prepared to slow down and let go of any expectations. Personal supplies are not widely available and those that are can be quite expensive, so it's best to bring your own personal belongings to ensure you enjoy your stay in this special place.
Vaccinations
Although it is not a requirement for entry, we recommend vaccinations against hepatitis and typhoid and make sure your tetanus vaccination is current.
Preparing for your outrigger adventure
Tour Induction and Safety Briefing
All multi-day tours commence with a tour induction and safety briefing at 4.00pm the day before your tour leaves. Attendance at this briefing is compulsory. Non-attendance could result in you not being permitted to join the tour. For this reason, please ensure you make your travel arrangements to arrive in plenty of time to attend this briefing.
Health and fitness
The multi-day tours require a moderate level of fitness, so to make sure you don't suffer from too many aches and pains during your trip or slow your team mates down, we highly recommend that you start doing daily moderate exercise at least one month before your tour. Gentle stretching exercises daily and regular long distance walking can prepare you for paddling a canoe for a few hours a day.
As always, seek professional health advice before commencing any type of exercise program.
Visit this page again
Before you leave for your holiday in Vava'u, check this page for updated information.
Outriggers in Paradise, Phone: +676 71052, Email Us Here
Post: Private Bag 32, Neiafu, Vava'u, Kingdom of Tonga, South Pacific
