The whole experience needs 2 weeks, but if you are short on time and have to prioritise, the below is how I saw the mega wows.
Bear in mind that the purpose of this whole site is to condense 500+ travel experiences over 20 years into a simple ranking by wow factor. A 5 star score puts the experience in the top 5% and true mega wow, a 4 star top 20% – see About for the details.
This Tonga, Fiji and Samoa trip has some of the highest wow factor for any trip anywhere in the world.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Swimming with humpback whales in Vava’u (Tonga)
The humpback whale swimming alone would get a 5 star, but the combination of the paradise islands, sheer remoteness and being able to kayak through them makes this unmissable and the overall highlight.
Top tip: stay at Treasure Island Eco-Resort on ‘Eua’iki and aim for early July when the whales are arriving and not yet too busy.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Scuba diving with tiger sharks in Beqa Lagoon (Fiji)
Thrilling / terrifying / stupid. Pick your adjective. All valid and an enormous wow-factor bucket list item for an scuba diver.
Top tip: don’t do this if you are in any way a nervous diver! And be sure to expand the videos above once they load – they’re pretty wild.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Sua Ocean Trench
Definitely up there as one of the picture-perfect views in the world and swimming in it as the tides come in is really fun. Does it warrant a flight over to Samoa on its own? My girlfriend would say yes. I’d say no, but the rest of Samoa with its wonderful sashimi says yes.
Top tip: the nearby park grounds are also stunning and get little attention, so don’t miss. Along with lunch at the Seabreeze Resort Restaurant its a beautiful day trip.
⭐️⭐️ Mamanuca Islands
Beautiful stretch of islands arching out from Fiji’s capital, Nadi. In any other place in the world these would be the highlight, but this is Fiji and so the standard is insanely high. You will likely be passing through Nadi several times on this trip, so its worth experiencing them.
Top tip: there are very regular ferries leaving for the Mamanuca Islands from Nadi, so you can very easily pop over there for just one night if needed.
⭐️ Rafting the Navua
Good fun if nearby. You get to see some of the luscious interior of Fiji, inland villages and families of the organisers, and the guides add a lot to the overall experience through their sheer enthusiasm.
Top tip: don’t bother in June and August as the rainfall is lower and its more like a pleasant paddle rather white water rafting.
