There is no better way to see the myriad of islands throughout the Tonga group than by air. The main island of Tongatapu has a beautiful Lagoon and lots of tiny coral islands offshore. The Ha'apai Group, a 20-minute flight to the north is an endless string of tiny coral and volcanic islands, each one with its own fringing reef surrounded by deep blue sea/ Another 20-minute to the north takes you to the Vava'u Group - more tiny coral islands and then the contorted shape of Vava'u itself with its myriad of islands and causeways.

Unfortunately there is no official aerial sightseeing tours but any scheduled flight from Tongatapu to Ha'apai or Vava'u will give you fantastic views of the islands and even if you only have a few days, the flight alone is worth every cent. When you fly to Vava'u, for example from Tongatapu, you'll encounter almost 50 islands from your seat window. The best seats for photography are the very back or very front of the plane away from the wind and engine. Best views are on the left side of the plane going to Vava'u and right side of the plane coming back, although weather conditions and winds make effect the approach.

Tonga Tour Companies Tonga Resort Listings

Our top 10 Tonga tours, not to be missed, are:


1) - Waterways of Vava'u Islands
cruise and snorkel around these limestone islands

2) - Humpback Whale Watching, Vavau
watch these spectacular mammals in the waterways of Vavau

3) - Island Hopping off Tongatapu
visit the tiny coral uninhabited islands off Nukualofa

4) - Blowholes of Tongatapu
series of spectacular blowholes on Tongatapu

5) - Trilithon on Tongatapu
learn about the intriguing history of Tongas past

6) - Attend a Traditional Feast
indulge in traditional food cooked underground

7) - Visit An Active Volcano, Haapai Group
visit the sleepy villages of Haapai

8) - Hike the Coastal Cliffs of Eua Island
spectacular cliffs and forest trails

9) - Aerial Sightseeing
view the coral islands from above

10) - Visit Nukualofa Market
browse the handcraft stalls and vegetable markets




Readers may also be interested in the following destinations:

Fiji Tours - Top 10 Attractions
Cook Islands Tours - Top 10 Attractions
Samoa Tours - Top 10 Attractions
Tahiti Tours - Top 10 Attractions
Hawaii Tours - Top 10 Attractions

---

Recommended Websites: South Pacific Pictures fiji pictures ; cook islands pictures ; samoa pictures ; tonga pictures ; tahiti pictures ; hawaii pictures