Swimming with blue and sperm whales in East Timor
Gallery
Tour details
When
Costs
EUR 4,390
per person in a double room
Single room: + EUR 600
Group
Maximum 8 people
+ guides (English-speaking guide from Moby Wildlife Tours + local guide)
All Dates
10 departures across 2026 & 2027
2026
Sunday, October 18, 2026 – Saturday, October 24, 2026
Sunday, October 25, 2026 – Saturday, October 31, 2026
Sunday, November 1, 2026 – Saturday, November 7, 2026
Sunday, November 8, 2026 – Saturday, November 14, 2026
Sunday, November 15, 2026 – Saturday, November 21, 2026
2027
Sunday, October 17, 2027 – Saturday, October 23, 2027
Sunday, October 24, 2027 – Saturday, October 30, 2027
Sunday, October 31, 2027 – Saturday, November 6, 2027
Sunday, November 7, 2027 – Saturday, November 13, 2027
Sunday, November 14, 2027 – Saturday, November 20, 2027
Additional dates for private tours are available upon request.
Where
Start
On Sunday at the airport in Dili, depending on arrival time.
End
On the following Saturday after checkout.
Price Includes
What's included
Transportation, tours, lodging, group meals, presentations about blue whales.
What is not included
Personnel expenses, insurance, arrival and departure in Dili.
Physical requirements
Be able to swim 100 meters with fins, mask, and snorkel.
Be able to lift yourself out of the water on a ladder.
Dietary intolerances and intolerances can be taken into consideration.
Notes
This tour is intended for snorkelers and freedivers. No tank diving.
Ready to join this tour?
Request availability for your preferred date.
About the Trip
The trip to East Timor is a trip to the largest animals that have ever inhabited our planet. Being in the same element as a 25-meter-long blue whale is an incredible experience that cannot be properly described. Swimming with a blue whale has to be experienced to be believed!
Every day, we take a small but comfortable boat directly from the capital Dili out onto the often mirror-smooth water to get close to the giants of the sea. Normally, we spend about 6 hours at sea. Before the wind often picks up in the late afternoon, we come back ashore to recover from our adventures at sea.
During our time in Asia's youngest country, we are accommodated in a beautiful hotel right by the sea, just a few minutes from the jetty.
We have also planned 1-2 smaller excursions for the late afternoons and evenings to introduce you to this exciting country and its cuisine.
The Animals
The aim of this trip is to encounter the largest animal that has ever roamed our beautiful planet, the blue whale, in the water. Around 1,500 blue whales spend the southern winter in the Banda Sea to breed. To get to the feeding grounds in southern Australia, hundreds of animals use a current that runs southwest along the coast of East Timor every year. On a good day, we can observe up to 25 animals in small groups, sometimes just a few meters from the coast.
Swimming with a blue whale is one of the most impressive things you can experience. These 25-meter-long colossi glide gently past us on their journey south.
We also often see sperm whales, which live around the Indonesian islands all year round. When they appear off Dili, the largest toothed whales in the world often stay for a few days.
There are also various species of dolphin (e.g., Borneo dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, or spotted dolphins), as well as pilot whales and, rarely, orcas.
Swimming with toothed whales and dolphins is a little more complicated than with blue whales, as sperm whales in particular are still hunted in this region to this day and are correspondingly shy.
Swimming with blue whales, on the other hand, is less difficult. The giants are not disturbed by us during their migration and often pass us by within a few meters.
Accommodation & Catering
Throughout our time in East Timor, we stay in one of the most beautiful hotels in East Timor, right on the coast of Dili. The rooms are pleasantly modern and also have air conditioning. The hotel also has a pool area and a small fitness studio.
In the hotel's own restaurant, we enjoy a rich breakfast buffet every morning and occasionally also dinner.
We also visit other selected restaurants in the evening to introduce you to Portuguese-Asian fusion cuisine.
Lunch is eaten at sea in the form of sandwiches and other cold dishes.
Daily Program
Our day starts relatively early to make the most of the windless hours at sea. We arrive at the boats at around 8 a.m. to go in search of the giants of the sea.
After a hopefully successful day, we return to land at around 2 pm. After a well-deserved break, we meet up at around 4 pm for a short excursion to a local attraction or a little later for a sundowner drink! We round off the day with a great dinner.
Equipment & Photography
East Timor has a tropical climate. The high temperatures invite us to wear short clothing. Even in the evening, short clothing is no problem; we recommend a polo shirt or a light shirt. Don't forget to pack suitable sun protection!
We are happy to provide diving goggles, snorkels, and fins for our excursions to the sea. However, we recommend that you bring your own equipment that you are used to. Swimming with whales is not scuba diving! If you wish, you can free dive, but without a tank.
Thanks to the pleasant water temperatures, a wetsuit is not necessary. However, we can also provide one if required.
For photographers, we recommend lenses with a medium range above the water surface. Underwater, you can take excellent photos of blue whales with small lenses (up to 30mm). However, great photos and videos can also be taken with smaller cameras such as GoPros.
Highlights
Watch one of our highlight videos from East Timor here.
Contact us
Are you already convinced or do you have any questions? Use the form below — or reach us on WhatsApp (+41765811893)+41765811893) or email (info@mobywildlifetours.com).
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