The Best Tonga Itineraries for 1 Week / 7 Days 🐠 [2024]

What to Do for 1 Week in Tonga: A Selection of 7-Day Itineraries

Have one spare week of your life and dream of going to Tonga? We’ve compiled some of our best one-week Tonga itineraries in the guide below! Whether you’re a backpacker, seeking a luxury getaway, a family with young children, a couple on a romantic escape or a foodie, you’ll find something to suit in this list of the best Tonga itineraries for one week (seven days)!

Destinations Visited in Our Tonga Itineraries for 7 Days

Tonga is made up of 169 islands, so let us break down the destinations that you will visit in these one-week Tonga itineraries.

Tongatapu

Tongatapu is often described as the “main island” of Tonga and is the arrival island of most tourists through Fua’amotu International Airport. Most of Tongatapu’s tourism is centred in the capital, Nuku’alofa, although a small selection of treehouse and beach resorts can be found on the island’s eastern side. Find out more about these destinations in The Complete Guide to Tongatapu and The Complete Guide to Nuku’alofa.

‘Eua

‘Eua is an island less than 20 km (around 11 mi) southeast of Tongatapu and is Tonga’s oldest island. It is one of Tonga’s more “rugged” islands with weathered coastal formations split by endearing beaches. The island is a must for nature lovers, being home to the ‘Eua National Park, as well as those looking to effortlessly immerse in village life. Find out more about ‘Eua in The Complete Guide to ‘Eua.

Ha’apai

Ha’apai is the central island group of Tonga, made up of 62 islands – 45 of which are uninhabited. It’s where you’ll find white sand beaches leading into tranquil lagoons and islands of swaying palm trees. Ha’apai is relatively undeveloped but still has a good selection of eco-friendly beach resorts, as well as guesthouses in the island’s main village, Pangai. Learn more in The Complete Guide to Ha’apai.

Vava’u

Vava’u is the second-most northern island group of Tonga and home to Neiafu, which becomes a bustling centre for tourism, especially during the whale season. The main island, ‘Utu Vava’u, is connected to various islands via causeways, while the rest of the 50+ islands of the group are compactly scattered across the archipelago. Learn more about Vava’u in The Complete Guide to Vava’u.

Another island group of Tonga is The Niuas, three islands far-flung in the northern reaches of Tonga. Due to the distance therefore infrequent flights and ferries, getting to this island group on a one-week trip is not viable.

Tonga Budget and Backpacking Itinerary for 1 Week

For backpackers and travellers on a budget, an amazing array of experiences await on the islands of Tongatapu and ‘Eua. By only being less than 20 km (11 mi) away from each other, the overwater travel between these islands is ultra-affordable. Plus, with both islands hosting an array of free natural attractions, you don’t need to spend much to enjoy the highlights.

Check out the budget accommodations, free/cheap activities and best destinations in our complete Tonga Budget & Backpacking Itinerary: 7 Days. Otherwise, take a look at the itinerary overview below.

Overview: 7-Day Budget Itinerary for Tonga

Day 1 – Arrival in Tonga
Day 2 – Explore Tongatapu
Day 3 – Tongatapu to ‘Eua
Days 4 & 5 – Explore ‘Eua
Day 6 – ‘Eua to Nuku’alofa
Day 7 – Departure Day
See the full itinerary: Tonga Budget & Backpacking Itinerary: 7 Days.

Tonga Family Itinerary for 1 Week

One week in Tonga with kids is a good amount of time to experience a couple of different islands, without too much travel to result in grumpy little ones.

In our Tonga Family Itinerary: 7 Days, we recommend heading to the two island groups in Tonga with the most family-friendly activities. There are plenty of interesting features to explore on land in Tongatapu, while the kids will get their water fix in the sheltered lagoons off the beaches of the Ha’apai group.

Overview: 7-Day Family Itinerary for Tonga

Day 1 – Arrival in Tonga
Day 2 – Explore Tongatapu
Day 3 – Tongatapu to Ha’apai
Days 4 & 5 – Explore Ha’apai
Day 6 – Ha’apai to Nuku’alofa
Day 7 – Explore Nuku’alofa + Departure
See the full itinerary: Tonga Family Itinerary: 7 Days.

The Best Tonga Itineraries for 1 Week / 7 Days 🐠 [2024]

Tonga Honeymoon and Romance Itinerary for 1 Week

Make the most of the beginning of the rest of your lives together with an action-packed honeymoon in Tonga. Tonga is certainly a destination for the couple who prefers “doing” rather than lazying on a beach for a week.

This Tonga Honeymoon & Romance Itinerary: 7 Days gets couples to explore two of Tonga’s most pristine island groups setting the right tone for a romantic holiday. You’ll be able to do a wealth of land and water experiences in ‘Eua and Ha’apai, as well as stay in cute fales.

Overview: 7-Day Honeymoon and Romance Itinerary for Tonga

Day 1 – Arrival in Tonga + Fly to ‘Eua
Day 2 – Explore ‘Eua
Day 3 – ‘Eua to Ha’apai (via Tongatapu)
Days 4 & 5 – Explore Ha’apai
Day 6 – Ha’apai to Nuku’alofa
Day 7 – Explore Nuku’alofa + Departure
See the full itinerary: Tonga Honeymoon & Romance Itinerary: 7 Days.

Tonga Food Itinerary for 1 Week

Travellers experiencing cultures and countries through cuisine will have a blast in Tonga. In our Tonga Food Itinerary: 7 Days, we recommend visiting the two largest towns and foodie hubs across two different island groups, Nuku’alofa in Tongatapu and Neiafu in Vava’u. Not only will you find the widest array of food-related activities and restaurants in these areas, but you’ll get to experience two very different sides of Tonga. See how we split the destinations across one week in the itinerary overview below.

Overview: 7-Day Food Itinerary for Tonga

Day 1 – Arrival in Vava’u
Day 2 – Explore Neiafu
Day 3 – Neiafu to the Vava’u Outer Islands
Days 4 & 5 – Relax in Vava’u
Day 6 – Vava’u to Nuku’alofa
Day 7 – Explore Nuku’alofa + Departure
See the full itinerary: Tonga Food Itinerary: 7 Days.

Tonga Luxury Itinerary for 1 Week

Stay in some of Tonga’s most premium accommodations, experiencing exclusive activities, from swimming with whales to sailing in some of the South Pacific’s top sailing grounds, by following our tips in the Tonga Luxury Itinerary: 7 Days.

While Tonga is not a destination of five-star resorts and services, its landscapes and unique activities surely make one feel a sense of privilege. For a more “upscale” experience of Tonga, we recommend heading to the two most developed island groups, Tongatapu and Vava’u.

Overview: 7-Day Luxury Itinerary for Tonga

Day 1 – Arrival in Tonga
Day 2 – Explore Tongatapu
Day 3 – Tongatapu to Vava’u
Days 4-5 – Explore Vava’u
Day 6 – Vava’u to Nuku’alofa
Day 7 – Explore Nuku’alofa + Departure
See the full itinerary: Tonga Luxury Itinerary: 7 Days.

Tonga Adults-Only Itinerary for 1 Week

For a getaway away from the kids (or from other people’s), Tonga couldn’t be a better option. Not only is the island nation a less-visited destination, even in the high season, but it also offers a small selection of adults-only lodges and resorts.

Our Tonga Adults-Only Itinerary: 7 Days takes you to the two only island groups with adults-only retreats, each offering an exciting array of adventure activities as well as opportunities to relax in an island paradise in peace.

Overview: 7-Day Adults-Only Itinerary for Tonga

Day 1 – Arrival in Tonga + Nuku’alofa
Day 2 – Explore Tongatapu
Day 3 – Nuku’alofa to Vava’u
Days 4 & 5 – Explore Vava’u
Day 6 – Vava’u to Tongatapu
Day 7 – Explore Nuku’alofa + Departure
See the full itinerary: Tonga Adults-Only Itinerary: 7 Days.

More Tonga Itineraries

That’s it for the best Tonga itineraries for one week. If you’re lucky enough to be able to be open about your travel dates, check out our other itineraries for longer or shorter than a week:

Before you go, be sure to bookmark The Complete Travel Guide to Tonga and 31 Tips for Travelling in Tonga for even more tips!

Author

Laura (Lola) S.

This article was reviewed and published by Laura, editor in chief and co-founder of Tonga Pocket Guide. Since arriving solo in the South Pacific over 10 years ago with nothing but a backpack and a background in journalism, her mission has been to show the world how easy (and awesome) it is to explore a paradise such as Tonga. She knows the islands inside-out and loves sharing tips on how best to experience Tonga’s must-dos and hidden gems. Laura is also editor of several other South Pacific travel guides.

Contact Laura via our contact page