5-Day Luxury Itinerary for Tonga
Five days is certainly not enough time in Tonga, but if that’s all you have then there are ways to make your time here extra special. Stay on pristine islands in traditionally-thatched fales (beach huts) with modern comforts. Sure, you won’t find five stars here but you will find a real island experience in the South Pacific with unforgettable scuba diving, fishing, sightseeing and whale swimming experiences. Even in five days, you can visit two of the most developed, therefore what many consider, more luxurious islands, Tongatapu and Vava’u. Plan your getaway with this Tonga luxury itinerary for 5 days.
For a more relaxing itinerary with less travelling around, take a look at How to Spend 5 Days on a Luxury Tonga Vacation TI054.
How to Get Around Tonga in 5 Days
Yes, even in five days, you can enjoy a bit of island-hopping in Tonga. While we give transport tips throughout the itinerary below, we’ll also outline the best options for luxury travel.
Road Transport in Tonga
The main islands of Tongatapu and Vava’u have roads where taxis, accommodation shuttles, guided tours and car rentals are available. However, we recommend relying on your accommodation for transport, as car rentals in Tonga are low quality and your accommodation will get you where you need to go with ease.
Overwater Transport in Tonga
Flights are the most convenient, fastest and scenic way to get between Tongatapu and Vava’u. Note that no flights operate on a Sunday. Some resorts, like island resort, will offer their own or arrange boat transfers for you to get to their islands.
Learn more about getting around Tongatapu and Vava’u in the following guides 10 Ways to Get to Tongatapu (& Around Tongatapu) and 10 Ways to Get to Vava’u (& Around Vava’u).
(c) tongapocketguide.comDay 1 – Fua’amotu Airport to Nuku’alofa
Travel time: 30 minutes
Malo e lelei! Welcome to Tonga and the Kingdom’s main island, Tongatapu.
After landing at Fua’amotu International Airport, be whisked away with an accommodation transfer to your luxury apartment in the nation’s capital, Nuku’alofa.
You might have time to check out a few of the city sights, like the Royal Palace, and browse the amazing handicrafts of the Langafonua Handicraft Centre. Otherwise, recover from the flight by dining at one of the fabulous restaurants as listed in the 5 Best Restaurants in Nuku’alofa.
Luxury Accommodation in Nuku’alofa
While there are no five-star hotels in Nuku’alofa, there are some excellent four-star apartments and hotel in Nuku’alofa:
- Villa Apartments Westside
- Villa Apartments Eastside
- Tanoa International Dateline Hotel
- Emerald Hotel & Restaurant
- Seaview Lodge & Restaurant
- Waterfront Lodge
- Captain Cook Apartments
See the 7 Best Luxury Accommodation in Nuku’alofa for more information on each recommendation.
(c) tongapocketguide.comDay 2 – Nuku’alofa to Vava’u
Travel time: 1 hour, 15-55 minutes transfer depending on where you stay
Arrange an airport transfer with your accommodation or take a taxi to Fua’amotu Airport’s domestic terminal. From there, you’ll enjoy a scenic 1-hour flight over the scattered islands of Tonga, landing in the island group of Vava’u. Vava’u is a watersports paradise, where sailing and fishing are the main highlights, as well as, of course, swimming with majestic humpback whales (June-October)!
For a luxury stay in Vava’u, you could choose a luxury apartment near the main town, Neiafu, or opt for a stunning island resort. Whatever you decide, you can arrange with your resort to pick you up from the airport and provide the road and overwater transport necessary. Note that Vava’u’s standards of luxury are not exactly to international standards. Nevertheless, there are some superb three-star and four-star resorts boasting modern comforts in a natural island setting.
Alternatively, sailing yachts are available to charter for a few days, providing full board and a wealth of activities during your time aboard. Check out your options in The Best Tours for Sailing in Vava’u.
Luxury Accommodation in Vava’u
Learn more about each accommodation in the 8 Best Luxury Accommodation in Vava’u.
(c) tongapocketguide.comDay 3 – Vava’u
If you manage to pull yourself away from a hammock on a secluded beach, then Vava’u is an amazing destination for getting out on the water. Experience sailing and kitesurfing where conditions are almost consistently superb. Do some scuba diving among healthy coral reefs or snorkelling in vast sea caves. Fishing is also popular here, where you can target highly-sought game fish like giant trevally and blue marlin.
Of course, you can always stay on dry land, indulging in a massage or rejuvenating in a yoga session.
Luxury Activities in Vava’u
- Swim with remarkable humpback whales
- Scuba dive in crystal clear waters, from wreck dives to coral reefs
- Hire a sailing charter and explore the coves, caves and beaches of Vava’u
- Catch marlin and GT on a fishing trip
- Indulge in some delightful Tongan-inspired cuisine
- Enjoy a peaceful yoga session
- Relax with a soothing island massage
- Snorkel and see the sights on an island cruise
- Experience some amazing kitesurfing grounds
- Shop for unique arts, crafts and mabe pearl jewellery in Neiafu
See more activities like this in the 10 Luxury Activities in Vava’u.
(c) tongapocketguide.comDay 4 – Vava’u to Tongatapu
Travel time: 1-hour flight, 50-minutes resort transfer
It’s time to leave the islands of Vava’u, with enough time to reschedule flights in case they are cancelled (which happens frequently in Vava’u).
Arrange with your accommodation to transfer you to Lupepauʻu Airport where you’ll land back at Fua’amotu Airport on Tongatapu. From here, we recommend experiencing a different side of Tongatapu, such as one of the beachfront resorts along Ha’atafu or Kanokupolu Beach! Ha’atafu Beach Resort is one of your most luxurious options, offering all-inclusive packages, while the Blue Banana Beach House provide quaint private beach houses nestled in tropical beachfront vegetation. Alternatively, find other resort recommendations in the 10 Best Resorts in Tongatapu.
If you have time today, squeeze in one of the glorious experiences available in Tongatapu.
Luxury Activities in Tongatapu
- Play at Tonga’s one and only golf course
- Do some fishing from your resort
- Swim with majestic humpback whales (June-October)
- See the sights of Tongatapu on a private tour
- Shop for unique arts and crafts at the Blue Banana Studios
- Dine at one of the beachfront restaurants
- Experience a Tonga feast and cultural show
Discover more about each experience in our 10 Luxury Activities on Tongatapu.
(c) tongapocketguide.comDay 5 – Tongatapu to Fua’amotu Airport
Travel time: 50 minutes
Sadly, your luxury getaway to Tonga finally comes to an end, but you’ll likely still have the morning to enjoy another activity that you might have missed yesterday.
We recommend having some food at your resort before making your way to the airport, which will be much better than what you’ll find at the airport (or on your flight for that matter). Arrange an airport transfer with your resort.
Nofo a (goodbye) from Tonga!
More Tonga Luxury Itineraries and Trip Ideas
- The Best Tonga Itineraries for 5 Days
- Tonga Luxury Itinerary: 14 Days
- Tonga Luxury Itinerary: 7 Days
- The Luxury Travel Guide to Tonga
That’s it for our Tonga luxury itinerary: 5 days. Discover more exciting itineraries in the following compilations: The Best Tonga Itineraries for 2 Weeks, The Best Tonga Itineraries for 1 Week, The Best Tonga Itineraries for 5 Days and The Best Tonga Itineraries for a Weekend.
