While swiping through your social media feed recently, you might have noticed a growing number of people swimming with giant sea creatures on an average Tuesday. At first, you might find the idea of swimming alongside a 100,000-pound adult male sperm whale crazy and irrational—but for adventurous nomads, megafauna tourism is becoming a niche but fast-growing market within the luxury travel space.
But why? The first reason is perception. Historically seen as dangerous (or as a delicacy at the dinner table), marine megafauna are now understood as charismatic, intelligent, and “majestic” animals worthy of protection, thanks to blockbuster TV shows and movies like Planet Earth and David Attenborough’s Ocean. The rise of ethically minded, positive-impact tourism is also another driving force. With more and more hotels and brands around the globe now offering additional nature-based activities that connect travelers with the world around them, the desire to protect larger marine animals like whales and sharks through unique underwater experiences is becoming even more popular.
And then there’s the fact that the world is simply getting smaller. More folk are looking for escapes that take them to the most remote corners of earth—many of which these larger animals like humpback whales, sperm whales, and giant manta rays call home. Swimming with these animals isn’t just an adventure; it’s a profound and humbling off-grid encounter that will make you rethink the relationship you have with the world around you.
If the sound of far-flung escapes and close encounters with a humpback whale floats your boat, read on for some of the world’s most unique marine getaways, from French Polynesia to Panama and Mozambique.
The Brando, French Polynesia
The Brando’s brilliant white sands, secluded villas, and extreme remoteness are everything you would expect from a picture-perfect French Polynesian sanctuary. Once owned by the Hollywood star and heartthrob, Marlon Brando, the remote escape is a favorite of castaway celebrities (Barack and Michelle Obama, Beyoncé Jay-Z, Kim Kardashian, Leonardo DiCaprio are all fans), high-flung jet set types, and international royals who go gaga for its rustic glam interiors and its unique and storied celebration of Pacific island life. As part of its longstanding collaboration with non-profit the Tetiaroa Society, the island is also a global hub for underwater discovery, bringing together leading marine biologists and scientists who actively promote the protection of biodiversity on and off land.
When it comes to encounters with the creatures of the deep, humpback whale dives were introduced to offer “meaningful encounters in which guests could slow down, reconnect and feel a deeper connection with the ocean,” says Christopher Adam, general manager of The Brando. Swimming alongside the whales all depends on the pod’s mood (among other factors), but once you are in the ocean with them, the true luxury lies in the simple privilege of just being able to observe one of the planet’s biggest animals in its most raw and natural state.
Secret Bay, Dominica
Designed by the renowned Latin American architect Fruto Vivas, Secret Bay is often dubbed the most exclusive and romantic retreat in Dominica. A bastion of lazy, hazy summer chic, its six eco luxury villas all spy the Caribbean Sea and feature wooden decks, daybeds, and if you are in the honeymoon suite, hot tubs under the stars. Seclusion and privacy have always been at the top of the agenda for the 50-acre family-owned Relais Châteaux hideaway, as is its commitment to sustainable practices and responsible marine tourism.
The biggest perk? A Swimming With Whales deep dive, on which guests are given the rare opportunity to paddle alongside resident sperm whales with a private guide. The two-day marine safari offers a close-knit experience, allowing just four guests to enter the water and witness these gentle giants interacting in their natural surroundings. Beyond its sheer uniqueness, “coming face-to-face with a sperm whale in the water is an exercise in humility, awareness and appreciation of the ocean”, says Secret Bay’s general manager, Craig Sands.
Amanwana, Indonesia
Within easy reach of Bali, this castaway jungle retreat is as blissfully remote as it is exceptionally well connected. Set on the west coast of the island, Amanwana is part of Moyo Satonda National Park nature and marine reserve, a 36,000-hectare wilderness, which, thanks to its privacy, has made it a discreet escape for celebrities and royalty, including the late Princess Diana. Small and intimate, the hideaway’s 20 safari tents are kitted out in the typical Aman style (minimal Japanese-inspired interiors included) and are set to either ocean or jungle views—the latter designed for the more adventurous.
Out on the ocean, swim with whale sharks, manta rays, and (if you can catch them) black tip reef sharks. For even more marine life, Amandira, the Aman yacht, can also be chartered from Amanwana for totally bespoke voyages around the Indonesian archipelago from Komodo National Park to the famed Spice Islands and the legendary waters of Raja Ampat.
andBeyond Benguerra Island, Mozambique
Set within a dazzlingly beautiful marine park, andBeyond Benguerra is the definition of conservation-first “barefoot luxury.” A vision of breezy huts, great big palms, dhow boat sunset cruises, and brilliant white sand beaches has made it a hit with laidback honeymooner aesthetes and adventurous diver types for over a decade. Its location within the Bazaruto Archipelago is also the secret to its success. Thanks to its protected status, the marine park is renowned for being one of the world’s greatest diving and snorkeling hotspots, home to vibrant coral reefs and several migratory marine species.
Its biggest attraction, however, is its pod of resident dugongs, the lofty mammals that inspired the myth of the mermaids. As part of the lodge’s commitment to sustainable tourism, the brand also works in collaboration with African Parks, which, over the years, has tagged Benguerra’s population of dugongs to learn more about their movements and habitats. Dugongs by nature are notoriously elusive, so seeing one here is never guaranteed. If you are unlucky, giant manta rays, loggerhead turtles, pods of dolphins, and humpback whales regularly pass through the archipelago’s channels throughout the year.
Isbreen The Glacier, Norway
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Isbreen The Glacier is a visceral voyage into Norway’s ancient snowy wilderness. Set far above the Arctic Circle, its five cozy geodesic dome igloo suites are a billboard for designer minimal cool and serve one-of-a-kind views of Europe’s only glacier that carves its way all the way down to the Arctic Sea. Surrounded by the Finnmark Alps, Isbreen has been a sleeper hit thanks to word of mouth, often being dubbed one of the best retreats for northern lights fanatics. As for the vibe, think ice-inspired color palettes, goose-down duvets, and vast windows with hanging telescopes. The hot tubs under the stars are also aplenty, as are the ski tour trips and dog sledding expeditions.
An added bonus? Swimming with migratory orcas. The ocean’s top apex predators pass through Isbreen’s backyard annually from October to January to feed on large herring, sea lions, and dolphins. Private guides lead the expedition along with underwater and drone photographers tasked with capturing the experience the moment you hit the water. Once it all ends, Christine Cecilie Gaffney—the owner and general manager of the lodge—hoeps that guests leave with “a renewed sense of respect for the ocean and a deeper awareness of the importance of protecting these environments for future generations.”
Alphonse Island, The Seychelles
The outer islands of the Seychelles are among the last truly unspoiled destinations on Earth. In between countless sandy islets—the kind kids draw for their school projects—and vast unexplored deep-sea trenches, you’ll find the idyllically remote Alphonse Island. Here, wild giant tortoises roam free across the resort and nature reserve, along with vast groups of nesting birds and sea turtles. Managed by eco-tourism company Blue Safari, island living on Alphonse is truly nostalgic. Think lunches spent on disappearing salt flats, barbecues on the beaches, and firepit sundowners overlooking the Indian Ocean from its jumble of beachfront villas and bungalows. Who comes here? The world’s billionaires, along with expert catch-and-release fly and game fishers in search of colossal tuna and Giant Trevally.
The ocean adventures here are surreal. Turtles will caress your legs while swimming in knee-deep waters, along with curious sting rays and lemon sharks scurrying around in their nurseries. The Alphonse atoll also shelters a large population of resident reef manta rays that you can swim with all year round—and, if you go further out into the ocean, there’s the rare opportunity to snorkel with giant sailfish and dive with several species of shark, including hammerheads.
Islas Secas, Panama
Ultra-private and ultra-luxurious are the operative words for Panama’s Islas Secas: Think Tom Scheerer-designed breezy pavilions and casitas with views of the ocean, private terraces, and outdoor showers. Billionaire owner Louis Bacon is an environmental philanthropist, so, despite all its luxury credentials, the main message here is one of conservation. Of the archipelago’s 14 islands, 13 remain totally undeveloped, and the entire resort is run on solar energy.
“The Islas Secas archipelago is an important stopover for animals big and small, as it’s a biologically rich part of the Eastern Tropical Pacific Swimway, says the brand’s director of sustainability and conservation, Beny Wilson. As a result, in-the-water adventures are like a Hollywood flick. Dramatic drop-offs, towering seamounts, mysterious caves, oceanic islands, and vibrant coral reefs offer up some of the best scuba diving vistas in the world. Among all the close encounters with the marine life, expect to see scalloped hammerhead sharks, whale sharks, sea turtles, several species of dolphin, as well as humpback and—if you’re really lucky—migratory blue whales.
Sal Salis, Ningaloo, Australia
Surrounded by sparkling coral and the warm, breezy waters of the Indian Ocean, Sal Salis is Australia’s most lusciously remote glamping spot. Snugged by the dunes of the Cape Range National Park, the camp’s safari-style tents serve a real lesson in wild bush luxury, so don’t come here expecting all the mod cons and tech finishings. As a trade-off for the skittish WiFi, you’ll enjoy unrivalled privacy and private dining experiences under the Milky Way—the kind of atmosphere that really takes you off-grid.
Sal Salis is located directly along a major migratory pathway, and as a result, the reef is a gathering point for whale sharks, humpback whales, manta rays, and turtles who come here to feed, breed, and travel along Australia’s northwest coast. You can swim with them all, but the real hope for Sal Salis’s general manager, Niko Peranovic, is that “guests gain a rare insight and deep appreciation of the reef’s role in these species’ lifecycles and why long-term protection of this environment is essential.”