Friendly Islands Kayak Company
Friendly Islands Kayak Company
Friendly Islands Kayak Company
3.5
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نبذة
Friendly Islands Kayak Company
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عرض الخيارات3.5
9 تعليقات
ممتاز
4
جيد جدًا
1
متوسط
1
سيئ
2
سيئ جدًا
1
ShaunaRachel
سانتا باربارا, كاليفورنيا16 مساهمة
زوجان • ديسمبر 2016
My partner and I did two trips, back to back, with FIKC in Dec. 2016-Jan. 2017. First we did the 6 day kayaking trip in Vava'u. Then we did an 11 day kayak and camping trip in Ha'apai. FIKC did an outstanding job of communicating with us before the trip. Sharon was so very helpful and organized in every way. All of the arrangements she made (accommodations and transfers) worked out beautifully. She was always quick to respond and nothing but helpful. All of the equipment was top-notch and well maintained. The islands and the waters around the islands - all the places we paddled - were just gorgeous.
I loved that KIKC had us stay at Mandala Resort in Vava'u and at Matafonua in Ha'apai. Two awesome accommodations.
On the down-side, I got the sense that Sharon, the owner, hasn't been to Tonga in awhile and has left the business in the hands of local people who don't have the same level of care or enthusiasm for the trips. Not that anything was terribly horrific but just not quite to the level that we were led to believe. Both of our guides, while very competent and capable, seemed a bit "checked out," like they just weren't that into what they were doing. Both seemed to want to avoid stopping to snorkel. Neither shared much (stories, info, history) about the places we were paddling and visiting.
Finally the 11 day trip (which has 9 days in the kayaks and camping) could easily have fit into a 5 or 6 day time frame without missing out on anything.
Hopefully the owners can breathe some new life into their guides and possibly revamp the trip itinerary or the descriptions online for the 11 day trip to make for a more interesting trip.
I loved that KIKC had us stay at Mandala Resort in Vava'u and at Matafonua in Ha'apai. Two awesome accommodations.
On the down-side, I got the sense that Sharon, the owner, hasn't been to Tonga in awhile and has left the business in the hands of local people who don't have the same level of care or enthusiasm for the trips. Not that anything was terribly horrific but just not quite to the level that we were led to believe. Both of our guides, while very competent and capable, seemed a bit "checked out," like they just weren't that into what they were doing. Both seemed to want to avoid stopping to snorkel. Neither shared much (stories, info, history) about the places we were paddling and visiting.
Finally the 11 day trip (which has 9 days in the kayaks and camping) could easily have fit into a 5 or 6 day time frame without missing out on anything.
Hopefully the owners can breathe some new life into their guides and possibly revamp the trip itinerary or the descriptions online for the 11 day trip to make for a more interesting trip.
كُتب بتاريخ 12 يناير 2017
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Sharon S
Thank you Shauna and Rachel for your measured review of FIKCo and your experience on tour. I too found it a pleasure corresponding by email and sharing your excitement leading up to your Tonga kayak adventure. As you say, our equipment is top notch and our guides very experienced. Unfortunately, it is common in the tourism industry for experienced guides to suffer from "burn out" particularly at the end of a busy season, and am sorry that this appears to have been the case with your two guides. I'll be heading to Tonga in July, as I do annually, to prepare for the season, conduct quality control checks on and off tour, and assist with training our junior guides, (who have no shortage of enthusiasm!). Since it takes many years of training and on-water experience before an assistant guide is ready to safely lead their own trips, our most senior guide has agreed to stay on for the time being. However, I am considering hiring a western lead guide this season (as was our policy many years ago) to take the pressure off our senior local guides and to give another of our local guides a much needed break from guiding. Finally, I'm in the process of revising all of the trip itineraries and have taken note of your comments regarding the Ha'apai 11-day itinerary. Your Ha'apai trip was blessed with favourable weather, but it is not uncommon for the wind velocity to be 20+ knots. Strong wind does not pose such a problem in Vava'u where paddlers can "sneak" in the lee of the many islands. In contrast, the Ha'apai islands are low lying, such that the shorelines are more exposed, and the "fetch" and currents generally greater. Thus, the Ha'apai kayak expedition is 9 days long to allow for not only slower paddlers than you two who are fit and experienced, but also for the possibility of one or more lost days of paddling owing to inclement weather. Thank you once again for your valued comments. I am pleased that overall you enjoyed your tropical adventure.
كُتب بتاريخ 14 يناير 2017
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Mrs G
سيدني, أستراليا25 مساهمة
بمفردك • يوليو 2016
Loto, Io and Sharon were friendly, capable guides who shared this truly stunning archipelago with us. I don't think you can appreciate the beauty of Vava'u without exploring it's vast waterways from a kayak. As with any tropical island, expect tropical weather. We had sun, rain, wind, whales, an earthquake (half of us slept through it), shooting stars, freshly caught fish, french toast and fruit salad, and a fire on the beach.
The windy weather resulted in us spending the week camped on Ta'unga island. Lucky us!!!! It was STUNNING! A really comfortable camp was set up (sandwiched between two beaches) and we enjoyed swimming, snorkelling and kayaking from our base. Tents, thermorests and kayaks were in good nick. Meals were hearty and there were ample fresh water supplies. Our guides shared so much interesting information about Tongan customs and practices. Malo aupito Sharon, Lotu and Io!
The windy weather resulted in us spending the week camped on Ta'unga island. Lucky us!!!! It was STUNNING! A really comfortable camp was set up (sandwiched between two beaches) and we enjoyed swimming, snorkelling and kayaking from our base. Tents, thermorests and kayaks were in good nick. Meals were hearty and there were ample fresh water supplies. Our guides shared so much interesting information about Tongan customs and practices. Malo aupito Sharon, Lotu and Io!
كُتب بتاريخ 17 يوليو 2016
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Sharon S
Delighted that you enjoyed yourself on tour, Lou. You derived the utmost from your tropical adventure escape thanks to your flexibility and adaptability. It was great to have you on board. You gelled well with the Gold Coast outrigger club women (AKA the Mama Mia ladies!), and Lotu, Io and I appreciated your relaxed approach to the sometimes challenging weather and sea conditions. Hope to see you again in the Friendly Isles - maybe on our 9-day Ha'apai expedition, which is designed specially for adventurous spirits like you! Cheers, Sharon
كُتب بتاريخ 2 أغسطس 2016
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katen27
Canberra, أستراليا71 مساهمة
زوجان • أكتوبر 2015
My expectations were high for the 3 day kayak tour of Vava'u, largely due to the high cost.
On the morning of the first day we had our first disappointment. The weather meant we had to stay on the main island rather than kayaking to a more remote location as planned. They lent us the kayaks to paddle around a small bay, but after one loop it became tedious. Apart from that there were no organised activities. We paid OVER $550AUD PER DAY (between the 2 of us) for this trip, so we assumed there was going to be something that warranted the cost.
Unfortunately, that night my partner got very sick with a tummy bug (which I came down with the next day) so we had to go back to our hotel. The tour guide called a taxi for us, which we had to pay for (and they overcharged us compared to what we had been paying for taxis up until then).
All up we paid about $1700AUD to hang out in a tent 10 minutes away from our hotel. On top of that we had the taxi costs and the cost of the extra night in the hotel. We had 3 basic meals and half an hour kayak. The tour guides were friendly enough, but kept to themselves and did not add much to the whole experience.
We received ZERO REFUND.
Yes, I understand that IF the weather was fine, and IF we didn't get sick, this might have been an OK experience. But in my opinion the price is too much for what you get, and the risk is way too high in the case of anything at all going wrong.
On the morning of the first day we had our first disappointment. The weather meant we had to stay on the main island rather than kayaking to a more remote location as planned. They lent us the kayaks to paddle around a small bay, but after one loop it became tedious. Apart from that there were no organised activities. We paid OVER $550AUD PER DAY (between the 2 of us) for this trip, so we assumed there was going to be something that warranted the cost.
Unfortunately, that night my partner got very sick with a tummy bug (which I came down with the next day) so we had to go back to our hotel. The tour guide called a taxi for us, which we had to pay for (and they overcharged us compared to what we had been paying for taxis up until then).
All up we paid about $1700AUD to hang out in a tent 10 minutes away from our hotel. On top of that we had the taxi costs and the cost of the extra night in the hotel. We had 3 basic meals and half an hour kayak. The tour guides were friendly enough, but kept to themselves and did not add much to the whole experience.
We received ZERO REFUND.
Yes, I understand that IF the weather was fine, and IF we didn't get sick, this might have been an OK experience. But in my opinion the price is too much for what you get, and the risk is way too high in the case of anything at all going wrong.
كُتب بتاريخ 30 يناير 2016
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Sharon S
It is most unfortunate that your long-awaited South Pacific dream vacation was marred by strong wind and illness. My guides were in fact genuinely concerned when your partner advised the day before your trip was scheduled to depart that he was feeling unwell and equally concerned when you subsequently came down with the tummy bug. Travel insurance, including comprehensive medical cover, is a prerequisite for participation in our tours as is signing a waiver agreeing to the terms and conditions of participation. I agreed that compensation for the activities and meals that you missed was in order and offered to write a letter to your insurance company in support of your claim for the unused portion of your tour package plus the extra night's accommodation, meals, taxi transfers, doctor visit, medication and any other expenses you incurred as a result of your illness. When I checked back with you a couple of days later, you thanked me for my offer of support and said you would look into your travel insurance. I never heard from you again. The wind subsided and the other participants were fit and keen to continue on the remainder of the itinerary. Had they been land bound for longer, our guides would have offered them alternative activities, as per our company policy, including cycling, bush walks, village visits and paddles in sheltered lagoons such as the paddle you did on the first day. Adventure travel can be frustrating when events don't go to plan. However, we cannot control the weather and, despite your impression, my guides do their best to keep our guests happy often under difficult circumstances.
كُتب بتاريخ 16 يونيو 2016
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Janeutarzan
Fitzroy Falls, أستراليا9 مساهمات
الأصدقاء • أغسطس 2015
My sister and I returned to Ha'apai in Tonga this year, having first visited on an 11 day kayak adventure with FIKCO in 2011. I was reminded of what an amazing time we had on the kayak trip - paddling along side humpbacks - tramping around deserted islands - great camp food - wonderful guides. Ha'apai is an extraordinary group of islands to visit - low-lying islands ringed with deserted sand beaches and stunning coral reefs - truly off the edge of the earth. And from July to October the humpback whales come to visit - a travelling camping kayak trip was an incredible way to experience it.
كُتب بتاريخ 8 يناير 2016
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Sharon S
It's great that you and your sister had the opportunity to return to the Ha'apai Island Group. Your description of its natural attractions certainly does them justice and travelling by kayak is certainly a fantastic way to experience all that Ha'apai has to offer. Thank you for your positive words about our guides, who I know appreciated your cheerful company on tour.
كُتب بتاريخ 10 يناير 2016
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Wjs1976
32 مساهمة
بمفردك • أغسطس 2015
This company makes you sign a waiver that you won't get a refund if the trip gets canceled because of weather. Luckily I was only on a day trip not a multi day. Sure they may need to cover expenses but they shouldn't expect to make a profit from it? I'm giving them a 2 instead of a 1 as they gave me back $50 after I asked. The kayak may be great but I recommend not to pre-book until you see a forecast. I went on a really expensive bike ride instead
كُتب بتاريخ 21 أغسطس 2015
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Sharon S
It's a shame that your kayak day trip had to be cancelled for safety reasons owing to the strong wind warning, It is standard practice in the tourism industry for waivers to include a non-refund clause if a trip is cancelled owing to weather or other circumstances beyond the operator's control. However, our company policy is to offer alternative activities, which in your case were either a full day guided land tour by taxi or a full day guided mountain bike tour including lunch. While you reportedly enjoyed the bicycle tour you decided to end it before noon and so I considered a partial refund was in order. The overhead costs of a kayak tour and bicycle tour are the same, and we do need to make a small profit to cover fixed overhead costs as well as necessary repair and renewal of equipment. It is possible to wait until the day of departure before booking a day tour, but we cannot guarantee that a guide will available and so we recommend advance bookings.
كُتب بتاريخ 24 سبتمبر 2015
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miloconrad
Melbourne7 مساهمات
العائلة • يوليو 2015
Our family of 5 signed up for an ocean kayak tour of Ha'apai. The accommodation was great, but we were disappointed that one of our two full kayak days were cancelled due to concerns about the wind (apparently very common in that part of Tonga), there were no alternative arrangements for activities. In fact, we were asked to pay for the ferry to the island that we were supposed to be kayaking to, after a largely wasted morning sitting at the ferry terminal. The main problem was poor communication with the company who are off shore in New Zealand. Our helpful guide was not empowered to make decisions, sometimes difficult to contact and the office in Vava'u was empty when we tried to contact them for help. The Vava'u trip might be better organised, but I would not recommend the Hap'ai trip!
كُتب بتاريخ 18 أغسطس 2015
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Sharon S
Your guide, reservations manager and I share your disappointment about the impact of the weather on your kayak trip. This exceptionally windy season in Tonga has unfortunately resulted in disrupted itineraries more often than usual. Your guide's difficult decision to delay departure on the first day of your kayak trip was made in consultation with myself as the company's managing director in New Zealand. Communication with Tonga from our New Zealand office is more reliable than that within Tonga, and I was in constant contact by text, email and 'phone with your guide and yourself throughout the decision making process. You and I did lose contact with the guide in the afternoon, as his 'phone battery was depleted from the numerous earlier calls. On Uoleva Island the only activities on a windy day are walking and snorkelling. Normally our guides accompany guests on such activities. However, your guide was occupied with arranging transport of the kayaks by boat to your resort on Uoleva, as it was unsafe to paddle there owing to the strong wind warning. When your guide asked you to cover the cost of your family's boat transfer, he was following company policy regarding additional expenses incurred as a result of circumstances beyond our control, in this case the weather. However, I do consider individual trips and circumstances on a case by case basis, and so was happy to subsequently reimburse you for this expense. It is understandably frustrating to spend the better part of the morning waiting at the wharf for the boat while the skipper and your guide went off to find petrol, supplies of which are scarce on this remote island. My team and I draw on 23 years of experience with trip logistics and strive to strike a balance between ensuring our guests' safety and fulfilling their needs and expectations. This is a challenging task in remote regions such as the Ha'apai Islands. However, we take great pride in the fact that the overwhelming majority of our guests come away extremely satisfied, and in many cases express that their adventure experience exceeded their expectations.
كُتب بتاريخ 24 سبتمبر 2015
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Bernard M
بريسبان, أستراليا12 مساهمة
زوجان • سبتمبر 2013
When you go on the ocean, things don't always turn out as planned. Thus it was with out tour with the Friendly Island Kayak Co in Vava'u. For a start, disruption to the airline schedules meant that out group, which was supposed to start on a Thursday, didn't assemble until the Saturday lunchtime. And then, while paddling to an intended destination (Eufolofa - uninhabited except for kayak tours and fishermen) we had the wind and tide against us and diverted to Taunga - population 15 or so. These vicissitudes, and others similar, just didn't detract from our enjoyment of the trip and certainly didn't disturb the equanimity of Epile, our leader and Loti (looks like the genie from Disney's Aladdin) our guide. We really enjoyed the camping, Epile's food (including fish he caught while paddling) and being so much part of the environment. Heartily recommend this tour
كُتب بتاريخ 2 أكتوبر 2013
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Sharon S
Good on you, Bernard, for rolling with the unexpected! Your positive spirit and adaptability enabled you to derive maximum enjoyment from your Tonga adventure.
كُتب بتاريخ 10 يناير 2016
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Kim R
Narrabri, أستراليا21 مساهمة
العائلة • يوليو 2013
This is the most wonderful holiday I would recommend everyone do it. Even though it rained sometimes it was warm and a true experience of living on a deserted island, well as close as you can get! We were looked after by truly wonderful guides; the wise 'Epeli who shared his culture and his fantastic food with us and Lotu who I hope I can call a friend. The snorkelling was magic, the fishing worth a feast and the people just want to make you stay forever, maybe open a café!
كُتب بتاريخ 20 يوليو 2013
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Sharon S
Many thanks Kim for your favourable review. 'Epeli, Lotu and I are thrilled that you and your family enjoyed yourselves so much on tour in the Friendly Isles of Tonga. I agree that 'Epeli should consider opening a café, but it wouldn't have the fantastic ever changing views of his mobile camp kitchen!
كُتب بتاريخ 10 يناير 2016
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phonebill
Cary, North Carolina96 مساهمة
بمفردك • سبتمبر 2011
A kayak tour is the perfect way to visit and experience the beauty of the dozens of small islands in Vava'u, Tonga. Many of the islands are uninhabited and only accessible by water. A kayak trip gives the participant a leisurely pace to view the spectacular scenery that unfolds around every corner. Looking back, had I not kayaked among the islands, I know I would missed the most beautiful views of Tonga. As the kayak glides along, the shades of blue and green vary with the depth of the water. The lush greenery of the islands, the stunning views of stately palm trees, and the intense colors of the water create one "postcard" view after another.
The most important component of any kayak trip is the guide. Our guide, 'Ofa, is a Tongan who has lived his life on these islands and knows the geography, culture and people here. Friendly Islands Kayak Company provided an excellent guide in 'Ofa, along with quality equipment, great food, a wonderful itinerary, and a practical package of pre-trip instructions and preparations. The kayaking was easy - the waters are protected and calm, so you can spend most of your time enjoying the jaw-dropping scenery around you as you paddle. After our initial meeting to prepare for the trip, our guide headed to the market to buy fresh produce for our meals. He also caught fish for supper one night - seafood doesn't get any fresher than that!
We also had the chance to snorkel close to the campsite, to hike up to incredible island overlooks, to experience a Tongan feast - complete with a kava bowl, and to better understand much of the Tongan culture by experiencing it with a Tongan. The entire time, the pace was leisurely, and the mood was relaxing.
Friendly Islands Kayak Company makes it easy and fun for most anyone to enjoy kayaking. This would be a great trip even for those who have no kayaking experience. The tour I took was multiple days and involved camping overnight on several islands. I would recommend having some camping experience prior to taking this trip. Friendly Islands provides everything for kayaking and most everything needed for camping. They send an excellent packing list to help participants bring the necessary items.
During my trip to Tonga, I went out several times on whale watching boats, and got to see lots of humpback whales. But for really seeing Tonga, a Friendly Islands kayak tour is THE way to go.
The most important component of any kayak trip is the guide. Our guide, 'Ofa, is a Tongan who has lived his life on these islands and knows the geography, culture and people here. Friendly Islands Kayak Company provided an excellent guide in 'Ofa, along with quality equipment, great food, a wonderful itinerary, and a practical package of pre-trip instructions and preparations. The kayaking was easy - the waters are protected and calm, so you can spend most of your time enjoying the jaw-dropping scenery around you as you paddle. After our initial meeting to prepare for the trip, our guide headed to the market to buy fresh produce for our meals. He also caught fish for supper one night - seafood doesn't get any fresher than that!
We also had the chance to snorkel close to the campsite, to hike up to incredible island overlooks, to experience a Tongan feast - complete with a kava bowl, and to better understand much of the Tongan culture by experiencing it with a Tongan. The entire time, the pace was leisurely, and the mood was relaxing.
Friendly Islands Kayak Company makes it easy and fun for most anyone to enjoy kayaking. This would be a great trip even for those who have no kayaking experience. The tour I took was multiple days and involved camping overnight on several islands. I would recommend having some camping experience prior to taking this trip. Friendly Islands provides everything for kayaking and most everything needed for camping. They send an excellent packing list to help participants bring the necessary items.
During my trip to Tonga, I went out several times on whale watching boats, and got to see lots of humpback whales. But for really seeing Tonga, a Friendly Islands kayak tour is THE way to go.
كُتب بتاريخ 28 أكتوبر 2011
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