Vava'u, Tonga

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Tour Day 21, Cruise Day 21 – Day At Sea

Tour Day 22, Cruise Day 22 – Day At Sea; Cross International Dateline

Tour Day 23, Cruise Day 23 – Vava'u, Tonga – Cultural Land Tour (3.75 hours) – Enjoy a scenic drive to a vanilla plantation located on the main island of Vava'u. View the vanilla plants and learn about the process cultivation from plant to bean. At Ano Beach experience a taste of island life with a kava ceremony demonstration, tapa cloth making, weaving, an umu (Tongan traditional underground oven) and traditional dancing. Heading from the village down to the warm clear waters and the lovely sandy beach of the Tongan Beach Resort, enjoy swimming and snorkeling among the coral formations. A tropical fruit snack is provided. Keep your eyes peeled for a variety of sea birds, fruit bats, swallows and stunning island scenery. You may also be lucky enough to also spot a Tongan owl.

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Photos

Cultural Land Tour – Vanilla Bean Plantation, Vava'u, Tonga
Note the Kafa, a Tongan Ceremonial Belt Worn by Women

Cultural Land Tour – Vanilla Bean Plantation, Vava'u, Tonga
Dried Vanilla Beans

Cultural Land Tour – Vanilla Bean Plantation, Vava'u, Tonga
Our Tour Guide with Her Kafa

Cultural Land Tour – A Taste of Island Life, Vava'u, Tonga
Men Demonstrating Tongan Use of an Umu, a Traditional Underground Oven

Cultural Land Tour – A Taste of Island Life, Vava'u, Tonga
Women Demonstrating the Making of Tapa Cloth

Cultural Land Tour – A Taste of Island Life, Vava'u, Tonga
A Work in Progress

Cultural Land Tour – A Taste of Island Life, Vava'u, Tonga
A Finished Product

Cultural Land Tour – A Taste of Island Life, Vava'u, Tonga
Another

Cultural Land Tour – A Taste of Island Life, Vava'u, Tonga
Traditional Dancing

Misc. Pictures Around Vava'u, Tonga
Boarding the Tender for the Trip Back to the ms Noordam

Misc. Pictures Around Vava'u, Tonga
Recovering the Tender