My most recent week in French Polynesia with Wanderout (this is my 3rd) was nothing short of amazing! We had some incredibly beautiful and memorable experiences both in and out of the water throughout the week. Kelsey is a warm, thoughtful and incredibly fun person to have as a trip leader. She thinks about every detail for comfort and always prioritizes honoring local cultures and the animals we’re hoping to experience. I cannot recommend her trips enough to people! There is a unique kind of bond that forms when a group of strangers is thrown together into the vast expanse of the South Pacific, all scanning the horizon for a single, fleeting breath of steam. We began as individuals with a common bucket-list dream, and we left as a tight-knit crew bound by moments that words can barely contain. If you’ve never been on a group expedition just take the chance and go, you won’t regret one with Wanderout!

My time in Mo’orea with Wanderout was nothing short of incredible. Kelsey’s passion for the island, its wildlife, and the guest experience shines through in every moment. Wanderout goes above and beyond to provide safe & ethical interactions with humpback whales and other marine life, while also offering an authentic glimpse into the beauty, culture, and magic of French Polynesia. I’m forever grateful to this team for curating such a special experience—one filled with moments and memories I’ll carry with me for a lifetime. It’s an experience I’ll never forget and one I couldn’t recommend more highly.

My experience with Kelsey and Wander Out Expeditions was truly beyond words, but I'm going to try. The entire week was pure magic. The whales were so engaging and curious, so ready to interact - which isn't always the case. And of course, Kelsey couldn't promise that would happen, but I do believe that her spirit and wide open love of the ocean and all that is in it creates sets the stage for some extremely special moments. This week in many ways felt like a coming home for me. I remembered how much I love the ocean, how much a part of me it is and the memories I have will last me a lifetime. But I still plan on coming back next year. ;) And that doesn't even begin to cover the rest of the trip... the accommodations, the food, the transportation - all of it was so professionally handled and yet, our group felt like a little family at the same time. Can't say enough! Give yourself a huge gift and just do it. 🐋🩵

After years of following Kelsey Williamson on Instagram, I finally had the opportunity to join her for a week-long whale expedition in Moorea. The experience far exceeded my expectations, from the flexibility of spending full days on the ocean to the incredible encounters we had with humpback whales, pilot whales, and even an oceanic whitetip shark. With a small group, a beautiful villa, an excellent local guide, and an extremely experienced captain, this was an unforgettable expedition that I would wholeheartedly recommend—and I am already looking into planning my next one. I had followed Kelsey Williamson on Instagram for a few years, and when an opening finally appeared in my work calendar, I decided to do some more research and book a week-long expedition in Moorea. I chose a week approximately in the middle of the season because I thought that if the humpback whales arrived in late July and early August, the calves would have several weeks to grow and become curious “teenagers” by the time I arrived. I had previously been swimming with humpback whales in both Moorea and Tahiti on half-day trips, but I had never experienced a week-long whale expedition. Kelsey kept the group well informed throughout the year by sending itineraries, packing lists, equipment and gear lists, coupon discounts, and other useful information. We were only five people in our group, and we were placed in a wonderful and quite luxurious villa by the beach, close to where the boat was docked. We were going to be out on the ocean all day, even having lunch on the water. This was actually a huge selling point for me, as it gave us much more flexibility than the half-day and full-day excursions. We could spend time in areas where there were no other boats, or very few of them. We had a wonderful local guide, Cedric, and an extremely experienced captain, Patea. We had some slower days with little action, only a few encounters, and a few minutes in the water with humpback whales. But we also had unbelievable, long encounters, including encounters between different species. At one point, we had two humpback whales away from Moorea in crystal-clear water. They hung out with us and did barrel rolls only a few meters away. These were the kinds of encounters you normally only see on Instagram. Another huge encounter was when we saw two humpback whales at the same time as a pod of pilot whales. And among all of this, there was even a large oceanic whitetip shark. This expedition surpassed all expectations. I can wholeheartedly recommend Kelsey and Wander Out Expeditions. I am already looking into planning my next expedition.

The experience designed by Kelsey is absolutely incredible. The week went far beyond our (already high) expectations. From the team and logistics to the days on the water and the food, every detail was thoughtfully designed and executed with intention, joy, and an exceptional level of quality. Also important to mention : it was our first time swimming with whales and we felt completely safe thanks to the team impressive level of care and support. It was an unforgettable experience from start to finish. If swimming with humpback whales (and so much more) is on your bucket list, we cannot recommend WanderOut Expeditions enough. A huge thank you to you Kelsey, and to the team. We are definitely coming back!