Upolu Beaches, Lagoons & Waterfalls

Today you gently explore Apia and the moving home of Robert Louis Stevenson, easing into island life. You begin in the lively capital, visiting the colourful Maketi Fou (main market), a wonderful window into Samoan life, piled with tropical produce, crafts and flowers, the pretty waterfront, the landmark clock tower and the grand mission churches. Then you head into the lush hills above the town to Vailima, the beautiful colonial home of the great author of Treasure Island, who spent his final years here, beloved by the Samoans who called him Tusitala; the house is now a wonderful museum, full of his belongings and poignant story. The energetic can climb the forest path towards his tomb on Mount Vaea for sweeping views. This evening you enjoy a fiafia, a wonderful evening of Samoan song, dance and the spectacular fire-knife dance, with a delicious island feast. As the day ends, you return to your hotel, having tasted the warm culture and heritage of Samoa.

Today you journey to Upolu's spectacular south coast and its most beautiful natural wonder, the extraordinary To Sua Ocean Trench. This deep, sheer-sided pool of impossibly clear turquoise water is sunk into the lush coastal cliffs, reached by a steep wooden ladder and connected to the sea through hidden lava tubes; swimming in its cool, clear, turquoise water, surrounded by tropical greenery and framed by the sky above, is a magical and unforgettable experience, one of the most beautiful swims imaginable. You also explore the beautiful surrounding coast, perhaps visiting nearby blowholes, coastal lava formations and viewpoints, and the pretty gardens around the trench. There is plenty of time to swim, relax and soak up the beauty of this magical spot. As the day ends, you return along the scenic coast to your hotel, having experienced one of the most beautiful and unforgettable natural wonders in the Pacific. Relax this evening, savouring the beauty of the day.

Today you explore the lush, green interior of Upolu, a refreshing world of waterfalls and crystal-clear cave pools. You might visit the spectacular Papapapaitai Falls, plunging dramatically into a deep, forested gorge, and the beautiful Sopoaga Falls in their lush tropical garden setting, and take a refreshing swim in the magical Piula Cave Pool, a crystal-clear freshwater pool in a lava cave beneath a historic church, where you can snorkel among fish and swim through to a second cave. Along the way you pass traditional villages of open, thatched fale, plantations of taro, banana and coconut, and lush rainforest, glimpsing the timeless rhythm of village life. The beauty of the interior and the refreshing swims in cave pools and beneath waterfalls offer a lovely counterpoint to the coast. As the day ends, you return to your hotel, having explored the lush green heart of the island. Relax this evening beneath the palms, savouring the beauty and warmth of Samoa.

Today is devoted to the world-famous golden sands of Lalomanu, one of the most beautiful beaches on earth. You journey to the south-east coast and this glorious beach, a long sweep of soft golden sand backed by palms, lapped by a warm, clear turquoise lagoon and sheltered by a coral reef, with the beautiful offshore islet of Nu'utele beyond. Here you have plenty of time simply to relax and savour paradise, swimming in the calm, clear lagoon, snorkelling over the coral gardens teeming with colourful fish, lazing in the shade of a traditional beach fale, and soaking up the beauty and peace of one of the finest beaches in the world. You enjoy a delicious lunch of fresh reef fish by the sea. The blissful, unhurried beauty of Lalomanu is the essence of a Samoan beach holiday. As the day ends, you return to your hotel, or linger to watch the sunset over the lagoon, deeply relaxed and enchanted by the beauty of the coast.

Today you discover the beautiful underwater world of Upolu and the castaway charm of an offshore islet. You take a boat trip out to a beautiful offshore islet, such as Namua, a tiny, palm-fringed jewel ringed by clear water and coral, for snorkelling, swimming, beachcombing and a taste of castaway paradise; you snorkel over vibrant coral gardens teeming with colourful tropical fish and, perhaps, turtles, laze on the pristine beach, and soak up the peace and beauty of this idyllic spot. Alternatively you might snorkel in one of Upolu's clear, marine-protected lagoons, rich with coral and marine life. The warm, clear, calm water makes for wonderfully easy and rewarding snorkelling, and the sense of escaping to a tiny tropical island is magical. As the day ends, you return to your hotel, deeply relaxed after a day in the beautiful, clear waters of Samoa. Rest well, savouring your final evening on beautiful Upolu.

After a final, relaxed morning on beautiful Upolu, perhaps a last swim in the warm lagoon or a stroll along the beach, you are transferred to Faleolo Airport for your onward international departure. You leave deeply relaxed and enchanted, having savoured the very best of Upolu, the world-famous golden sands of Lalomanu, the magical turquoise waters of To Sua, the lush waterfalls and crystal-clear cave pools, the beautiful offshore islet, and the warm culture and famous hospitality of fa'a Samoa. The images stay vivid long after you land, the turquoise trench, the golden beach, the clear lagoons and the warm smiles of the Samoan people. Samoa, the true heart of Polynesia, offers beauty, warmth and blissful island living in abundance, and you depart deeply refreshed and already dreaming of a return to the beautiful, welcoming shores of Upolu.