Tropical Islands, Culture, and the National Park of American Samoa
Credit: NPS
Credit: NPS
Credit: NPS
Trip Type: Small Group Adventure
Territory: Oceania
Region: Pacific Islands
Trip Price: From $8,895
Single Supplement: $950
On-Trip Airfare: $1,700
Duration: 8 days/7 nights
Trip Begins/Ends: Pago Pago, American Samoa / Pago Pago, American Samoa
Minimum Travelers: 6 travelers
Maximum Travelers: 8 travelers
Pricing detailed for this Small Group Adventure is based upon double occupancy. Additional charges for single travelers and any on-trip airfare required for the trip apply. A booking deposit is required to reserve your space. Small Group Adventure pricing includes all lodging, meals (unless otherwise noted), activities, baggage handling, transportation, and guide service. Not included are travel costs to/from gateway cities, guide gratuities, and personal incidentals including, but not limited to, trip cancellation/interruption insurance, alcoholic beverages, and laundry service. Travel with Off the Beaten Path requires agreement to our standard Terms & Conditions.
No Sweat - 1-2 miles of walking or hiking per day, plus easy activities
Nice & Active – 3-6 miles of hiking or walking per day, plus physically active exploration
High Five! – 5-10 miles of hiking per day, plus possible peak bagging or other action-oriented fun
The Energy Index for this trip is “Nice & Active”, with “No Sweat” elements, at elevations ranging from sea level to 1,650 feet. Activities include hiking 1 to 3 miles per day (with elevation gain/loss not typically more than 300 feet), canoeing, optional snorkeling, and boat rides with choppy water at times. Travelers who can hike the minimum end of this range are a good fit for this trip.
Most all of our Small Group Adventures can be made private to just your traveling troupe. Just give us a call at (800) 445-2995 and tell us that you would like to “make it private”!
Generally, there are two ways to make a small group adventure private. First, you could capture one of our published departure dates for just your group. In order to achieve this, we have to have sufficient space available to create a separate private trip. Second, we could take the details of this itinerary and fashion it for just your group on dates of your choosing. For this, too, we just need to review your interest, group size, and preferred timing in order to create the trip.
In all cases, the process begins with a phone call so give us a ring at (800) 445-2995 and after just a few minutes gathering information, we can set to the task of making your trip a reality!
Arrive into Tutuila Island’s Pago Pago on the night flight and transfer to our hotel. Tutuila is the largest of the American Samoa Islands, which sit in the heart of the Polynesian triangle formed by Hawaii, Easter Island, and New Zealand.
This morning begins with a brief orientation from our guide about the journey ahead. We'll start our day with a visit to the National Park of the American Samoa Visitor Center—then we’re off to explore. Stretching over the middle of the island from Fagasā Bay to Afona Bay, this area’s main features are Mount Alava and Maugaloa Ridge.
Today's outing takes us by boat to Aunu`u Island off the southeastern shores of Tutuila. Lunch will be hosted at the home of a local family, after which we’ll watch traditional Samoan cultural, ceremonial, and dance performances.
After breakfast, those interested can attend a local church service, noted for the Samoan singing, skits, dances, and performances. This afternoon, you will have the option to experience the panoramic view of Rainmaker Mountain and the World War II historic landmarks of Breakers and Blunts Point under your own manpower with experienced paddlers in an outrigger canoe.
We fly to Ta`ū this morning, American Samoa’s second-largest island, to visit the sacred site of Saua on Ta`ū to explore the “littoral zone.” We’ll then get ready to board a boat to Ofu Island.
Our days are spent exploring Ofu’s claim to National Park of American Samoa, one highlight of which is a strip of land running along the southeastern side of the island, with stunning mountains, lagoons, beaches and coral reefs. There will be time to hike, snorkel and explore the park’s beach environment and marine life. After lunch at the lodge, we’ll head out to get to know more of Ofu’s wonders.
Interested hikers hop into the back of a pickup truck and travel to an island trailhead, spending the morning on a guided hike. Others enjoy free time, relaxing at the lodge or exploring nearby. We’ll gather for lunch at the lodge, then return to the national park to swim, snorkel, and kick around at the beach. Our last night on Ofu features a traditional Samoan dinner.
We enjoy one last breakfast on Ofu Island, then board a flight to Tutuila. There, we’ll visit the National Park of the American Samoa Visitor Center and then we’ll set out to explore the park.
Sadie’s By the Sea is one of two Sadie’s Hotels in Pago Pago. The hotel sits on the rim of Pago Pago Harbor offering excellent views of the harbor and the beach right out the door. Built in the 1960s, the hotel has been renovated over the years. You’ll find down home and friendly service from the staff. Guest accommodations are in 46 rooms, each with air conditioning, telephone, cable television, WiFi, refrigerator, microwave, hair dryer, iron, and ironing board. The hotel has a swimming pool, day spa, restaurant, poolside café, and offers limited kayak and snorkel gear rentals.
Vaoto Lodge sits on the beautiful, unspoiled island of Ofu. The lodge was opened in the 1980s by Tito and Marge Malae, both of whom have now passed, but is still owned and operated by the Malae family. The lodge is simple, with seven clean, comfortable rooms, each with a fan, private bath, and shower. There is a library, dining room, and outdoor patio. The lodge also offers easy access to the beach. Meals at the lodge are tasty and served family style. While cell service doesn’t work at the lodge, a telephone is available, as is WiFi, though it is quite slow. The lodge accepts cash only and there are no ATM machines on the island.
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