'Easy-going, merry and leisure-loving’: Robert Louis Stevenson’s assessment of his adopted homeland still rings true today. Our specialists have explored both the coastline and the green, fertile interior of this South Pacific island nation. They’re brimming with ideas for how to make the most of your own holiday to Samoa — whether you choose to retreat there at the end of a busy Australasia itinerary, or include a visit into a more wide-ranging trip to the South Pacific.
You might visit sleepy villages to hear traditional church singing, before touring farther inland to see lava tubes and volcanic terrain. You can bathe in open-to-the-skies natural swimming holes, visit Louis Stevenson’s former home and grave, and while away hours on Samoa’s beaches before cooling off in sheltered ocean lagoons. Our specialists will also tell you to witness for yourself the Samoans’ blend of devout Catholicism with deep-seated Polynesian spirituality. You can encounter it through experiences like attending a church service, or hearing the villages’ call to prayer.
Suggested Samoa tour
This sample tour will give you an idea of what is possible when you travel in Samoa, and showcases routes we know work particularly well. Treat this as inspiration, because your tour will be created uniquely by one of our specialists.
Suggested activities for Samoa
Whatever your interests, our specialists will build activities into your trip that connect to how you want to experience Samoa.
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Apia Xplorer half-day tour ![Villa Vailima, the former home of Robert Louis Stevenson, Upolu]()
Apia Xplorer half-day tour
Apia Xplorer half-day tour
On the Apia Xplorer half-day tour, explore the local produce and craft markets, learn about local materials and visit the home of Robert Louis Stevenson.
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Return to nature full-day tour ![Togitogiga Falls]()
Return to nature full-day tour
UpoluReturn to nature full-day tour
This day-long excursion takes in a myriad of views and experiences, including villages, mountains, mangroves and beaches. Your day is broken up with lunch and swimming opportunities.
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Why travel with Audley?
- 100% tailor-made tours
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Best time to visit
Our specialists advise on the best months to visit Samoa, including information about climate, events and festivals.
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Useful information for planning your holiday in Samoa
What languages are spoken in Samoa?
Samoan and English are the official languages of Samoa.
What's the currency of Samoa?
The currency of Samoa is the t膩l膩 (WS$ or WST). You’ll find ATMs in urban areas, and credit cards are widely accepted in hotels and in larger restaurants and shops. Outside the main towns most payments are made in cash. Haggling at markets is considered rude.
What food and drink should I try in Samoa?
In Samoa, you should try fa’alifu fa’ (green bananas cooked in coconut cream), fa’alifu talo (taro and onion cooked in coconut cream), or palusami (coconut cream and onion cooked in taro leaves). Many dishes are accompanied by rice, taro, or boiled green bananas, while others show a clear influence from other cultures such as sapasui (Samoan chop-suey), and kale (curry).
On special occasions, whole fish, chicken, or pigs are cooked in an umu, an above-ground oven made from hot volcanic rocks.
For a sweet snack, look out for panikeke (doughnut-like pancakes), pani popo (coconut buns), or paifala (pineapple pie).
Niu, the milk from an unripe coconut, is a popular drink, and kava, a spirit made from the roots of the pepper plant, is drunk at special occasions.
How much should I tip in Samoa?
Tipping is not a part of Samoan culture, and a tip is not expected in restaurants. Guides, however, will appreciate a tip of 5-10%.
Where can I find the latest travel advice for Samoa?
For the latest travel advice for Samoa, including entry requirements, health information, and the safety and security situation, please refer to the鈥�.
Are there any traditions or customs I should be aware of in Samoa?
Samoa has lots of customs to be aware of, such as ensuring you always speak to someone at eye level (sit if they’re sitting), never touch a person’s head or pass anything over it, and be mindful to sit cross-legged or with your legs tucked behind you on the floor so your feet never point at anyone.
If you’re visiting a village, it’s respectful to dress modestly. Sundays are a day of rest, so act quietly and walk slowly if you pass through a village on Sundays.
If you’re invited to someone’s house, remove your shoes before going inside, wait to be told where to sit, and if you’re formally welcomed, give a formal response. Although a small gift is appreciated, don’t bring food as it implies the host has not prepared enough. Finally, it’s considered rude to walk around with food or take second helpings.
What can I experience in Samoa?
In Samoa, you’ll find white-sand beaches, turquoise lagoons, untouched forest, and a rich Polynesian culture embodied in a laid-back lifestyle. It’s the kind of place where you’ll be stuck with the difficult decision of whether to swim in your hotel pool, laze on the beach, or opt for a silver-screen-style swimming hole in the thick of the jungle.
The beaches are largely deserted, the roads are quiet, and the pace of life is slow and sleepy. You can visit local villages to learn about the islands’ rich Polynesian culture and history, explore lava fields and volcanic cones, hike through the jungle, or see Robert Louis Stevenson’s former home and grave.
Where can I stay in Samoa?
In Samoa, you can stay in boutique hotels, treehouse suites, and traditional thatched fales. Samoa doesn’t have any large, international resorts — the accommodation options here are simpler, more intimate, and generally have more local character, as well as sweeping views over tranquil lagoons and the option to kayak, snorkel, swim, or dive directly from your room.
For example, you could stay at secluded small resort on a white-sand beach, an intimate hideaway on a cove ideal for kayaking, snorkelling, and surfing, or in an overwater bungalow on a mirror-like lagoon. For some more ideas, browse our collection of places to stay in Samoa.
Where should I go in Samoa?
Of Samoa’s nine islands, only four are inhabited, and most visitors head to the larger islands of Savai'i and Upolu. Most visitors arrive in the capital, Apia, on Upolu, and it’s worth spending a few nights here to explore. You could take a guided tour of Apia to see Robert Louis Stevenson’s home, the craft and produce markets, and to learn about Samoan chiefs. Then retreat to the south coast beaches to swim and snorkel in the reef-protected shallows or plunge into saltwater swimming holes fringed by emerald jungle.
Savai’i is larger and less populated than Upolo and has a wilder landscape that pitches pristine tracts of rainforest against eerily dramatic volcanic scenes. Among the lush foliage you’ll find hidden waterfalls, volcanic craters, and lava cones and tubes. The beaches here are not reef-protected and can be better for surfing.
What's the best way of getting around in Samoa?
The best way to get around Samoa’s larger islands is by car. You can rent a car on Upolu or Savai’i and enjoy the freedom to travel when and where you wish. The ferry between the two islands takes about an hour, or you could join a boat trip or cruise to discover hidden beaches and quiet coves.
How long does it take to fly to Samoa from the UK?
It takes around 30 hours to fly from the UK to Samoa, via Auckland.
Do I need a visa to visit Samoa, and what do I need to check with my passport?
Use our travel tool to find up-to-date visa and passport requirements for Samoa. Enter where you’re travelling to and from (including any stopover destinations en route or flight layovers), along with your intended travel dates and passport details, for a full list of requirements.
Do I need vaccinations to visit Samoa?
Speak to your doctor about vaccine advice for Samoa, and also ensure you’re up to date with the recommended vaccinations at home. You can also check the suggested vaccinations on the鈥�.
Samoa in pictures
Our expert guides to travelling in Samoa
Written by our specialists from the viewpoint of their own travels, these guides will help you decide on the shape of your own trip to Samoa. Aiming to inspire and inform, we share our recommendations for how to appreciate Samoa at its best.
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Choosing your ideal South Pacific Island ![Upolu coral reef]()
Choosing your ideal South Pacific Island
Choosing your ideal South Pacific Island
A cross-island guide to the South Pacific. Drawing on their own experiences, our travel specialists discuss the lure of French Polynesia, the Cook Islands, Fiji and Samoa with the aim of helping you decide which island is right for you.
Read this guide
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