Essential Samoa: Upolu and Savai'i
Duration : 10 days
Route : Apia (3 nights) → Upolu south coast (2 nights, To Sua) → Savai'i ferry (4 nights) → return Upolu (1 night)
Custom travel to Samoa
Samoa (formerly Western Samoa) is one of the South Pacific's most authentic Polynesian countries, 2 main islands (Upolu and Savai'i), around 200,000 inhabitants, fa'a Samoa culture preserved for nearly 3,000 years. In 1962, Samoa became the first Pacific island nation to regain independence after the colonial era, a pioneering status Samoans remain proud of. Apia, tropical capital on Upolu, houses Robert Louis Stevenson's grave (the author of Treasure Island, who lived there his final years 1890-1894). Fiafia evenings (traditional Samoan dance show), Savai'i diving (To Sua Ocean Trench, one of the world's most iconic natural pools, accessible by ladder into a collapsed crater), traditional villages with fale (wall-less houses). Rugby holds a central place in Samoan life: the national team, the Manu Samoa, is followed with a fervor far outsized for the country's population. Secondary destination for Western tourists but heavily visited by New Zealanders and Australians, with whom Samoa maintains close historical and family ties.
Highlights
- Apia: Robert Louis Stevenson's grave
- To Sua Ocean Trench: iconic natural pool
- Fiafia evenings: traditional Polynesian dance
- Savai'i: volcanoes, waterfalls, diving
- Upolu beaches: Lalomanu and Aganoa
- Fa'a Samoa culture: fale and traditional villages
Sample itineraries
Diving and fa'a Samoa culture
Duration : 12 days
Route : Apia (2 nights) → Upolu south coast (3 nights, diving) → Savai'i (5 nights, Aganoa diving) → return Upolu (1 night)
Relaxation: beach and lagoons
Duration : 8 days
Route : Apia (1 night) → Sinalei Reef Resort Upolu (6 nights) → return Apia (1 night)
When to go
Dry season (May-October, austral winter): ideal climate (24-28 °C), the coolest and least humid period, favorable for hiking and diving thanks to better underwater visibility. Wet season (November-April): frequent rain, sometimes cyclones between January and March, though showers are generally brief and followed by long sunny spells, and accommodation prices drop noticeably.
- Dry season (May – October), Upolu, Savai'i, diving
- Wet season (November – April), Tighter budget trip
- Transition (April and October), All sites accessible
- Cyclones (January – March), Off-season
Practical information
Very safe. No visa for French citizens < 60 days. Modest dress in villages (shoulders and knees covered). Left-hand drive since 2009. Tap water drinkable in Apia, avoid elsewhere. Tipping not mandatory. Sundays are shaped by religious tradition: shops closed, loud activities avoided near villages. The tala is easily exchanged at the airport or Apia banks, ATMs are scarcer in Savai'i.
Frequently asked questions
When?
May-October (dry season).
How long?
10 days for Upolu + Savai'i.
Budget?
€2,800-€3,800 per person for 10 days in comfort, excluding flights. Premium: €4,800-€6,500. Flights: €1,600-€2,400.
Visa?
No for French citizens < 60 days.
Getting there?
Paris-Auckland flight (1 stopover), then Auckland-Apia (4 h).
To Sua Ocean Trench accessible to all?
Vertiginous 30-m ladder, not recommended for vertigo-prone or children < 8. Moderate level required.
Family?
Yes, from age 8 (To Sua, beaches). Total safety.
How many days in Savai'i?
3-4 nights minimum to enjoy (volcanoes, waterfalls, beaches).
Combine?
Yes: Samoa + Tonga, Samoa + Fiji, Samoa + New Zealand.
Tips?
Not mandatory.
What currency should I use and do I need cash?
The official currency is the Samoan tala (WST). Hotels and larger restaurants in Apia accept bank cards, but markets, local transport, and beach-fale operate mainly on cash. Bring cash for Savai'i, where ATMs are scarce outside Salelologa.
What should I pack?
Light, loose clothing in natural fabrics, a modest outfit (shoulders and knees covered) for village visits and Sundays, swimwear, water shoes for To Sua and volcanic trails, a headlamp useful for rural accommodations, mosquito repellent, and sunscreen, ideally reef-safe to protect the reefs.