Savaii Escape
Explore the villages and beaches of Savaii by bike
Experience the traditional culture of Samoa while riding between coral sand beaches. Nearly every night is beside the lagoon with good swimming and snorkelling. Highlights of this fully supported tour include:
- Snorkelling in coral gardens
- Safe swimming every day on idyllic beaches
- Stunning sunrises or sunsets on coral sand beaches
- Lava caves
- Blowholes
- Lava fields
While the trip is designed as a cycle tour, it is also suitable for non-riders who can travel in the support van. This works very well for family groups with children; the youngest rider to complete this trip was 8 years old. We also have ebikes available to hire. Cyclists should be comfortable cycling 40kms in a day with some hills. This trip can be coordinated with Friday evening flights from Auckland or Sydney and return flights the following Sunday to almost fit into five days leave. Accommodation is a mix of fales and motels. See FAQs for Cyclists for more details. The standard Savaii Escape runs from Friday night/Saturday morning to the following Sunday afternoon but starts on any day are possible.
Cycling
Average 40kms cycling days with some hills. Mostly sealed quiet roads.
Fully supported
Vehicle based guide will support riders and transport non-riders while providing introductions and explanations of events, locations and culture.
Beaches
Stunning white-sand beaches with safe swimming in coral lagoons.
Packages Available
Regular departures for groups of up to eight. Or get your own group together and book a private trip for 2-16 people.
More Info
Tour Details
Cycle around Savaii over 9-10 days on quiet, sealed roads staying mostly on the beaches in traditional, family run Beach Fales.
The trip is partly about the cycling, but is more about the opportunities that cycling brings to meet the locals and get to know more about the culture.
Ride in the mornings and spend the afternoons swimming, snorkelling or relaxing on the beach at your lagoon-side fales.
Salty Lodge has reopened on the site of the old Airport Lodge. We have incorporated arrival night accommodation here into our standard tours.
Saturday ferries have returned to a reasonable schedule and there are now 10am and noon sailings to Savaii.
While the trip is designed as a cycle tour, it is also suitable for non-riders who can travel in the support van. This works very well for family groups with children; the youngest rider to complete this trip was 8 years old. We also have e-Bikes available to hire.
Cyclists should be comfortable riding 40kms a day with some hills.
The map below also includes an elevation view.
Most nights are in Beach Fales (pronounced far-lays) These are provided by the villages and consist of thatched roofs, matting sides, and wooden floors.
The huts are often in the most stunning settings and allow you to sit or lie on your bed and look out across the beach to the most amazing sunsets. Breakfast and dinner are included and served in a common dining room and the bathrooms are shared facilities. Mattresses, pillows, mosquito nets and bed sheets are included.
The fales are equivalent to a permanent campsite and the more traditional ones are often a highlight for guests. Fale resorts are changing with the times and some offer lockable rooms, corrugated iron roofs, hot showers and ensuites. However, the traditional fales are often cooler and much more pleasant.
Our Savai’i Escape tours start every Thursday from April to October. These are the remaining available dates for our 2024 season. All dates are subject to accommodation availability – please do not book any flights until you have confirmed your trip with our Samoan specialists.
Please note we can accommodate groups for up to 12 people.
April: 18th, 25th
May: 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd
June: 20th
July: 18th, 25th
August: 1st, 8th, 15th, 29th
September: 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th
October: 3rd, 10th
Scheduled tours have a normal maximum of eight and a minimum of two. Custom tours can accommodate up to 16.
A small number of upgrades to ensuite fales are available.
Upgrades to hotels/resorts are available at some locations and is more practical on custom tours when it becomes easier to adjust the destinations to match accommodation. ensuite
Rise with the sun and have a swim before breakfast at 7:30am. Have your bags packed before breakfast.
Begin riding about 8 to enjoy the cooler morning air.
Unless you specifically request the driver to provide close support he will leap-frog you stopping at points of interest, intersections and hills etc.
Stop frequently to talk to the locals, enjoy the views etc.
Most days you will get to your destination in time for lunch.
Spend the afternoon swimming, snorkelling and exploring the village and surrounds.
The exception is the last day before you catch the ferry. There is more to see and do and you may choose to have a picnic lunch at Afu Aau Falls or pre-order a late lunch from your accommodation.
The drivers plan on being finished by 2pm. If you want to spend more time along the way, please discuss this with your driver (and offer to pay him) and your fellow riders.