Island Information

Moon Handbooks
South Pacific (8th Ed.)

Samoan Holidays Guide

The islands of Samoa are located between longitudes 171 and 172 degrees west (just east of the International dateline) and latitudes 13 and 14 degrees south of the Equator. Air tickets to Samoa involve flight distances of 2890 km from Auckland in New Zealand, 4400 km from Sydney Australia, 8400 km from Los Angeles in USA and just 1200 km from its neighbour to the west - Fiji.

Almost the entire area of Samoa is occupied by its two main islands - Upolu and Savaii - and there are eight much smaller islands. The island of Upolu is home to the nation's capital Apia as well as the Faleolo International Airport. The volcanic islands have rugged peaks, fringed by coral reefs and lagoons.

Samoa Attractions

So why visit Samoa?

• Easy to get around as Samoa's two main islands are very close together
• Experience the unique Polynesian culture - fa'aSamoa (the Samoan way)
• Stay in a traditional Samoan fale ... or luxury Samoan resort
• Romantic - follow in the footsteps of Robert Louis Stevenson
• Natural features include blowholes, waterfalls, national parks, lava tubes, visiting turtles
• Samoan is the national language, but English is the official business language.
• Enjoy Samoa food, Samoa music, Samoa culture
• Surfer travellers - enjoy the excellent Samoa surf breaks
• Samoa Rugby is world-famous