54 days in Oceania Itinerary

On the tattered triangle of Mo'orea, green peaks and ridges jut up out of the flat, fertile valleys. Hiking routes take you past tumbling waterfalls and ferny cliffs, to villages painted pastel and gardens filled with hibiscus. Birds of paradise fly from tree to tree, while rays, sharks, and fish of every color flit among the protective coral reefs around the island. Swim in the irresistibly warm, translucent waters of the lagoon, and head to the tiki village at night, where grass-skirted dancers shake their hips to thunderous percussion and fire dancers trace glowing trails against the darkness.

Scattered across a 2,200,000 sq km (849,425 sq mi) zone in the vast Pacific Ocean, roughly halfway between New Zealand and Hawaii, the Cook Islands are about as remote a holiday destination as you will find. With their pristine white-sand beaches, tranquil azure lagoons, lush tropical jungles, and teeming coral reefs, the 15 islands seem plucked from a picture postcard of paradise. Relaxation comes first and foremost, for locals as much as tourists, and you will find the laid-back lifestyle of the Cook Islanders as infectious as their warm smiles. As tempting (and fulfilling) as it might be to spend all day swinging lazily in a hammock strung between shady palm trees, plenty of adventures await exploring the idyllic scenery overland, on the waves, and undersea.

The center of Rarotonga is a mass of peaks and ridges, closely thatched with dense jungle. Around the outer edge of the island, between verdant bush and pristine white beaches, you'll find a scattering of hotels and resorts; restaurants, bars, and cafes; paw paw patches and fields of taro, mango, and bananas. Explore the unspoiled scenery of the interior, or relax wholeheartedly into the laid-back Islander way of life. There are two bus routes--clockwise and counterclockwise around the island--and the buses stop on demand, allowing you to get around with ease (if at a sedate place). Encircled by a sheltering coral reef, the crystal clear waters surrounding the island are calm and perfect for fishing, swimming, diving, paddling, snorkeling, or simply splashing about. Rarotonga also serves as the gateway to the rest of the Cook Islands, with tiny traditional communities, ancient caves, uninhabited islets, and sandy atolls to discover.

Enchanting Samoa and its people boast a legendarily laid-back approach to life, and clocks and set times are merely a formality here. The society remains a proud one, deeply connected to a set of millennia-old traditions known as "Fa'a Samoa"--the Samoan Way. Spread out over two main islands and several smaller landmasses, Samoa is a land of incredible contrasts and natural beauty, home to rocky volcanic mountains and expansive beaches, rugged cliffs and lush rainforests. Visitors on holiday in Samoa can easily spend their time exploring the country's exotic interior and untamed coastal reaches, which offer plenty of wildlife and fantastic landscapes. Alternatively, they can just as readily kick back in sleepy seaside villages, indulging in a full-service resort, or splash around in lagoons and at beaches that hold their place among the world's best.

Visit American Samoa, a land made up of five volcanic islands and two coral atolls, for a holiday as adventurous or relaxing as you want to make it. The untouched landscape supports an abundance of protected wildlife, and many tourism businesses are locally owned, operated, and sustainable. The islands' numerous cultural heritage highlights give visitors a sense of the spirituality and calm that native inhabitants have maintained for millennia. Traversable by land and sea, this unincorporated territory of the United States offers many new perspectives on a fascinating culture and environment.