10 Best Day Tours of Samoa 🌴 [2024]

1. Namu’a Turtle Island and Eastern Upolu Tour – Tai’s Native Experience

It couldn’t get more authentic than joining a Samoan high chief, Tai, for a tour around his native homeland. Not only will you get the endearing perspective of Samoa’s main island, Upolu, from a local but full-day tours such as the “Namu’a Turtle Island and Eastern Upolu Tour” take you to the places you’ve no doubt heard of to, more intriguingly, those you haven’t. Of course, the famous swimming hole To Sua Ocean Trench is on the list, while the lesser-visited Vavau Beach with its islands jutting from the lagoon is a real highlight. Take your swimwear and snorkelling gear because you won’t want to miss the opportunity to swim with turtles from Namu’a Island.

Inclusions with Tai’s Native Experience are lunch on Namu’a Island, accommodation pick-up from Apia, and bottled water. Alternatively, check out Tai’s other full-day tour of Apia, the waterfalls and museums of the Cross Island Road and the Piula Cave Pool.

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2. Pristine Waters of Upolu – Samoan Island Adventures

Specialising in off-the-beaten-track tours on Upolu, as well as jam-packed itineraries providing real bang for your buck, Samoan Island Adventures is a good go-to for day tours of Samoa. Their most popular tour is “The Pristine Waters of Upolu” and it’s no wonder with many of Samoa’s bucket list experiences being on the agenda: Piula Cave Pool, Lalomanu Beach, Papapapatai Waterfall and To Sua Ocean Trench. You’ll also admire or even swim at a couple of lesser-known waterfalls.

Included are Apia transfers, water refills (BYO bottle), fresh fruit, sandwiches for lunch and all of the attraction entry fees. For alternative tours, check out their Volcanic Crater Lake Hike and Swim, National Park Lava Cliffs and Black Sand Beach, and their shore excursion, The Jewels of Eastern Upolu, the latter outlined in the 10 Best Shore Excursions in Samoa.

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3. Full Day Island Tour of Apia, Upolu and Samoa – Tour Samoa

Get a personalised experience complete with a traditional Samoan lunch prepared right before your eyes with Tour Samoa. Your local guide is very knowledgeable not just about the sights of Samoa but culture, society, politics, or whatever you’d like to discuss.

On the “Full-Day Island Tour of Apia, Upolu and Samoa“, enjoy a highlights tour of the capital Apia, visiting the markets and picking up supplies for lunch. You’ll then venture across the Cross Island Road with a tour of the Robert Louis Stevenson Museum, as well as some smaller-ticket items, such as the fascinating yet breathtaking Baha’i Temple. You’ll stop by a number of waterfalls and the To Sua Ocean Trench if you’re keen. Additionally, you’ll stop at one of Upolu‘s stunning south coast beaches where your private chef will prepare a Samoan lunch.

Inclusions are lunch, bottled water and entry fees to the planned stops on the itinerary. Any other stops that you want to do may incur entry fees as per Samoan customs. Check out Tour Samoa’s other tours, such as a Half-Day Upolu Tour and a Private Apia Shore Excursion for cruise ship passengers.

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4. Afu Aau Waterfall and Alofaaga Blowholes Tour – Savai’i Tours

For a day tour of the lesser-visited Savai’i, choose the on-island operator Savai’i Tours. Your guide, Nu’u, can organise the ideal personalised tour to see the sights you’re most interested in. There are half-day and full-day options, with a popular run being along the south coast to check out the famous Alofaaga Blowholes, as well as the serene swimming spot of the Afu Aau Waterfall. Savai’i Tours also works with Va-i-Moana Seaside Lodge, should you want to take an island trip or a koko Samoa plantation tour from this popular accommodation. Find out more about the latter in the 10 Best Foodie Experiences in Samoa. Otherwise, pick-ups at Salelologa Wharf are included.

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5. Manono Island Tour – Samoa Scenic

With accommodation transfers and boat transfers included, your trip to the rarely visited yet breathtaking Manono Island couldn’t be easier than with Samoa Scenic. Upon reaching the island, a host family takes you on a tour of their compound to show where traditional cooking is done and where food crops are grown, getting to sample some for yourself.

You’ll then spend the rest of the afternoon walking through the villages, stopping at a beach for your included lunch, swimming and relaxing before the transfer back to your accommodation.

Tours include accommodation transfers (extra cost outside of Apia) and lunch. Samoa Scenic offer a lot more tours of Samoa, as listed in the 10 Best Day Tours of Savai’i and the 10 Best Day Tours of Upolu.

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6. Waterfall Tours – Tropical Tours

Among a unique menu of waterfall abseiling tours and SUP tours, Tropical Tours also offers half-day and full-day tours exploring the island of Upolu. While a full-day tour to the To Sua Ocean Trench is unsurprisingly the most popular option, we personally get more excited about their “Waterfall Tour”. This impressive tour not only takes you to highlights like Sopoaga Falls but to waterfalls that hardly any other tour is going to, such as Fuipisia Falls, Falefa Falls, Togitogiga Falls and Sauniatu Falls – pretty much the majority of the 10 Best Waterfalls in Samoa!

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7. Cross Island Road and Apia Tour – Saletoga Sands Resort

Several of Samoa’s resorts offer their own in-house day tours of Samoa, making it impossibly easy to explore the islands. For example, Saletoga Sands Resort & Spa offers a different tour for each day of the week, such as the Tuesday full-day tour taking in the sights of the Cross Island Road on the way to Apia. Visit the Robert Louis Stevenson Museum, stop by the Tiapapata Art Centre and visit various magnificent churches from the Baha’i Temple to Apia’s Immaculate Conception Cathedral. The tour also allows you time to explore the famous Fugalei Market – a cultural must-do!

For more tours of the capital, check out the 5 Best Day Tours of Apia.

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8. Rainforest Runaway Ecotours

Laidback, authentic and extremely knowledgeable, Rainforest Runaway Ecotours offers an excellent alternative day tour of Upolu. Join Manu for a day of doing your style of adventure, whether it’s snorkelling from his boat, hiking to volcanic crater lakes, or the usual island tiki tour with stops at the bucket list To Sua to the more adventurous waterfalls to visit. You’re also in safe hands, as your tour guide is trained in senior first aid, while the rest of his knowledge when it comes to the local culture, flora and fauna helps you get much more out of the sights you’re visiting.

For more nature-focused tours, take a look at the 10 Best Eco Tours in Samoa.

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9. Savai’i Island Tour – Falealupo Beach Fales

This beach fale accommodation might be seemingly situated on the edge of the earth on the far-western Savai’i beach of Falealupo, but the guys and gals of Falealupo Beach Fales will still make sure you can see the highlights. Join their “Island Tour” with return transfers included to enjoy a trip to the iconic Alofaaga Blowholes and take a dip at the Afu Aau Waterfall. You’ll also be treated to local fruit and coconuts to drink throughout the excursion. Learn more about staying at the fales in the 20 Best Beach Fale Accommodations in Samoa.

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10. East Side Aleipata Full Day Tour – Return to Paradise Resort

Return to Paradise Resort might be a remote option on the white sands of a Hollywood-starring beach on Upolu, but their in-house tour guides ensure you still can reach the highlights through their selection of tours. An obvious option is the “East Side Aleipata Full Day Tour” to see must-dos like To Sua and Sopoaga Falls. Alternatively, head to the capital on their “Apia Experience Full Day” tour or snorkel at the nearby giant clam sanctuary on their “Clams Tour” including kayak/SUP board, snorkelling gear and guide.

© SamoaPocketGuide.com