Luxury Activities and Tours on Upolu
Celebrating a special occasion? Or are you perhaps just in need of a treat? Do something beyond the ordinary among the rugged interiors or on the white-sand beaches with one of the luxury experiences on Upolu. There’s something to excite all of the senses between private island tours and revelling in a heavenly spa treatment. Dive into our list of luxury activities and tours…
… But before we begin, be sure to take note of The Luxury Guide to Upolu to help plan more of your getaway of indulgence.
1. Explore Upolu’s Most Breathtaking Waterfalls or Cosmopolitan Apia on a Private Day Tour
You don’t have to worry about large tour buses on Upolu. You can see the island’s breathtaking sights, including waterfalls, glorious beaches and swimming holes on a private guided tour. Operators like Rainforest Runaway Ecotours and Tour Samoa, as well as some resorts like Seabreeze Resort, offer private bespoke tours, either heading to their recommended waterfalls, beaches, historical sites and swimming holes or to the attractions on your bucket list. Inspire yourself for things to do with Sightseeing in Upolu: Top 10 Sights on Upolu. Alternatively, each tour operator tends to offer an “Apia tour”, should you want to experience a very different side of island life. Get ideas for what to see in Apia with the 25 Best Things to Do in Apia. Plus, choose your tour operator from our 10 Best Day Tours of Upolu.
Location: Tour operators provide accommodation pick-ups.
© SamoaPocketGuide.com2. Be Treated to a Private Dining Experience
To elevate your evening meal, perhaps to celebrate a special occasion or “just ’cause”, treat yourself and your partner, family or friends to one of Upolu’s private dining experiences. Indulge in a three-course dinner with bubbles either on your room’s balcony or by the beach at Taumeasina Island Resort, choose a private decorated setting at Sinalei Reef Resort & Spa or have a candlelit dinner with personal waiting service on the deck of your luxury villa at Seabreeze Resort. See more ideas like this in the 10 Adults-Only Activities on Upolu.
Location: Taumeasina – Taumeasina Road, off Main East Coast Road, Apia. Sinalei Reef – Signposted off Main South Coast Road between Mulivai and Si’umu. Seabreeze – Signposted along Main South Coast Road, Aufaga.
© Samoa Tourism Authority3. Experience Apia’s Vibrant Shops and Markets
Home to talented craftspeople who have passed down techniques from generation to generation, Samoa certainly entices with unique woodwork, gorgeous siapo paintings, hand-printed clothing and much more – just see the 10 Best Souvenirs from Samoa for an idea of the amazing handicrafts available. With this in mind, those looking to treat themselves should definitely spare some time to peruse the markets and crafts shops of the nation’s capital. Discover our favourite markets in the 8 Best Markets in Samoa and check out more retail highlights in The Guide to Shopping in Samoa + The Best Places to Shop.
Location: Apia. Check out the links above for shopping recommendations and their locations.
© SamoaPocketGuide.com4. Stay at One of Upolu’s Luxury Resorts
Needless to say, if you want to experience luxury on Upolu, you certainly want to spend some time at one of its upscale resorts. Relax by the pool with either a poolside bar or cocktails delivered to your lounger, make use of the watersports equipment like the clear-bottom kayaks at Seabreeze Resort or the Hobie catamarans at Taumeasina Island Resort, and simply enjoy the relaxing space of your villa provides, whether it’s on the balcony of your overwater bungalow at Coconuts Beach Club or in your private plunge pool at Aga Reef Resort. Be sure to compare all of your options with the 7 Best Luxury Resorts on Upolu.
Location: All over Upolu! See the link above for recommendations and links to their locations.
© SamoaPocketGuide.com5. Indulge in a Soothing Spa Treatment
Upolu might be known for its active experiences, but there’s plenty of room to relax too, especially when it comes to spa treatments. Book yourself into one of Upolu’s serene spas. From the selection of locally-run spas in Apia, such as J Spa, Touch of Samoa and Misiluki Spa to Upolu’s glorious resort spas at Coconuts Beach Club Resort & Spa, Sinalei Reef Resort & Spa and Taumeasina Island Resort, you are never too far away from finding your zen.
Location: All over Upolu! Check out the 10 Best Spas in Samoa for specific locations.
© Samoa Tourism Authority6. Take the Plunge on a Scuba Diving Excursion
Vibrant coral gardens, dramatic canyons, swim throughs and deep pinnacles; there are many exciting adventures to be had in the waters surrounding Upolu and the nearby Manono island. Pure Ocean offers a range of dive trips to get to these untouched pieces of paradise, with morning and afternoon boats, two-tank dives and the Tava’e wreck dive of a 30 m (98 ft) tug boat. There is so much to unpack when it comes to diving from Upolu, so check out The Best Scuba Diving in Samoa or find out more about learning to dive with Learn to Dive in Samoa: Where to Get Your Scuba Diving Certification.
Location: Pure Ocean – Sheraton Samoa Beach Resort, signposted off Main West Coast Road at the western end of Faleolo International Airport.
© Pixabay7. Reel in Pacific Pelagics on a Samoan Fishing Charter
Nothing compares to the thrills of reeling in the South Pacific’s monstrous pelagics, such as yellowfin tuna, sailfish, giant trevally, mahimahi and marlin. Fishing is a way of life here on the islands, so there’s no lack of experienced fisherfolk who can show you the lines. Troppo Fishing Adventures is your go-to charter in Apia, while resorts like Sinalei Reef Resort & Spa and Saletoga Sands Resort & Spa have their own fishing operations.
Location: All over Upolu! Check out the 10 Best Fishing Charters in Samoa for recommendations and their locations.
© SamoaPocketGuide.com8. Have a Swing at One of Upolu’s Golf Courses
Achieving a flair of casual elegance, Upolu’s golf courses are where you’re bound to find sanctuary. Apia itself has two park courses with plenty of challenges winding through the coconut palms, while Sinalei Reef Resort & Spa has its own premed 9-hole golf course. Find the most suitable course for you in The Complete Guide to Golf in Samoa.
Location: All over Upolu! See the link above for Upolu’s golf courses and their locations.
© SamoaPocketGuide.com9. Treat the Tastebuds at One of Upolu’s Fine Dining Restaurants
Samoa might have a bit of a reputation for “chicken and chips”, but there are a few hidden gems when it comes to fine dining experiences. From The Waterfront Restaurant and Bar nestled in the cliffs of Seabreeze Resort to the Asian fusion cuisine of Bistro Tatau Restaurant, there are restaurants that are sure to delight the senses. Compare some of our favourites in the 5 Best Fine Dining Restaurants in Samoa.
Location: All over Upolu! See the link above for recommendations and their locations.
© Samoa Tourism Authority10. Experience Yoga in Paradise
Ensure you leave Upolu rejuvenated by partaking in a yoga session. Either join a class, such as on weekday mornings at Taumeasina Island Resort or book Yoga Samoa to provide a one-on-one or group session at your chosen accommodation. Alternatively, look out for yoga retreats hosted at Upolu’s resorts for integrating yoga into your daily routine while benefitting from other wellness activities. Learn more about yoga retreats in The Guide to Retreats in Samoa: Yoga, Wellness & More.
Location: See recommended locations in the 10 Best Places to Experience Yoga in Samoa.
© PxhereMore Luxury Experiences on Upolu
That’s it for the most luxurious of the luxury experiences on Upolu. But of course, “luxury” means something different for everybody. So, if there’s anything that we’ve missed, you’re likely to find it in one of the following guides:
- 50 Best Things to Do on Upolu
- 10 Most Luxurious Experiences in Samoa
- 5 Best Luxury Experiences on Savai’i
Finally, don’t leave without bookmarking The Complete Luxury Guide to Samoa with the last of our advice for luxury travellers.
Sources:
The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across Samoa and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:
- Samoa Tourism Authority (General travel advice - Updated [2024])
- Samoa Tourism Authority Corporate (Tourism news - Updated [2024])
- Samoa Hotels Association (Tourism trade association - Updated [2024])
- Aleipata Tourism Alliance (Regional tourism association)
- SPTO (Pacific tourism advice - Updated [2024])
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Visa and immigration advice - Updated [2024])
- Ministry of Customs & Revenue (Border restrictions advice - Updated [2024])
- Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries (Biosecurity advice - Updated [2024])
- Samoa Meteorological Division (Weather forecast and warnings - Updated [2024])
- Samoa Bureau of Statistics (Statistics and travel data - Updated [2024])
- Land Transport Authority (Tourist driver’s license info - Updated [2024])
- Safe Travel (New Zealand travel advisory for Samoa - Updated [2024])
- Smart Traveller (Australia travel advisory for Samoa - Updated [2024])
- Travel.State.Gov (U.S. travel advisory for Samoa - Updated [2024])
Our editorial standards: At Samoa Pocket Guide, we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure accurate and quality content.
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