The Ultimate Guide to Mountain Biking in Samoa

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Guided Cycle Tours or Do it Yourself?

You have two options when it comes to cycling in Samoa: take a guided tour or do it yourself.

Renting a bike and hitting the road allows you to ride completely at your own pace and independently, should you not be feeling too social to be part of a tour group. It also gives you the flexibility to visit your preferred attractions and stay at your preferred accommodations (should you be cycling for multiple days). Of course, the base price of hiring bicycles is also cheaper than paying for a fully guided experience. And with the “Self-Guided Bike Trails” listed at the end of this article, we’ll point you in the direction of some neat routes.

On the other hand, guided cycle tours are well worth considering in Samoa. Although there are no day tours at the time of writing, multi-day cycling holiday packages are available and have many benefits, including a support vehicle, so you don’t have to carry all of your own gear, while accommodation is also included and organised before you arrive (which can otherwise be a headache to organise yourself). See the “Cycle Tours in Samoa” section below to learn more.

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Cycle Tours in Samoa

All of Samoa’s cycling tours are run by Outdoor Samoa which provides a wide range of quality mountain bikes and e-bikes customised to tour Samoa’s islands. Choose from self-guided multi-day tours of Upolu and Savai’i, with the Savai’i option including a support vehicle.

Savai’i Multi-Day Cycling Tours

Among some of Outdoor Samoa‘s most popular cycling tours is the “Savai’i Escape” nine-day tour. With quiet mostly sealed and mostly flat roads (not saying that there aren’t a few uphills), Savai’i provides the perfect conditions for a cycling holiday and to experience the island at a more natural pace.

This self-guided cycling adventure offers the freedom to explore at your own pace, with the peace of mind of support services. Your luggage is transferred daily to your next destination, while the driver team stops at designated points to top up your water supply. You’ll have access to a handy app to support your cycle tour without the paperwork.

The comprehensive package includes an airport transfer on arrival, accommodation for eight nights, a traditional umu dinner, a farm tour, and a one-way ferry ticket from Upolu to Savai’i. Women-only tours are available for those seeking a more tailored experience; either way, the tour is designed to cycle in groups.

Days are spent cycling an average of 40 km (25 mi) before the hottest part of the day. Afternoons are perfect for relaxing at beach fales, which offer magnificent locations ideal for snorkelling. Snorkelling gear can also be hired with Outdoor Samoa.

Beach fales and resorts supply breakfast and dinner, which are all included in the tour rate. Learn more about the beach fale experience in our guide, Staying in a Beach Fale in Samoa + 10 Essential Tips!

Upolu Multi-Day Cycling Tour

Experience Samoa’s most-visited island, Upolu, at a pace where you’ll truly be able to soak up the sights and sounds of life in Samoa on the nine-day “Upolu Escape” tour, again, with the team from Outdoor Samoa.

This tour works similarly to the Savai’i tours mentioned above in terms of being supplied with a support vehicle and accommodations organised for you along the way. Rides are a little shorter each day, however, usually cycling 12-20 km (7-12 mi) per day except for two long days of 32 and 35 km (19.9 and 21.7 mi).

Some of Samoa’s biggest attractions are on the itinerary, including To Sua Ocean Trench and Piula Cave Pools. As Outdoor Samoa also operates kayaking tours on Upolu, there’s also the opportunity to incorporate kayaking to your itinerary – see Kayaking in Samoa: Top 10 Kayak Tours & Places to Kayak.

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Where to Hire a Bike in Samoa

Prefer to ride the roads of Samoa yourself? Bike hire is available from a bicycle hire company, as well as from a couple of accommodations.

Bicycle Rental in Samoa

• Outdoor Samoa, Mulifanua, Upolu – Around 100 bikes and e-bikes for hire, including all the accessories for day to multi-day hires
• Return to Paradise Resort, Lefaga, Upolu – Four quality mountain bikes for adults
• Stevensons at Manase, Manase, Savai’i – A small number of bicycles for hire.
• Va-i-Moana Seaside Resort, Asau, Savai’i – A small number of bicycles for hire.

For more details on bike rentals, head to Cycle Samoa: Where to Rent Bikes & E-Bikes.

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Bringing Your Own Bike to Samoa

It is possible to bring your own bike with the airlines flying to Samoa. You will need to check your bike in as check-in luggage and pack your bike appropriately.

For checking in a bike on most flights to Samoa, pack the bike in a bike box or bike bag. Bike boxes are usually available to purchase at airports.

You don’t need to deflate the tyres but you do need to do the following:

• Remove the handlebars or turn them sideways
• Remove the pedals or turn them in
• Make sure the pressure of any nitrogen gas mountain bike struts is no more than 200 kPa (kilopascal) or 29 PSI (pounds per square inch)
• Make sure that any cartridges for inflating tyres are less than 50 ml (1.6 oz) and contain non-flammable gas.

Remember to seal the box and label it with your name and phone number. It’s a good idea to place accessories in a bag within the bike box/bag.

Learn more about the ins and outs of flying to Samoa in our guide, Getting Here: How to Get to Samoa.

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Self-Guided Bike Trails

There are no marked bike trails in Samoa, but those with a map and a sense of adventure can experience the joys of exploring Samoa on its quieter roads. We have listed some recommended routes in the 5 Best Bike Trails in Samoa, which are, in short:

• Mulifanua to Savaia (Giant Clams Ride) – 22 km/4.3 mi – 1 hr 50 mins one way without stops
• Matautu to Falease’ela – 14 km/8.7 mi – 1 hr 10 mins return without stops
• Va-i-Moana to Vaisala Hotel – 6 km/3.7 mi – 30 mins return without stops
• Savai’i Island – 200 km/124 mi – 16 hrs 40 mins without stops (9 days/9 nights)
• Upolu Island – 160 km/100 mi – 13 hrs 20 mins without stops (9 days/9 nights).

Again, we go into much more detail in the 5 Best Bike Trails in Samoa.