Savai'i

Cloaked in a pristine rainforest teeming with birdlife, Savai’i is often referred to as the “real Samoa” where locals enjoy a laid-back, traditional way of life. Its size and lack of population make Savai’i the ideal place to get away from it all, immerse yourself in true Polynesian culture and explore incredible landscapes.

Savai’i is 80 kilometres (50 miles) long and 40km (25 miles) wide, with the dormant volcano Mt Silisili its highest peak at 1,858 metres (6,095 feet). The island’s main town and arrival point for ferries from Upolu is Salelologa in the southeast, accessible by the main road that encircles the island.

Savai’i’s attractions include high waterfalls, caves and blowholes, and particularly the dramatic Saleaula lave fields and huge lava tubes that formed when Mt Matavanu erupted in the early 20th Century. Savai’i also has plenty of pristine beaches, great snorkelling, kayaking and diving, and a wide range of accommodation options along with some of the best food in Samoa.