Upcoming Trips » Samoa Cycle Tours
Samoa Cycle Tours
Its hard to know whether to describe this as a cycle tour, a beach camping holiday, a snorkeling holidayexperience or a cultural . The beaches have to be amongst the best in the world. most are quiet sandy places with great swimming and tremendous snorkeling amongst the coral. The cycling is on quiet roads over moderate distances and while the heat can make the odd day a bit of a challenge, really it only helps justify the beer at the end of the ride.
Next escorted Trip October 11-23 2011 - Special price $2,225
New Tour styles
We have a large fleet of hire bikes in Samoa and have developed a wide range of ways to help you enjoy Samoa. So whether you just want to hire bikes and do you own thing, have us organise gear transport and accommodation or take a fully escorted toure - we have something for almost everyone.
New tour options from $NZ350 - see trip styles
Cycle around Samoa over 10 -15 days
The 200km ride around Savaii involves cycling 15 - 50 kms a day for 7 days. Every night is spent at a beach resort, all of which have great snorkeling and easy swimming. While some people do go round in 7 days the overwhelming feedback is that the island deserves more time. Whether you use this to snorkel, surf, explore or just rellax on the great beaches is up to you.
Download the Samoabrochure.pdf
Check out the Samoa Cycle photos
The Locations
Savaii is the largest island in Samoa. It is also the least populated of the two main islands with about 40,000 people (out of a population of 160,000 in Western Samoa).
Cycling around much of Upolu is also well worth while. This island is more developed than Savaii with a greater number of resorts. The snorkeling is not as good, but there are wonderful places to fish and to relax.
All year you can expect temperatures of between 26-30 degrees. The NZ winter is the dry season, although there may be the odd cooling shower.
The Cycling
Most of the roads are sealed (there are about 7kms of sandy roads ). There are a few hills where you will work up a sweat, but relatively little traffic. On our escorted trips a sag wagon will carry your gear and (you as well if needed).
Accommodation
Most nights are in beach fales. These are located right on the beach and are an ideal way to experience Samoa.
A Typical Day
Waking as the first sun rays of the day sneak through the matting sides of the fale, it is time to pull on a pair of togs and head in for a swim. Take a mask and snorkel as every fale has good coral to explore within 200m.
Breakfast in the open sided dining room is usually followed by another quick swim before packing gear in the support van and pedaling off.
Most days only involve cycling for one to three hours, but the cycling is regularly interrupted by sight-seeing stops and swims. Green coconuts, which have a slight effervescence provide great refreshment along with the mangoes and bananas.
By early afternoon you have arrived at the next beach and after a swim, settled in for a relaxed afternoon. This is usually a local beer or two, a read and some more swimming.
The evening meals are varied. Samoa is renowned for oka, raw fish in coconut milk that is unbelievably good. There is often also an excellent selection of cooked fish. Other nights have a more traditional flavour that will include chicken, taro and breadfruit.
After dinner there may be a cultural show or the local band may play for a couple of hours. If you don't fancy the formal entertainment (or there is none), it's great to just sit on the beach, chat and watch the evening go by.
Trip Styles
Outdoor.co.nz offers 3 ways to see Samoa by bike: Freedom Travel, Easy Load and The Works. The differences are explained here.
Freedom Travel
Hire a bike, get an itinerary and travel booklet and explore on your own at your own pace. We supply the airport transfer and first nights accommodation – after that you go at your own pace, stopping where you like as long as you like. Stay at our suggested accommodation – or anywhere else.
If you don't mind carrying your own gear (panniers included in package) and can cope with the occasional overbooking this may be right for you.
Go at any time - but this is not recommended in NZ school holidays when many places can be full.
You should ensure you group includes someone competent in basic bike mechanics.
Airport pickup, 14 day bike hire (including panniers etc), first nights accommodation - $NZ350.
For bike hire only see hire page.
Easy Load
In addition to Freedom Travel we carry your gear making the rides that much more pleasant. We also book your accommodation and pay for it – so you don't have to worry about carrying a lot of cash or having to suddenly ride a lot further than you planned.
As with Freedom Travel your group should include someone competent in basic bike mechanics.
Go at any time of the year.
The standard package includes all breakfasts and dinners, transfers and gear transport. For 10 days the cost is $NZ1,400 pp min 2 people. For 4 or more the price is $NZ1,300. Additional days can be added.
We provide a guide for the entire trip who can provide insights and opportunities to better understand Samoan culture, geology and geography. We get to visit additional places, show the special snorkelling spots we found, help you learn to snorkel, carry a spare bike and carry out basic bike repairs for you. Most of all we are there to help you enjoy and get the most out of the experience.
All accommodation and meals (except 2 dinners and 2 lunches) are included and the support vehicle can carry you and your bike at any time if the heat or a hill seem a bit daunting.
All you need to do is be comfortable riding 40kms a day (and even then we can take non cyclist in the van).
Trip dates
July 16-31 2011
15 day trip with accommodation upgrades in School Holidays Price $3,600 ex Wellington
October 11- 23 2011
12 days with standard accommodation Price $2.250 Land cost only (excludes flights)
To book or for more details - send an email to ross@outdoor.co.nz or complete the registration form.