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Pacific Islands19 daysMax 8Solo-friendly

Pacific Islands Explorer – Pacific Shores to Tribal Heartlands (Part 2)

Explore the volcanic shores of Vanuatu, ancient kingdoms of Tonga, WWII history of the Solomon Islands, and the tribal heartlands of Papua New Guinea — in a small group of just 8.

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As Featured In

The TelegraphCulture TripThe TimesLonely PlanetThe GuardianIndependentNational GeographicThe TelegraphCulture TripThe TimesLonely PlanetThe GuardianIndependentNational Geographic
About this journey

The story behind the route

This journey across the South Pacific offers a rare opportunity to explore some of the region’s most captivating islands, each with its own distinct character and traditions. From the relaxed shores of Tonga and the cultural encounters of the Solomon Islands to the dramatic landscapes of Vanuatu and the tribal heartlands of Papua New Guinea, this is a voyage through remote and remarkable destinations. Highlights include a traditional Tongan feast, meeting village communities in the Solomon Islands, standing on the rim of Vanuatu’s fiery Mount Yasur, and discovering the unique tribal cultures of Mount Hagen. Combining natural beauty, ancient traditions, and vibrant local life, this itinerary provides an in-depth introduction to one of the world’s most diverse and fascinating regions.

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The journey

Pacific Islands Explorer – Pacific Shores to Tribal Heartlands (Part 2)

Key moments

The moments that define this trip

Drawn from the full tour dossier — the standout days, encounters and views our specialists keep coming back to.

Your route
map

  1. Polynesian Traditions and Ancient Kingdoms

    Tonga's three days offer an unparalleled immersion into living Polynesian culture — preparing and eating the traditional Lu feast cooked in a volcanic umu, tasting ceremonial kava, and learning mat-making techniques still practised today. The island's archaeological sites, including ancient royal tombs and the Abel Tasman landing site, add a powerful layer of historical depth to the experience.

  2. Pacific Island Life and WWII Heritage

    The Solomon Islands days balance natural beauty with hard history. A scenic boat trip to the sheltered cove of Rodrick Bay delivers a beachside BBQ and community village visit, while Honiara's city tour takes in the Parliament House, busy central market, US Peace War Memorial, and National Museum — a vivid portrait of a nation shaped by both ancient tradition and the violence of the Second World War.

  3. Volcanic Spectacle and Kastom Culture in Vanuatu

    Vanuatu delivers two of the expedition's most dramatic days. An evening climb to the rim of Mount Yasur on Tanna Island — one of the world's most active volcanoes — is followed by a visit to Yakel Kastom Village, where ancient ceremonies and daily practices remain vibrantly alive. A 4WD journey across Tanna also takes in a historical weapons cave, a cannibal village, and Port Resolution's extraordinary black sand hot-water beach.

  4. Tribal Heartlands of the Papua New Guinea Highlands

    The tour's final three days in the Wahgi Valley and around Mount Hagen represent one of the most extraordinary cultural encounters available anywhere in the world. The Melpa, Huli, and Mulpa peoples continue to live largely traditional lifestyles, and an encounter with the legendary Asaro Mudmen — wearing haunting white clay masks — is among the most memorable experiences in Pacific travel. The highlands also reward naturalists with a rich array of birds and orchids.

Key moments for Pacific Islands Explorer – Pacific Shores to Tribal Heartlands (Part 2)

Full itinerary · 19 days

Prefer a PDF? Get the printable dossier
Dates & prices

Pick your departure

Reserve your place with a 10% deposit. Final balance due 70 days before departure. Single-room supplements optional — most travellers happily share.

  • Departure
    2 Oct 2026 → 20 Oct 2026
    Guaranteed
    From
    £16,950 pp
    Single supp. +£1,900
    Book now
  • Departure
    23 Jul 2027 → 10 Aug 2027
    Guaranteed
    From
    £16,950 pp
    Single supp. +£1,900
    Book now

Can’t find the right fit?

Every one of our Pacific Islands journeys can be rebuilt around your dates, pace and interests — or we’ll design something entirely new.

Tailor my trip
What's included

Everything covered — and what's not

Included in the price

  • Arrival and departure transfers
  • All accommodation
  • Transport throughout
  • Services of local English-speaking guides (please note that the group will travel unaccompanied between each island state. A local guide will be allocated in each island state for all sightseeing and excursions)<em>|</em>All regional flights – as referred to in the itinerary
  • Meals as listed
  • Entrance fees for sites listed as part of the itinerary

Budget separately for

  • International flights
  • Items of a personal nature
  • Travel Insurance
  • Visas, if required
  • Drinks
  • Tips (discretionary)
  • Covid-19 test/s and related procedures, if required
Before you go

Essential information

Shared across all tours that visit this destination. Read alongside your individual tour dossier for trip-specific details.

Foreign Office travel advice

We constantly monitor official travel advice, including the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) Pacific Islands Travel Advice, and will always advise clients of any warnings before departure. At the time of writing, there are no specific warnings against travel to the parts of the Pacific Islands that we visit on our tours.

Please contact us if you have any specific concerns or would like to understand what measures are in place to ensure your trip remains safe and trouble-free.

Voices from the road

What travellers say about us

Reviews from across our small-group programme — Mongolia, Madagascar, the Silk Road and beyond. Independently rated 4.9 Excellent on AITO by 250+ travellers.

“An amazing trip! We had the most amazing holiday — over two weeks we had a taste of the cities, the culture, the mountains, a safari, and time at the beach. Our driver/guide made the whole trip very relaxing, and we were welcomed warmly by everyone we met, enjoying fabulous food and drink along the way. Undiscovered Destinations planned a really amazing itinerary for us with great hotels, a fabulous guide/driver, and interesting places to visit — they took great care to ensure we had an excellent holiday. We look forward to booking another holiday with them in the future. Thank you, Mark!”

Anna

“This adventure was always going to be very full-on, which is how we like our trips. I didn't count on getting bronchitis and ending up in hospital, however. The itinerary was quickly amended to avoid high-altitude destinations as much as possible while still making sure we had a chance to enjoy interesting experiences. While obviously sad to have missed some of the original sites, the revised itinerary was the only sensible option under the circumstances. I was extremely impressed with how Undiscovered Destinations and their local team handled the situation — taking the stress out of it, smoothing the way, rearranging the itinerary and booking new hotels, translating for me with the medical staff, and making sure I always had transport, medicines and anything else I needed. Nothing was too much trouble, and they kept in touch with me, each other, and the insurance company throughout. I can't recommend them enough!”

Grete

“My wife and I had a wonderful tour with Undiscovered Destinations. We had a different guide at each stop, and all of them were friendly, cheerful and knowledgeable. The local people were welcoming, and we always felt safe and comfortable. The beaches were spectacularly beautiful and empty of people, with warm, clear water, and each stop had its own character — some we loved for their unspoiled scenery, others for their history and the warmth of the welcome. We took the opportunity to snorkel on one of the most pristine reefs we've experienced, swimming with sea turtles and enormous manta rays that came right up to us out of curiosity. A wonderful destination for nature lovers.”

Frank

“Excellent. Action packed. Our local agent was excellent, and a good choice by Undiscovered Destinations. Because there were only two of us on the holiday, we had different guides at each stop, each one making sure we were handed over safely. All manner of transport was used, and we appreciated the different guiding strategies, the wealth of information given, the high level of English, and the genuine wish to show off their country at its best. Excellent.”

Cathy

“Far exceeding my expectations, this was one of the best trips I've ever done. A beautiful destination, with interesting history, lively ceremonies, lovely people and — surprisingly, for somewhere that sees so few tourists — absolutely no hassle on the streets. Excellent service from start to finish, with a first-class tour leader.”

Lynn

“We had a two-week trip with Undiscovered Destinations, flying in for two days first to break up the journey. It was a great trip, because we managed to see so much more than just the capital cities. This was the fourth trip we've taken with Undiscovered Destinations, and each one has been wonderful. Our guides were lovely — very professional and helpful. We rate UD very highly.”

Andy

“We had a fabulous trip with an excellent local guide, who took great care of us and enthusiastically shared his knowledge of both ancient and recent history, with lots of fascinating personal stories of his own life. We highly recommend this trip — Undiscovered Destinations were great to work with, and we hope to use them again.”

Jennie

“Everything was great — we got to witness a wonderful variety of wildlife, and thoroughly enjoyed the scenery and the hospitality of the people. A fabulous trip from start to finish.”

Debbie

“Excellent all-round trip. Drivers were conscientious and careful, accommodation was better than expected, and the scenery was stunning throughout.”

Alexis

“Fabulous, unusual destination, and great people. A private tour of somewhere little-visited, with great service from start to finish and excellent knowledge and advice from Undiscovered Destinations throughout.”

Steve

“An amazing trip! We had the most amazing holiday — over two weeks we had a taste of the cities, the culture, the mountains, a safari, and time at the beach. Our driver/guide made the whole trip very relaxing, and we were welcomed warmly by everyone we met, enjoying fabulous food and drink along the way. Undiscovered Destinations planned a really amazing itinerary for us with great hotels, a fabulous guide/driver, and interesting places to visit — they took great care to ensure we had an excellent holiday. We look forward to booking another holiday with them in the future. Thank you, Mark!”

Anna

“This adventure was always going to be very full-on, which is how we like our trips. I didn't count on getting bronchitis and ending up in hospital, however. The itinerary was quickly amended to avoid high-altitude destinations as much as possible while still making sure we had a chance to enjoy interesting experiences. While obviously sad to have missed some of the original sites, the revised itinerary was the only sensible option under the circumstances. I was extremely impressed with how Undiscovered Destinations and their local team handled the situation — taking the stress out of it, smoothing the way, rearranging the itinerary and booking new hotels, translating for me with the medical staff, and making sure I always had transport, medicines and anything else I needed. Nothing was too much trouble, and they kept in touch with me, each other, and the insurance company throughout. I can't recommend them enough!”

Grete

“My wife and I had a wonderful tour with Undiscovered Destinations. We had a different guide at each stop, and all of them were friendly, cheerful and knowledgeable. The local people were welcoming, and we always felt safe and comfortable. The beaches were spectacularly beautiful and empty of people, with warm, clear water, and each stop had its own character — some we loved for their unspoiled scenery, others for their history and the warmth of the welcome. We took the opportunity to snorkel on one of the most pristine reefs we've experienced, swimming with sea turtles and enormous manta rays that came right up to us out of curiosity. A wonderful destination for nature lovers.”

Frank

“Excellent. Action packed. Our local agent was excellent, and a good choice by Undiscovered Destinations. Because there were only two of us on the holiday, we had different guides at each stop, each one making sure we were handed over safely. All manner of transport was used, and we appreciated the different guiding strategies, the wealth of information given, the high level of English, and the genuine wish to show off their country at its best. Excellent.”

Cathy

“Far exceeding my expectations, this was one of the best trips I've ever done. A beautiful destination, with interesting history, lively ceremonies, lovely people and — surprisingly, for somewhere that sees so few tourists — absolutely no hassle on the streets. Excellent service from start to finish, with a first-class tour leader.”

Lynn

“We had a two-week trip with Undiscovered Destinations, flying in for two days first to break up the journey. It was a great trip, because we managed to see so much more than just the capital cities. This was the fourth trip we've taken with Undiscovered Destinations, and each one has been wonderful. Our guides were lovely — very professional and helpful. We rate UD very highly.”

Andy

“We had a fabulous trip with an excellent local guide, who took great care of us and enthusiastically shared his knowledge of both ancient and recent history, with lots of fascinating personal stories of his own life. We highly recommend this trip — Undiscovered Destinations were great to work with, and we hope to use them again.”

Jennie

“Everything was great — we got to witness a wonderful variety of wildlife, and thoroughly enjoyed the scenery and the hospitality of the people. A fabulous trip from start to finish.”

Debbie

“Excellent all-round trip. Drivers were conscientious and careful, accommodation was better than expected, and the scenery was stunning throughout.”

Alexis

“Fabulous, unusual destination, and great people. A private tour of somewhere little-visited, with great service from start to finish and excellent knowledge and advice from Undiscovered Destinations throughout.”

Steve

Want to customise this tour?

Make Pacific Islands Explorer – Pacific Shores to Tribal Heartlands (Part 2) your own — adjust the route, dates, pace or who travels, or start from a blank page with a specialist. We'll bring the details of this trip straight into your enquiry.

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More to explore

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Pacific Islands Explorer
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Pacific Islands Explorer

This remarkable journey through the South Pacific and beyond offers an extraordinary opportunity to experience some of the world’s most remote and culturally diverse destinations. Beginning in Brisbane, this Pacific Islands guided tour explores Micronesia’s ancient ruins at Nan Madol, the phosphate landscapes of Nauru, and the wartime history of Kiribati. Continue to Samoa for vibrant cultural traditions and volcanic scenery, before discovering Tonga’s island heritage and the Solomon Islands’ blend of natural beauty and poignant wartime history. In Vanuatu, marvel at traditional kastom villages and witness the raw spectacle of Yasur, one of the world’s most accessible active volcanoes. The adventure concludes in Papua New Guinea, where visitors encounter tribal communities in the Wahgi Valley, rich with birdlife, orchids, and ancient customs. This is a rare voyage across scattered island nations and untouched cultures, offering a truly once-in-a-lifetime travel experience.

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£24,950

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Common questions

Things travellers usually ask

  • How many travellers will be in my group?

    Maximum 8 travellers — that's the cap on every Undiscovered Destinations small-group tour. Small enough to eat in a local family home; large enough to share the wonder with other like-minded travellers.

  • Can I travel solo?

    Yes — there's no compulsory single supplement on our small-group tours. You get your own room at no extra cost. About 60% of UD travellers come solo, so you'll be in good company.

  • How fit do I need to be?

    Fitness requirements vary by itinerary, from gentle to demanding. The day-by-day tour dossier sets out walking distances, terrain and any altitude so you know what to expect. If you have specific concerns, speak to our team before booking — they can talk you through a typical day.

  • When are the next departures?

    The next available departures are 2 October 2026; 23 July 2027. See the "Pick your departure" table further up the page for the full schedule and per-departure pricing.

  • What's included in the tour price?

    Included items vary by tour — see the full list above. On this trip, expect: Arrival and departure transfers; All accommodation; Transport throughout; and more. International flights and travel insurance are not included.

  • Where exactly does this trip go?

    This tour visits Pacific Islands. Each destination has its own page with practical information, climate, and the attractions our specialists recommend — linked from the itinerary above.

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