Overview
The island country of Palau is our magical destination for this safari in Micronesia. We swim the colourful waters of the western Pacific, combing a few of the 340 islands that comprise the Republic of Palau. The warm depths are home to thousands of different coral and reef fish species, as well as exciting megafauna, like manta rays, leatherback turtles, dugongs, and hammerhead sharks. Get ready for a diverse variety of marine life – there’s a reason they call it the ‘underwater Serengeti'! SOLD OUT - JOIN THE WAIT LIST > Palau is actually one of the world’s smallest countries, defined by chains of land and dotted islets, which shape the archipelago. Naturally, the Pacific becomes our playground as we seek out secluded spots to swim and snorkel, like Rembrandt’s Cove and Einstein’s Gardens - known for its multi-coloured brain corals. At all times, we are accompanied by our kayak escorts, allowing us to reach lesser-known bays, beaches (the white sands of Ngeremdiu Beach never disappoint) and shielded bays as well. Together, we will uncover the many secrets of Palau’s legendary seascape, scattered with ancient wrecks and natural wonders unique to this part of the world. We even visit a saltwater lake filled with non-stinging jellyfish.
Highlights
Make the Pacific your playground
Make the Pacific your playground, exploring an archipelago of limestone islands, topped with forests and circled by a blue-green lagoon.
Discover the brain corals of Einstein’s Gardens
Discover the multi-coloured brain corals of Einstein’s Gardens, follow the shimmering ‘Milky Way’ and dive down among the tiered reefs of world-class snorkelling sites, like Symphony Bay.
Uncover the wonder of Jellyfish Lake
Relax between swims at Palau Central Hotel in central Koror. We’re just a 45-minute boat ride from Jellyfish Lake, which is crowded with non-stingers that bob and sprawl in the saltwater.
Itinerary
Our Palau itinerary includes swimming in pristine waters, a trip to the jellyfish lake and excursions to Peleliu and Einstein's Gardens to explore the local culture. Our planned itinerary looks like this:
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Arrival at the Palau Central Hotel (Day 1)
You are met at the airport from your inbound flight and taken to your accommodation. After some time to relax, we will meet for a trip briefing where we will go through the plan for the upcoming week.
Swim, snorkel and hike (Day 2)
Our first day takes us to Ulebsechel Island, one of only 2 islands in the whole Rock Islands archipelago that features volcanic rock, thereby creating a unique mix of flora and fauna during our swim.
After lunch on board our boat, the afternoon is given over to discovering Nikko Bay which lies just south of Koror island. The Bay is home to some of Palau’s finest and largest coral forests, protected from the elements by sheer limestone walls. Featuring caves, arches and tunnels, Nikko Bay is a joy to explore for any swimmer.
Swim the Milky Way (Day 3)
A 40 minute boat ride will deliver us to Ngeruktabel Iland. First of all we will hike to an ancient village before heading into the water on the island’s south coast. We start from the stunning white sands of Ngeremdiu Beach. Our first swim stop is to visit the maritime wreck of a Japanese Zero aircraft which ended up here after a dogfight with the American military during the WWII campaign. From here we carry on round the island visiting Milk Way Lagoon on the way.
After lunch on the beach, we’ll snorkel the multi-coloured and abundant brain coral formations of the appropriately named Einstein’s Gardens.
Giant Clams & Jellyfish lake (Day 4)
Our journey south continues as we travel to the islands of Macharchar and Euidelchol. We have the option of swimming along either coast and will make the decision based on weather conditions at the time. If we choose to swim at Euidelchol we will swim over Giant Clam Beach named after all the giant clams that are on the sea floor in this rich ecosystem.
The afternoon is given over to swimming in the quite unique UNESCO World Heritage site of Jellyfish Lake, home to the golden jellyfish, which due to a lack of predators over the centuries is totally harmless.
Ngardmau Waterfalls (Day 5)
Today we ease up from the water exploration, but this doesn’t mean your adventure is on hold. There are plenty of opportunities to discover Palau by land. We will travel across the archipelagos largest island of Babeldaob and hike to the biggest waterfall in Palau, where we can bathe in the waters below it. The hike itself gives us the ability to take in a lot of the island's flora.
Ngemelis Reef & German Channel (Day 6)
Today we travel our furthest way south as we visit the outer reef of Ngemelis which features some stunning drop off swimming. In the afternoon we swim along German Channel, what was initially a man made marvel, but which features crystal clear waters often containing manta rays along with rich and varied marine life. Both swims will be unforgettable.
Island hopping in the Ngeruktabel Islands (Day 7)
We visit the islands to the west Ngeruktabel Island. These limestone outcrops have been weathered over the millennia leading to caves, sea arches and rocky outcrops dotting along this section of islands. The reefs here are a menagerie of corals, sponges and various marine invertebrates, many of which are unique to this area of the Pacific.
It’s a wonderful way to finish off our swimming journey in these truly special islands.
Rest & relaxation in Koror (Day 8)
This day is for one for you to do with what you like. There are many excursions you can choose to do from hiking to diving. Or you may choose to chill out on one of the many beaches dotting the coastline.
Departure (Day 9)
After breakfast we transport you to the airport to catch your flight back home, bringing an end to this week of discovery of the Pacific nation of Palau.
What's included
What's Included
8 nights at the Palau Central Hotel
8 days breakfast at the Palau Central
Transfers to and from Palau International Airport
Guided and escorted swimming and snorkelling across the trip
Excursion to jelly fish lake
What's Not Included
Flights
Accommodation
Palau Central Hotel
The Palau Central Hotel offers newly renovated Western style rooms in the center of Palau’s downtown only steps away from restaurants, shopping and activities. It prides itself on service and comfort while offering some of the best value in Palau.
As a landmark property, the original hotel opened in the 80’s to serve Palau’s budding tourism market as well as Trust Territory representatives and regional investors. Now fully renovated, the new Palau Central Hotel offers 50+ state of the art rooms, in-house restaurant, gift shop, spa, gym and conference center. All backed by outstanding service.
Getting there
Getting to Palau
You can fly direct to Palau International airport from Brisbane, Manila, Singapore and Hong Kong. Flights from the United States will likely take you via Guam, and from Europe via Manila. A transfer from Palau is included within the package price.
What You Ask Us
Do you take group bookings? Is there a group discount? Can you help with this?
Yes we can! A group booking can be any number of guests, but typically includes 5 or more swimmers wanting to travel together on one of our safaris. Your group might consist of family or friends, like-minded people you’ve met on a previous safari, or perhaps fellow swimmers from your local swim or surf club.
But however formed, we can help through:
- Advising on suitable safaris
- Arranging the booking on your behalf
- Making an existing trip private or finding your own date if your group is sufficiently large
- Providing a group saving or discount, depending on group size
Send us an email here with your group size, preferred safaris and dates, and we’ll get back to you to discuss options.
Will I be able to swim the distances in the trip itinerary?
We aim for every swim to be a pleasure, not a chore. We are not about swimming the longest distance in the shortest time. We are not about ticking boxes. We are there to soak up the experience of some very special places and moments and some extraordinary water and swim courses. We want everyone to enjoy their swims - we are inclusive, not elitist.
That said, to join us on swims as part of the itinerary for the group we do need you to be able to swim 1km in open water, so we can manage the group safely and enjoyably. You don't need to be fast and you don't need to be a world-beater, and there will be plenty of opportunities to pause and take in the experience.
We generally swim 1.5km - 3km in a session depending on the location and conditions, broken up as the group would like, and reflecting the experience and capacity of the group.
Do I have to take part in every swim?
Absolutely not! This is your holiday and you choose to swim as much or as little as you would like. Join the sessions you want, stay onboard the boat for others, or just take time to relax and enjoy the resort.
How safe are your locations?
The safety of our guests, guides and other local partners is the number one priority in every decision we make.
From monitoring up-to-date travel advice for each location, to making adjustments to a planned itinerary during your time away, the well-being of each and every person who joins our safaris is always at the forefront of our minds.
What will my fellow swimmers be like?
Swimming is a low impact and medium intensity activity, which enables a wide variety of ages and experience levels to take part.
Your fellow guests could include young students, retired couples, solo travellers, groups of friends, experienced open water swimmers or those unfamiliar with life outside the pool.
Whatever the makeup of your group, you can be sure that you’ll have a mix of fascinating personalities from all around the world.
Do you cater for non-swimmers?
We do. In fact, you might not even be a swimmer yourself and may just be accompanying someone on safari who does - some guests do just come along for the ride.
To join the swims themselves as part of the group's itinerary we do require you to be able to swim 1km in open water, but there will be other opportunities for you to take a dip in some locations where you are less confident in the water.
And remember: while swimming is the catalyst for our presence, there's much more to the places we visit than just that, which is why we build other activities into our safaris. The places we take you are rich in culture, history, cuisine, and character, and whether swimmer or non-swimmer we want you to sample as much of that as possible.
Do I need to take out travel insurance before joining a trip?
Travel Insurance is compulsory and a condition of your booking with us. You must take out travel insurance to cover the period of your tour covering loss, theft, damage, illness, accident, and consequent medical treatment, transport and related events.
These contingencies are not the responsibility of oceanswimsafaris.com or their principals or representatives. We will not be responsible if you ignore or act contrary to the directions or advice of your oceanswimsafaris tour leaders, or if you breach the terms of your personal travel insurance.
For information see the Travel Insurance section of our main FAQs.
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