Samoa Savai'i Cycle Tour  

📌New Tour

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Talofa! - Welcome to the Big Island

On Savai’i, we experience an even more authentic side of Samoa. It’s a place where life feels a little simpler, and it doesn’t take long before we begin to slow down and settle into the rhythm of the island. We cycle along quiet coastal roads, pass through small villages, and see parts of the island that feel largely untouched.
We take our time to enjoy what’s around us – whether it’s a swim, a short stop along the way, or simply arriving at our next beachside accommodation and settling in for the evening. With everything organised, we can relax into the journey and enjoy each day as it comes.

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Day 1 (Tuesday, 15 September) Arrival in Samoa

Your guide will meet the group at the airport in Auckland (flight recommendation with tour confirmation) and will accompany you throughout the journey. Our Samoa adventure begins the moment you step off the plane. The warm tropical air, the smell of frangipani, the sound of Samoan voices – it all hits you at once.

Together we transfer to Le Vasa Resort on the north-west coast of Upolu, our base for the first night. The resort sits close to the airport and the Mulifanua ferry terminal, with stunning ocean views and a pace of life that immediately invites you to slow down.

The rest of the day is yours: settle in, take a swim, watch the sun go down over the Pacific, and get ready for what lies ahead.

Tip: There is an exchange counter and ATM in the airport terminal – organise enough cash before leaving, as ATMs on Savai’i are very limited.

 

Included: Airport transfer

Accommodation: Le Vasa Resort – Deluxe Oceanfront Bungalows

Meals: B

 

Day 2 (Wednesday, 16 September) Bike Briefing, Village Ride & Ferry to Savai’i 

After breakfast we collect our Ebikes and receive a full briefing on cycling in Samoa from the team at Cycle Journeys. Then we set off on our first ride – the Cultural Village Ride, led by our Samoan guides through their own village. We cycle past fales where families gather, past churches that anchor every community, and through a landscape alive with colour and sound. Previous guests consistently name this village ride one of the highlights of the entire trip.

After the village ride, we cycle 3 km to the Mulifanua Wharf and board the noon ferry across the Apolima Strait to Savai’i – a crossing of 75 to 90 minutes. The ferry is an experience in itself: locals with bikes and market goods, the open sea, and ahead of us, the green hills of the Big Island.

Our support driver meets us at Salelologa Wharf on the other side. We ride 23 km along the north coast to Lano, with lunch options at the Harbourside Café at the wharf or the Naumati Store further along.

In the late afternoon, we join our hosts at Lauiula Beach Fales for a traditional umu cooking demonstration – our evening meal is prepared in an earth oven, Samoan style.

Tip: If we arrive in Lano early, the Asaga River Pool is a lovely option - just 700 m north - a beautiful freshwater pool for WST 10 entry.

 

Cycling: ~ 8 km village ride + 23 km coastal, both easy (village tracks and sealed road)

Accommodation: Blue Lagoon Villas, Lano

Meals: B, D

 

Day 3 (Thursday, 17 September) Lano to Fagamalo

A beautiful coastal ride of 31 km along the north coast, with the ocean almost always in sight.

After 22 km we pass Mauga – the smallest village in Savai’i, built around the rim of an ancient volcanic crater. A few kilometers further on is the Lava Church: an old church that sits with a meter of hardened lava across its floor, a remnant of the great eruption of Mt. Matavanu.

Just beyond is the Saleaula Lava Field – one of the most extraordinary sites in the Pacific. Between 1905 and 1911, the eruption buried five entire villages. Walking through the lava field today, you can see the half-buried church, the grave of a young woman that the lava is said to have flowed around, and the ghostly shapes of what lies beneath. It is history, nature, and mythology all in one place.

Tip: This is the last ATM on the island – it is next to the shop opposite the Savai’i Lagoon Resort. Stock up here.

 

Cycling: ~ 31 km, easy to moderate (sealed coastal road)

Accommodation: Savai’i Lagoon Resort, Fagamalo

Meals: B, D

 

Day 4 (Friday, 18 September) Fagamalo to Asau

Our most challenging day of cycling – 41 km with approximately 500 m of elevation gain and several real climbs. The Ebikes earn their keep today. The route takes us inland from the coast. After 9 km we reach Mataolealelo Spring – one of Samoa’s most culturally significant sites, said to have the coldest water on the island. Worth a stop. A little further on, Pe’ape’a Cave sits right beside the road (entry WST 10, toilets available) – a natural cave you can explore if you have the energy.

The highest point of the day is the small town of A’opo. From there, a wonderful 9 km descent brings us back down to the coast and into Asau, where a large freshwater pool awaits for a well-earned cool-down. Lunch options in Asau: Va-i-moana Seaside Lodge, the town bakery, or roadside snacks. Opposite our accommodation is a cocoa factory that supplies Whittaker’s chocolate – worth enquiring about a tour.

 

Cycling: ~ 41 km, moderate (sealed road, significant climbing)

Accommodation: Va-i-moana Seaside Lodge, Asau

Meals: B

 

Day 5 (Saturday, 19 September) Asau to Falealupo to Satuiatua

Today’s ride has two distinct sections, and both are memorable.

The first 20 km takes us to the Falealupo Peninsula – Samoa’s westernmost point. A short, sharp 160 m climb leads to the peninsula. In Samoan mythology, Cape Mulinu’u at its tip is where the earth meets the sky, the gateway for spirits entering the afterlife. Standing here, it is easy to understand why.

Also in Falealupo are the ruins of the Cyclone Church – devastated by Cyclones Ofa and Val in 1990 and 1991, the ruins were left standing as a reminder of the destruction. They are among the most striking and quietly unsettling sights on the whole tour.

The second section – 37 km to Satuiatua – takes us along a gravel coastal road, up to 160 m on the cliffs, then through numerous villages with wild surf crashing into the lava coast below. Lovers Leap viewpoint is a highlight: local legend says two lovers turned into a shark and a turtle here. Our accommodation, Satuiatua Beach Fales, sits on a white sand beach under giant banyan trees. The marine reserve right alongside offers outstanding snorkelling at high tide, and the bar is a fine place to watch for whales (in season).

 

Cycling: ~ 20 + 37 km, easy to moderate (coastal gravel and sealed road)

Accommodation: Satuiatua Beach Fales

Meals: B, D

 

Day 6 (Sunday, 20 September) Satuiatua to Fa’a’ala

A 43 km ride along the south coast, with 200 m of climbing and the easterly trade winds sometimes against us. We start early.

​After 15 km, a 1.5 km detour leads to the Taga Blowholes – one of Savai’i’s most dramatic natural attractions. When the swell is running, the waves force water up through lava tubes and send fountains high into the air. Bring cash for the small entrance fee, and watch your footing on the wet lava.

At 25 km, the Afu Aau Waterfalls (also called Olemoe Falls) offer a gorgeous freshwater swimming pool at the base of a cascade in the rainforest. There are toilets, changing rooms, and a small supermarket nearby for lunch supplies. After cooling off at the falls, we continue 3 km to the village of Fa’a’ala and follow the signs to Aganoa Lodge – a simple, warm, beachside escape right on the reef. Our last night on Savai’i.

 

Cycling: ~ 43 km, easy (sealed south coast road)

Accommodation: Aganoa Lodge, Fa’a’ala

Meals: B, D

 

Day 7 (Monday, 21 September) Fa’a’ala to Salelologa & Return Ferry

Our final morning on Savai’i – a short, easy 10 km ride to Salelologa, the island’s only town and commercial centre.

Before boarding the ferry, browse the Salelologa Market for souvenirs and local produce. Adrias Café next to the market is worth a stop for a last coffee on the Big Island.

The noon ferry crosses back to Upolu – 75 to 90 minutes across the Apolima Strait. At Mulifanua Wharf we are met by our team. A final 3 km ride brings us back to the Cycle Journeys base, and from there we transfer to the Samoa Beach Resort near the airport – a beautiful spot for our last night together.

 

Cycling: ~ 10 + 3 km, easy (flat sealed road)

Accommodation: Samoa Beach Resort, Mulifanua, Upolu

Meals: B

 

Day 8 (Tuesday, 22 September) Farewell Samoa – Tofa!

A final tropical breakfast together before we say goodbye.

Transfer to Faleolo International Airport for flights home. The lava fields, the ocean, the giant banyan trees, the warmth of the people we met along the way – it all stays with you long after you land.

 

Manuia le malaga. Safe travels.

 

Included: Breakfast, airport transfer

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Tour Grading

🚴‍♀️ Grade 2 (Easy) to Grade 3 (Moderate)

Most of your riding in Samoa takes place on quiet island roads, usually with very little traffic. The pace is relaxed, and the routes are chosen so you can enjoy the scenery without feeling rushed. Some sections are wide and open, ideal for riding side by side and having a chat. Other parts follow smaller coastal or village roads, where you get a closer feel for everyday life in Samoa. There are also a few hills along the way, most of them gentle, and nothing that feels overwhelming – especially with the support of an Ebike.

See our full Cycle Trail Grading System explained → Our Cycle Trail Grading System explained

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👉 Our recommendation

This tour is a lovely option if you’re new to Ebiking, and great if you’re already comfortable riding a standard bike.
There are a few slightly steeper or winding sections, but you can always hop off and walk if you prefer – no pressure at all. 🌿

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