OUR NEW ZEALAND CYCLING TOURS  

📌New Tour

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Talofa! — Welcome to the Big Island

Savai’i is not the Samoa most visitors see. It is bigger, quieter, and less polished than its sister island Upolu – and that is precisely why we love it. The roads are emptier. The villages feel less visited. The landscapes are wilder. And the people, if possible, are even warmer.

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Over eight days, we cycle around the entire coastline of Savai’i – approximately 200 km on quiet roads that hug the coast for most of the journey. We ride past the extraordinary Saleaula Lava Fields, where an eruption between 1905 and 1911 buried entire villages and left a half-submerged church standing eerily in the hardened lava. We stop at the Taga Blowholes – lava tubes that send jets of seawater high into the air with each breaking wave. We swim at the Afu Aau Waterfalls, snorkel in village-managed marine reserves, and end each day at small, intimate accommodations where the beach is just steps away.

 

The tour begins and ends on Upolu, with a ferry crossing to Savai’i on Day 2 and the return crossing on Day 7. E-bikes are included throughout, luggage is transferred between accommodations each day, and our local partners Cycle Journeys / Outdoor Samoa are with us every step of the way.

 

This is a tour for women who want to see the real Samoa – not the resort brochure version, but the living, breathing island, with all its colour, history, and heart.

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Day 1 – Tuesday, 15 September – Arrival in Samoa

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.

 

At the airport your guide is waiting – she has been in Samoa ahead of the group and will be your companion for the days to come. 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 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 (8 + 23 km)

After breakfast we collect our e-bikes 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 you arrive in Lano early, the Asaga River Pool is just 700 m north – a beautiful freshwater pool for WST 10 entry.

 

Cycling: ~8 km village ride + 23 km coastal / easy / sealed road

Accommodation: Blue Lagoon Villas, Lano

Meals: B

 

Day 3 – Thursday, 17 September – Lano to Fagamalo (31 km)

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 kilometres further on is the Lava Church: an old LMS church that sits with a metre 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-moderate / sealed coastal road

Accommodation: Savai’i Lagoon Resort, Fagamalo

Meals: B, D

 

Day 4 – Friday, 18 September – Fagamalo to Asau (41 km)

Our most challenging day of cycling – 41 km with approximately 500 m of elevation gain and several real climbs. The e-bikes 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 / grade 3 / sealed road, significant climbing

Accommodation: Va-i-moana Seaside Lodge, Asau

Meals: B

 

Day 5 – Saturday, 19 September – Asau to Falealupo to Satuiatua (20 + 37 km)

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 / grade 2–3 / coastal gravel and sealed road

Accommodation: Satuiatua Beach Fales

Meals: B, D

 

Day 6 – Sunday, 20 September – Satuiatua to Fa’a’ala (43 km)

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 / grade 2 / 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 (10 + 3 km)

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

 

This is a guided tour, with a guide riding with the group throughout the tour.

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Tour Grading

🚴‍♀️ Grade 2 (Easy) to Grade 3 (Moderate)
Expect a mix of quiet gravel roads, rougher unsealed surfaces, and narrower trail sections, with both climbs and descents along the way. Everything is manageable, but it does ask a little more of you than a flat rail trail.
Most days are Grade 2 (Easy to Moderate), with wide open gravel roads and steady terrain. Some sections step up to Grade 3 (Moderate), with rougher surfaces, occasional loose gravel, and climbs that reward you with sweeping high-country views.
 

👉 Our recommendation:

This tour is best suited to women who feel confident and comfortable on their Ebike - ideally with some gravel road experience already under their belt. If climbs and descents don't faze you and you enjoy riding terrain that feels a little more adventurous, you'll absolutely love it.
 

And as always - support is close by, and there's no pressure to push beyond your comfort zone!

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You can find more about how we grade our tours here:

→ Our Cycle Trail Grading System explained