OUR NEW ZEALAND CYCLING TOURS  

Talofa! — Welcome to the Warmest Cycling Tour We Offer

There is something about Samoa that gets under your skin from the moment you arrive. The warm, heavy air. The vivid greens of the rainforest pressing up against the road. The sea — impossibly blue — almost always in sight. And the people, who greet you with a warmth that feels completely genuine.

 

Over nine days, we cycle around the island of Upolu — about 160 km in total — on quiet coastal roads that wind through villages, past churches and colourful houses, with children and the occasional dog watching from the roadside. This is not a race and it is not a hard tour. It is a journey at island pace, with time to stop, swim, explore, and simply take it all in.

 

Along the way we snorkel over giant clams in a village-managed marine reserve, paddle through mangroves on a turtle kayak experience — one of the absolute highlights of the tour — plunge into the famous To Sua Trench, cool off under the Togitogiga Waterfalls, and finish in Apia — the small, lively capital with its markets, cafes, and the warmth of fa'a Samoa all around us.

 

This tour is run in partnership with our trusted partner Cycle Journeys / Outdoor Samoa, who know this island inside out. E-bikes are included, luggage is transported between accommodations, and our accommodation throughout is at comfortable resort level — with the ocean close by at every stop.

 

If you have been looking for a tour that offers something genuinely different — a place that feels far away from everyday life — this is it.

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Day 1: Arrival in Samoa — Talofa!

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, and it feels immediately different.

 

At the airport your guide is waiting for you — she has been in Samoa ahead of the group and will be your companion for the days to come.

 

At the airport your guide is waiting for you — 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, our home for the first two nights. Nestled on the north-west coast of Upolu, just a short distance from the airport, this resort sets the tone for the journey beautifully — ocean views, a tropical breeze, and a pace of life that invites you to slow down.

 

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

 

Included: Airport transfer

Accommodation: Le Vasa Resort — Superior Oceanfront Bungalows

Meals: B

 

Day 2: Bike Briefing & Cultural Village Ride (8 km)

This morning we collect our e-bikes and receive a comprehensive briefing on cycling in Samoa from our local partners at Cycle Journeys. Then we set off on our first ride — and what a way to begin.

 

Our Samoan guides lead us through their own village, sharing their everyday world with us. We cycle past fales (traditional open houses) where families gather, past churches that are the heart of every Samoan community, and through a landscape that feels alive with colour and sound. It is an unhurried, deeply personal introduction to fa'a Samoa — the Samoan way of life. Previous guests have consistently named this village ride one of the highlights of the whole tour.

 

The afternoon is yours to relax at the resort, swim in the ocean, or simply sit on the veranda and watch the world go by.

 

Cycling: ~ 8 km / easy / sealed road and village tracks

Accommodation: Le Vasa Resort

Meals: B

 

Day 3: Coastal Ride to Matautu — Giant Clams & Return to Paradise (26 km)

This morning we leave Le Vasa Resort and head south along the coast. The first 14 km are gentle — a quiet coastal road that winds through villages, past bright painted churches and children calling out from the roadside. The ocean glitters to our left the whole way.

 

Then comes the climb. At Falelatai, the road rises steeply for about 2 km — gaining 200 metres of elevation. On an e-bike it is a genuine but very manageable challenge, and on a clear day the reward at the top is worth every metre: a sweeping view over the lagoons stretching along the south coast. Take a breath. Take a photo. The descent follows — partly unsealed, so take care — before the road flattens out again along the coast.

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At 19 km we reach Le Faga Bay in Savaia, home of the Giant Clam Sanctuary. For a small fee, you can slip into your snorkelling gear and float over these extraordinary creatures in crystal-clear water. Keep your eyes open for sea turtles too — the locals know exactly where to find them.

 

Our accommodation for the next two nights is Return to Paradise Resort — the name says it all. A relaxed, beautiful place right by the ocean, with an on-site restaurant serving fresh food with a strong Samoan influence. We have arrived.

 

Cycling: ~ 26 km / Grade 2–3 — sealed coastal road with one significant climb

Accommodation: Return to Paradise Resort, Matautu

Meals: B

 

Day 4: Turtle Kayak Day Trip

We leave the bikes behind and take to the water.

 

Our support driver collects us after breakfast for the short drive to Vai Villas, where we set off on a fully guided kayak trip through the mangroves and out into the lagoon. This area is one of Samoa’s last remaining turtle nesting grounds, and with a little luck we may see hawksbill turtles swimming freely around us. It is a quietly magical experience — the kind that is difficult to describe afterwards, and impossible to forget.

 

After the kayak trip, lunch is provided at Vai Villas before we are driven back to the resort for a relaxed afternoon. If kayaking isn’t for you, you are very welcome to spend the day at the resort enjoying the garden, the beach, or the village swimming hole nearby.

 

Activity: Turtle Kayak Experience — guided, approximately half a day

Accommodation: Return to Paradise Resort, Matautu

Meals: B, L

 

Day 5: South Coast Ride to Saletoga Beach (45 km)

Today’s ride takes us along the undulating south coast road — our longest cycling day so far, and one of the most scenic. The road follows the coastline closely, with the ocean on one side and lush rainforest pressing in on the other. There is a relaxed rhythm to it that feels very Samoan.

 

Along the way, we stop at the Ma Tree — a towering, ancient tree inside the O le Pupu Puʻe National Park, reached by a short 700m walk through tropical rainforest. It is a place that puts everything in perspective.

The highlight of the day is the Togitogiga Waterfalls. A series of cascading falls flowing into clear swimming pools surrounded by tropical greenery — this was once a favoured spot for Samoa’s great warriors, and it is easy to understand why. We take our time here. There is no rush.

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Our accommodation for the next two nights, Saletoga Sands Resort, sits right on the beach. There is a pool with a swim-up bar, a day spa, snorkelling equipment, and paddleboards. The afternoon and evening are yours.

 

Cycling: ~ 45 km / Grade 2 Easy — sealed coastal road, undulating

Accommodation: Saletoga Sands Resort & Spa, Utulaelae

Meals: B

 

Day 6: The Big Loop & To Sua Trench (~ 60 km)

Our longest and most adventurous day on the bike — a 60 km loop that takes us inland, over the Le Mafa Pass, across to the east coast, and back along the shoreline.

 

It is a Sunday, which means quiet roads and the sound of church choirs drifting through the trees as we pass through villages. There is something deeply peaceful about cycling through Samoa on a Sunday morning.

 

The route takes us past the Fuipisia Waterfall lookout, across to the east coast with views towards the tiny Namua Island, and back along the south coast road. The final stop is the To Sua Trench — one of Samoa’s most extraordinary natural wonders. This 30-metre-deep swimming hole is reached by a long wooden ladder, and the turquoise water waiting at the bottom is as beautiful as anything we will see on this journey. If the whales are passing (mid-September to November), you may spot them from the clifftops nearby.

 

For anyone who would prefer a quieter day, you are very welcome to stay at the resort and enjoy the beach, the pool, or simply do nothing at all. Both options are completely valid.

 

Cycling: ~ 60 km / Grade 2–3 — sealed road, one mountain pass, mostly rolling

Accommodation: Saletoga Sands Resort & Spa, Utulaelae

Meals: B

 

Day 7: Over the Pass to Apia (~ 50 km)

Our final full day of cycling. We leave the south coast behind and head inland once more, climbing back over Le Mafa Pass before descending towards Apia on the north coast. The inland roads are quieter, lush, and beautiful in a different way to the coast.

After about 25 km we reach Le Uaina Beach Resort — a lovely spot for lunch and a rest, and the place where we meet our shuttle driver for anyone who prefers not to complete the full ride.

 

Just nearby, a small painted stone entrance leads down to the Piula Cave Pool — a natural freshwater spring beneath a historic chapel that flows from a cave out to sea. It is a peaceful, slightly surreal place for a swim, and well worth the short detour.

 

From here we continue into Apia — the small, lively capital of Samoa, with its waterfront, markets, cafes, and the easy-going energy of a city that has not forgotten how to relax. Our hotel, the Tanoa Tusitala, sits in six hectares of tropical gardens just metres from the waterfront. It is a very comfortable place to spend our last two nights.

 

Cycling: ~ 50 km / Grade 2 Easy — sealed road with mountain pass (shuttle option available)

Accommodation: Tanoa Tusitala Hotel, Apia

Meals: B

 

Day 8: A Day in Apia

More than 160 km cycled around Upolu Island. Today is entirely yours.

 

Apia is small enough to explore easily on foot, and there is plenty to discover. The Robert Louis Stevenson Museum — the home where the author of Treasure Island spent his final years — is a fascinating visit. The Fugalei and Old Apia Markets are full of colour, fresh produce, and local life. The Apia Cathedral is one of the most beautiful buildings in the South Pacific.

 

For a final swim, the Palolo Deep Marine Reserve just outside the city offers spectacular snorkelling in a protected reef area.

Or perhaps you simply want to sit by the pool, read a book, and let the last days settle in. That is equally fine.

 

Accommodation: Tanoa Tusitala Hotel, Apia

Meals: B

 

Day 9: Farewell Samoa — Tofa!

A final tropical breakfast together before we say goodbye to Samoa.

 

A shuttle transfer takes us to the airport for our flights home. The warmth, the colour, the sound of the ocean, the faces of the people we met along the way — it all stays with you.

 

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