PalauSignature: Palau’s Rock Islands & Underwater Serengeti
Welcome to Palau. Your expedition begins as you touch down in Koror, greeted by the warm, humid embrace of the tropics. You will be met and transferred to your hotel to settle in–take a moment to breathe in the salt air and feel the immediate relief of the warm, tropical breeze. Use this time to rest and adjust to the slower island pace before the extraordinary marine and cultural treasures of the Rock Islands unfold tomorrow.
Arrival Transfer
You will be met at the airport and transferred to the hotel to start your adventure.
Accommodation
Below is an example of the hotel we may use in this city. For the actual hotel your specific departure will be using, please check your voucher.
Palau Pacific Resort
Gather with your National Geographic Expedition Leader and National Geographic Expedition Expert for a welcome presentation on Palau’s unique nature and culture before boarding a boat to Nikko Bay. Glide across turquoise waters to your first snorkel sites: the vibrant Rembrandt’s Cove and another epic location teeming with life. Immerse yourself in the silent world beneath the surface, marveling at the density of marine biodiversity. After lunch on board, connect with Palau’s seafaring heritage during a meeting with the crew of a traditional Moana canoe. Return to the hotel to refresh before a welcome cocktail reception and dinner featuring a mesmerizing performance by Palauan dancers.
Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your Expedition Leader and Group
Your opportunity to meet your Expedition Leader and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.
Introduction to Palau Nature and Culture
Join a National Geographic Expedition Expert of an intro presentation on the culture and nature of Palau.
Nikko Bay Snorkel Site
Head to Rembrandt's cove for the first snorkel and spend the rest of the day exploring and snorkeling Lettuce Coral Wall or Disney Bay (weather dependent).
Moana Canoe
See a traditional outrigger canoe, a seemingly perfect replica of the canoe from the famous "Moana" movie. Take some photos and learn of the incredible history of these vessels powered by paddles and woven sails using the amazing ancestral navigation called wayfinding, mapping the stars.
Free Time at the Resort in Koror
During your free time, relax at your hotel or explore your surroundings.
Welcome Reception in Koror
Enjoy a Welcome cocktail reception by the pool before the welcome dinner at the resort.
Accommodation
Palau Pacific Resort
Begin with a visit to the Coral Reef Research Foundation to meet a researcher and learn about their vital work, including the search for medicinal compounds in marine invertebrates. Then, snorkel the crystal-clear waters of Blue Devil Gardens before boarding a boat to Risong Bay. Navigate the silence of the mangrove forest, listening for endemic birds and searching the shallows for baby sharks. After a grilled lunch on a secluded beach, snorkel the Mandarin Fish Lake. Scan the water for the dazzling, psychedelic colors of the mandarin fish before returning to the resort.
Signature Moment: Coral Reef Research Foundation Visit
Visit the Coral Reef Research Foundation (CRRF), which was founded in 1991 and has been leading conservation efforts and research in Palau. Explore the world of marine invertebrates in newly discovered marine lakes who protect themselves with a cornucopia of bizarre chemical compounds. Much like the medicinal plants of the Amazon rainforest, these sponges & ascidians may hold unique proteins which could one day help cure cancer and deadly diseases. Meet with a researcher from the CRRF to better understand the bio diversity of Palau's marine environment.
A day at Risong Bay
Paddle by kayak gently in search of baby sharks, endemic birds, and rare orchids before relaxing at Blue Devil Beach and snorkeling at Blue Devil Garden. Enjoy lunch before continuing to snorkel Mandarin Fish Lake for the final snorkel of the day.
Free Time at the Resort in Koror
During your free time, relax at your hotel or explore your surroundings.
Accommodation
Palau Pacific Resort
Combine exploration with active conservation at Ulong Island. Snorkel below the Ulong Arch, a natural limestone bridge which underneath teems with colourful fish and soft corals. Here, you will assist in restoring native populations by placing young, farmed giant clams onto the reef — a hands-on contribution to the ecosystem. Step ashore onto the island and walk through an old-growth forest to the site of an ancient village, where your Leader will share the history of the Rock Island people who once thrived here. Enjoy a traditional Palauan barbecue lunch on the beach, followed by a talk on local conservation. The afternoon concludes with a drift snorkel through the dynamic currents and marine life of Wilson’s Channel.
Ulong Island Snorkel
Transfer by boat out to Ulong Arch to see the beautiful corals and colors and help restore the native clam population by placing young farmed clams on the reef to grow into adults. After, head to the beach for a Palawan BBQ lunch. In the afternoon, explore the reef at Wilson's Channel before heading back to the resort.
Accommodation
Palau Pacific Resort
Spend the morning kayaking under the dense, green canopy of Long Lake. Paddle quietly through this delicate ecosystem, observing nesting birds, ferns, and wild orchids reflected in the calm water. Continue to the Milky Way, a secluded milky-turquoise lagoon famous for its white limestone mud. Indulge in a natural spa treatment by covering yourself in the mineral-rich mud found on the sea floor. After washing off and enjoying a beach lunch, snorkel the multi-colored brain corals of Einstein’s Garden, a site known for its unique cerebral formations. Conclude the day with dinner at a restaurant elegantly built over the lagoon, watching the moon rise over the water.
Long Lake Paddle and Snorkel
In the morning, kayak among the mangrove forest of Long lake. Later, head to an area called the Milky Way to discover white mud and have the opportunity for a white mud bath. After, enjoy another beach lunch before snorkeling among the multi colored brain corals of Einstein's Garden and return back to the resort.
Accommodation
Palau Pacific Resort
Snorkel the massive coral colony known as the Reef Fish Apartment House, towering Turbinaria structures whose folds shelter dozens of fish species. After lunch on the beach, delve into the region's wartime history with a talk on the impact of WWII. Snorkel from the beach to inspect the haunting remains of a Japanese Zero fighter plane resting in the shallow seabed, now an artificial reef. Your final stop is Rainbow Reef, a kaleidoscope of soft corals and fish that showcases the full spectrum of Palau’s biodiversity. Tonight, enjoy an authentic dinner at a small, local café, experiencing the island's hospitality firsthand.
Patch Reefs and Ngeanges Island
Start the day by transferring to Fantasy Island by boat and snorkeling over Table and Staghorn Corals. Afterwards, snorkel in an area know as “Reef Fish Apartment House”, a massive colony of Turbinaria frondens coral. After, enjoy another delicious beach lunch and snorkel out to see the remains of a WWII Japanese Zero fighter plane. End the day at Rainbow Reef, which arguably boasts the finest coral and fish diversity inside the reef before continuing back to the resort for free time.
Accommodation
Palau Pacific Resort
Head to the outer reefs for a drift snorkel at the legendary Big Drop-Off. Using the currents to guide you, float effortlessly past a sheer underwater wall covered in giant sea fans and sponges, watching sea turtles and schools of pyramid butterflyfish in this "Underwater Serengeti." Lunch is served onboard while the crew actively scouts the horizon for pods of playful spinner dolphins. The afternoon concludes at the German Channel, a man-made cut in the reef that attracts filter feeders. Snorkel the channel in hopes of spotting majestic manta rays gliding through the open water. Enjoy the evening and dinner at your leisure to reflect on the day’s incredible marine encounters.
Ngemelis Island
Start the day with a boat transfer to Ngemelis Island to snorkel in an area known as the "Big Drop-off" before continuing on to Fairyland Gardens for additional snorkeling over a staggering reef. After lunch on board the boat, snorkel at the German Channel in the afternoon before returning to the resort for free time.
Accommodation
Palau Pacific Resort
Hike a forest trail to reach the secluded Jellyfish Lake for a surreal, once-in-a-lifetime swim. Drift among countless golden jellyfish as they pulse gently in the sunlit, green water — an experience of pure tranquility. Afterward, view an enormous disk of ancient Yapese stone money and snorkel over massive 500-pound giant clams. Visit the Belau National Museum to gather in a traditionally carved meeting house, where a revered elder shares the deep history and creation stories of the Palauan people. Celebrate your marine odyssey with a farewell dinner at the resort, toasting the memories of the archipelago.
Belau National Museum Visit
After free time at the resort, transfer to Belau National Museum to hear the story of Palau from one of the elders.
Jellyfish Lake and Ngermeaus Island
Start the day with a boat ride to the floating docks at Jellyfish Lake. From there, enjoy a short hike and swim to view the jellyfish. Afterwards, transfer by boat to snorkel over giant clams before enjoying a final lunch on the beach before returning to the resort for free time
Farewell Dinner in Koror
Conclude the journey with a Farewell Dinner at the resort.
Accommodation
Palau Pacific Resort
Your expedition to Palau concludes today. After breakfast, take a final look at the pristine waters before your individual transfer to the airport, provided at any time during the day.
Departure Transfer
You will be met at your hotel and transferred to the airport at the end of your adventure.
Departure Day
Not ready to leave? Your Expedition Leader can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.
