Rarotonga & Aitutaki Lagoon escape

Image
Image

Meet the friendly locals on Aitutaki Island
Image

Soak up the sun on Rarotonga's stunning beaches
Image

One Foot Island, Aitutaki, Cook Islands
Image

Try paddle-boarding on Aitutaki's lagoon
Image

Experience Polynesian hospitality on the Cooks
Image
Image

Image
Image

Meet the friendly locals on Aitutaki Island
Image

Soak up the sun on Rarotonga's stunning beaches
Image

One Foot Island, Aitutaki, Cook Islands
Image

Try paddle-boarding on Aitutaki's lagoon
Image

Experience Polynesian hospitality on the Cooks
Image
Image

Trip ideas

Duration(in days): 8

From: Rarotonga

To: Rarotonga

From

£1,985

Get a quote

or Call 01273 320580

See more ideas for: Cook Islands

Overview

Enjoy 8 days in Polynesian paradise with this week-long adventure to the Cook Islands. Spend a few days on the mainland of Rarotonga experiencing the island's rich culture. Take part in an 'island night' to learn more about local life, or hire a car and explore the island. Next, take a scenic flight to nearby Aitutaki, where we've included a cruise on the picturesque turquoise Aitutaki lagoon.

With 3 nights in Rarotonga, you will have plenty of time to get to know the small main island - its many beautiful beaches and a volcanic interior offer so much for you to explore. Besides the natural wonders, you'll soon discover the rich local culture. The regular 'island nights' are a great opportunity to learn a little more about the Islanders' Polynesian roots and culture through the sharing of food, dance, and music.

This Cook Islands itinerary can be tailored to suit your requirements; please contact one of our consultants to start planning your dream trip.

Highlights:

Being met with a traditional greeting and a floral 'lei' on arrival
Understand more about the Polynesian culture by attending an 'island night' in Rarotonga
Hire a car or moped and explore the island of Rarotonga independently
Cruise over the crystal clear waters of Aitutaki Lagoon
Unwind on glorious white sand beaches

Itinerary

Itinerary in brief:

4 nights Rarotonga
3 nights Aitutaki

Day 1: Arrive Rarotonga

You will be greeted at the airport with a flower lei and driven to your hotel by shared transfer.

On arrival at your accommodation, check in for a 4-night stay.

Days 2 & 3: Rarotonga

You have a free day today, so its time to truly relax and set your clock to the laid back 'island time'!

If you want to see what local life is like on the island, head to the main town of Avaru, where there is a market every Saturday. On Sunday mornings you'll find most of the Islanders will be in church, and you're always welcome to join them at their Sunday service for another glimpse of every day local life here.

Why not hire a small car, moped or even a bicycle to do some exploring? There are plenty of lovely beaches to explore - some better for swimming, others snorkelling. If you fancy a bit more action, you can go kite surfing, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, or open water diving.

Day 4: Rarotonga

Besides beaches, Rarotonga has a lush, forested interior that's ripe for exploring. Why not join local legend 'Pa' on one of his nature or cross-island walks? Pa is a local character famous in the Cook Islands for his beliefs in natural medicine. He runs guided walks through the forest where he'll stop to show you local plant remedies and show you the most spectacular view points. To cool off, he'll also take you to a waterfall for a quick swim!

There are several different ‘Island nights’ that take place on Rarotonga too and we recommend attending one whilst you're here. It's the best way to enjoy Polynesian culture through food, dance and music. If you would like to include one of these in your trip just let your consultant know.

Day 5: Rarotonga to Aitutaki

After breakfast, you will be taken by shared transfer back to Rarotonga Airport for the short and scenic 45 minute flight to Aitutaki.

On arrival, you will be met and transferred to your accommodation, where you’ll check-in for a 3 night stay.

Days 6 & 7: Aitutaki

We have included a cruise on the beautiful Aitutaki Lagoon. Float above the turquoise waters spotting turtles then head to some amazing snorkelling sites for an up-close experience in the water. A BBQ lunch is provided and you'll get to visit One Foot Island, a stunning uninhabited island popular with wedding couples looking for a romantic and private ceremony.

Day 8: Depart Aitutaki

After checking out, you will be taken to the airport by shared transfer for your flight back to Rarotonga and your onward journey.

Info

The Cook Islands are a great year-round destination with temperatures ranging between 18c and 28c in the winter (October to May) and 21c to 29c in the summer (November to April). The Cooks has a pleasantly even climate year round with no real weather excesses, although it can rain often thanks to its high inland mountains. The best time of year to visit is around September/October when you will find warm temperatures and low humidity, also March/April when the weather is generally fine and sunny.

We've done a similar trip...

If you'd like to get a feel for this trip, read our blog post Visit the Cook Islands: the quintessential South Pacific paradise, written by one of our consultants who has been there.

This itinerary is purely a suggestion, and can be tailor-made to your requirements, so please contact us with your dates and requests and we’ll put together a bespoke quotation for you.

What's included