Savai’i Escape

The Women Only Savai'i Escape is a 9-night cycling and cultural journey through Samoa's rugged "Big Island," run by Cycle Journeys in partnership with Outdoor Samoa. Designed for women travelling solo who want built-in companionship, the trip pairs eight days of guided riding (8-42 km per day) with a turtle kayaking day trip through mangroves and out to a lagoon turtle feeding ground.

Along the way riders explore lava fields, blowholes at Taga, waterfalls at Afu Aau and traditional villages, with a cultural village cycle tour led by female Samoan guides. Days mix coastal riding beside lagoons with short, sharp inland climbs, and wrap up with swims, snorkelling and a traditional umu feast.

Accommodation blends air-conditioned twin-share hotel rooms, beachfront fales and one night of communal marae-style lodging, with a support van handling luggage transfers and water top-ups throughout.

Highlights

• Kayak through mangroves to spot a bale of turtles feeding in a lagoon
• Cultural village cycle tour led by female Samoan guides
• Traditional umu feast and a farm tour (as seen on NZ's Country Calendar)
• Explore lava fields, lava caves and the Pe'ape'a bird cave at Letui
• Blowholes at Taga and a swim at the Afu Aau waterfalls
• Snorkelling in coral gardens, with gear provided

Surface and terrain:

Riding is mostly on sealed roads through villages and along the lagoon, with two short unsealed sections (gravel/sand near Falealupo and Cape Mulinuu). Terrain varies day to day: some flatter coastal stretches, gentle undulations through forest, and a few short, sharp inland climbs, including a steep ascent to Aopo followed by a fast, steep descent into Asau. Daily distances range from 8 to 42 km across the 8 riding days.

Weather:

Samoa has a tropical climate year-round with warm, humid conditions; a wetter season runs roughly November to April and a cooler, drier season from May to October.

Suitable for:

Women travelling solo or in a group who want built-in companionship, comfortable with daily rides of 8-42 km and a mix of cycling, kayaking and cultural activities rather than a high-mileage challenge.