The 15 Best Samoa Tours & Upolu Day Trips

1.Full Day Tour in Samoa with a Local

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 154 reviews · from $130Our pick

Spend 7 to 8 hours touring Upolu with local guides such as Chief Christopher, George, or Irvin. Visit the Robert Louis Stevenson Museum, Sopoaga and Papapapaitai Falls, To Sua Ocean Trench, Piula Cave Pool, Apia’s markets, and more. Expect Samoan stories, songs, cooking demonstrations, and time for swimming.

“Exceptional Day and Exceptional Tour. The tour is jam-packed so be clear that you want to see many things, not spending a lot of time at each. That is exactly what we wanted; to see as much as we possibly could in our one day ShorRead more”

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2.Full-Day Upolu Island Highlights Tour from Apia

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 100 reviews · from $130

Spend 7 to 8 hours touring Upolu with local guides Shawn or Janette. Swim at Piula Cave Pool, To Sua Ocean Trench, Lalomanu Beach, and Togitogiga Waterfall, with mountain views, waterfalls, a Bahá’í temple, snacks, water, and hotel pickup included. Lunch is extra.

“Sean was amazing. Super chill, very kind, informative. Was picked up on time, visited all the spots, nothing rushed. Sean's van was nice and cool and clean.”

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3.Full-Day Upolu Island Tour with Waterfalls and Beaches

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 61 reviews · 8 hours · from $130

Spend eight hours touring Upolu with local guides Janette or Shaun. Swim at Piula Cave Pool, To Sua Trench, Lalomanu Beach, and Togitogiga Waterfall, then visit Papapapaitai Falls and the Baha’i Temple. The small-group feel, local stories, air-conditioned van, water, and snacks make this a practical choice when time is short.

“The guide was extremely knowledgeable and had an answer for all my questions. She went a above and beyond to make sure I had the best tour”

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4.Ultimate Upolu Highlights Tour – Apia Cruise Ship Shore Excursion

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 55 reviews · from $130

Shawn and Janette of Samoa Surf and Turf take you from Apia port to Piula Cave Pool, To Sua Ocean Trench, Lalomanu Beach, and Papapapaitai Falls. Expect an air-conditioned vehicle, bottled water, a snack, included entry fees, swimming time, and a relaxed pace built around your ship’s schedule.

“Our tour leader was alwa ys responsive and clear about how the tour the tour proceeded..he did exactly what he said we were going to do and everything was on time, while being respectful and polite unique experience swimming in the lava tube..not to be missed thanks Shaun it was a memorable day”

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5.The Pristine Waters of Upolu

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 54 reviews · from $146

Spend 7 to 9 hours touring Upolu’s best swimming spots, from Sauniatu Waterfall and Piula Cave Pool to Lalomanu Beach, To Sua Ocean Trench, and Togitogiga Waterfall. Local guides such as Arthur, Artur, and Afa lead groups of up to six, with lunch, snacks, transport, and scenic stops included.

“Some beautiful sights of Upolu! A good way to see a lot when you’re short on time. Thoroughly enjoyed”

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6.Island Show Fiafia Night @ Le Manumea Hotel

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 49 reviews · from $180

Spend Thursday evening at Le Manumea Hotel in Vailima with a Samoan buffet and a 90-minute Polynesian floorshow. Expect action songs, chanting, an ava ceremony, legends, a lava-lava demonstration, audience participation, and fire knife dancing. MCs including Dwayne and Bobo have been praised for keeping the room laughing.

“Too long! Too many Trans references. Audience competition was lame. Women’s dancing, fashion show and men’s fire dances were wonderful!”

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7.Apia Highlights Shore Excursion Tour + Lunch & Island Show

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 29 reviews · from $194

From Apia Wharf, you’ll visit the Old Apia Market, cathedral, Stevenson Museum, Bahá’í temple, waterfalls, and scenic passes before lunch and a Samoan island show at Maninoa. The day ends at To Sua Ocean Trench, where you can swim or enjoy the gardens. Guides may include Tasi, Elijah, or Taesie.

“Well organized trip with Elijah and Taesie as our guide and driver. Brothers. Lots of humour. Easy to find the tour as we disembarked the ship. From beginning to end, i thoroughly enjoyed the trip. Enough times at the venues.”

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8.Namua Turtle Island and Eastern Upolu Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 28 reviews · from $175

Spend 6 to 7 hours exploring eastern Upolu with a Samoan high chief guide such as Tai, Chris, Sam, or George. Swim near turtles at Namua Island, visit Piula Cave Pool and To Sua Ocean Trench, see Sopoaga Falls, and hear about Samoan customs in an air-conditioned vehicle. Apia-area pickup is included.

“This was a great day - the drive to the cave pools was very cool and the water was clear and beautiful. The waterfall was gorgeous and we were treated to a coconut cream making demonstration. Samoan men work hard and it was awesome Read more”

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9.Guided Tour to Primeval Crystal Waters of Samoa

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 20 reviews · from $163

Spend about nine hours exploring Upolu with guide Tim or Atua, stopping at waterfalls, cave pools, Lalomanu Beach, To Sua Ocean Trench, and Papapapaitai Falls. You will swim, walk, snack, and ride through mountain passes and coastal roads in a private air-conditioned vehicle. The route can change to include places such as Vavau Beach or the lava sea-cliff walk.

“Had a fabulous day out with Tim. Such a nice guide, flexible with the itinerary and it was all great”

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10.Tour Samoa with a local~ Full Day Island Tour of Apia Upolu Samoa

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 20 reviews · from $155

Spend eight hours exploring Upolu with a local guide, visiting Apia markets, the Catholic Cathedral, Robert Louis Stevenson Museum, south-coast beaches, To Sua Ocean Trench, Sopoaga Waterfalls, and Le Mafa Pass. Hotel pickup, air-conditioned transport, lunch, bottled water, and a small group of up to 15 are included.

“We had cancelled this tour as Viator had indicated that there weren’t enough people who had made reservations. Our friends, however, did not cancel. When we arrived in port, Lubuto was there holding a sign for our friends as well as three Read more”

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11.Southern Savaii Day Trip from Upolu

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 12 reviews · from $200

Cross from Upolu to Savai’i by ferry, then travel the southern coast with local guides such as Chris or Tai. You’ll visit Afu Aau and Mu Pagoa waterfalls, watch Alofaaga Blowholes fire seawater skyward, stop at Salelologa Market, and learn how siapo cloth is made. Lunch is not included.

“Tai was communicative setting it up, Chris was a great tour guide getting us where we wanted to go. This was our second time booking with them because they were so awesome the last time!”

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12.The Jewels of Eastern Upolu

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 12 reviews · from $151

Spend 5 to 7 hours exploring eastern Upolu with a small group of up to nine people. Guide Arthur leads you to four swimming spots, including Piula Cave Pool, Lalomanu Beach, To Sua Ocean Trench, and Togitogiga Waterfall, with lunch, fruit, entry fees, and port drop-off included.

“With only 4 of us on this tour we had a great experience exploring the beautiful island of Upolu. We were picked up on a designated meeting place outside the portgate, which was easy to find. Our driver guide was a very nice, friendly and knowledgeable guy. The car was clean and comfortable and the places we went to truly amazing. Recommended!”

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13.Crater Lake Hike and Swim

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 11 reviews · from $77Best value

Leave central Apia for a 6km return hike through dense rainforest to Lake Lanoto’o, Samoa’s volcanic crater lake. Your small group, limited to six people, tackles steep and sometimes slippery ground before cooling off in the water. Pickup, snacks, and lunch are included, with dietary needs handled if arranged ahead.

“Our guide was so patient and attentive, it was a beautiful Forrest hike and the lake was stunning! My friend is gluten intolerant and they made a personal alternative lunch for her which was so considerate.”

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14.Tour of Primeval Crystal Waters of Samoa

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8 reviews · 9 hours · from $163

Join Tim and his small team for a nine-hour tour across Upolu, stopping at freshwater pools, Lalomanu Beach, To Sua Ocean Trench, waterfalls, and sea cliffs. Your air-conditioned van carries at most six people, with entry fees, lunch, snacks, water, and an English-speaking guide included. Expect moderate walking, swimming, back roads, and a flexible pace.

“The BEST tour i’ve ever done! Tim the guide is an absolute legend, the private tour was everything and more and completely tailored to your wants and how long you wanted to spend at each sight, as well as encouraging adventure and swimming! He swam with me into the caves and showed me how to truly enjoy every minute, plus fed me an excess of food, loved it! Thank you!”

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15.Samoa in a Day: Customizable Tour of Beaches, Waterfalls, Culture

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8 reviews · from $180

With Matua Tours Samoa, you get a private, flexible outing from Apia with local guidance, air-conditioned transport, snacks, and admission to four attractions. A guide such as Kisa can adjust the route for rain, crowds, cruise timing, and your interests. Expect To Sua, giant clams, Lalomanu Beach, Piula Cave Pool, and possibly Fugalei Market.

“Kisa was a great guide. Starting at the port where she picked us up for a private tour, she was totally prepared to show us this beautiful island and have fun doing it. She modified the itinerary to deal with crowds and the rain. We snorkeled wRead more”

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