Discover a Pacific Wonderland
Palau Private Journey
Overview
Enter an aquamarine world of rare old-growth coral gardens, saltwater waterfalls, and outer-reef “drop-offs” teeming with brilliant tropical fish. On this unique Private Journey, you'll kayak across Nikko Bay, with its sheer limestone walls, snorkel in the Blue Devil Gardens, where sparkling blue devil damsel fish dance between the corals, and explore the vibrant outer reefs of Ngercheu Island, a veritable “underwater Serengeti.” Your private guide unlocks the secrets of this world as you explore each day, and Palau's phenomenally scenic Rock Islands provide a stunning backdrop. Comfortable accommodations are in small beachside resorts that offer you delightful access to this natural history paradise.
Arrive: Koror, Palau
Depart: Koror, Palau
Highlights
- Snorkel, kayak, and explore the Rock Islands, a UNESCO World Heritage Site of pristine coral reefs and dazzling limestone islands
- Experience Palau's famed marine biodiversity, with hundreds of coral species and 1,500 species of reef fish
- Learn about traditional Micronesian culture, swim with stingless jellyfish, visit the evocative World War II battle sites of Peleliu
Itinerary
After arriving in Koror, head to Babeldaob Island for a hike to Ngchesar Waterfalls and a visit to the national museum to learn a bit about Palau's culture and history.
The phenomenally beautiful Rock Islands are glittering emeralds scattered across a sapphire sea. Kayak at Nikko Bay, with its sheer limestone walls, drift-snorkel the pristine Blue Devil Gardens, visit a salt-water waterfall spilling into a turquoise oasis, hike in Ulong Island's canopy-covered forest to an ancient village site. At Wilson's Channel and the Ulong Arch, discover colorful damselfish, monogamous butterflyfish, and photogenic angelfish.
Visit Giant Clam Beach, with its stacks of 500-pound clams, and snorkel at mesmerizing Jellyfish Lake, where millions of non-stinging jellyfish bounce off your body. Head for the vibrant outer reef of Ngercheu Island, where vertical drop offs descend into the blue-water abyss, and snorkel world-famous Turtle Cove, a vertical reef wall. At the legendary outer reefs of Ngemelis, enter an underwater Serengeti, a habitat for over 1,200 species of fish.
After a fascinating day of exploring the Peleliu Island's historic battle sites, fly to Koror and depart on Day 10.
Dates & Pricing
Best months to go: October to May. For our Private Journeys, you choose your own group and your preferred dates. Prices are per person and not guaranteed until services are confirmed. Contact us for availability, questions, or to book your adventure!Payment & Cancel Schedule
At time of reservation: $1,000
120 days prior to departure: 20% of trip cost
90 days prior to departure: Balance
*Please note that this differs from our standard policy.
Cancellation & Transfer Schedule
Minimum fee: $500 per person
61-90 days prior to departure: 25% of trip cost
46-60 days prior to departure: 50% of trip cost
45 days or less: 100% of trip cost
*Please note that this differs from our standard policy.
Included
Not Included
Accommodations
Listed below are our signature accommodations for this trip. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
What the Trip is Like
This trip is rated Level 3, Moderate, according to our trip grading system. If you would like to complete all activities in the itinerary, you will need to be comfortable kayaking for up to two hours at a time and up to five hours in a day, and snorkeling in a variety of conditions, including drift snorkels with strong currents. Any activity can be skipped and will always be at your own pace.
Average Day
- 4-5 hours kayaking (Days 3-5)
- 1-3 hours snorkeling
- Occasional short hikes
Palau has a warm, humid tropical climate with some of the most uniform year-round temperatures in the world. The average humidity is a balmy 78 percent. Water temperatures range between 82 and 86°F. Rainfall can occur throughout the year, but is heaviest in June and July.
You will stay in beach-side bungalows at two different resorts. While not luxurious, the resorts are comfortable and well located to begin each day's activities.
Breakfasts are at the resorts and feature a variety of Palauan and Western specialties. Lunch will be picnic style during your day's activities and will be a bento box of Palauan food, a Mediterranean spread, or an Italian salad spread. Dinners are on your own (except for the Welcome and Farewell dinners). There are a variety of restaurants in Koror and a few options in Peleliu.
Transportation on the Babeldoab tour is in an air-conditioned van. The kayaks are sit-on-top Mission XStream 400 Kayaks with carbon fiber paddles and high back seats. While kayaking, there is a 33-foot Yamaha support boat with covered seating that we use to access the farther sites, and can also be used to opt out of kayaking or snorkeling.
Client Testimonials
"I’ve been on lots of Wilderness Travel trips, but this was my best vacation ever!"
Keieth R.
New Orleans, LA
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Book your trip today
Our Area Specialists know every detail about our tours. They will be happy to answer any questions and help you choose the journey that’s right for you. Contact us to learn more or book your trip today!
Itinerary
Submit the form below to download itinerary
Trip Levels
With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult—see descriptions below for explanations of each number. A plus (+) sign means the trip is a bit more strenuous than other trips of that level. The detailed explanation of each trip—below the bar with the number rating—is perhaps more important, specifying activities, altitudes, hiking, and travel conditions. The Detailed Itinerary, available by download or mail, gives further information. Our Area Managers can also answer questions and guide you to the trip that best suits your interests.
Level 1 – Easiest
Non-camping journeys, optional walks, little elevation gain or loss.
Level 2 – Easy to Moderate
Hotel nights and/or safari-style camping, hikes of two to four hours on some days. Other physical activities are sometimes included, such as optional sea kayaking.
Level 3 – Moderate
Half- to full-day hikes (3-6 hours) over rolling countryside on most days, occasional steep trails. Many of our hotel-based walking tours are in this category, as are our snorkeling adventures.
- Tuscany & the Cinque Terre
- Argentina: Hikes and Estancias of Patagonia
- Palau Snorkeling & Sea Kayaking
- Some trips with minimal hiking but rugged travel conditions or long drives, such as Tribal Ghana, Togo & Benin, are Trip Level 3.
Level 4 – Moderate to Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-6 hours), mountainous terrain, significant elevation gains and losses (hiking up or down as much as 3,000 feet) on many days. Altitudes no greater than about 10,000 feet.
Level 5 – Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Trips with hiking at average altitudes of 10,000 to 12,000 feet are in this category.
Level 6 – Very Strenuous
Full-day hikes (5-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Most hikes take place at altitudes above 10,000 feet, with some days ascending as high as 18,000 feet.