Discover The Cook Islands Grand Escorted Air Safari
Rarotonga, Pukapuka, Manihiki, and Penrhyn.
8 Days/7 nights accommodated
Commence Rarotonga any Sunday year round for a minimum of 6 passengers. Scheduled escorted date for individuals to join - 19th August, 2012 - still requires a minimum of 6 passengers to operate.
This tour links from our DISCOVER THE COOK ISLANDS ESCORTED TOUR TO RAROTONGA, ATIU, AND AITUTAKI
PLEASE NOTE
This tour includes the 'off the beaten track' northern islands of Puka Puka, Manihiki and Penrhyn where very few tourists go. This is a major part of the attraction. It also means that tourist facilities are very limited! Manihiki has 2 simple but pleasant overwater bungalows with cold water shower, toilet and fan (first to reserve gets them!) plus 2 rooms in a shared bungalow. Puka Puka and Penrhyn provide local bungalows only. Meals will be relatively simple using local ingredients but will be more than adequate in substance. Normally breakfast and lunch ingredients are provided to make your own and dinner will be provided by the local people. Electricity is available for part of the day only.
Travel from Rarotonga back to Rarotonga will be by twin engine turbo prop Bandeirante aircraft. This normally carries 13 passengers but for our flight will have a maximum of 7 plus escort. Baggage will be restricted to 10 kilos per person and accurate passenger weights will have to be provided on reservation - and checked on check in at Rarotonga!
| Day 1. Sunday | RAROTONGA | (D) |
| Arrive Rarotonga and transfer to the Rarotongan Beach Resort and Spa for a welcome juice and check into your hotel. Dinner included tonight. You are welcome to travel to Rarotonga earlier. Why not enjoy our DISCOVER RAROTONGA AND AITUTAKI package or Hibiscus special escorted tour to RAROTONGA, ATIU, AND AITUTAKI prior to your air safari. |
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| Day 2. Monday | RAROTONGA - PUKA PUKA | (BD) |
| Transfer to the airport to join our specially chartered aircraft for the 4 hour flight north. In clear conditions we will see spectacular views of Suwarrow (where hermit Tom Neale lived his solitary existence), Nassau Island, and Tema Reef. Puka Puka's airport is located on the southern motu, about one hours boat ride across the spectacular lagoon to the main settlement at Wale. This is a fascinating island and community, known about through the writings Robert Dean Frisbie and others. This afternoon we explore the island, village, and reef with our local guides, and are introduced to daily life on this isolated island. | ||
| Day 3. Tuesday | PUKA PUKA - MANIHIKI | (BD) |
| Transfer to the airport this morning and a one and a half hour flight will bring us to Manihiki atoll, home of the Cook Islands Pearl industry. Here the lagoons are dotted with small structures perched on coral heads serving as platforms for the seeding of oysters that will, after nearly 2 years, yield a lustrous south seas black pearl. Manihiki's lagoon measures some 44.6 square km enclosed by a reef some 17 km long topped by 30 atolls, 2 of which are inhabited. A total of around 400 people still live here. Main industry is the pearl industry which brings in over $5 million per annum. First 2 couples to reserve get the overwater bungalows - the rest will stay in local bungalows. | ||
| Day 4. Wednesday | MANIHIKI | (BLD) |
| This morning we travel by boat to a small islet in the lagoon to learn about seeding the pearls, with swimming and snorkelling time around the pearl beds. This afternoon try your hand at the outrigger canoes and fishing, and visit the fish traps and bird sanctuary. Maybe purchase some of the local handicrafts and pearls. For bird watchers and fishers we will arrange special activities for you. | ||
| Day 5. Thursday | MANIHIKI - PENRHYN | (BD) | Late morning we cruise back to the airport for our 1 and a half hour flight to Penrhyn (Tongareva) Island, most northern of the Cook Islands. The Americans built a major runway here during Word War 2 in case hostilities extended this far east. The lagoon is large and deep with easy entrances and at times during the war large numbers of US Navy ships anchored here. The remains of a crashed B17 bomber remain as evidence of this bygone era. A tragic encounter with "Blackbirders" (South American slave traders) in the early 1800's, the pearl shell trade, and World War 2 have all played a part in shaping Penrhyn as it is today. Approximately 230 people still live on Penrhyn in two villages separated by 8km of water. Transfer to our accommodation in the main village of Okura and this afternoon explore the main village and island. |
| Day 6. Friday | PENRHYN | (BLD) | The lagoon in Penrhyn covers some 233 sq km encompassed by a reef 77km long with easy entrances. Penrhyn is the largest atoll in the Cook Islands and sits atop the highest submarine volcano in the Cooks, some 4876 metres above the ocean floor. We enjoy most of the day cruising around the reef, stopping off at beautiful motu's for swimming and snorkelling, visiting the 2nd village of Penrhyn, including the school, and trying our skill at trolling from the boat. A picnic lunch will be provided on an uninhabited motu. |
| Day 7. Saturday | PENRHYN - RAROTONGA | (BLD) | Free morning to enjoy Penrhyn, meet the people, and maybe buy some of the famous mats and other woven goods for which the island is famous. This afternoon transfer back to the airport for our flight of around 4 hours back to Rarotonga. Transfer back to the Rarotongan Beach Resort and Spa on arrival. Dinner included at the hotel tonight. |
| Day 8. Sunday | RAROTONGA DEPART | (B) | You will be transferred to the airport for departure. |
| Tour cost per person - 8 days Grand Air Safari | 2 per room | Single room |
| $7,900 | $8,800 |
Tour cost includes:
- Most meals as indicated by each day B=Breakfast, L = Lunch, D=Dinner
- Arrival and departure transfers at all points in the Cook Islands
- Accommodation at the Rarotongan Beach Resort and Spa for 2 nights plus local bungalows in Pukapuka, and Penrhyn, and overbeach bungalows in Manihiki (First 2 couples)
- All travel by charter flight from Rarotonga to Pukapuka, Manihiki and Penrhyn.
- Comprehensive sightseeing and activities as listed.
- Services of tour escort throughout.
