Least Visited Countries – The Prequel

DESCRIPTION

***Due to the fickle nature of flights and airlines in the least visited part of the world, the final dates and itinerary for this tour are not fully confirmed. When we have the final flights schedules we will adjust accordingly. Do not book flights to and from this tour until we confirm***

It has never been said by anyone that prequel trilogies are unnecessary, and so in our quest to visit every Pacific nation in one tour YPT brings you the Least Visited Countries Prequel tour.

We start our tour in Palau, an independent country in free association with the United States, and explore its World War Two history, island culture and make the most out of some of the best waters the planet has to offer with options to dive, snorkel, kayak and even swim in the infamous Jellyfish Lake!

We’ll head on to Pohnpei, the main island of the Federated States of Micronesia and another country ticked off the list, while we also check out Japanese war remnants and local markets.

This tour can be done as a standalone tour but it makes more sense to continue and join us on Part 1 of the tour where we visit the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Kiribati and the Solomon Islands on the original Least Visited Countries tour!

ITINERARY

Friday 16^th December – Palau

There are three main flights into Palau — all of which are on a Friday — from Guam, Taipei or Manila, with the Taipei flight arriving at 18:25, the Guam flight arriving at 21.00, and the Manila flight coming in after midnight at 02.35 (flight to Palau not included)
Transfer to our hotel and overnight in Palau

Saturday 17^th December – Palau

A relatively late rise after late flights coming the previous night and we meet at 11am in the hotel lobby for a pre-tour meeting
Group lunch at the hotel and you can properly meet the YPT guide and your fellow travellers
In the afternoon we head out for a once-in-a-lifetime experience: snorkelling at Palau Jellyfish Lake! The jellyfish have evolved away their stingers, having no natural predators around, and make for a phenomenal natural sight!
Dinner at Carp, which mixes Japanese and local cuisine
Overnight in Palau

Sunday 18^th December – Palau

After breakfast we head out on the first of what will be many World War Two trips on our Least Visited Countries tour. The Pacific Islands were the scene of many battles and the region is often overlooked for this side of its history — by Europeans at least!
We head out in YPT style, by speedboat, to the island of Peleliu which was home to some of the fiercest battles in the region
On arrival we check out the World War Two Memorial Museum, but the whole island has basically been left as an open-air museum
Lunch in a local restaurant
Check out White Beach where the American military landed, the wreckages of American tanks and planes still left as they were, concrete pillboxes and Japanese machine-gun posts as well as the eerie shell of the Japanese Military Headquarters. We also visit the Japanese shrine built to commemorate those who died
Head back to the main island and go for dinner at Taj for Indian food
Overnight in Palau

Monday 19^th December – Palau

After breakfast we head out to The Rock Islands, or Chelbachbover to the locals. There are over 200 rocks, mostly uninhabited, that show you just what the Pacific is about. Peace and quiet and stunning views. Grab a kayak to explore the area or we can arrange scuba diving for an extra charge
In the afternoon we’ll be going off with the locals searching for coconut crabs on land, and mud crabs in the mangroves! Then off hunting fruit bats — considered a pest on the island – with BB guns.
For dinner we’ll be eating the spoils of our catch (options other than crab or bat available)
Overnight in Palau

Tuesday 20^thDecember – Palau

For the divers amongst us we’ll head to the Blue Corner for a day amongst the abundant underwater wildlife, known as a shark haven (extra charge for diving)
For those who don’t have their diving license we can arrange snorkelling trips or a fishing expedition (extra charge for fishing)
Browse the local markets for traditional Palauan storyboards which depict stories of legend from Palauan history
Final dinner and drinks in Palau at the Drop Off Bar and Grill
Although it’s our last night in Palau, we can’t stay out too long because gone midnight we’ll…

Wednesday 21^st December – Pohnpei

Head to the airport to catch the 02:35 flight from Palau via Guam to Pohnpei, capital of the Federated States of Micronesia, arriving at 13:15.

ATTENTION – Since we are changing plane in Guam and Guam is USA territory, we need to go through US Immigration even though we are staying in the airport. This means that you will either need a Guam-Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Visa Waiver (given on arrival to citizens of Australia, New Zealand, UK, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore), an ESTA (given online if you are eligible) or a visa-free entry (Canadians and Americans). If you are not eligible for any of those, you will need a visa for the USA (either tourist or transit) to transit in Guam.

Transfer to our hotel, check in and a bit of a rest or freshen up
In the late afternoon we will check out the local markets in Kolonia then head for dinner at the China Star Restaurant for a dose of Pacific-Chinese cuisine
Overnight in Pohnpei

Thursday 22^ndDecember – Pohnpei

After breakfast we head out for a full tour of Pohnpei
In the state capital, Kolonia, we’ll see the relic of a Japanese tank and we’ll see more Japanese on a hike up Sokeh Rock. Near the top stand two heavy gun batteries
Lunch in Kolonia
We’ll then head to the national capital, Palikir, and check out the area outside the huge US Embassy complex
We’ll head out for dinner and drinks in Pohnpei
Overnight in Pohnpei

Friday 23^rd December – Pohnpei

End of tour, YPT can help with onward transport or you can join us on the Least Visited Countries Part 1 tour for, amongst other things, New Year’s Eve on Nauru!

GALLERY