How many days in Samoa? 7 days on Upolu and Savai'i
By Tony Panopoulos · travel-agency planner in Greece · Updated
Samoa is two main islands, Upolu and Savai'i, with villages where life still follows fa'a Samoa, the Samoan way: extended families, Sunday church and a chief for every village. In seven days, spend four on Upolu for Apia, the waterfalls and To Sua Ocean Trench, and three on Savai'i, larger, quieter and volcanic. Sleep at least two nights in a beach fale, an open-sided hut on the sand; it is the reason to come.
Short answer
Five days covers Upolu: Apia, the south coast, To Sua and Lalomanu. Seven adds the ferry to Savai'i for the lava fields and the blowholes.
The 7-day plan, day by day
Day 1: Arrive in Apia
Morning. Fly into Faleolo International Airport, about 40 minutes west of Apia by taxi (roughly WS$70-90) or airport shuttle.
Afternoon. Walk the Apia waterfront past the Immaculate Conception Cathedral and the government buildings, and visit the Maketi Fou market for fruit, coconut buns and handicrafts.
Evening. Watch a fiafia night of Samoan dance and fire-knife performance, often held at hotels on Thursday or Friday, with a buffet dinner (about WS$60-90).
Samoa drives on the left since 2009. Most visitors rent a car; a temporary licence is issued by the rental company or the transport authority.
Day 2: Robert Louis Stevenson and Palolo Deep
Morning. Visit the Robert Louis Stevenson Museum at Villa Vailima, the house where the author of *Treasure Island* lived from 1890 until his death in 1894 (guided tour about WS$25-30).
Afternoon. Climb the steep trail up Mount Vaea to his grave, about 45 minutes. His 'Requiem' is engraved on it. Afterwards, snorkel the Palolo Deep Marine Reserve off Apia, where a reef drops into a deep blue hole.
Evening. Try fresh fish at the Apia fish market early, or eat at a waterfront café.
Climb Mount Vaea before 9:00; it is humid and slippery after rain. Carry water and wear real shoes.
Day 3: Across Upolu to To Sua Ocean Trench
Morning. Drive the Cross Island Road from Apia, stopping at the Papapapaitai Falls viewpoint. Continue to the south coast to To Sua Ocean Trench at Lotofaga, a 30-metre-deep swimming hole connected to the sea, entered by a long wooden ladder (about WS$20).
Afternoon. Visit Sopoaga Falls, with its garden and traditional umu cooking demonstration, then the black lava coast to Lalomanu.
Evening. Check into a beach fale at Lalomanu; dinner and breakfast are usually included, about WS$90-150 per person.
Many sites in Samoa charge a small customary fee to the village that owns them, often WS$5-20; carry cash.
Day 4: Lalomanu and the east
Morning. Snorkel the lagoon off Lalomanu Beach, often listed among the best in the Pacific. A boat to Namua island opposite costs about WS$40-60.
Afternoon. Drive north to the Piula Cave Pool, a freshwater pool beneath a Methodist college, linked to a second cave by a short underwater swim (about WS$5).
Evening. Second night in a beach fale or in a resort on the south coast.
Sunday is for church and family. Shops close, swimming near villages is frowned upon until afternoon, and roads are quiet. Plan a lazy day.
Day 5: The ferry to Savai'i and the lava fields
Morning. Drive to Mulifanua wharf and take the ferry to Salelologa on Savai'i, about 1h-1h15 (roughly WS$15 per person, more for a car).
Afternoon. Drive about 1 hour north to the Saleaula lava fields, left by the eruption of Mount Matavanu from 1905 to 1911. See the walls of the LMS church half-buried in black lava.
Evening. Stay at Manase on the north coast, in beach fales or a small resort.
Check the ferry timetable the day before; sailings are reduced on Sundays.
Day 6: Savai'i: blowholes, waterfalls and turtles
Morning. Swim with green turtles in the pool at Satoalepai (a few tālā), then drive south to the Alofaaga blowholes at Taga, where waves shoot water dozens of metres into the air (about WS$10).
Afternoon. Swim in the cold pool of Afu Aau Waterfall, in the forest near Vailoa (about WS$10).
Evening. Return to Manase, or stay near Salelologa for the morning ferry.
At Alofaaga, villagers throw coconuts into the blowholes for a small tip. Stay well back from the edge.
Day 7: Back to Upolu and departure
Morning. Take the morning ferry back to Upolu.
Afternoon. Slide down the natural rock slides at Papaseea Sliding Rocks near Apia (about WS$5), or shop for lavalava cloth and carvings.
Evening. Fly out from Faleolo. Most flights connect via Auckland, Sydney, Brisbane or Fiji.
Faleolo is 10 minutes from the ferry wharf, so a late flight works with the morning ferry.
Only have 5 days?
With 5 days, stay on Upolu: Apia, Mount Vaea, To Sua, Lalomanu and Piula.
Got extra days?
Extra days are for doing less: a resort on Upolu's south coast, diving, surfing on the south coast of Savai'i, or the remote island of Manono.
Where to stay in Samoa
| Budget | Area | Why | Typical double/night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Beach fales (Lalomanu, Manase) | Open huts on the sand, with dinner and breakfast. | WS$180-300 |
| Mid-range | Apia hotels | Close to the market, the museum and the restaurants. | WS$300-500 |
| Mid-range | South coast resorts | Bungalows near To Sua and the waterfalls. | WS$400-700 |
| Comfort | Upolu luxury resorts | Over-water or beachfront villas. | WS$800-1,500 |
Getting around
Rent a car; the island roads are paved and quiet, with a speed limit of about 56 km/h in villages. Colourful local buses run from Apia but follow no real timetable. Taxis are cheap in Apia but need negotiating for long trips. Ferries cross between Mulifanua and Salelologa several times a day.
What to eat in Samoa
Try oka, raw fish in coconut cream and lime, palusami, taro leaves baked with coconut cream in an umu, and sapasui, a Samoan chop suey. On Sundays, families cook the to'ona'i feast in the umu. Koko Samoa is local cocoa, and panipopo are sweet coconut buns. Drink Vailima beer. Market meals cost WS$10-20; restaurants WS$40-80.
Best time to visit
May to October is the dry season, with highs of 28-30°C and lower humidity. November to April is hotter and wetter, and the cyclone season. The Teuila Festival in early September has dancing, canoe races and fire-knife contests.
Month-by-month weather for Samoa →
What a day costs
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing a double) | WS$70 | WS$180 | WS$450 |
| Food & drink | WS$50 | WS$100 | WS$200 |
| Sights & tickets | WS$20 | WS$50 | WS$100 |
| Local transport | WS$30 | WS$80 | WS$150 |
| Total per person, per day | about WS$170 | about WS$410 | about WS$900 |
Approximate 2026 prices in Samoan tālā (roughly WS$2.7 to US$1); prices usually include 15% VAGST, and beach fale rates usually include two meals.
Before you go
Common questions
What is a beach fale?
A fale is a traditional Samoan house with open sides and a thatched or tin roof. Beach fales on the sand have mattresses, mosquito nets and woven blinds for privacy, with shared bathrooms. Most include dinner and breakfast. They are simple and sociable, and the best way to experience the coast.
How should I behave in Samoan villages?
Dress modestly in villages, covering shoulders and knees. Do not walk through a village during the evening prayer curfew (sa), usually at dusk for 10-20 minutes. Ask before swimming or photographing, and pay the customary fees. Sunday is a day of rest and worship.
Is Savai'i worth visiting?
Yes, if you have six days or more. It is larger than Upolu but has fewer people, with lava fields, blowholes, waterfalls and very quiet beaches. The ferry takes about an hour, so you can take a rental car across. Two nights are enough to see the highlights.
Do I need a visa for Samoa?
Most visitors receive a free entry permit for 60 days on arrival, with a return ticket and a passport valid for six months. Check current entry rules before travel, especially on health requirements, on the Samoa Tourism Authority or immigration website.
How this guide was made
Compiled by TonyPlan from official tourism, transport and attraction sources and on-the-ground travel knowledge. Prices are approximate for 2026 and change with season; anything we could not confirm is marked as approximate.
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