Best time to visit

Ovalau experiences a coastal tropical maritime climate. The warmer and drier months of February to March are when the Island has most of its tourists coming in.

How to reach

Fiji is well connected to international destinations and there are daily flights to Ovalau Island from here. Ferries too ply between Suva and Ovalau.

Attractions of Ovalau

The Island of Ovalau is known for its water sports. Diving, snorkeling, fishing and sailing; it’s all there.  Beneath the waters here you will find reefs, corals, a variety of tropical fishes like manta rays and sharks.

You can also go for a hike or a cultural tour around the Island. Some of the historical sites here are the Cession Stones – these commemorate the signing of the Deed of Cession by Great Britain and Fiji, the Anniversary Bure that was built for Prince Charles when he visited Fiji to grant independence to the Island, the Queen Victoria Memorial Hall, the War Memorial Hall on the Niukaube Hill and the Levuka Museum.

Also worth touring here are the villages of Ovalau such as the Silana-Arovudi Village known for its beach and the Lovoni Village. The historical and the harbour town of Levuka gives you a glimpse of the colonial era and is worth touring too.

Between the beach of Arovudi and village itself are rock formations that once were a part of the temple here. There is a hiking trail too, to a fort on the Tomuna Peak.

There are quite a few Islands around you can make a trip to. About a 45-minute ride by boat from Levuka is the coral Island – the Leleuvia Island. To the north of Ovalau is the resort Island of Naigani – attractive because of its hill forts.  Wakaya Island is also in proximity and worth making a holiday trip to.

The tiny coral Island of Caqalai is a good snorkeling spot and so are the Snake Island and the Honeymoon Island.

Visit the 500 acre Bobo Farm for fishing trips, a trail to a black sand beach good for snorkeling, hike to a natural Jacuzzi or that to Lovoni Crater. The latter is a three hours hike and a very popular attraction of Ovalau Island, said to be inhabited by tribes around a hill fort in the center of the crater.

The small Island of Ovalau is like a holiday trip to witness the colonial history, reflected in the ambience of the Island, apart from being home to some excellent diving and snorkeling sites.

Best time to visit

This tropical Island is warm and sunny and favours tourism throughout the year.

How to reach

Tahiti is a popular tourist destination and one major reason for it being so is its accessibility. It is about 8 hours away by flight from Los Angeles. The Fa’aa International Airport close to its Capital town has airlines flying in from major international destinations like New Zealand. Tahiti is also the connecting point to other Islands of French Polynesia like Moorea.

You could also take the ferry way to reach other Islands from here. Within the Island, there are bus services, taxis, car rentals etc to get you around.

Attractions and activities in Tahiti

There is lot to do in Tahiti, on and off the Pacific waters. This South Pacific Island is a popular diving destination and good for other water sports like surfing, sailing and snorkeling. For dives you go far to the Marquesas. Surfing is good off the neighbouring Islands of Moorea and Huahine where you can go for a day trip. The Tahitian surfing sites at Papara, Taapuna and Teahupoo are also sought after by surfers. For sailing, Tahiti is one of the most ideal grounds in the South Pacific Ocean.  Fishing for Marlin and other game fishes can be fun too.

Adventurous travelers have a lot of hiking trails here amidst the mountains and rainforests, in fact some of the best ones of the South Pacific Islands. For instance, there are the Faaramui walking trails and waterfalls, the hike to the summit of Mount Aorai, guided hikes to the remote regions such as Pari of Tahiti Iti and others.

Worth exploring are the Marra Fern Grotto and the Vaipahi Gardens here and safaris to the mountains and the interiors of Tahiti Nui are excursions tourists enjoy here.

Take a cultural tour of the Island. Tahiti has quite a few historical sites and centers worth visiting. These include the Cathedral of Notre Dame in its Capital Town, the James Norman Hall Home and the Tombs of Queen Pomare V and the Royal Family. For a closer understanding of the Island’s cultural – visit the museums here like the Museum of Tahiti, the Gauguin Museum that’s dedicated to the life of Paul Gauguin and the Pearl Museum. The Point Venus – the only lighthouse in Tahiti that was built in 1867, is another landmark here.

The best way to explore the Island is to take the Circle-Island Tour through which you can go around about 71 miles of beaches, waterfalls and other sites of the Island.

Visit the Capital Town of Papeete for Le Marche – its 155 years old Public Market. Buy your souvenirs and other things from here. Spend some time at Vaiete Square and experience the vibrant evenings at a public place.

If you have ample of time, the neighbouring Islands of French Polynesia are worth making a trip to. Visit the Island of Bora Bora for its Lagoon, its dives sites and its bird sanctuary. Navigate your way to the Cooks Bat at Moorea Island and camp here. Marquesas Island charms you with its quaint villages and trails along the coast. Go beach-combing in Maupiti Island and explore the archaeological sites at Huahine. A spectacular experience will be to cruise overnight along the Society Islands.

Tahiti is great for a budget holiday and this along with Moorea, pulls most of the back-packers coming to French Polynesian Island. This is definitely one of the best bets for a vacation in the French Polynesian Islands.

Best time to visit

This diving destination has a maritime tropical climate, being close to the equator. Anytime is good to visit this Island which has an average annual temperature of about 27 degree Celsius.

How to reach

To reach here, you need to fly to Guam that has flights from countries like the United States of America, Australia, Tokyo and Manila. From here, the Continental Air Micronesia takes you to Yap. Private vessels too are sailed to this Island.

To get around the Island, you can hire a taxi, rent a car or get on to the public buses that ply here.

Attractions

Yap is indeed known for its diving site all around the world.  However, that is not the only reason that travelers come to Yap for. There are a few more of them.

Let us look at what the divers can find on this Island. This is an activity you can enjoy throughout the year here. Manta Rays, about 200 different species of corals and reefs are just some of the underwater delights here. Sharks are another marine creatures here and there specially designated shark dives.

Underwater photography is at its best here, courtesy the clarity of waters. Yap is also a great destination for snorkeling. The manta mating season from December to mid-April is when the Island of Yap becomes all the more worth visiting as ever.

This Micronesian Island still has a traditional life and activities like sailing, fishing and weaving form an integral part of its economy. Yapese dance is also an attraction here and this along with other cultural elements of Yap can be seen on March 1 that is celebrated as the Yap Day.

Mountain-biking, kayaking and hiking to the some ancient stores here are other activities that you can get yourself engaged in this Micronesian Island of Yap.

The people here are warm and friendly. While it may take you sometime to open them up to you, once that’s done, they are more than ready to help you guide through Yap.

Yap Island is an attraction for divers and snorkelers. And for travelers who aren’t keen about water activities – Yap is worth exploring and wandering around. The simple pleasure of walking on a street not known before is a delight in itself.

Best time to visit

The peak tourist season in Azores is from the month of June to September.

How to reach

From Lisbon, it takes about 2 hours to reach here by flight and about 5 hours by flight form the North America’s eastern coast. There is also a direct flight to this Island from London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam and Munique. Jets have made Azores pretty much accessible.

Attractions of Azores

The Islands of Azores can be divided into three groups as per their geographic location. In the Eastern Group are the Islands of Santa Maria and Sao Miguel; the Terceira, Graciosa, Sao Jorge, Pico and Faial Islands belong to the Central Group of Islands and in the Western Group are the Islands of Flores and Corvo.

Most of the coastline of this Island has volcanic materials in place of white sandy beaches, though the formations here are simply fantastic. Few beaches on Santa Maria, Faial, Terceira and Sao Miguel are some real beaches with typical sands here. There are natural pools here, built up by the locals.

The waters off all the Islands of this archipelago are apt for diving and other water sports like sailing, deep-sea fishing and whale-watching. The caves beneath the water and the Gulf Stream that runs north of this archipelago bring fishes like yellow-fin tuna and barracuda with them. At the foot of Pico Mountain are some 30 dive sites. You might be able to swim with the dolphins at sites accessible by boats, while snorkeling.

Sao Miguel and Santa Maria are popular among windsurfers. Other activities here include horse-back riding, golfing and hang gliding.

Along with the sea, are the volcanic mountains here, giving the natural beauty of this Island an added dimension. A great hiking point here is the Pico, standing 7,700 foot above the ground.

Worth visiting here in Azores to its east, is the Island of Sao Miguel, most tourist friendly and home to two golf courses.  For trans-Atlantic sailors, the port of Horta at Faial’s Island is the favourite. In the Island of Terceira, in the town of Angra do Heroismo founded in 1400s are palaces and churches from that era. This hamlet is one of the World Heritage Site.

The Islands here are vibrant and in a festive mood, celebrating something or the other throughout the year. There is the whaler’s week, wine festivals, religious processions and the fete of the Bom Jesus Milagroso, held in August, has pilgrims from all across the archipelago of Azores joining in.

All the Islands in the archipelago of Azores have a unique charm and planning an itinerary that’s short might just be a difficult task. Azores definitely promise a pristine and authentic ambience for a relaxed vacation.

Best time to visit

The Island experiences a mild Mediterranean climate. The best time to visit this Mediterranean Island is in the months from May and October, when it is warm and sunny here.

How to reach

To get here, you will need to get to the coast of Croatia and Dalmatia, from where there are regular ferries to this Island.

The nearest airport to Korcula Island is the Dubrovnik Airport, which is served by major airlines like the British Airways.

In the off season, you might need to take a bus from Dubrovnik to get to Korcula. Inland, you have a number of options when it comes to commuting like buses, taxis and rented.

Attractions of Korcula Island

In Korcula, you will find some great beaches, like in other Islands and sites off the waters too, that is worth exploring and reflects its classic past.

The Island of Korcula is home to some fine pebble beaches such as the Przna Bay near Lumbarda, Orebic’s Beach and others.

The cities of this Island have some interesting sites to explore. In Korcula, the Island’s main city is the “old town” or the medieval walled city, at the upper north-east part, offering fantastic view of the surrounding Islands. The port here is one of the two main ports of the Island.  This is said to be the birthplace of Marco Polo, the world-known traveler and the Venetian Merchant. His birthplace is a tourist attraction in the walled city.

You can also visit the museums like the Museum of Korcula and the Museum of Icons, centuries-old churches like the Sveti Nikola Church and the Badija Church and Monastery and galleries here.  Some of the other monuments here are the Renaissance style Bishop Palace, the classic Gothic-Renaissance style Cathedral Sveti Marko,

West of Korcula is the city of Cara, the production center of the world-famous Posip wine. This is a tranquil town with a small market, a church and the sea just three kilometers away. Good for nature walks and cycling. Another Posip wine production center here is the Smokvica town, not far from the sea. Worth seeing here is an old church and the road to the south from here is the most beautiful section of the Island.

Further to the southwest is the Brna port town which is vibrant in the tourist season. Boating, sailing and cycling along the south coast beach road here are other attractions of this place. Another beach town is Prizba, home to some beaches good for water sports, cycling routes and hiking.

West of Cara is Blato, with architectural delights like the main church and plaza. To the west of it is the port town of Vela Luka – an interesting area with a waterfront.

Other forms of entertainment here is the Moreska sword dance, performed every week. This famous folk dance of Mediterranean now thrives only in Korcula Island.

You can also go for excursions to some 50 smaller islets along the shores of this Island such as Hvar, which is also a vineyard.

This greenest Island of the Adriatic Sea is also a destination worth going to, if exploring the surf, and the turf in an Island is what you are planning to do.