Samoa and American Samoa are two countries that sit side-by-side in the South Pacific. They are separated by the International Date Line but share a lot of similarities.
If you are planning your Samoa and American Samoa itinerary, there are multiple ways to do it. The biggest factors are where you are coming from and how much time you have.
In this guide, we list several itineraries that include Samoa and American Samoa. If you are coming from Australia, your itinerary will look a lot different from someone coming from the USA. Flight schedules have a major impact on timing and where you can go, without taking an annoying sequence of flights. We’ll get to that in this guide, too.
Let’s get started.
About this Samoa and American Samoa Itinerary
These itineraries can be done all year, but the best time to visit Samoa and American Samoa is from May through October, which is the winter season and the drier time of the year. November through April is the wet season and typhoons during this time can severely disrupt travel plans, similar to planning a trip to the Caribbean from July through October. You’ll also deal with more rainy weather and slightly hotter temperatures from November through April.
Before you decide on an itinerary, research flights to and from these islands first. If you are flying from the USA or Canada, most if not all flights go through Hawaii. American Samoa and Samoa are tough to get to from the USA.
If you are starting in Australia or New Zealand, it’s a lot easier to get to Samoa and American Samoa. You can fly directly to Samoa, spend some time here, and then take a 30-minute flight over to American Samoa.
So, where you are starting from in the world has a big impact on how you’ll get to these two countries, which is why we list several itineraries in this guide.
Lava Field Coastal Walkway, Samoa
Quick Overview of Samoa
Samoa is made up of two main islands, Savai’i and Upolu, as well as several smaller, uninhabited islands. It sits just to the west of the International Date Line, about 130 km (80 miles) west of American Samoa.
Upolu is the location of Faleolo International Airport, which is your arrival point in Samoa. You can spend all of your time on Upolu (best if you have very limited time) or day trip or spend several days on Savai’i.
There is a long list of things to do in Samoa, but here are some of the top experiences:
- Visit Lalomanu Beach
- Relax in a fale (a beach hut)
- Visit the Lava Field Coastal Walkway
- Go snorkeling in the Giant Clam Sanctuary
- Learn about Samoan culture
- Attend a fiafia night
- Swim in the To Sua Ocean Trench
- Visit Savai’i
- Photograph the waterfalls
We spent four days in Upolu and that was the perfect amount of time to visit the sights on this island. If you have more time than this, you can also add on Savai’i island.
To-Sua Ocean Trench, Samoa
Taufua Beach Fales, Lalomanu Beach, Samoa
How to Get to Samoa
Flights to Samoa arrive in Faleolo International Airport.
If you are coming from Australia, New Zealand, Tonga, and Fiji, there are direct flights to Samoa.
For those coming from the United States or Canada, you will first have to fly to Honolulu, Hawaii and then to Pago Pago International Airport on American Samoa (at the time that I am updating this, there are three flights per week from Honolulu to American Samoa from June through September and two flights a week the remainder of the year). Then it is a 30-minute flight from American Samoa to Samoa. On this flight, you will cross the International Date Line.
In 2023, the tourism industry of American Samoa was still recovering from the COVID pandemic, so flights were extremely limited, and it does not look like much has changed for 2024. In the upcoming years, more flights may become available. Pre-COVID, there were flights from LAX to American Samoa and if these resume, it becomes a lot easier to get from the USA to American Samoa (and then continue on to Samoa). So, check for flights from LAX as well, as you plan your trip.
If you are coming from Asia or Africa, you will fly through Auckland or Fiji. If you are coming from South or Central America, you will fly through Hawaii or Auckland.
If you are coming from Europe, Samoa and American Samoa are on the other side of the world, so you can travel in either direction. Option #1 is to cut across the USA (usually through Los Angeles, San Francisco, or Houston), then fly to Auckland, New Zealand, and then to Samoa. Or, fly to Singapore to Auckland to Samoa.
You can also get to Samoa on a cruise.
Fuipisia Waterfall, Samoa
Quick Overview of American Samoa
American Samoa is made up of five islands and two coral atolls.
Tutuila is the largest island, the location of the international airport, and the point where you will enter and exit American Samoa.
The Manu’a Islands are a group of three small islands, Ofu, Ta’u, and Olosega. These very remote islands contain one of the most pristine beaches in the world, Ofu Beach.
Like Samoa, there is a long list of things to do in American Samoa, with the national park being the main draw for many Americans, but here is a shorter list of the top experiences:
- Visit the National Park of American Samoa
- Relax on Ofu Beach
- Have lunch at Tisa’s Barefoot Bar
- Visit Aunu’u Island
- Two Dollar Beach
- Turtle and Shark
- Snorkel at Fatumafuti Beach
- Scenic drive along the south coast
Tutuila Island, American Samoa
How to Get to American Samoa
If you are traveling from the USA or Canada, currently, all flights to Pago Pago International Airport go through Honolulu, Hawaii. Flights are offered by Hawaiian Airlines (three times a week June through September and two flights a week the remainder of the year). This limited flight schedule may change as tourism picks up in American Samoa (COVID put a major dent in travel here), so more flights from Hawaii and LAX could become available.
If you are traveling from Australia or New Zealand, you will first fly to Samoa. Talofa Airways offers flights from Samoa to American Samoa multiple times per day. This flight takes 30 minutes, crosses the International Date Line, and carries 8 passengers.
If you are traveling from Europe, fly to Honolulu and then continue to American Samoa.
So, to get to American Samoa, you will either fly through Hawaii, Tonga, or Samoa. Which one you travel through depends on your starting point.
You can get updates on flight schedules on the American Samoa Visitors Bureau website.
Pola Island, National Park of the American Samoa
Combining Samoa and American Samoa into One Trip
Samoa and American Samoa are easy to combine into one trip since they are connected by a 30-minute flight on Talofa Airways. However, this flight only carries eight passengers, but it is offered multiple times of day.
Get flight schedules, pricing, and make your reservation in advance on the official Talofa Airways website.
Samoa Airlines also offers flights between Samoa and American Samoa. Here is the link to their website.
You can also take the Lady Naomi Ferry between Samoa and American Samoa, but this currently runs only once a week.
Crossing the International Date Line
When you fly between Samoa and American Samoa, you will cross the International Date Line.
Samoa and American Samoa have the same time, just 24 hours apart. For example, when it is 9:00 am on May 1 in Samoa, it is 9:00 am on April 30 in American Samoa.
We flew from Samoa to American Samoa. On Wednesday, May 17 at 10:00 am, our flight left Apia, Samoa. We crossed the International Date Line and landed at Pago Pago International Airport on Tuesday, May 16 at 10:30 am. Talk about traveling back in time!!
How Much Time Do You Need?
If you plan on visiting both Samoa and American Samoa, you will need a minimum of one week. This gives you roughly 3 days in each country with a day for travel time to get between them.
If you want to add on the Manu’a Islands in American Samoa, add an additional week. Flights to the Manu’a Islands are very limited right now so it takes a lot of time to get there and back to Tutuila.
Best Time to Visit Samoa & American Samoa
American Samoa has a tropical climate. It is hot and humid all year.
The best time to visit American Samoa is during the winter season (May through September). Tropical storms in the summer (October through April) can disrupt travel plans, not only in getting around Samoa and American Samoa, but also getting to and from here.
Our visit was in mid-May. This is the transition month into the dry season. In Samoa, where we spent four days before visiting American Samoa, we had mostly sunny skies with a few rain showers. Once we got to American Samoa, it rained quite a bit. It rained for most of the day on two of the three days we spent here.
85°F may not sound hot, but factor in the high humidity and it feels like 100°F. American Samoa is located near the equator, so the sun also feels quite warm on your skin.
Palagi Beach, American Samoa
Places that Can Be Added to This Trip
You can extend your trip by visiting nearby countries.
If you are visiting Samoa and American Samoa from the United States or Canada, you will fly through Honolulu, Hawaii, so it is easy to add on some more time here. You could simply spend a few days on Oahu, visiting the North Shore, touring Pearl Harbor, or surfing at Waikiki Beach, or stay longer and visit Maui, Kauai, or the Big Island. In our Hawaii Travel Guide, we have information on Oahu, Kauai, Maui, and the Big Island.
If you are visiting Samoa and American Samoa from New Zealand or Australia, you can visit Fiji or Tonga before or after the Samoan islands, since flights connect Fiji and Tonga to Samoa.
We liked the idea of adding on Tahiti and Bora Bora, but at the time of our trip, flights only went through Auckland, New Zealand and Honolulu, Hawaii, so it wasn’t possible to travel directly from Samoa or American Samoa to French Polynesia.
Samoa and American Samoa Itinerary Suggestions
Below we list several different ways to plan your Samoa and American Samoa itinerary.
These are organized by starting point, since getting to these countries from Australia is lot different than from the USA.
For a full list of things to do and travel tips, refer to these articles:
- Best Things to Do in American Samoa
- The Complete Guide to the National Park of American Samoa
- American Samoa: 20 Things To Know Before You Go
- Best Things to Do in Samoa
The first three itineraries are geared towards travelers from the USA and Canada since you will first visit American Samoa and then continue to Samoa.
The fourth, fifth, and sixth itineraries are written for those starting in Australia and New Zealand.
If your starting point is in Europe, you can use any of these itineraries, traveling through Hawaii for the first three itineraries and traveling through Auckland, New Zealand for the final three itineraries.
8 Day American Samoa & Samoa Itinerary
This itinerary is geared towards travelers from the USA and Canada. It starts with American Samoa and includes some time in Samoa. This is the quickest itinerary through Samoa and American Samoa that we recommend if you are coming from the USA.
Before or after this one-week American Samoa and Samoa itinerary, you have the option to add on some time in Hawaii.
Day 1: Fly from Honolulu to American Samoa
Day 2: Sights on Tutuila Island, American Samoa
Day 3: Sights on Tutuila Island, American Samoa
Day 4: Morning flight to Samoa, afternoon in Samoa
Day 5: Samoa
Day 6: Samoa
Day 7: Morning in Samoa, afternoon flight to American Samoa
Day 8: Fly to Hawaii
Note: This itinerary has you entering and leaving American Samoa on the same day of the week, since flights to and from Honolulu are so limited.
One of the best things to do on Samoa and American Samoa is to attend a fiafia night.
10 Day American Samoa & Samoa Itinerary (+ the Manu’a Islands)
If you are traveling to American Samoa from the USA to visit the national park and want to spend some time on the Manu’a Islands, here’s one way to do it.
This itinerary starts on a Monday to take advantage of timing of flights to the Manu’a Islands. Currently, there are only two flights a week to the Manu’a Islands (Tuesday and Thursday), which has a big impact on how much time you’ll need to spend in American Samoa to visit them.
Day 1 (Monday): Fly from Honolulu to American Samoa
Day 2 (Tuesday): Fly to Manu’a Islands
Day 3 (Wednesday): Manu’a Islands
Day 4 (Thursday): Fly to Tutuila Island
Day 5 (Friday): Sights on Tutuila Island, American Samoa
Day 6 (Saturday): Sights on Tutuila Island, American Samoa
Day 7 (Monday): Fly to Samoa
Day 8 (Tuesday): Samoa
Day 9 (Wednesday): Samoa
Day 10 (Thursday): Fly to American Samoa in the morning, evening flight to Honolulu, Hawaii
PRO TRAVEL TIP: As you design your itinerary, double check the flight schedules, because these can change based on the time of the year. There is a chance that more flights will open up over the next year or two, which will make it even easier to visit Samoa and American Samoa.
Manu’a Islands | Danita Delimont/shutterstock.com
14 Day American Samoa, Samoa & Fiji Itinerary
We visited Fiji in 2015 and LOVED it. Fiji is a tropical paradise and if you are flying to the South Pacific from the USA, it’s worth considering the option to add on a week in Fiji.
We like Fiji more than Samoa or American Samoa…with remote islands to explore, gorgeous beaches, and some of the most stunning sunsets we have seen, this is an amazing country to visit.
This itinerary is geared towards those traveling from the USA, Canada, or Europe.
Day 1: Fly from Honolulu to American Samoa
Day 2: Sights on Tutuila Island, American Samoa
Day 3: Sights on Tutuila Island, American Samoa
Day 4: Morning flight to Samoa, afternoon in Samoa
Day 5: Samoa
Day 6: Samoa
Day 7: Fly from Samoa to Fiji
Day 8: Fiji
Day 9: Fiji
Day 10: Fiji
Day 11: Fiji
Day 12: Fiji
Day 13: Fly to Samoa
Day 14: Fly from Samoa to American Samoa; evening flight to Honolulu
NOTE: When we visited American Samoa, the flight from Pago Pago International Airport to Honolulu left at 11:30 pm. That gives you plenty of time on day 14 to fly from Samoa to American Samoa to catch the flight to Samoa. If you are concerned about flights from Samoa to American Samoa getting disrupted (for example, in the case of bad weather), put the Samoa to American Samoa flight on day 13 to give yourself some extra contingency time.
Castaway Island, Fiji
7 Day Samoa and American Samoa Itinerary
This itinerary is written for travelers from Australia and New Zealand. Your time is split between Samoa and American Samoa.
Day 1: Arrive in Samoa
Day 2: Samoa
Day 3: Samoa
Day 4: Morning flight to American Samoa, visit Tutuila Island
Day 5: Sights on Tutuila Island, American Samoa
Day 6: Sights on Tutuila Island (morning), afternoon flight to Samoa
Day 7: Fly home or continue to Tonga or Fiji
Having been to Samoa, American Samoa, and Fiji (we have not been to Tonga yet), I raise the question of ‘is it worth it to visit American Samoa?’ We visited American Samoa with the primary reason of visiting the National Park of American Samoa, since we plan to visit all of the US national parks. Many Americans who travel to American Samoa do so with the main purpose to visit this national park.
But if you are an Aussie or a Kiwi, does visiting all of the US national parks have the same appeal?
American Samoa is a beautiful place to visit, but Samoa and Fiji are prettier, in our opinion. Plus, the tourism infrastructure is not well developed in American Samoa. There are some great experiences here, and it’s worth it if you want to see what it is all about, but we enjoyed our time a lot more in Fiji and Samoa.
Lalomanu Beach, Samoa
10 Day Samoa & American Samoa Itinerary (+ the Manu’a Islands)
If you are traveling to American Samoa from Australia or New Zealand and want to spend some time on the Manu’a Islands, here’s one way to do it.
This itinerary starts on a Monday to take advantage of timing of flights to the Manu’a Islands. Currently, there are only two flights a week to the Manu’a Islands (Tuesday and Thursday), which has a big impact on how much time you’ll need to spend in American Samoa to visit them.
Day 1 (Thursday): Arrive in Samoa
Day 2 (Friday): Samoa
Day 3 (Saturday): Samoa
Day 4 (Sunday): Samoa
Day 5 (Monday): Fly to American Samoa
Day 6 (Tuesday): Fly to Manu’a Islands
Day 7 (Wednesday): Manu’a Islands
Day 8 (Thursday): Fly to Tutuila Island, American Samoa
Day 9 (Friday): Sights on Tutuila Island, American Samoa
Day 10 (Saturday): Sights on Tutuila Island, American Samoa
Day 11 (Sunday): Fly to Samoa and then home
NOTE: With either of the two itineraries from Australia and New Zealand, you can add on additional time in Fiji and/or Tonga either before or after visiting the Samoan islands.
Overlooking the Pago Pago Harbor from the Mount ‘Alava Trail, National Park of the American Samoa
14 Day Samoa, American Samoa & Hawaii Itinerary
This itinerary is geared to those traveling from Australia and New Zealand who want to include some time in Hawaii.
Day 1: Fly to Samoa
Day 2: Samoa
Day 3: Samoa
Day 4: Samoa
Day 5: Fly to American Samoa
Day 6: Sights on Tutuila Island, American Samoa, evening flight to Hawaii
Day 7: Hawaii
Day 8: Hawaii
Day 9: Hawaii
Day 10: Hawaii
Day 11: Hawaii
Day 12: Hawaii
Day 13: Hawaii
Day 14: Fly home
On this itinerary, you have the afternoon of day 5 and most of the day on day 6 (flights to Hawaii take off just before midnight) to visit American Samoa. It’s a quick visit but it gives you more time for Hawaii.
When planning your itinerary, first look at the days of the week you can fly to Honolulu and base the rest of your timing on this. Flights from American Samoa to Hawaii are only offered a few days per week.
Waikiki Beach, Hawaii
How to Plan Your Trip to Samoa and American Samoa
Taking into account everything I mentioned above, here is a step-by-step guide for how to plan your Samoa and American Samoa trip.
1. Determine how many days you can travel.
2. Research flight schedules, availability, and prices. Since flights to American Samoa and the Manu’a Islands are limited to a few days per week, get the flight schedules for each leg of your journey so you know how to plan your time.
3. Once you have flights narrowed down, research rental car costs and hotel costs/availability.
4. Now that you have flights, rental car prices, and hotel availability, plan your itinerary using one of the suggestions above.
5. Make your flight, rental car, and hotel reservations.
6. Make sure your passport is valid for 6 months beyond the dates of travel and that you have any visas you need.
7. Have fun exploring Samoa and American Samoa!
If you have any questions about how to plan your Samoa and American Samoa itinerary, let us know in the comment section below.
More Information for Your Trip to the South Pacific
Best Things to Do in Samoa (+ Itinerary & Helpful Tips)
Relax on the beach, slide down a waterfall, go snorkeling, learn about Samoan culture, photograph Samoa’s breathtaking waterfalls, and hike through a lava field. These are some of the best things to do in Samoa. Samoa, often overlooked in the South Pacific, is a hidden gem in this region of the world. This beautiful country […]
Ultimate Guide to American Samoa: 18 Amazing Things to Do
American Samoa is a grouping of several small islands that are located in the South Pacific. For visitors, the National Park of the American Samoa is the main attraction, but there is a long list of things to do outside of the national park. In this guide, we cover the best things to do in […]
20 Best Things to Do in Kauai, Hawaii
Kauai, also called the “Garden Isle,” is our favorite of the Hawaiian Islands. With its waterfalls, beautiful beaches, tropical resorts, and stunning coastlines, Kauai is pure paradise. In this guide, we cover the best things to do in Kauai with tips to have the best experience. Overview of Kauai Kauai is the second oldest of […]
Fiji…One Week In Paradise
Ahhh…Fiji. Paradise. Fiji was everything we expected and more. Crystal clear aquamarine water, white sandy beaches, amazing sunsets, beautiful islands. We joke around that Fiji is our vacation from our vacation…a very long vacation, I know. Here we got some much needed R & R from our fast paced travels around the world. I can’t […]
National Park of American Samoa: Things To Do, Photos & Map
Located in the South Pacific, spread across several small islands, sits on of the least visited national parks in the USA, the National Park of American Samoa. Go snorkeling, hike to the tallest peaks for stunning views across the islands, visit remote beaches, and learn about Samoan culture…these all top the list of things to […]
Top 10 Things to Do in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park
Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park is home to two of the world’s most active volcanoes, Mauna Loa and Kīlauea. If you get lucky with your timing, you can catch Kīlauea in action, as molten lava oozes up from below the Earth’s crust, creating brand new land. But there is more to Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park than […]
Hawaii Travel Guide
Travel advice and inspiration for travel to Hawaii, USA. How to visit Maui, Kauai, Oahu, the Big Island, with itineraries and photos.
The Ultimate Australia Travel Guide
Australia Travel Guide Australia, the land down under, beckons with its breathtaking beauty and unparalleled adventures. This is a country that has it all, with awe-inspiring wonders like the Great Barrier Reef and the uncharted lands of the Outback. Encounter wildlife that cannot be found anywhere else in the world on Australia’s islands and sanctuaries. […]
New Zealand Travel Guide | How to Plan a Trip to New Zealand
New Zealand Travel Guide New Zealand is one of our favorite countries in the world. Why? Because New Zealand has the perfect mix of breathtaking landscapes, adventure activities, beautiful cities, wine regions, stunning beaches, amazing drives, and gourmet food. This is the land of fiords, hiking trails, bungy jumping, sheep, glowworms, and glaciers. Lord of […]
US National Parks
Stretching from the South Pacific, across the United States to the Caribbean, are 63 national parks. These national treasures preserve iconic landscapes, majestic mountains, primordial forests, arid deserts, misty coastlines, immense canyons, wildlife, and historic landmarks. The opportunities for adventure are endless. Hiking, rock climbing, rafting, mountain biking, sand boarding, horseback riding, mountaineering, canyoneering, and […]
Comments 2