'Pitcairn Islands Explorer'

A two-week voyage to the Pitcairn Group

2012 date:
Pitcairn (all four islands) special for 2012:
Ducie-Oeno-Henderson-Pitcairn Expedition
17th - 31st January

2013 date:
15th - 29th January

2014 date:
14th - 28th January

Book Air Tahiti flight VT951 (Papeete to the Gambier Islands) online at www.airtahiti.aero. We meet these once-a-week (Tuesday) flights from Tahiti to the Gambier Islands for both our arriving and departing passengers.

Your flight arrives at the Gambier Islands at mid-day. Then after a short wait at the airport terminal you will be taken on the Air Tahiti ferry boat across the big Gambier Islands lagoon to the main wharf at Rikitea village (on Mangareva Island).

After meeting our vessel at the Rikitea wharf, every passenger will be assigned their own bunk and have their passport stamped for departure. All food will be supplied during the voyage

After about two days at sea we arrive at Pitcairn Island, and you are invited to stay onshore with local families; which family you board with can be arranged in advance, or will be arranged on your arrival by local families (the traditional way).

The cost for your stay onshore is not included in our pricing and should be budgeted at approximately US$70 per night per person for full board, which will also include some guiding around the island - this is to be paid direct to your host family in cash (USD or NZD are preferable). This type of ecotourism has been encouraged in the last few years as a way of boosting the islands economy in a sustainable way

There are also a private bungalows for rent - for example, the 'Pitcairn Chalet' owned by Brenda and Mike Christian - see www.christian.pn. Another option is the self contained unit 'Te Kiva Bounty Accommodation"  owned by Charlene and Vaine - email: vainechar@pitcairn.pn

Sometime during the next week (when the weather is most suitable) we travel overnight to the World Heritage Site of Henderson Island. Many scientists consider Henderson 'the most pristine tropical island in the world'. At Henderson we will be going ashore for a day trip (weather dependent). This will give you a chance to see the five endemic birds: ie Henderson Dove, Henderson Rail, Henderson Parrot, Henderson Warbler and Henderson Petrel, plus a myriad of other indigenous plants and animals

Henderson also has excellent snorkeling and diving and some of the most beautiful uninhabited beaches in the world. The scuba diving at Henderson is famous for its healthy population of grey reef sharks, plus some spectacular landscape in the form of caves and sink holes under the cliffs along the western side of the island

For our January 2012 trip, we will also be visiting Ducie Atoll (after stopping at Henderson). This is extra to our normal two-week Pitcairn trip and will incur an additional $1500 surcharge for passengers who continue on from Pitcarin to Ducie. Ducie is 400 km east of Henderson Island and is the most southern and eastern atoll in the South Pacific.

On our return voyage to Mangareva we will be sailing via Pitcairn to pick up extra passengers bound for the Gambier Islands. Weather depending we also like to stop at Oeno Atoll (100 km NW of Pitcairn) on our way from Mangareva to Pitcarin or on our way back to Mangareva. Getting ashore if often possible and the diving is good - especially the wreck of the 1860's clipper ship "Wild Wave".

We aim to arrive back in the Gambier Islands on Monday and will anchor at Rikitea village to enable visits to this picturesque town. Other things you can organize are a tour around the big island (Mangareva) by car, and a visit to a pearl farm

Price: Our two-weeks 'Pitcairn Islands Explorer' package is priced at US$3,400 per person (plus $1500 for Ducie bound passengers)