A warm and welcoming South Pacific holiday awaits. We come together in Sydney to enjoy our first Group Dinner and get to know our fellow passengers.

Overnight: Rydges Airport Hotel, Sydney

After breakfast we fly to Samoa this morning, a place that will make your spirit soar as Christianity infuses all aspects of daily life. Not only do Samoans have an exceptionally strong faith but also a long tradition of overseas mission work; within 9 years of the arrival of the London Missionary Society, 12 Samoan missionaries left their homeland to preach the gospel message across Melanesia.

We land in Apia (Upolu Island) this evening and we will be transferred south to our resort for a good night’s sleep.

Overnight: Return to Paradise Resort (Upolu Island, Samoa) 3 Nights

Wake up in Paradise! Our Return to Paradise Resort is located right by the island’s most iconic and beautiful beach with the resort named after the 1953 Gary Cooper movie that was filmed here. Relax and enjoy a day at leisure – sink your toes into the white sand, swim out to discover fascinating marine life and amazing coral in the lagoon or just sit back and admire the view. This is the life!

Overnight: Return to Paradise Resort (Upolu Island)

Glory in God’s Creation when we visit the Giant Clam Sanctuary that lie within a protected little bay that is a Village marine reserve. Enjoy snorkelling in beautiful turquoise waters to see large numbers of giant clams growing in their natural habitat. These clams are surprisingly beautiful with bright, iridescent colours inside and some are as big as coffee tables!

Enjoy Daily Devotions in the resort’s beautiful private chapel and relax with an afternoon at leisure to reflect and connect with your fellow travellers.

Overnight: Overnight: Return to Paradise Resort (Upolu Island)

We farewell “Paradise” and enjoy a beautiful drive along the coast to visit the incredible To Sua Trench; the 30-metre, almost perfectly symmetrical swimming hole is surrounded by lush vegetation and sits in the middle of a lava field. Then it is off to Lalomanu Beach; lined with beach fales, and with magnificent views of the smaller outer islands, it was voted by Lonely Planet as one of the top 10 Beach Destinations of the World!

We head inland via the scenic Le Mafa Pass, a beautiful drive through a wide valley lined with steep jagged mountain ridges. Enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of the blue Pacific below when we stop at the mountain peak lookout. Our final stop before we reach Apia is the stunning Piula Cave Pool located within the grounds of Piula Theological College.

We are back in Samoa’s bustling capital of Apia to enjoy lunch and to check-in to our centrally located hotel. Set in 15 acres of lush, tropical gardens our hotel is an oasis of calm, yet it is just metres from the waterfront and a few minutes’ walk from the central business district. We top off a wonderful day with a traditional Fiafia Night, where we will eat delicious local food and be entertained with beautiful songs and wonderful dances.

Overnight: Tanoa Tusitala Hotel, Apia (Upolu Island) 3 Nights

This morning we will visit buzzing Fugalei Market, with its bounty of fresh produce and Samoan handicrafts. Then it’s off to tour the Samoa Culture Centre where live demonstrations highlight traditional practices such as palm weaving, tattoo, wood carving and, Siapu / Tapu bark cloth making. See the many steps involved in the making of the delicious Samoa feast using the Umu (hot-stone oven). These many traditions have evolved to fit modern times, yet still hold true to their authentic roots.

Enjoy a visit to the Robert Louis Stevenson Museum, once the estate of the Scottish author (Treasure Island and Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde). Stevenson fell in love with Samoa and Samoans, whom he called “God’s sweetest creations”, and in turn was fondly named “Tusitala” (‘writer of tales’). We visit the stunning Immaculate Conception Cathedral – decorated to reflect traditional Samoa handicrafts, with vibrant stained-glass windows and an intricately made wooden ceiling, it considered the most beautiful church in Samoa, if not the whole Pacific. We finish our day with a traditional Siva Afi Fire Dance – this spectacular show will be performed by one of the most respected fire dance teams in the world.

Overnight: Tanoa Tusitala Hotel, Apia (Upolu Island)

Today will make your soul sing as we tour the Leulumoega School of Fine Arts and the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa (CCCS) Museum. These are both located within the grounds of the CCCS Malua Theological College and we will also visit the onsite Lupeli Chapel. The CCCS is called Ekalesia Fa’alapotopotoga a Kerisiano i Samoa (EFKS) in Samoan and was originally known as the London Missionary Society. Then we are off to tour Ifiele’ele Plantation to learn of its range of handcrafted, artisan products made on-site using organic home-grown fruits. Enjoy a light lunch to sample the delicious produce before we return to our hotel. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure before dinner at our hotel.

Overnight: Tanoa Tusitala Hotel, Apia (Upolu Island)

Time to explore and discover Fa’a Samoa (the Samoan Way) We travel along the spectacular coastline to the western end of Upolu to catch the ferry to the more relaxing Big Island of Savai’I, the largest and highest island in the Samoan Islands chain. Enjoy visiting the local markets and immerse yourself in the colour of everyday Samoan life before we travel to the village of Sapapalii. It was here where John Williams, the first missionary to bring Christianity to Samoa, landed in 1830 and we visit the monument marking this momentous event. We travel north along the coast to the Saleaula lava fields, an impressive expanse of lava resulting from the 1905 -1911 volcanic eruptions of Mt Matavanu; visit the ruins of a local church, subsumed by lava and a renowned spot known as the “Virgin’s Grave”. Our final stop is the Avao Congregational Christian Church, known as the ‘Papa o Misi’ or The Rock of Missionaries as it is the site where the Holy Bible was translated into the Samoan language.

We check into our resort which is set within tropical gardens and fringed by the most magnificent blue lagoon. Like many Samoan resorts it is also adjacent to a traditional village, so we have the opportunity to spend time in fellowship with locals tomorrow.

Overnight – Amoa Resort (Savai’i Island) 2 Nights

“Faamanuia le Atua” – God bless you. The motto on Samoa’s crest is Fa’avae I Le Atua Samoa – ‘Samoa is founded on God’ – and Sunday is a day of worship in Samoa. After breakfast we will visit a local church with the Manager of the hotel where the singing will enchant you. After the service enjoy a traditional Sunday feast (To’ona’i) and local fellowship. What a memorable Sunday!

Overnight – Amoa Resort (Savai’i Island)

Another day and yet more natural beauty as we visit the Afu A’au Waterfalls and the incredible Alofaaga Blowholes. These powerful blowholes are among the most spectacular on Earth with geyser-like explosions that shoot high into the air. After lunch we will catch the ferry back to Upolu to stay a final two nights at our beautiful beachside resort.

Overnight: Samoa Beach Resort (Upolu Island) 2 Nights

It’s our final day in Samoa so let’s soak up the tropical beauty of our resort. Relax, enjoy time with new friends, soak up the stunning ocean views or swim in the lagoon pool. Tonight, we will come together for a final Group Dinner to give thanks for this wonderful time of faith and fellowship.

Overnight: Samoa Beach Resort (Upolu Island)

An early morning departure as we say “faatofa” (farewell) to beautiful Samoa and her friendly and faithful people. We arrive mid-afternoon in Australia feeling very blessed having been part of such a wonderful, spiritually uplifting holiday.