Lonely Planet™ · Thorn Tree Forum · 2020 |

# Tokelau - a side trip from Samoa Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea
jirikoo 14:59 UTC 10 Jul 2007 | Is Tokelau worth of a visit? I fly to Samoa spending there 1 month. I consider 2-3 day trip over to Tokelau. I know nothing eccept there is a regular boat link. Can anyone tell me more? thanks a lot |
islandboi321 05:18 UTC 11 Jul 2007 | The Tokelau islands are NOT an easy destination. They lie many hundreds of kilometres north of Samoa. There is, to my knowledge, almost no infrastructure there for tourists. The boat only goes every fortnight to my knowledge and can be miserable trip if the weather is not great. You will need many several weeks to go there and back. I personally would not do it now that I know it is this much hastle. Only a handful of determined adventurers go there. | 1
wksamoa 19:24 UTC 12 Jul 2007 | There is a Tokelau Branch here on TT (in this section, choose at 'Select a country'). Only one posting there but quite good. Tokelau is nothing for a side trip. You need at least a week and regarding the complete uncertainty of the boat's departures and trip times you will have to arrange your Samoa visit completely around that 'side trip'. You will have to come to Samoa first, apply for a visa to Tokelau here (yes, you need a visa to go there), book your trip (pay cash - around 300 NZ$) and hope that there will be a boat and that there is a place for you to put your mat on the deck (Locals always go first, tourists only when there is space left for them). If not, you wait. If the boat stays in Tokelau for two weeks instead of three days you stay there too. I assisted two travelers so far going there, an US photographer and a German surgeon. Both were thrilled about their experience. But the photographer was away for three weeks instead of one and only made it back just in time for his return flight from Samoa. So the right perspective would be to think about a visit to Tokelau and spend some days in Samoa as a side trip ... But do not think that you can plan anything about it. It's a real adventure. BTW, the boat is the MV Tokelau, 35m (100ft) long, carrying 50 passengers and freight. Look at Google Images for an impression. | 2