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You might also be one of the very few visitors on the island.
If you plan to visit every country in the Pacific, this guide is just for you.
Update 2024: This guide on how to visit every country in the Pacific was initially researched and written in 2020 to help travellers plan their trip. We’ve made updates as per real-time information from other travellers who have since travelled this route in 2024.
There are many islands in the Pacific. Some islands are independent countries; others are overseas territories.
Here is a little list to help you understand the difference.
Every country in the Pacific – There are officially 14 countries in the region known as Oceania:
These are the dependent territories of five countries:
PS: Don’t forget that there is also Hawaii. It is not a territory but the 50th state of the USA.
This article focuses more on countries in the Pacific, rather than on the territories. There seem to be a few articles dedicated to the Cook Islands and French Polynesia, so I will try to focus on the countries as it’s harder to find more info.
Regarding infrastructure for tourism and visitors, you would find plenty in some countries. Australia, New Zealand and Fiji lead in the region and are visited by many people yearly.
You will find everything from tour operators to extensive options for accommodation. Check out Viator or GetYourGuide to book the best day trips and extraordinary experiences in this region.
Our blog about the best travel websites to save money may be helpful to help you plan. And if you’re up for it, why not do the Big Lap of Oz?
Here are our 9 best tips for travelling the whole lap of Australia.
Don’t forget to try these 12 Classic Australian foods while you’re there.
Vanuatu, Samoa and Tonga would come second, and you can find plenty to do here. There is a wide range of accommodation as well.
We recommend using Booking.com in this part of the world.
Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands have been focusing on building tourism in the past few years. Especially considering the proximity to Australia these islands could see a rise in visitors as long as the infrastructure is there.
Don’t forget that the real gems are located outside the capital city and require another domestic flight.
When it comes to the remaining countries – the infrastructure is more limited as there are very few travellers or tourists here. That includes Tuvalu, Kiribati, Nauru, Marshall Islands and Micronesia.
This means limited flights and limited accommodation.
Of course, let’s not forget Hawaii which is a very popular destination in the Pacific for the US as well as international tourists.
When it comes to the territories, the easiest to visit would be French Caledonia (Tahiti and Bora Bora), the Cook Islands and New Caledonia. The rest of the territories are somewhat undiscovered.
This depends if you are planning to visit one country, or multiple islands or try to see all of them in one trip. It’s probably best to look at flight connections for multiple country trips and follow those.
For example, you might visit Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands with Vanuatu. Or use Fiji as a base to see Tonga, Samoa and Tuvalu.
If you are planning to visit all the countries in one trip, then careful planning and flexibility is the key—more on that below in our suggested itinerary.
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Numerous airlines connect the Pacific with major air hubs:
The main players are Virgin Australia, Air New Zealand, Fiji Airways, Nauru Air, Air Niugini and United Airlines.
We used Skyscanner to plan and book flights for our itinerary around the Pacific.
From Australia, you will find direct flights to Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa and Nauru.
If you are in New Zealand, you can quickly get to Tonga, Samoa, Vanuatu, Fiji and the Cook Islands.
Finally, when travelling from the USA, you can fly to Fiji, and Australia and connect to the rest.
But more importantly, the so-called United Island Hopper connects Hawaii with the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and Guam and then flies onto Manila.
United is the only airline that currently connects the Marshall Islands and Micronesia, and many choose to fly to Palau with United Airlines as well.
Please note this flight connects via Guam. Guam is a US territory so unless you are one of the lucky nationalities that qualify for the Guam Waiver (CLICK HERE for info) you will need ESTA or USA visa to transit.
The obvious option to see islands is to search for a cruise in the Pacific.
While cruising might not be for everyone, some can find a pretty good deal when signing up online. It can be practical if you are also planning to see a bit of Australia or New Zealand, as many cruise companies incorporate these two destinations with a few other islands, usually Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Fiji and Samoa.
Also, many cruises usually visit more territories than countries.
The cruise that seems to cover a few of the islands for a great price is the Norwegian Jewel from Sydney to Papeete. You can check the best deals on this cruise and many more by searching on CruiseCritic and these
The last option is for the most adventurous with more flexibility. Cargo ships ply the oceans everywhere, and technically there is a chance you could score a ride. There are probably two common assumptions:
1. It’s easy to board a cargo ship in the Pacific.
2. It’s free or cheap.
Both are false.
To find more information on cargo ships, you can read this article written by Thor, the man who recently visited every country in the world without flying. He is the right person to talk about cargo ships.
More about Thor’s journey can be found on his website, Once Upon Saga.
Planning any multi-country trip to the Pacific starts with airline routes. Unfortunately, despite some major airlines flying into the Pacific, not all islands are connected with daily flights.
Some fly only once a week. Especially when it comes to the less-visited countries. There are a few suggested itineraries below. They’ve been put together based on airline connections and the overall cost of flights.
While you can technically visit these three countries by three different airlines, the most common route for most travellers is with United Airlines on Flight 154/155.
The route is known as United Airlines’ Island Hopper. You are flying from Honolulu (HNL) to Majuro (MAJ) to Kwajalein (KWA) to Kosrae (KSA) to Pohnpei (PNI) to Chuuk (TKK) to Guam (GUM), or the reverse. From Guam, you can fly to Palau and Manila.
Check Skyscanner for the best flight deals on the Island Hopper
If you have any points with United Airlines or Star Alliance, then it is a good idea to use them on this flight as the cost of the ticket is high. The flight itself is considered a bucket list item for flight enthusiasts.
If you fly from Honolulu, it can take up to 20 hours to reach Guam. You can disembark at each airport except Kwajalein.
The only food service is breakfast out of Honolulu, so if you are hungry, make sure you bring some snacks.
One annoying part: Once you reach the Marshall Islands or depart from there, the flight lands every hour for Kwajalein, Kosrae, Pohnpei, Chukk and then Guam. Your in-flight entertainment will start all over again, so you will never finish the movie.
Note: Should you not be able to fly on the flight with United, you can access these three countries by other routes:
If you are based in Australia and planning to visit South Pacific and Melanesia:
Australia is a great base to access some islands on multiple trips. Virgin Australia flies to multiple countries.
Regional Airlines such as Air Niugini, Solomon Airlines, Fiji Airways and Air Vanuatu all fly to Australia as well. You can choose to visit on a return flight or combine a few countries on multiple trips.
Flights depart mainly from Brisbane or Sydney.
Here is the list for 2023: Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Nauru
The ultimate challenge is to visit all the countries in the Pacific on a single trip. Here are a few options on how to do it.
From Australia:
Sydney to Nuku’alofa to Nadi to Apia to Nadi to Suva to Funafuti to Tarawa to Yaren to Majuro
to Pohnpei to Guam to Koror to Manila to Port Moresby to Honiara to Port Vila
Sydney/Brisbane to Port Vila to Honiara to Tarawa to Funafuti to Suva to Nadi to Apia to Nadi
to Nuku’alofa to Nauru to Majuro to Pohnpei to Guam to Palau to Manila to Port Moresby.
From Asia – Round trip from Manila
Manila to Guam to Palau to Pohnpei to Majuro to Kiribati to Nauru to Nadi to Apia to Nadi
to Nuku’alofa to Nadi to Suva to Funafuti to Suva to Nadi to Port Vila to Honiara to Port Moresby to Manila
There are, of course, a few other combinations available. Here are a few hints that may help you when planning for each country.
Tuvalu – It is connected with Fiji Airlines three times a week from Suva, not Nadi, and it’s the only reliable flight.
Air Kiribati used to connect Tuvalu with Kiribati every Wednesday – UPDATE in 2023: This route is no longer operating.
Kiribati – Is connected with Fiji Air twice a week and with the Solomon Islands on Monday/Tuesday—a great link between Melanesia and Polynesia. Nauru Airlines also connects Kiribati to the Marshall Islands and Nauru.
Nauru – The only country that almost everyone requires a visa for, and it can take some time to obtain. You can find more info here. The only airline flying to Nauru is Nauru Airlines.
It also connects Nauru with Brisbane, but the ticket is expensive. In 2020, Nauru Airlines cancelled flights Nauru – Pohnpei and Nauru – Honiara.
Micronesia – Apart from the United Airlines flight that connects it with the Marshall Islands or Guam, you might consider flying in or out of Port Moresby with Air Niugini. The flight was only about $280, but it has been suspended in February due to the coronavirus.
Samoa/Tonga – Both countries have direct flights in and out of Australia or New Zealand, and it’s often cheaper to fly on return from there than to nearby Fiji.
Travelling across the Pacific doesn’t come cheap. Fiji and Tonga were the cheapest; the most expensive would be the Marshall Islands, Micronesia and Nauru.
RELATED POST – The Best Budget Accommodation Options in Tonga
On average, accommodation costs are around USD 100 per night. Except in Fiji, there are virtually no hostels.
We book hotels and accommodation on Booking.com.
Each of us travels differently, and while you can spend a few weeks in Fiji or Vanuatu, you might run out of things to do in places like Nauru, Tuvalu or the Marshall Islands.
Personally for us, we would put the countries in a few groups:
Australia and New Zealand – You can easily spend months in both countries. While New Zealand is smaller, it is fantastic for many outdoor activities.
Fiji, Vanuatu, Samoa, Tonga, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands – A week in each place will give you enough time to see it, and you might venture to neighbouring islands too. Fiji has the best infrastructure, and you will eventually come back to this island sometime in between flights.
Tuvalu, Kiribati, Nauru & the Marshall Islands – As some smaller and less developed nations, you might be happy to spend three days in each place.
Tuvalu and Nauru are both tiny, and you will eventually run out of things to do.
The Marshall Islands has one of the least attractive main islands, Majuro. Try to get to Eneko Island (Read about our experience here), Arno Atol or Laura Beach.
Most travellers fly into Tarawa in Kiribati, and while we have heard the outer islands are beautiful, if you stay on the main island, a few days will be enough.
Micronesia & Palau – We spent some extra time in Micronesia at Pohnpei and loved it there. It’s green, with impressive ruins of Nan Madol, and you can go snorkelling or fishing. The people were super lovely, and the food was excellent.
Palau is another gem with fantastic snorkelling and diving opportunities. While it’s not easy for budget travellers, it is beautiful.
Here are 10 awesome things to do in Palau and don’t miss the chance to swim with a million stingless jellyfish. Read more about our incredible Jellyfish Lake experience in Palau’s Rock Islands.
The food in Palau is worth mentioning, too! We enjoyed it very much.
There are a few currencies used across the Pacific. A complete list is below.
Please note you will need cash for Tuvalu as there is no ATM.
Generally, make sure you have some money in AUD and USD when travelling in this region for a few weeks.
| Nation | Currency |
| Australia | Australian Dollar |
| New Zealand | New Zealand Dollar |
| Fiji | Fijian Dollar |
| Papua New Guinea | Papua New Guinean Kina |
| Solomon Islands | Solomon Islander Dollar |
| Vanuatu | Vanuatu Vatu |
| Samoa | Samoan Tala |
| Tonga | Tongan Pa’anga |
| Tuvalu | Australian Dollar |
| Nauru | Australian Dollar |
| Kiribati | Australian Dollar |
| The Marshall Islands | US Dollar |
| Micronesia | US Dollar |
| Palau | US Dollar |
| Hawaii | US Dollar |
| Cook Islands | New Zealand Dollar |
| French Polynesia & New Caledonia | French Pacific (CFP) Franc |
Our post about getting stranded in the Pacific: Cancelled flights, lost luggage and coronavirus will provide you with inside tips and perhaps a few laughs at the same time.
We hope this post has been helpful to you in planning your journey to visit every country in the Pacific. We want to keep this post updated with the latest information for all, so please feel free to share your suggestions, schedule updates, or tips in the comments below if you have travelled this route in 2024 and beyond.
We have many travel guides and tips for Oceania & Australia—a fascinating continent!
Australia is ideal for exploring with two wheels! If you plan to explore Oz, check out our best tips for doing the Big Lap of Australia
These 12 classic foods from Australia are unmissable and remember to get a photo with the 30 best BIG THINGS in Australia.
Do you plan to visit the Pacific islands? You’ll need our ULTIMATE guide to visit every country in the Pacific.
Furthermore, if you plan to travel longer after visiting Australia and Oceania, these 21 cheapest countries to visit will make your hard-earned dollars stretch a bit further.
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Check out our Group Tours first for any upcoming departures in Australia or Oceania, or view these Tourraddar deals on group tours in Oceania & Australia here.
Check out our best-ever travel tips compiled from more than twenty years of experience.
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13 Comments. Leave new
Thank you very much for sharing your experiences. When can we expect the 2022 update? And how much would the trip from Sydney (as shown on the picture) cost – a rough estimate, of course? Thank you.
There are still countries closed for tourists in the Pacific so once they reopen I might be able to update this blog. In general, the Pacific loop of visiting them all would be around USD4000-5000 before the pandemic. Sadly I don’t think it will be any cheaper due to limited services and the high cost of United airlines between Marshall Islands – Micronesia – Palau.
This post is GOLD. Thank you!
Are there any tour companies that do all of the islands in one trip
No, not that we’re aware of. It’s logistically too hard to operate a tour to visit all of these nations at once, some of them are the least visited countries in the world.
Hey Marty I just finished my NZ journey and now in Auckland again. NZ has very bad weather now and I think I’ll go to some islands instead. I have 1.5 months left, would you suggest me the route for this time, starting and finishing in Auckland? Please keep in mind that I don’t have american and french visas (and no time to applying).
I can visit Vanuatu, Tonga, Fiji, Samoa (not American), Tuvalu, Tokelau, Cook Islands, Papua, Solomon Islands. How to spend 1.5 months in between them and how should my route looks like?
The best option would be to fly from Auckland to Samoa, Tonga or the Cook Islands as there are great flights from Auckland. Then you can fly to Fiji (from Tonga or Samoa) and access some other islands from Fiji such as Tuvalu or Vanuatu. You just need to check different dates and prices online and put it together step by step. Hope that helps.
PNG currency is Kina not NZD Dollar.
The flights to Tuvalu with Kiribati airlines no longer run, only Fiji airlines, as a result I will have to save Tuvalu for another trip and hopefully a direct flight/boat from Samoa.
Air nugini you can kill two birds with one stone with a 24hr layover in Port moresby when flying from Cairns to Honiara for around 350aud.
I couldn’t find any (reasonably priced) flights to Tarawa from Honiara so had to go via Fiji and Nauru airlines pulled the plug with Solomon which would have been perfect for me removing the need to go through Fiji.
Did you visit bouganville (PNG), if so have you done a write up?
Cheers
Hi Roger,
Thanks for your input. We’ve updated this post to advise that Kiribati Airlines no longer run that flight to Tuvalu. And yes, PNG uses the Kina as currency, we’ve also updated this in our post 😉
Regarding your question regarding Bougainville, we itinially had flights booked to visit, but then the pandemic spread across the world and we had to cancel. When PNG opened up to visitors a few years later, flights were incredibly expensive, so we didn’t get there. So no, we dont have a write up for you.
I read your post twice. I am a great fan. The maps are helpful. I wanted a little more guidance for a round trip – multi city trip out of sydney covering few countries not all. Can I get some help please? An email or a chat if possible please 🙏
Hi Prabir,
We’re happy to know that you found our blog really helpful. Everything we know about doing this journey, we have noted in this blog. If you have a specific question, please ask us here as it may be useful to other readers. 🙂
Hello VeryHungryNomads:)
I am planning my trip over the region and your suggested itinerary looks great.
However if you travel from Asia there is one small hiccup at the beginning of the journey.
TPE Taiwan ROR Palau
ROR Palau PNI Micronesia Every Saturday
PNI Micronesia MAJ Marshall Islands Every Saturday
MAJ Marshall Islands TRW Kiribati Every Saturday
POR to PNI is not a problem, however then the fun part starts – flights from PNI to MAJ and from MAJ to TRW are only every Saturday. Does it mean a fellow traveller has to be stuck for a week on Marshall Islands and in Micronesia? Or am I missing a airline somewhere?
Many thanks in advance,
Aleh
Hi Aleh, yes the Pacific can be a challenging region to fly around. There are 2 airlines that fly between Micronesia and Marshall Islands, United Airlines and now Nauru Airlines as well.
As for Tarawa, many travellers might choose to fly to from Fiji with Fiji Airlines as otherwise you do only have limited service with Nauru Airlines which sort of hops over a few islands once a week. I hope this helps with your planning. Martina