Grand Palau: Reefs, Rock Islands, Culture & History

Today you experience two of Palau's signature wonders. A boat carries you into the UNESCO-listed Rock Islands Southern Lagoon, a surreal labyrinth of jungle-clad, mushroom-shaped limestone islands scattered across dazzling turquoise water. You cruise among the emerald islets, snorkel over vibrant coral gardens teeming with fish and turtles, and land on a deserted white-sand beach. The highlight is Jellyfish Lake, where you snorkel among millions of harmless golden jellyfish pulsing through sunlit water, an utterly surreal, dreamlike experience, as thousands of jellyfish drift all around you, brushing softly and harmlessly against your skin. The beauty of the Rock Islands and the magic of the jellyfish make this an extraordinary day. As the boat returns across the turquoise lagoon, you take in the beauty of the emerald islands, and a relaxed dinner in Koror rounds off an unforgettable start to your grand journey through Palau's wonders.

A day of world-class diving (or, for non-divers, superb snorkelling) on Palau's legendary reefs. You dive the world-famous Blue Corner, using a reef hook to anchor yourself at the edge of a dramatic wall and hang in the current, watching schools of grey reef sharks, barracuda, jacks and snapper, turtles, huge Napoleon wrasse and eagle rays stream past just metres away over a wall carpeted in vibrant coral, an exhilarating, non-stop spectacle. You also dive the nearby Blue Holes, a series of dramatic caverns filled with shafts of blue light. Regularly voted one of the world's best dives, Blue Corner is a genuine bucket-list experience. Non-divers can snorkel pristine coral gardens teeming with turtles and fish. The abundance of marine life on Palau's protected reefs is breathtaking. As the boat returns across the turquoise lagoon, a relaxed dinner rounds off a thrilling day of diving in this marine paradise.

Another day exploring Palau's spectacular reefs. Divers visit German Channel, famous for its manta rays, watching these gentle giants glide gracefully overhead as they are cleaned and feed, alongside reef sharks and turtles, and drift the fish-filled Ulong Channel over vibrant coral teeming with life. Snorkellers, meanwhile, explore Ulong's beautiful reefs and white-sand beach, snorkelling coral gardens alive with turtles, giant clams and clouds of fish. Palau's reefs, among the healthiest on earth, offer breathtaking diving and snorkelling, and encounters with marine life are frequent and thrilling. Between activities, you relax on Ulong's beautiful beach and see its ancient rock art. The abundance and health of the marine life, protected by Palau's world-leading conservation, are profound. As the boat returns across the turquoise lagoon, you take in the beauty of the Rock Islands, and a relaxed dinner in Koror rounds off another wonderful day in the water.

A day exploring Babeldaob, Palau's lush, little-visited main island, a fascinating contrast to the lagoon. You hike or take a jungle monorail to the spectacular Ngardmau waterfall, the largest in Palau, where you can swim in a cool, clear pool beneath the cascade, explore the mysterious ancient stone monoliths of Badrulchau, said to predate written history, visit traditional Palauan villages and bai (meeting houses) with their beautiful storyboard carvings that tell ancient legends, and take in the island's rainforest, rivers, mangroves and endemic wildlife. Babeldaob reveals the deep culture, rich history and beautiful nature of Palau beyond the reefs, and its ancient monoliths, waterfalls, villages and storyboards add a fascinating cultural and natural dimension to your journey. As the sun sets, return to Koror for a relaxed dinner, reflecting on the ancient culture and lush land you have discovered, a rich complement to the marine wonders of the lagoon.

A day exploring the hidden lagoons, caves and beaches of the Rock Islands by kayak and boat. Paddling kayaks, you glide silently into the Rock Islands' hidden channels, secret marine lakes and mangrove-fringed lagoons, where the water is mirror-calm, gliding into sea caves and hidden coves accessible only by kayak, past ancient rock art, and landing on deserted white-sand beaches. You visit the famous Milky Way, a hidden lagoon where silky white limestone mud turns the water a milky, dreamlike turquoise, floating in the surreal water and enjoying the mud, said to be good for the skin. The maze of emerald islands is even more beautiful and intimate from a kayak, and the sense of peace and discovery is profound. This gentle, immersive exploration of the Rock Islands is a magical highlight, revealing their hidden corners at the gentlest of paces. As the sun sets over the lagoon, return to Koror for a relaxed dinner.

A day snorkelling more of Palau's spectacular reefs and exploring the glittering Chandelier Cave. You snorkel superb reefs and coral gardens teeming with turtles, reef sharks, giant clams and clouds of fish, in warm, crystal-clear water among some of the healthiest marine life on earth, and explore the beautiful Chandelier Cave, a partly submerged sea cave hung with glittering stalactites, where you can surface in hidden air chambers, a unique and magical experience. Between snorkelling, you relax on deserted beaches and cruise the labyrinth of emerald islands. Palau's blend of pristine reefs, hidden caves and extraordinary marine life is breathtaking, and there is always time to swim and relax. As the boat returns across the turquoise lagoon, you take in the beauty of the Rock Islands, and a relaxed dinner in Koror rounds off another wonderful day. Rest well, for tomorrow you journey to Peleliu, site of a fierce Second World War battle and dramatic reefs.

Today you journey to Peleliu, at the southern end of Palau, site of one of the bloodiest battles of the Pacific war and today a moving, atmospheric place of memorials, relics and dramatic reefs. You explore the poignant war sites, the memorials, the museum, the wrecks of tanks, guns and planes scattered through the jungle, and the caves where the battle raged, reflecting on the fierce conflict and its human cost, a moving and fascinating experience. You also snorkel or dive Peleliu's spectacular reefs and walls, where strong currents attract sharks, turtles and huge schools of fish over pristine coral, and where the wrecks now teem with marine life, hauntingly beautiful. You settle into accommodation on quiet, unspoiled Peleliu. This combination of profound history and world-class marine life makes Peleliu a memorable and moving highlight of the journey. As the sun sets over this quiet, historic island, a relaxed dinner rounds off a day of reflection and natural wonder.

A full day exploring the reefs, history and nature of Peleliu. You dive or snorkel more of the island's spectacular reefs and walls, drifting over pristine coral teeming with sharks, turtles, fish and the marine life that has reclaimed the wartime wrecks, thrilling and beautiful. Ashore, you explore more of the poignant war sites and the island's quiet, unspoiled nature, its beaches, forests and birdlife, and meet the warm local people. Peleliu is a place of profound history and dramatic natural beauty, far from the crowds, and the combination of world-class diving, moving history and unspoiled nature makes it a memorable and reflective part of the grand journey. The quiet, atmospheric island offers a very different experience from Koror and the Rock Islands, adding depth and reflection to your journey. As the sun sets over Peleliu, enjoy a relaxed dinner, reflecting on the history and beauty of this significant island, and rest ahead of your return to Koror tomorrow.

Today you journey back to Koror from Peleliu, taking in the beauty of the Rock Islands lagoon along the way. On arrival, you transfer to your hotel, with the afternoon free to relax, enjoy Koror's restaurants, browse for local crafts, or visit the excellent Belau National Museum and the Etpison Museum to learn more about Palauan history, culture and legends, a fitting way to round off your journey through this remarkable nation. Palau's blend of extraordinary marine wonders, pristine nature, rich culture and profound history has revealed a destination of remarkable depth and beauty. This evening, a farewell dinner celebrates the full range of wonders you have experienced, the labyrinthine Rock Islands and surreal Jellyfish Lake, the world-class reefs, the lush main island and ancient monoliths, and the poignant history of Peleliu, and you reflect on the profound beauty, pristine health, rich culture and significant history of one of the last great marine paradises on earth. Rest well ahead of your departure tomorrow.

After a final morning in Koror, perhaps a last look at the turquoise lagoon or a visit to the museum, you are transferred to the airport for your onward international departure. You leave having truly experienced Palau, the labyrinthine UNESCO Rock Islands, the surreal magic of Jellyfish Lake, the world-class reefs teeming with sharks, mantas and coral, the lush main island with its rainforest, waterfalls and ancient monoliths, and the poignant wartime history of Peleliu. The images stay vivid long after you land, the emerald maze of islands on the turquoise lagoon, the millions of golden jellyfish, the abundant reefs, the ancient stones, the moving war memorials. Palau, a world leader in protecting its precious environment, offers a rare and inspiring glimpse of the ocean, and a nation of rich culture and significant history, and having experienced it in such depth, you depart already dreaming of a return to one of the last great marine wildernesses on earth.