4-Day Palau Express: Snorkeling, WWII & Island Culture

Tour Overview

Discover the pristine paradise of Palau on this 4-day express tour, from the stunning Rock Islands to the famous Jellyfish Lake, the world-class snorkeling and diving sites, the WWII shipwrecks, and the unique island culture. Palau, an archipelago of over 340 islands in the western Pacific, is consistently ranked as one of the best diving and snorkeling destinations in the world, with its crystal-clear waters, vibrant coral reefs, and abundant marine life.

Itinerary Highlights

Day 1: Arrival in Koror & Island Tour

Arrive at Roman Tmetuchl International Airport (Koror, Palau). Transfer to your hotel. Explore Koror, the largest city and former capital of Palau, located on Koror Island in the Rock Islands. Visit the Palau National Museum (the oldest museum in Micronesia, with its collection of Palauan artifacts, traditional bai (men’s meeting house), and the famous Palauan storyboards), the Etpison Museum (with its exhibits on Palauan history, culture, and natural heritage, and the famous money bird exhibit), and the Belau National Museum. Visit the traditional bai (men’s meeting house) with its beautiful carvings and architecture. Walk along the Koror waterfront and enjoy the beautiful views of the Rock Islands. Visit the Palau Aquarium (with its collection of local marine life). Evening welcome dinner with Palauan cuisine including fresh seafood, coconut crab, fruit bat soup (a local delicacy), taro, and fresh tropical fruits. Overnight in Koror.

Day 2: Rock Islands & Jellyfish Lake Snorkeling Tour

Full day boat tour of the Rock Islands (Chelbacheb), a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most stunning natural wonders in the world, a cluster of over 250 limestone islands rising from the turquoise waters of the lagoon, with their beautiful mushroom shapes, white sand beaches, hidden coves, and vibrant coral reefs. Start the day at the famous Jellyfish Lake (Ongeim’l Tketau), a unique marine lake where millions of golden jellyfish (Mastigias papua etpisoni) have evolved to lose their sting, allowing you to swim among them safely. Snorkel among the jellyfish as they migrate across the lake, a magical and unforgettable experience. After the Jellyfish Lake, continue the Rock Islands tour: visit the Blue Corner (one of the most famous dive sites in the world, a stunning coral reef with strong currents that attract large schools of fish, sharks, rays, and turtles), the Blue Holes (a series of four vertical holes in the reef that open into a beautiful underwater cavern), the German Channel (a man-made channel famous for its manta ray cleaning stations, where you can often see manta rays being cleaned by smaller fish), the Milky Way (a beautiful cove with white limestone mud, where you can cover yourself in the mineral-rich mud for a natural spa treatment), the Big Drop-off (a stunning wall dive site with its vibrant coral and abundant marine life), and the various beautiful beaches and sandbars in the Rock Islands. Stop for swimming and snorkeling at the various sites, enjoying the crystal-clear water and the vibrant marine life. Enjoy a picnic lunch on a beautiful white sand beach. Continue exploring the Rock Islands, visiting the hidden coves, lagoons, and coral reefs. Watch the sunset over the Rock Islands from the boat. Evening return to Koror. Dinner with fresh seafood. Overnight in Koror.

Day 3: WWII History & Peleliu Island

Morning take a boat or plane to Peleliu Island (approximately 30 minutes by boat or 15 minutes by plane), a small island in the southern part of Palau, famous for the Battle of Peleliu (Operation Stalemate II), one of the bloodiest battles of the Pacific War in WWII, fought between the United States and Japan in September-November 1944, with over 12,000 casualties. Explore the WWII historical sites on Peleliu: visit the Peleliu WWII Museum (with its collection of artifacts, weapons, and photographs from the battle), the White Beach and Orange Beach (the landing beaches of the US Marines), the Bloody Nose Ridge (the main Japanese defensive position, a series of limestone ridges and caves where the Japanese soldiers fought to the death, with extensive tunnel systems and bunkers), the 1,000 Man Cave (a large cave where hundreds of Japanese soldiers were killed), the Japanese Headquarters Cave, the American Memorial (commemorating the US soldiers who died in the battle), and the various bunkers, pillboxes, and tank traps scattered across the island. Visit the Peleliu Airport (a small airport on the island, originally built by the Japanese and expanded by the Americans after the battle). Visit the beautiful beaches of Peleliu, including the White Beach (now a peaceful and beautiful beach, despite its violent history). After the WWII tour, go snorkeling or diving at the nearby WWII shipwrecks and aircraft wrecks in the waters around Peleliu, including the famous Helmet Wreck (a Japanese cargo ship sunk during the battle, now a beautiful artificial reef with abundant marine life), the Amatsu Maru (another Japanese shipwreck), and the various aircraft wrecks (including a Japanese Zero fighter plane and an American F4U Corsair). After lunch, return to Koror. Visit the Babeldaob Island (the largest island in Palau, the new capital of Ngerulmud is located here), visiting the famous stone monoliths of Badrulchau (a series of ancient stone monoliths, similar to Stonehenge, dating back to around 100 AD, one of the most mysterious archaeological sites in Micronesia), the new capital building of Ngerulmud, and the beautiful natural scenery of Babeldaob including the Ngardmau Waterfall (the tallest waterfall in Palau) and the various ancient stone platforms. Evening return to Koror. Dinner with local cuisine. Overnight in Koror.

Day 4: Final Snorkeling & Departure

Morning free for a final snorkeling or diving trip at one of Palau’s many world-class sites, or relax at your hotel or on the beach. Do some last-minute shopping for Palauan products including storyboards (traditional carved wooden storyboards, a unique Palauan art form), pearl jewelry, coconut products, and local crafts. Visit the Koror market for souvenirs and local products. After lunch, transfer to Roman Tmetuchl International Airport for your departure flight. Concluding your 4-day Palau express tour.

What’s Included

• Air-conditioned vehicle
• Driver
• Fuel Cost, Parking Fee, Toll Fee
• Accommodation in selected hotels
• Daily breakfast

What’s Not Included

• Entrance fees to attractions
• Tour Guide
• Meal (lunch and dinner)
• International flights
• Travel insurance
• Personal expenses