THE ULTIMATE “NESIAS” TRAVEL GUIDE POLYNESIA | MICRONESIA | MELANESIA | INDONESIA Presented by Sara’s Amazing Travel Company and another line of copy In the far Pacific, island hopping reaches its ultimate height. Don your wetsuit and delve into a fantastical world of tiny atolls and monster waves, where ancient cultures are as captivating as the vibrant coral gardens and the people as warm as the tropical temps. With tens of thousands of islands spread among the ‘Nesias—Polynesia, Micronesia, Melanesia, and Indonesia—there’s a paradise waiting for every adventurer. • Polynesia .................................. page 2 > • Micronesia ................................ page 3 > • Melanesia ................................. page 4 > • Indonesia .................................. page 5 > • Resources ................................. page 6 > POLYNESIA Far-flung Paradise In Brief When to Go Centuries before European explorers stumbled upon the New You’ll find the mildest weather (and the most tourists) May World, their Polynesian counterparts had been navigating a through October, while November to April brings more rain vast swatch of the South Pacific. Traveling by double-hulled and less visibility for divers. Average temps hover around 80°F canoe (a forerunner of the catamaran), these ancient seafarers year round. migrated from southeast Asia to settle a 800,000-square-mile region known as the Polynesian Triangle, which reaches from New Zealand to Hawaii and onward to Easter Island. Why Go Now Many Polynesian islands are under threat of losing coastline More than 1,000 islands comprise Polynesia, which is often due to global warming and rising sea levels. Tourism, confused with its most famous grouping, French Polynesia. particularly in French Polynesia, makes it increasingly That overseas collectivity of France includes the Marquesas, challenging to find that idyllic stretch of deserted beach. Tuamotu, and Society archipelagos, whose turquoise lagoons, rugged green peaks, and frangipani trees are forever seared in the minds of romantics thanks to the paintings of Explore with Zegrahm Paul Gauguin. Stone temples or marae still dot the islands; Samoa & Tonga: Swimming with Humpbacks Marae Taianapa and Fare Opu on Bora Bora and the large August 27, 2018 | 14 Days Taputapuatea complex at Opoa on Raiatea are some of the finer examples. Tahiti to Easter Island: Marquesas, Tuamotus & Pitcairns October 10, 2019 | 20 Days Among the other, larger Polynesian island groups are the independent nations of Samoa with its lush jungles and jagged interiors, and Tonga, Polynesia’s last remaining monarchy; the latter is home to a major breeding ground for humpback whales and otherworldly reef diving. Exceptional diving is also to be had off Aitutaki and Atiu in the Cook Islands, a self-governing state associated with New Zealand. The Cooks include tiny Palmerston, one of the most isolated places in the world; nearly all of its 62 inhabitants (at last count) are descended from one 19th-century Englishman, William Marsters, making it the only island in the group where English is the native tongue. Polynesians are credited with creating the art of surfing, the voyaging canoe, and the tattoo. Scientists recently posited that inhabitants of Mangareva in the Gambier Islands also invented binary math centuries before it was used in the West. Ways to Explore Polynesia is a mecca for watersport enthusiasts—excellent surfing and diving can be found off most islands. Terra firma activities include hiking and biking in the volcanic hills, birdwatching, spelunking, and exploring ancient marae sites. ZEGRAHM EXPEDITIONS < 2 > MICRONESIA Big on Adventure In Brief Ways to Explore They may be known as the “little islands,” but Micronesia— Water is the word here, with exceptional diving and snorkeling; encompassing some 2,100 island gems scattered across nearly go sailing, sea kayaking, kite boarding, and sport fishing. three million square miles between Manilla and Maui—leaves Other popular activities include hiking and mountain biking, a big impression in the minds of watersport enthusiasts. Surfers birdwatching, and waterfall climbing. consider Palikir Pass (or “P-Pass”) off Pohnpei one of the top right-hand breaks on the planet, while Jacques Cousteau named Ngemelis Wall in the Palau Archipelago among his all- When to Go time favorite wall dives. Rainfall and humidity are lower during the dry winter season (December - March), while the wet season (April - November) While considered a single geographic region, Micronesia brings calmer waters for exploring dive sites. Tropical actually comprises five sovereign nations, each with its own temperatures (85 - 90°F) are generally steady throughout the distinct culture, language, and colonial history. The Federated year. States of Micronesia itself includes four unique states which, in turn, have their own character, traditions, and must-see sites. 70 Japanese ships and aircraft lay on the lagoon floor off Why Go Now Chuuk, luring wreck divers from around the world. Night diving is excellent in Kosrae’s clear waters, which often offers visibility Modernization continues to encroach upon the islands’ traditional up to 200 feet; it’s also home to the ancient walled city of way of life. Inhabitants, particularly the young, are being lured Lelu, one of the finest archaeological sites in Oceania. The away, leaving behind the customs and culture of their ancestors. mysterious Nan Madol ruins on Pohnpei, known as the “Venice of the Pacific,” are another must-visit, as are neighboring atolls for their virgin reefs. Massive schools of tuna and dolphin are Explore with Zegrahm found off Yap, where dance is an art form and the value of its Best of Micronesia: Rabaul to Palau raay or stone money is derived through its oral history. February 23, 2018 | 18 Days March 3, 2019 | 18 Days Among Micronesia’s other nations, the Palau Archipelago is known in diving circles as the “underwater Serengeti” for its canyoned seascape and diverse marine life including 1,500 fish species and 700 types of coral. The Republic of Kiribati attracts anglers with world-record bonefish and other big game fish; there are numerous WWII relics, as well. Impressive wrecks can be found off the Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands, while its Majuro Atoll teems with sharks. Northern Micronesia also includes the Northern Mariana Islands, a Commonwealth of the US; Guam, a US territory; and Wake Island, which is unincorporated. With plane and shipwrecks, awesome walls, untouched reefs, and relatively few tourists, they’ve earned the moniker “America’s best-kept secret.” ZEGRAHM EXPEDITIONS < 3 > MELANESIA A Living History In Brief Ways to Explore A bombshell 2016 genetic study revealed that the people On the rare occasion when you’re not in the balmy waters, of Melanesia may hold a missing link in the story of human explore some of the myriad WWII sites or hike to the edge of evolution. While modern-day humans possess the genes of both an active volcano. Make sure to have your binoculars while the Neanderthal and Denisovan species in our DNA, at least trekking through virgin rainforest. some Melanesians carry traces of a third, yet unknown hominid. This was not the first time that the far-off region shattered When to Go conventional perceptions. It wasn’t until the 1930s that Westerners first discovered a thriving community in the High temperatures hover in the 80s°F throughout the year, highlands of Papua New Guinea whose culture hadn’t changed although you should expect some tropical storms between since the Stone Age; and as recently as 1976 first contact was December and March. The dry seasons (May to November) made with the Touloumbis people. Of course, while these native brings clearer reef waters and higher prices. inhabitants may not have been in touch with modern society, their incredible artistry and craftsmanship are evident in such pieces as the masterfully crafted Ambum Stone, extraordinary Why Go Now masks, and the handmade seafaring canoes from the Laughlan Like so many island nations around the world, Melanesia is Islands. experiencing the effects of climate threats with rising sea levels Papua New Guinea is just one of four countries that make and increasingly intense tropical storms such as Cyclone Pam, up Melanesia; its 2,000 islands are sprinkled across a which struck Vanuatu in 2015. 386,000-square-mile area that reaches from the western Pacific to northeast Australia. The Fiji archipelago is known as the “soft coral capital of the world,” boasting 4,000 square miles of Explore with Zegrahm fringed reef that shelter more than 1,000 species of fish. Head Papua New Guinea: Cultural Connections to the lush tropical interior of Viti Levu Island for one of the February 17, 2018 | 10 Days planet’s most intense rafting challenges along the Upper Navua River, while the Garden of the Sleeping Giant in Nadi displays Papua New Guinea more than 2,000 species of orchids. A recent Gallup poll found September 20, 2019 | 17 Days Fijians to be the happiest people on Earth, and visitors are quick to understand why. Rounding out Melanesia: the Solomon Islands, known for their incredible biodiversity both on land and below the sea, as well as their infamous role in WWII; 2017 marks the 75th anniversary of the battle of Guadalcanal. And, the nation of Vanuatu offers the adventurous traveler plenty of deserted beaches and amazing diving sites including one of the best wrecks on earth, the S.S. President Coolidge. ZEGRAHM EXPEDITIONS < 4 > INDONESIA Tropical Tapestry In Brief Ways to Explore Fertile rice fields and frenetic cities, sugar-sand beaches and Snorkeling and diving are highlights here. Gear up for treks emerald forests, monkey dances and Komodo dragons: the through the rainforests, across terraced rice paddies, to islands of Indonesia—a staggering 17,508 of them—have peaceful temples, and up smoldering volcanoes. Birdwatching something for every adventurer. Stretching across 742,308 is also excellent. square miles between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific, this Southeast Asian archipelago is a diver’s dream.