Fact Sheets & Video - Samoa

Ecotour Samoa gives you the chance to live on a tropical island and learn how to survive as a real castaway.

A boat takes castaways from Samoa to the neighbouring island of Nuutele, where you'll be welcomed by tropical palms, white sandy shores and sparkling water... and not much else. There are no bars, no resorts and no people on Nu'utele, but with the help of a guide youll learn how to survive, Robinson Crusoe-style.

As a castaway, you'll be taught to gather and cook for yourself. You may think coconut palms are just a tropical backdrop, but you'll soon find out several ways to use these trees for food and shelter.

The shells of the coconuts can be used as bowls or cups and the contents inside can make a nice drink, or even coconut cream. To make the cream you have to grate the coconut and then create a strainer from the bark of a native Towunga Tree and squeeze the cream out. This cream as youll soon find out - tastes great with cooked bananas. This survival experience will teach you how to create fire using natural materials, how to carve spoons and forks, make fishing rods and how to make shelter from the trees. Other activities for castaways include sea kayaking, a hike to a nearby crater rim and a walk through the pristine and uninhabited forest.

While you'll have to rough it during the day, traditional fales are provided for night time. A fale is a thatch-roofed house complete with a mattress, linen, mosquito net and a shared bathroom. Ecotour Samoa allows you to enjoy your own tropical island adventure without sacrificing a good nights sleep.

The facts

Air New Zealand flies castaways to Samoa four times a week. Prices start at $1059 from Sydney, and $1639 from Perth.

Air New Zealand

Tel: 13 24 76

Ecotour Samoa runs survival courses for $250 per person per day. This includes transfers to Nuutele Island, accommodation in a traditional fale, a guide and all food. For every day you book you'll get a free tour of Savaii and Upolo islands, which also includes accommodation and two meals a day.

Ecotour Samoa

Tel: 0011 685 22144 (international)

Samoa Tourism Authority

Tel: 02 9824 5050