Welcome to Easter Island, one of the most remote inhabited islands in the world! While here, your closest neighbours are over 2,000 kilometres away on Pitcairn Islands. This Chilean island is perhaps best known for its over 900 moai, the monolith human figures carved between the years 1250 and 1500, and their creators, the Rapa Nui people.

After you transfer to the hotel, the rest of the day is yours to enjoy at leisure. Why not visit the nearby church and village? There you’ll have the opportunity to observe both Catholic and indigenous symbols and statues. You’ll find the local market and museum, rich in Rapa Nui artefacts and culture, next to the church.

Today you’ll learn about the fascinating history of the Rapa Nui people. The tour begins as you head south along the coast to Hanga Te’e, enjoying the amazing views of the Pacific Ocean and the black volcanic rocks that jut out from the shoreline along the way. Here in Hanga Te’e you’ll be able to view a variety of toppled moai at the Ahu Vaihu.

From Hanga Te’e you continue to Rano Raraku, the volcano that served as a quarry for the Rapa Nui, supplying about 95% of the stone used to carve the statues. The site is still home to some 400 moai, which remain in varying stages of completion. You’ll enjoy a boxed lunch here among the quarry and its moai population. When admiring the moai throughout the island, keep in mind that these statues average a height of 3.9 metres (the tallest was 10 metres) and a weight of 12 tonnes (the heaviest was 86 tonnes), so for them to be moved around the island from this quarry is quite remarkable … and exactly how this was done is still a mystery!

After lunch you will head to Ahu Tongariki, the largest ahu (stone platform) on the island. Its moai were toppled during Easter Island’s civil wars and the ahu itself was swept inland by a tsunami; however, it has since been restored with 15 moai, including the heaviest to ever be erected on the island—86 tonnes! From here you’ll head east to the ‘Navel of the World’, named so for its large round stone, which was brought to the island by Hota Matu’a, the first settler and king of the Rapa Nui, from his home land of Hiva, or so the legend goes.

The final stop for the day will see you enjoying the powdery white sand, coconut palm trees and warm waters of Anakena beach.

Today is a day filled with history, culture and breathtaking sights! This morning you will drive up to the extinct volcano Rano Kau to take in the stunning panoramic views of the entire island.

Continuing to the ceremonial village of Orongo, you’ll learn about the birdman cult, which involved a perilous annual ritual to obtain the first sooty tern egg of the season from the islet of Moto Nui. Eight contestants each sent a proxy or two of lesser social status and importance in their stead to retrieve the egg, some of whom were killed by sharks, drowned or fell to their death from the cliff face. To finish off the morning you’ll make your way back down the volcano to the Ahu Vinapu to see the interesting stonemasonry before exploring a cave and its wall paintings nearby.

This afternoon you will travel to the inland Ahu Akivi, featuring seven re-erected moai. Legend has it that these moai represent the seven explorers sent to Rapa Nui by the late king Hotu Matu’a. Hanga Poukura is your next stop, which is an extraordinary site where many tumbled moai statues and scattered pukaos (carved chieftain topknots) can be found. The pukaos were carved from a lighter, red-coloured volcanic rock called ‘red scoria’, found in the quarry of Puna Pau a short drive away.

Your last visit of the day will take you to the ceremonial site of Tahai, which boasts three ahus, restored moai, remains of boathouses and a boat ramp.

Today marks the end of your adventure across Easter Island, exploring the ancient and fascinating Rapa Nui. We hope you leave with fantastic memories!