Easter Island is a cultural and architectural wonder unlike any other on the planet, most famous of course for its ubiquitous moai: monolithic stone figures that have puzzled and fascinated visitors for centuries. Known as Rapa Nui to the Polynesian society that settled there in 300AD, the name “Easter Island” comes from the Dutch explorer Jaboc Roggeveen, who landed here on Easter Sunday, 1722. The more than 900 moai known to date are believed to be the living faces of the community’s ancestors, facing away from the ocean and towards the villages as if to watch over their descendants. Only the seven moai of the Ahu Akivi face the ocean, as oral tradition has it that these are the seven scouts sent ahead by the legendary King Hotu Matu'a to await his arrival.

During this once-in-a-lifetime journey to the enigmatic Easter Island, or Rapa Nui, 2,300 miles off the coast of South America, and surrounded by the clearest, deepest waters on the planet, we'll explore its spiritual monuments and admire the giant Moai statues telling the story of the unique culture of its ancient Polynesian people. The island’s very remoteness lends it unmistakable authenticity and an aura of mystery. This is where the mystical Rapa Nui culture created its enormous stone monuments standing as a testimony to its unique and complex past, while its language, music and traditions are kept alive by the island’s population.

HIGHLIGHTS: Ahu Tongariki (restored with 15 moais), most recent and biggest restoration on the island ● Anakena Beach with its restored Ahus Nau Nau and Ature Huke ● Extinct volcano Rano Kau and the Crater Lake ● Ceremonial village of Orongo, where the "birdman" competition took place ● Ahu Akivi with 7 famous moais, built in the middle of the island ● Topknot quarry Puna Pau

Itinerary specifics subject to change.

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