Easter Island Travel - Easter Island Tour - travel to Chile, the Rapa Nui Culture - moia and Tapati Festival - Easter Island travel - A package tour vacation - open-air archaeological museum - moia, petroglyphs and cave paintings - educational journey with Dr. Steven Roger Fischer

The Society Islands including Tahiti, Moorea and Huahine, are a group of mostly volcanic islands and atolls strewn across the eastern South Pacific. Since first discovered, these lovely Polynesian isles have depicted paradise on earth. Early explorers brought back tales of a land of captivating loveliness and a welcoming people. And the islands still retain this lush beauty and warm hospitality.

At the southeastern tip of the Polynesian triangle lies windswept Easter Island, one of the most remote spots on the planet. Surrounded by an endless ocean as blue as the sky and located 2,300 miles west of Chile, this tiny dot of land is sixty square miles of rocky grasslands, extinct volcanic cones, and steep ocean cliffs. Called Rapa Nui by the Polynesian people who live here, this island is a unique open-air archaeological museum. Nearly a thousand immense stone statues, called moai, gaze with brooding eyes over the gently rolling hills, hundreds of perplexing petroglyphs stand out from rock surfaces, and colorful cave paintings depict brightly painted birds in flight.

The trip is timed to include the wonderful Tapati Festival, a celebration of the Rapa Nui culture. Each day will dawn with new and exciting contests of strength and skill, while evenings will bring the mesmerizing melodies of Polynesian music as grass skirted dancers perform beneath the stars. It is a time of revelry and feasts, and of honoring the past with performances of cat’s cradle, the hypnotic chant used to hand down the island’s history from generation to generation.

Join Far Horizons Archaeological and Cultural trips on this 13 day journey through the heart of Polynesia!

Day 1: Depart the United States on our flight to Tahiti. Upon arrival to Papeete, transfer to the 5-star Intercontinental Tahiti Resort.

Day 2: As we circle the island of Tahiti Nui, we will see many remarkable and varied sites. Begin with a stop at the James Norman Hall House, a memorial museum built as an exact replica of the original home of the writer most well-known for his novel, Mutiny on the Bounty. After a quick stop at Point Venus, named by Captain Cook when he took the readings and observatory study of the transit of Venus in 1769, continue to a magnificent colonial residence originally built by the English writer Robert Keibel. The home is now owned by a fellow Englishman, Roger Gowen, who, with his gracious wife, will welcome us for a visit of the house. Mr. Gowen set sail around the world from England over 30 years ago and never got past Tahiti! Then it's on to Restaurant Gauguin for a delightful buffet lunch complete with delicious local delicacies and a dazzling view of the azure lagoon with Tahiti Iti in the distance. The nearby

Paul Gauguin Museum houses documents, photographs, letters, furniture and household objects, and many reproductions of his most well known paintings displayed throughout the museum. In Paea, the ancient temple of Marae Arahurahu is our first step into learning about the ancestral customs of the South Pacific. Restored in 1954 by Dr. Sinoto of the Bishop Museum in Honolulu, this marae is a perfect example of open-air sanctuaries where early Polynesians worshiped their gods. It belonged to the supreme chief and was reportedly used for human sacrifices. Our last stop will be at the Museum of Tahiti and Her Islands, devoted to the history of Polynesian people and their migration to discover these islands. This museum ranks as one of the best in the South Pacific. Dinner is on our own, followed by a transfer to the airport for the overnight flight to Easter Island. (B/L)

Day 3: Arrive on Easter Island and check into the O’tai Hotel, our home for the next six nights. Surrounded by lovely, fragrant gardens, this small family-run inn is only a block from the coast in the center of the village of Hanga Roa. After time for relaxing at the hotel and lunch, tour the nearby Sebastian Englert Archaeological Museum, named for a German priest who lived on the island for nearly thirty-five years. The museum contains artifacts from the Rapa Nui culture, including the only coral moai eye that has been found. Watch the sunset at Tahai, where three ceremonial centers are located on the edge of the ocean. On one of them, Ahu Ko Te Riku, a large solitary statue, or moai, supports a massive dark red topknot. (B-onboard/L/D)

Day 4: Within the flanks of the volcanic mountain of Rano Raraku lies the quarry where the massive moai were carved. Many unfinished giants still lie imprisoned in stone, abandoned when the work suddenly and mysteriously stopped. Others stand buried to their shoulders in quarry debris and eroding soil and rock. Hike to the rim of the volcano's crater for a breathtaking view over the island, and to see the huge, prehistoric engineering works used to slide the statues down the slope. Tongariki was the largest ahu (shrine) built on the island. Destroyed by a tsunami in 1960, the huge moai were recently re-erected. Notable here are the stunning petroglyphs of enormous tuna, turtles, and human and birdman figures. Anakena is the island's largest white sand beach, and the landing place of the legendary Hotu Matua, the founding hero of the island. Fringed by lovely palm trees, this is our luncheon picnic destination. Ahu Nau Nau, with its row of statues with topknots, and Ature Huki stand on the side of the hill overlooking the beach. (B/L/D)

Day 5: The ancient village of Orongo sits on the seaward edge of Rano Kao Volcano. Until the 1860s, the Festival of the Bird Man was held here each spring. Members of leading tribal groups gathered at the edge of a thousand-foot cliff to watch competitors, or their trusted representatives, swim through turbulent waters to Motu Nui Islet, nearly a mile away. Once there, the competitors hid in caves, sometimes for days, waiting for the return of the migrating Sooty Terns that nestled there. The first person to find an egg, swim back through the shark-infested waters to the mainland, carry it up the precipitous cliff and present it unbroken, won the race. He or the man he represented became Bird Man for the next year, an important status position. The sacred site is famed for its hundreds of intricate petroglyphs carved on massive boulders perched on the edge of the cliff. Continue to Ana Kai Tangata, the Cave of the Cannibals, where painted portraits of Sooty Terns soar in stylized flight across the ceiling, and Vinapu, containing the ruins of two famous shrines, one of which has massive stonework reminiscent of the Inka civilization in Peru. (B/L/D)

Day 6: The remote west coast of the island is today’s destination. Begin with a visit to Ahu Huri A Urenga where a solitary statue still stands; it was once a solstice observatory. At Tepeu, see a massive ahu, and the island's largest hare paenga (stone house built in the shape of a boat). Examine the nearby petroglyphs, caves, and two huge manavai (farm fields in collapsed lava tubes). After a barbecue in a shady grove, move on to Ahu Akivi where seven standing giants are oriented towards the summer solstice. The moai face a plaza fronted with stones, the site of early religious rites and dances. Visit Puna Pau, where the red scoria topknots for the stone figures were quarried. (B/L/D)

Day 7: With its many large moai, Vaihu is one of the most impressive sites on the south coast. Toppled in the wars, the statues now lie with their noses buried in the ground surrounded by scattered topknots. At Akahanga numerous large figures and the remains of a village with the foundations of several boat-shaped houses cover a hillside. Continue to the north coast, stopping at Poike Ditch and the Trumpet of Hiro. Visit Ahu Hekii, Ahu Ra’ai and its petroglyphs, and Te Pito Te Kura, the largest statue ever moved. Return to the village via Vaitea, the historical sheep ranch. Tonight's dinner will be a typical umu (earth oven dinner), highlighted by dancers in costumes. (B/L/D)

Day 8: Today will be free to explore the island at our own pace - on foot, by horse, or in our van. Accessible only by foot, the north coast of Easter Island is a particularly interesting area. Many of the caves and lava tubes that dot the volcanic hills contain petroglyphs and paintings. Some of these caves were used as refuges in time of war, others as secret storage or burial places. Here also are statue-filled ritual places, one of which is called a "ski jump" or ahu. If the sea is calm, you may motor by fishing boat to see Rapa Nui from the water. Lunch and dinner are on our own. (B)

Day 9: Enjoy a free day to partake in the Tapati festivities. Begun in 1975, Tapati was originally a song and poetry festival organized to attract tourists. Today, the two week long celebration includes a wide range of activities such as native dance, chant, song, horse racing, woodcarving, fishing, kai kai (string figures), traditional body decoration, parades, and a queen contest. In the evening transfer to the airport for the return flight to Tahiti. Return to the Intercontinental Tahiti Resort, our home for the next three nights. Lunch is on our own; dinner is onboard. (B/D-onboard)

Day 10: Take the ferry to Moorea, Tahiti’s sister island, home to cathedral-shaped peaks, crystalline lagoons and lush green valleys. Begin with a picturesque drive through the pineapple fields and vanilla plantations of Opunohu Valley up to Le Belvedere lookout. From this spot enjoy a breathtaking view of Mt. Rotui which separates the famous Cook’s Bay and Opunohu Bay, the place where Capitan Cook anchored in 1774. Stop at the marae of Titiroa, where legend has it that human sacrifices and archeries competitions were once held. In the afternoon, take a catamaran to a nearby motu (small island), to have a barbeque lunch with a stingray feeding and coconut cutting demonstration. Return to Tahiti and our hotel. Dinner is on our own. (B/L)

Day 11: Fly to the nearby island of Huahine. The royal village of Maeva was the traditional headquarters of Huahine, the capital of a complex and highly centralized system of government. This was the only place in the entire Polynesian triangle where the royal families lived side by side, each with a marae stone temple to mark the home. Here we will examine some of the over 200 maraes, followed by a stop at the Fare Pote’e, a museum and handcrafts center built over the water as a replica of the traditional Polynesian meeting house. After touring the island, return to Tahiti. Tonight’s farewell dinner will be a spectacular event at the hotel, complete with a Tahitian dance show and fire dancers. (B/L/D)

Day 12: The area that now constitutes Papeete was first settled by the British missionary William Crook of the London Missionary Society in 1818. Queen Pōmare IV moved her court to Papeete and made it her capital in the late 1820s, and the town grew into a major regional shipping and transportation center. Enjoy a historical tour of this Polynesian capital in the afternoon, including a short visit to the Robert Wan Pearl Museum. This is the only museum in the world dedicated solely to pearls and displays different specimens from the designer’s personal collection. The final stop will be at the daily market, located downtown just one block from the waterfront. Return to the hotel to freshen up and enjoy dinner on our own before an evening transfer to the airport for our evening flight back to Los Angeles. (B)

Easter Island's Tapati Festival is a celebration of the Rapanui culture by its people. As a movable feast, the dates are flexible. Furthermore, the LAN flight schedules change often. If we must change our dates to accommodate the flights or fiesta, we should know by November 30th.

STUDY LEADER: Dr. Steven Roger Fischer is the Director of the Institute of Polynesian Languages and Literatures in Auckland, New Zealand, and an internationally recognized linguist and historian. He is an expert in pre-contact Eastern Polynesia, especially Easter Island, and the author of 16 books and over 100 scholarly articles, most dealing with Eastern Polynesia. He is the publisher and editor of Rongorongo Studies: A Forum for Polynesian Philology, and a member of the editorial board of Rapa Nui Journal, the only international quarterly on Easter Island. He is the former regional Vice-President of the international Easter Island Foundation, and is fluent in Spanish, French and Rapanui (the language of Easter Island). Dr. Fischer’s recent successful decipherment of Easter Island’s rongorongo script has won international acclaim.

TRIP LAND COST: $9,495.00 (per person, double occupancy) includes round-trip air tickets from Tahiti to Easter Island; all hotels; guides and entry fees; ground transportation; and meals as noted in itinerary.

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: $1,395.00. Should a roommate be requested and one not be available, the single supplement must be charged.

COST DOES NOT INCLUDE: international roundtrip airfare to Tahiti; the separate donation $150.00 check to the Easter Island Foundation; passport or visa fees; airport or departure taxes; beverages or food not included on regular menus; laundry; excess baggage charges; personal tips; gratuities to guides and drivers; alcoholic drinks; telephone and fax charges; or other items of a personal nature.

REGISTRATION: A deposit of $500.00 along with a separate check for $150.00 made out to the Easter Island Foundation is required along with your registration form. Upon receipt of your deposit, the donation check, and completed registration form, you will be sent a reading list and a clothing and equipment list.

CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS: Cancellations received in writing at least 75 days before departure will receive a refund less a $250.00 administrative fee. Cancellations received less than 75 days before the departure date will not receive a refund. If for any reason you are unable to complete the trip, Far Horizons will not reimburse any fees. Upon registering for the trip, the purchase of travel protection with both trip cancellation and emergency evacuation is strongly recommended.

AIR TICKETING: If you do not fly on the group flight, you are responsible for all flight arrangements and transportation (including airport transfers) to join the group. If Far Horizons must change the trip dates or cancel the trip for any reason, Far Horizons is not responsible for any air ticket you may have purchased. If you issue your own international flight, please send the complete schedule as soon as you have it.

NOTE ON INTERNAL FLIGHTS: The only airline that flies between Tahiti and Easter Island is LAN Airlines and the seats on this schedule fill very quickly. If the economy seats are no longer available for the flights included in the trip cost and we are forced to book you a business class seat, the additional cost will be passed onto the client.

FUEL SURCHARGES: Far Horizons must pass on price increases for uncontrollable charges such as flights and other services due to additional fuel charges.

WHILE ON EASTER ISLAND: The itinerary on Easter Island will be flexible to accommodate the events that occur during the Tapati Festival.

DONATION CHECKS: The cost of the trip does not include the separate donation check for $150.00 (per person) to the Easter Island Foundation. The mission of the Easter Island Foundation, originally funded to encourage objective study and research about Easter Island, is an institute for Pacific studies about the island world of Polynesia with a special focus on Easter Island. This expanded structure provides a forum for a variety of programs and activities designed to further knowledge of and to stimulate international interest in this island world.

As a tour company that benefits from the historical, cultural and natural riches of our destinations, we have a policy of donating to scholars, archaeological and cultural projects, and museums in each of our destinations. This has created a bond with the academic community that allows you to gain an 'insider's view' of work being done in each country. Your donation check will go directly to the project's budget.

PRIVATE TOURS OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES: The private tours of archaeological sites and talks by specialists are scheduled in advance and include a donation to each. Specialists working at these sites are excited about showing their work to interested enthusiasts. However, please be aware that there may be times when the director or a member of the staff may not be onsite when our groups arrive due to other commitments, or that the date or time of our visit to their project must be changed.

TAHITI & EASTER ISLAND:

ENCHANTING POLYNESIA WITH THE TAPATI FESTIVAL