Send this beautiful postcard to your loved ones featuring sun-dappled waters illuminate a blacktip reef shark gliding gracefully over the sandy shallows of Palau.
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All prices displayed on this website are in U.S. Dollars (USD) unless otherwise stated. Applicable taxes, shipping charges, handling fees, or other order-related costs may be added during checkout. Shipping costs vary by destination and will be calculated and displayed before the order is submitted. International customers may also be responsible for customs duties, import taxes, or other fees imposed by the destination country.
Product images are provided for illustrative purposes. Slight variations in color, positioning, cropping, or printed appearance may occur due to differences in screens, printing processes, and production tolerances. Borders shown around product images are for display purposes only and will not appear on the final printed postcard.
Send this beautiful postcard to your loved ones featuring a vibrant golden jellyfish drifts through deep blue waters of Jellyfish lake, having lost its sting through evolution.
* Important Notes: The product(s) mentioned here is created by Travel On The Dollar, and manufactured by and sold on our partner websites.
All prices displayed on this website are in U.S. Dollars (USD) unless otherwise stated. Applicable taxes, shipping charges, handling fees, or other order-related costs may be added during checkout. Shipping costs vary by destination and will be calculated and displayed before the order is submitted. International customers may also be responsible for customs duties, import taxes, or other fees imposed by the destination country.
Product images are provided for illustrative purposes. Slight variations in color, positioning, cropping, or printed appearance may occur due to differences in screens, printing processes, and production tolerances. Borders shown around product images are for display purposes only and will not appear on the final printed postcard.
[Bespoke Postcards, Postcards from Palau, jellyfish lake, jellyfish, Oceania Postcards, Travel postcard]
Rock Islands, Palau Travel Postcard
Send this beautiful postcard to your loved ones showing a UNESCO World Heritage site made up of numerous large and small forested limestone islands scattered within a marine lagoon that are protected by a barrier reef.
* Important Notes: The product(s) mentioned here is created by Travel On The Dollar, and manufactured by and sold on our partner websites.
All prices displayed on this website are in U.S. Dollars (USD) unless otherwise stated. Applicable taxes, shipping charges, handling fees, or other order-related costs may be added during checkout. Shipping costs vary by destination and will be calculated and displayed before the order is submitted. International customers may also be responsible for customs duties, import taxes, or other fees imposed by the destination country.
Product images are provided for illustrative purposes. Slight variations in color, positioning, cropping, or printed appearance may occur due to differences in screens, printing processes, and production tolerances. Borders shown around product images are for display purposes only and will not appear on the final printed postcard.
[Bespoke Postcards, Postcards from Palau, Rock Islands, Aerial view, Oceania Postcards, Travel postcard]
Travel Postcards From Oceania
Travel Postcards from Oceania
Be inspired to share your journey through the timeless charm of postcards. Surprise your loved ones with our bespoke postcard collection—beautifully crafted from moments captured during our travels by esteemed professional travelers. Each design tells a story worth sending.
This page lists our postcard-collection from the Oceania region, and are available to purchase directly through Zazzle. For all other postcards, click here.
Total postcards –
Australia (2)
Uluru, Australia
Price: $1.54 *
Sydney Opera House, Australia
Price: $1.54 *
Kiribati (5)
Aerial View of South Tarawa
Price: $1.54 *
Buia in North Tarawa
Price: $1.54 *
Ferris Wheel in South Tarawa
Price: $1.54 *
WWII Relics in Betio Islet
Price: $1.54 *
Boat in North Tarawa
Price: $1.54 *
Marshall Islands (6)
Aerial View of Majuro
Price: $1.54 *
Plane Graveyard, Kwajalein
Price: $1.54 *
Street Art, Majuro
Price: $1.54 *
Tropical Islet, Majuro
Price: $1.54 *
Majuro Bridge, Majuro
Price: $1.54 *
Coral Reef, Majuro Atoll
Price: $1.54 *
Palau (3)
Rock Islands, Palau
Price: $1.54 *
Jellyfish Lake, Palau
Price: $1.54 *
Shark Reef, Palau
Price: $1.54 *
Papua New Guinea (10)
Goroka, Papua New Guinea
Price: $1.54 *
Goroka, Papua New Guinea
Price: $1.54 *
Goroka, Papua New Guinea
Price: $1.54 *
Goroka, Papua New Guinea
Price: $1.54 *
Goroka, Papua New Guinea
Price: $1.54 *
Goroka, Papua New Guinea
Price: $1.54 *
Goroka, Papua New Guinea
Price: $1.54 *
Goroka, Papua New Guinea
Price: $1.54 *
Goroka, Papua New Guinea
Price: $1.54 *
Goroka, Papua New Guinea
Price: $1.54 *
Samoa (2)
Lotofaga Beach, Samoa
Price: $1.54 *
To Sua Ocean Trench, Samoa
Price: $1.54 *
Tonga (3)
Whale Watching, Tonga
Price: $1.54 *
Whale Watching, Tonga
Price: $1.54 *
Three-Headed Coconut Tree, Tonga
Price: $1.54 *
Tuvalu (3)
Funafuti Atoll, Tuvalu
Price: $1.54 *
Airport Runway, Tuvalu
Price: $1.54 *
Sunset, Tuvalu
Price: $1.54 *
Vanuatu (7)
Underwater Post Office, Port Vila
Price: $1.54 *
Mount Yasur Volcano, Tanna
Price: $1.54 *
Resort in Port Vila
Price: $1.54 *
Mele Cascades
Price: $1.54 *
Vanuatu Skybridge
Price: $1.54 *
Naghol at Pentecost Island
Price: $1.54 *
Mount Yasur Volcano Aerial View
Price: $1.54 *
Product Details
PERFECT SIZE 5.6 x 4.25 inches (14.22 x 10.80 cm) – ideal for mailing and displaying.
HIGH-QUALITY PRINT Sharp details and vibrant colors that make every scene come to life.
PREMIUM CARD STOCK Thick, durable 14pt, 300gsm matte cardstock with a smooth, elegant finish.
ECO-FRIENDLY Printed with environmentally conscious inks on responsibly sourced paper.
DURABLE & STURDY Thick cardstock resists bending and wear, perfect for mailing or keepsakes.
EASY TO MAIL Standard postcard size with ample space for your message and address.
COLLECT & SHARE Great for travelers, postcard collectors, or as a unique gift idea.
MADE FOR TRAVELERS A beautiful reminder of your adventures or a thoughtful gift for anyone who loves to explore.
* Important Notes: The product(s) mentioned here is created by Travel On The Dollar, and manufactured by and sold on our partner websites.
All prices displayed on this website are in U.S. Dollars (USD) unless otherwise stated. Applicable taxes, shipping charges, handling fees, or other order-related costs may be added during checkout. Shipping costs vary by destination and will be calculated and displayed before the order is submitted. International customers may also be responsible for customs duties, import taxes, or other fees imposed by the destination country.
Product images are provided for illustrative purposes. Slight variations in color, positioning, cropping, or printed appearance may occur due to differences in screens, printing processes, and production tolerances. Borders shown around product images are for display purposes only and will not appear on the final printed postcard.
Product availability, pricing, specifications, and shipping options are subject to change without notice.
Postcards from Oceania,
Postcards from Australia,
Postcards from Tonga,
travel postcards,
buy postcards online,
custom destination postcards,
Postcards from Samoa,
Postcards from Tuvalu,
Wildlife Postcards,
Postcards from Tonga,
Postcards from Papua New Guinea,
Postcards from Palau,
Pacific Island Countries – Trip Report
One of the best time to visit most of the Pacific island countries is August when there is less rain and fewer storms, and this is the time we chose to visit this amazing region.
With a lot of planning and knowledge, island hopping across all 11 independent island countries is possible. And depending on your itinerary, you might visit a few overseas territories as well. And every island offers much more than just a beach!
Not a lot of tour companies, including cruise ships, venture in to the well-known “most difficult region to travel.” And most of these countries rank high in the ‘countries with least tourists’ list because of the very few and most-often delayed flight connections between the countries. Independent and budget travelers are rare and mostly avoid this region because traveling here doesn’t come cheap!
Countries in the Pacific Oceania
There are 11 sovereign island countries in the Pacific Oceania (besides the other 3 countries – Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea) and it is possible to visit them all in just one trip.
And these are the overseas territories in the Pacific Islands:
New Zealand territories: Cook Islands, Niue
France overseas territories: New Caledonia, French Polynesia
U.S.A. overseas territories: Guam, American Samoa, Northern Marinara Islands
Planning
Flights
With a few direct flights from Europe and North America, and in between the island nations, it is quite difficult to get to the Pacific islands. Even with flights via Fiji, which is the main hub for flights across the Pacific Islands, there are no guarantees that flights will operate as they’re scheduled. Traveling on a budget across this region is not really an option! From flights to hotels, and restaurants to transport options, everything is expensive.
Keep in mind that flights from/to these countries are not necessarily daily flights, which means if any flight is cancelled or delayed then the chances of missing the connection, or the next one is likely. It is highly recommended to keep buffer days or time in flight connections, and always be prepared with a plan B.
Fiji Airways has the best schedules to Kiribati, Tuvalu, Tonga, Samoa, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands – with all the flights connecting via Nadi Airport (NAN).
Nauru Airlines have expanded their network with new routes to Fiji, Kiribati, Palau and Marshall Islands, including connections to Brisbane, Australia.
Smaller airlines like Air Kiribati, Air Vanuatu fly less frequent routes between very few nations, while focusing on their domestic networks.
United Airlines operates the ‘United Island Hopper‘ between Hawaii (USA), Marshall Islands, Micronesia and Guam (USA).
All in all, schedules are the key to your successful Pacific Island nations trip.
Hotels
Not many hotels are available in each country and they’re not easily available to book on major online hotel-booking platforms. While most can be booked online, others may need to be contacted on their phone or email, and with low internet availability do not expect a quick response from the hotels.
Visa
Remember that although you may not need a visa to the independent Pacific Island nations, you might need visas to territories. Make sure to check visa requirements before traveling.
Citizens of EU, UK, US and Canada may not require visa to most of the countries, but getting a visa to Nauru is quite a process and highly recommended to apply well in advance.
Itinerary and Route
These are the islands we visited in this trip (in order of visit):
Honolulu, USA -> Nadi, Fiji Flying from Honolulu to Nadi, Fiji on Fiji airways.
Days 2 – 6
Fiji Visit Nadi, Suva, Sigatoka, Lautoka, Levuka.
Days 7 – 10
Kiribati Visit Tarawa island of Kiribati.
Days 11 – 14
Tuvalu Visit Fongafale atoll of Tuvalu.
Days 15 – 19
Samoa and American Samoa Visit Upolu island of Samoa, and American Samoa.
Days 20 – 23
Tonga Visit Tongatapu island of Tonga.
Days 24 – 27
Vanuatu Visit Efate and Tanna islands.
Days 28 – 31
Solomon Islands Visit Guadalcanal island of Solomons.
Days 32 – 34
Nauru Visit single-island nation of Nauru.
Days 35 – 38
Palau Visit different islands of Palau.
Days 39 – 42
Micronesia (FSM) Visit Pohnpei island of Federated States of Micronesia (FSM).
Days 43 – 46
Marshall Islands Visit Majuro atoll of Marshall Islands.
Day 47
Marshall Islands -> Honolulu, USA Fly from Majuro to Honolulu.
Tips and Notes
Flights – Most travelers use Fiji Airways schedule to navigate to Fiji, Kiribati, Tuvalu, Tonga, Samoa, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands.
The local airline between Samoa and American Samoa is Talofa Airways.
Flying from Nadi, Fiji to Nauru on Nauru Airlines; onwards to Palau via a very long and expensive Nauru Airlines flight!
From Palau, United Airlines has a direct flight to Guam, from where United Airlines connects to Micronesia and Marshall Islands.
Spent 2 to 6 days in each country – Countries like Kiribati, Micronesia and Marshall Islands have various atolls and islands that are hundreds of miles apart, whereas other like Palau and Tonga have smaller islands nearby from the main island and can be accessed by ferries.
Ideally, two to five days are good for any traveler to spend in each country, although you can spend more if you plan to visit every island and every place. We visited some highlighted destinations and made the best off of the trip!
Airbnb or hotels – Most countries do not have Airbnbs, but the options are definitely increasing. Hotels in Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, American Samoa, Palau, Marshall Islands, Micronesia and Vanuatu can be reserved online on major platforms like booking.com or Expedia.
For Nauru, Solomon Islands, Kiribati and Tuvalu, not many are available to book on these platforms. Even if they are, travelers may not get a confirmed booking unless explicitly mentioned by the hotel (separate email). We reached out the best hotels in these countries well in advance to make reservations.
Currency – Apart from the local currencies in some Pacific Island countries, Australian Dollar is the official currency used in some countries – Kiribati, Tuvalu, Nauru.
Palau, Marshall Islands and Micronesia uses the U.S. Dollar as its official currency.
Samoa, Vanuatu, Fiji, Solomon Islands and Tonga use their own currencies but U.S. and Australian Dollars are widely accepted as legal tender for all travel purposes.
Cash is the king in these countries (Tuvalu just got its first ATM in April 2025) but some hotels and supermarkets may accept Visa or MasterCard credit cards. Make sure to carry enough cash to cover all the expenses considering these countries are expensive because almost everything is imported in the islands.
Important: Visiting Tanna island in Vanuatu? There is one ATM on the island, and it doesn’t always work, so make sure to carry enough Vanuatu Vatus (VUV) with you before heading there.
Sim Cards and Wifi – Cellphone networks in Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau, Samoa and Tonga work great! Whereas the speeds are extremely slow in Nauru, Tuvalu and Kiribati.
Every country offers local sim cards and they are expensive – for example, a 2.6GB data sim card in Tuvalu costs AUD 20 ($12.80) for 7 days.
Each country has either a single or two cellphone operators, which makes difficult to shop for and compare plans, making travelers buy the expensive sim cards.
Wifi is available in all the hotels across all nations, but similar to the cellphone networks, the wifi networks are not reliably fast. Especially in Nauru, the wifi is almost not working!
Three nights. Double bed with ensuite bathroom. AC, linen. Breakfast included.
Flights
The below listed flights are in order of travel based on schedules of Fiji Airways, Nauru Airlines, Air Vanuatu and United Airlines.
We will update the cost of each leg of the flights soon.
Airline codes:
Fiji Airways – FJ
Nauru Airlines – ON
United Airlines – UA
Air Vanuatu – NF
Solomon Airlines – IE
Talofa Airways – TA
From-to
Airline
Cost
Notes
San Francisco (SFO) to Nadi, Fiji (NAN)
FJ 871
One-way flight. Economy.
Nadi, Fiji (NAN) to Tarawa, Kiribati (TRW)
FJ 231
One-way flight. Economy.
Tarawa, Kiribati (TRW) to Nadi, Fiji (NAN)
FJ 230
One-way flight. Economy.
Nadi, Fiji (NAN) to Suva, Fiji (SUV) to Funafuti, Tuvalu (FUN)
FJ 7 and FJ 281
One-way flight. Economy.
Funafuti, Tuvalu (FUN) to Suva, Fiji (SUV) to Nadi, Fiji (NAN)
FJ 280 and FJ 18
One-way flight. Economy.
Nadi, Fiji (NAN) to Apia, Samoa (APW)
FJ 253
One-way flight. Economy.
Apia, Samoa (APW) to Pago Pago, American Samoa (PPG)
TA 501
One-way flight. Economy.
Pago Pago, American Samoa (PPG) to Apia, Samoa (APW)
TA 516
One-way flight. Economy.
Apia, Samoa (APW) to Nadi, Fiji (NAN)
FJ 854
One-way flight. Economy.
Nadi, Fiji (NAN) to Nuku’alofa, Tonga (TBU)
FJ 211
One-way flight. Economy.
Nuku’alofa, Tonga (TBU) to Nadi, Fiji (NAN)
FJ 210
One-way flight. Economy.
Nadi, Fiji (NAN) to Port Vila, Vanuatu (VLI)
NF 75
One-way flight. Economy.
Port Vila, Vanuatu (VLI) to Tanna, Vanuatu (TAH)
NF 240
One-way flight. Economy.
Tanna, Vanuatu (TAN) to Port Vila, Vanuatu (VLI)
NF 239
One-way flight. Economy.
Port Vila, Vanuatu (VLI) to Nadi, Fiji (NAN)
FJ 262
One-way flight. Economy.
Nadi, Fiji (NAN) to Honiara, Solomon Islands (HIR)
FJ 854
One-way flight. Economy.
Honiara, Solomon Islands (HIR) to Nadi, Fiji (NAN)
FJ 5503
One-way flight. Economy.
Nadi, Fiji (NAN) to Nauru (INU)
IE 18
One-way flight. Economy.
Nauru (INU) to Koror, Palau (ROR)
IE 811
One-way flight. Economy.
Koror, Palau (ROR) to Pohnpei, Micronesia (PNI)
ON 42
One-way flight. Economy.
Pohnpei, Micronesia (PNI) to Majuro, Marshall Islands (MAJ)
UA 133
One-way flight. Economy.
Majuro, Marshall Islands (MAJ) to Honolulu (HNL)
UA 133
One-way flight. Economy.
Costs
Note: All values in USD, unless otherwise mentioned, are approximate and based on the exchange rate at the time of publishing. Each cost is for one adult.
Here’s a complete breakdown of costs per person for all the three days of our trip to Palau.
Note: All values in USD, unless otherwise mentioned, are approximate. Each cost is for one adult. International flights to and from Palau are NOT included in the costs.
Accommodation
I booked hotels before traveling to Palau. These were booked after reviewing them on Google, TripAdvisor, booking.com and WikiTravel.
Last day in Palau was a drive around the main island of Babeldoab and see all the sights it has to offer. Note that Palau does not have any public transport so your options are to either hire a car with a tour company, or rent a car which is much cheaper.
I rented a car with IR Rentals for $32 a day and after breakfast at the hotel, it was a drive-on-the-island kinda day!
Rental Cars in Palau
Individual car owners in Palau offer their cars for rental, along with some companies. You can find some of the major retailers like Hertz, Enterprise and Budget at the airport, but they are expensive compared to the local companies. Check with your hotel for local contacts and you can get a rental car easily.
Maki Rental Car company offers cars from $45 to $150 a day depending on the size and type of car. Contact Minda Roa on phone or whatsapp at +6807784040 for competitive prices. (I do not make any money or commission from this, but just sharing the contact).
IR Rentals, located across the street from Palau Hotel, offers an economy car (auto transmission) starting $32 a day. All you need to do is walk up to their office and ask for one. Note that their cars get rented out fast, so book at least a day or two in advance.
Map
Sights of Babeldoab Island
First stop – Babeldaob’s most impressive WWII site, Kaigun Sho is a bombed-out shell building, used as a communication center by the Japanese during WWII. The façade is partially scarred by bullet holes. A Japanese tank and a few anti-aircraft guns lie next to the building. It costs $25 entrance fees but there is no office to pay for that. The site is visible from the road, has no gates and can be visited easily.
[Kaigun Sho, Palau]
Next stop – Airai Bai is the oldest bai (men’s meeting house) and is over 100 years old, 21m long and 6m wide, with a steeply pitched roof reaching a height of 12m. It was constructed using local materials of wood and thatch on a stone platform. A number of legendary scenes and symbolic motifs are painted inside and outside. Look for the figure of delerrok, the mythical money bird, found at all four corners of the bai; it was thought to bring good fortune to the village.
[Airai Bai, Palau]
[Inside Airai Bai, Palau]
Next stop – Ngerulmud (administrative capital of Palau) and Palau National Congress.
[Palau National Capital is the palace of the Palau National Congress and is located in Ngerulmud, the administrative capital of the country.]
Next stop – Across from the Palau National Capitol building is a sign marked for the Korean WWII War Memorial. Caution: The road leading to the memorial is not paved and can be hazardous to non-4×4 wheel vehicle.
[Korean WWII War Memorial, Palau]
Next stop – Located at the northern end of the Babeldoab island is the Japanese Lighthouse that is bombarded and lies in ruins. It costs $5 entrance fees and you can skip this because there’s nothing to see really!
[Japanese Lighthouse, Palau]
Driving south from the Japanese lighthouse was my last stop of the day – Ngardmau Waterfalls or Medalaeichad Waterfalls, that flows from Palau’s tallest peak, 217 mter-high Mt Ngerchelchuus. It’s the tallest waterfall in Micronesia. It can be accessed on foot – a tough but rewarding 20- to 30-minute hike along a jungle path. A dip in the cool pools at the base of the falls is not to be missed. It costs $10 entrance fees payable at the parking lot.
[Starting of Ngardmau Waterfall hike]
[Look for the waterfalls signs]
[Part of the hike is through the riverbed.]
[Downhill hike on way to the falls, but it’s a steep hike on way back!]
[Tiny bridge as a last leg of the Ngardmau waterfalls hike]
[Ngardmau waterfalls, Palau]
It was almost 4pm after the hike, so I drove back to Koro for a relaxed evening. Went to Yano’s market for local and cheap dining options, and headed to the airport later that night for my flight out of Palau.
Costs
Note: All values in USD, unless otherwise mentioned, are approximate. Each cost is for one adult. International flights to and from Palau are NOT included in the costs.
There are a lot of agencies and tour operators in Palau that offer almost the same ‘Rock Islands Tour’ as a full-day excursion. Competitive prices range from $150 to $350 per person depending on how many people join in the tour.
From friends’ recommendations, I went with Neco Marine’s tour. The cost of tour at the time of writing was $200, and does not include the mandatory Palau diving permit fees of $100, making the total to $300.
After pre-arranging the tour with Neco Marine, I was picked up at 8:30am from my hotel. First stop was the office of the company for briefing.
A quick 15-minute check for everything and we were off in the blue waters of Palau!
Rock Islands Tour Tips
Sunscreen – Please use environment friendly sunscreen while diving. Applying sunscreen is not allowed in Jellyfish lake.
Clothes – Other than a towel and swimsuit, carry a light rain-jacket. It can get windy and rainy unexpectedly.
Camera – for smartphones, invest in a waterproof case and a wrist-band that attaches to your phone for the best social media pictures. For GoPro, bring extra battery. Trust me, you’ll need it!
Drone – You will be able to fly from lunch spot at a beach. Or from Jellyfish lake. Other than that, you’ll not be docked to a shore, but diving from your boat.
Food/water – Lunch is included in the tour, so no need to carry any. Water is also provided by the operator but make sure to ask before booking. Carrying light snacks or protein bars is a great idea.
Bag storage – our boat had storage spaces below the seats. Check with your operator.
Equipment – For the tour I was in, snorkeling equipment was included in the cost.
There will be six different spots along the tour:
Milky Way: Rub limestone anti-aging mud and dive.
Giant Clams City: Dive at the location of giant clams and other marine life.
Jellyfish Lake: A short hike from the beach brings to a lake to dive in with stingless Jellyfishes.
Paradise Beach: Lunch at the beach and dive with the sharks.
Emerald Isles: Spectacular and colorful marine life and corals.
Japanese Shipwreck WWII: Dive to the location of a Japanese shipwreck from WWII.
Here are some pictures from the tour:
[Milky Way in Palau]
[Rubbing limestone anti-aging mud in Milky Way in Palau]
[Beach before Jellyfish Lake hike. The boat docks here and you hike over to the lake.]
[Hiking to the Jellyfish Lake through the rainforest]
[First snorkel in Jellyfish Lake]
[Jellyfish lake, Palau]
[Selfie with a Jellyfish in the Jellyfish lake, Palau. You can gently touch the jellyfishes as they have lost the ability to sting over hundreds of years of isolation.]
[Bento box lunch at Paradise beach]
[Selfie with the fishes in Paradise beach]
[Swimming with Sharks at Paradise beach]
[Giant Clams city, Palau]
[Cave used by Japanese to store fuel during WWII]
[A 50-feet wide natural arch, Palau]
Expect to be drained by the end of the tour, I was dropped at the hotel by 5pm. After a quick shower and a dinner at Tori Tori Japanese restaurant, I called it an early night!
Costs
Note: All values in USD, unless otherwise mentioned, are approximate. Each cost is for one adult. International flights to and from Palau are NOT included in the costs.
It was late evening (day before) when I arrived at Airai International airport (ROR). Located around 14km north of main city of Koror, Airai international airport (ROR) does not have any public transport. The only option is to take a taxi. Many taxis are available at the airport or you can have one arranged from your hotel. The standard rate at the time of our visit was $25. It takes about 20 minutes from airport to Koror city center.
Palau hotel is located right in the center of the town and accessible to every sight-to-see in Koror. This is what we call ‘Day 0’.
Scenic Flight
I had pre-arranged the scenic flight over the islands of Palau on our day 1. This was the highlight of the day! The scenic flight over Rock Islands takes you on board a small plane taking off from the only airport in the country.
Operated by Smile Air, the main reason I chose this operator is because they have no minimum number of passengers to fly (while most other companies require a minimum of two passengers). There are three different courses available –
Course A – Koror area and Milky Way. This is 25 mins flight and costs $140 (at the time of writing)
Course B – Course A plus seventy islands and Blue Corner. This is 40 mins flight and costs $190 (at the time of writing)
Course C – Course B plus Pelelui Island. This is 55 mins and costs $260 (at the time of writing)
I reached out to their associate Lolita (lolita@smile-air.com) via email to pre-arrange this flight and I was told that I will be doing Course C for $200 (a discount of $60). The email communication was prompt, and it’s nice to note that the passenger side of the plane has no door, which is perfect for photography.
Some of the points you’ll see from above are the islands, Milky Way, German Channel, Jellyfish Lake, Peleliu Island, Paradise beach, the Friendship Bridge, and even Japanese shipwrecks from WWII.
Scenic Flight Tips
Make sure to select the first flight in morning at 7:30am. The skies are clear during that time for a country that gets a lot of rain!
Wear something casual. Although it’s a open-door flight, it was not cold at all (you’d fly at 1500-2000 feet). Carry a light jacket just in case.
Camera – for smartphones, make sure to have a wrist-band that attaches to your phone for safety. You will not feel the wind in the plane (unless you put your hand out to take pics, it’ll surely fly!).
I was picked up from my hotel at 7am and after a quick drive of 10 mins, and a waiver sign, we headed for the skies for the best experience ever!
Koror
After getting back at to Koror at around 9:30, I walked around a bit visiting some of the sights in Koror.
First stop was the Belau National Museum which is the oldest continuously run museum in Micronesia. It costs $15 entrance fees and the exhibits include artefacts from all aspects of the local life of Palauan people, such as artworks, photography, sculptures etc.
In 1969 a traditional village meeting house known as a bai, was constructed in order to showcase and preserve traditional building styles and skills. However it burnt down in 1979 and was rebuilt in 1990s using traditional methods and is a key feature of the museum today. There are no nails used to build a Bai!
Pro-tip: Skip the museum and just visit the Bai which is free!
[Belau National Museum]
[Belau National Museum]
[Bai at Belau National Museum]
[Bai at Belau National Museum]
[Inside the Bai at Belau National Museum]
Second stop in Koror – Prisoner’s Gift Shop at Koror Jail. There are a few prisoners in Koror Jail who carve ornate “storyboards” that depict ancient Micronesian legends. These storyboards were often displayed within every local house as the prized center-piece. I walked over to Koror Police Station at the front of Koror Jail and ask to see the storyboards. You’ll then be accompanied by a police officer in the back room where the prisoner will bring all the souvenirs available, which considerably differ in both size and price. Perhaps one the most unique souvenir shop anywhere in the world!
The price range of these can be anything between $50-$3000 depending on the artwork and size.
It was past 1pm so I stopped by The Taj Restaurant for delicious Indian lunch followed by some rest at the hotel and a walk by the T-Dock in the evening for sunset.
[Sunset at T-Dock in Palau]
Met some fellow travelers and had dinner at Emaimelei Filipino restaurant before calling it a night!
Costs
Note: All values in USD, unless otherwise mentioned, are approximate. Each cost is for one adult. International flights to and from Palau are NOT included in the costs.
Where: Palau Transport: Airlines, Car Who: One backpacker Currency: US Dollar (USD)
Planning
Orientation
This itinerary takes you through some of the best places around the beautiful island country in the pacific – Palau, for three days.
Visa Make sure to check if you need a visa to travel to Palau. I did not require to get a visa prior to my trip, so it was a breeze going through the immigration at Airai International airport (ROR).
It was “visa on arrival” for me and in order to promote environment awareness, the government of Palau requires visitors to sign an eco-pledge on their passports before being granted a visa upon arrival.
The program, known as “Palau Pledge”, is reportedly the first immigration-related reform in the world that is intended to protect the environment.
This is literally the “visa on arrival”! One of the best passport stamps I’ve had!
Tips
Here are some tips that I experienced on my trip to Palau:
Cash or cards – Credit cards are not widely used in Palau, and ATMs or currency exchange centers are rarely available. Most restaurants, cafes, tourist sites will expect cash, and the option to use credit cards might not be available.
Transportation – Taxis can be expensive and Uber is not available. There is no public transportation across the country, but driving is great in Palau. USD is the official currency of Palau.
Airai International airport to city center (and back)
Located around 14km north of main city of Koror, Airai international airport (ROR) does not have any public transport. The only option is to take a taxi. Many taxis are available at the airport or you can have one arranged from your hotel. The standard rate at the time of our visit was $25. It takes about 20 minutes from airport to Koror city center.
Driving in Palau (Babeldoab Island)
With just one main circular road that is perfect condition, it is a breeze to drive on the main island of Babeldoab. There are no signals in the country and the one main road is a two lane (single lane on each side) road with a speed limit of 30-60 kmph max. All signs are marked in miles per hour.
Water – Tap water is safe to drink. One liter bottle of water from a local market will cost $3-$5.
Wi-fi – Available in most hotels and cafes in cities, but the speeds are not good.
SIM Card in Palau
Company: The tourist SIM card from PNCC is available in selected places in Koror. You need to show some ID to get a SIM card; just walk to the store, pay the money and get the SIM card.
Cost: It costs $20 for SIM card with 5GB of data and some local texts/calls. If you add $5 (top-up), you get 7GB of data.
Where to get:
At airport: It is important to note that the PNCC store at the airport is located at the baggage claim area. And once you’re out of the baggage claim area, there are no stores, except in Koror.
Globus store, Koror: The Globus store in Koror, located next to the Palau Hotel, sells the PNCC SIM cards. This store opens at 6am so if you arrived late night (which most travelers do), then you can walk up to the store and get a SIM card the next day.
PNCC store: The PNCC office in Koror sells the SIM card. The store opens at 9am.
Activation: The SIM card is not activated, but ask the person at the store/office to activate it for you. You can also dial *780# to activate your card.
If you have any updates, please leave in the comments below.
Accommodation
I booked hotels before traveling to Palau. These were booked after reviewing them on Google, TripAdvisor, booking.com and WikiTravel.
For four nights. Private room with ensuite bathroom. Breakfast included.
Rental Car
From-to
Company
Cost
Notes
Koror city
IR Rentals
$32.00
Economy car for one day. Automatic transmission.
Costs
Note: All values in USD, unless otherwise mentioned, are approximate. Each cost is for one adult. International flights to and from Palau are NOT included in the costs.
What
Cost
Notes
Accommodation for all days
$670
Per person. See the list and costs above..
Rental car
$32
See details above.
Sim Card
$25
For 7GB data and some local calls and texts. Valid for 14 days.
(and American Samoa)
Rental Cars in Palau
Make sure to check if you need a visa to travel to Palau. I did not require to get a visa prior to my trip, so it was a breeze going through the immigration at Airai International airport (ROR). 
Driving in Palau (Babeldoab Island)
Company: The tourist 