Pitcairn Cruise Tour

7 nights, 8 days 19 Jan, 2027 – 26 Jan, 2027

Start Date

19 Jan, 2027

End Date

26 Jan, 2027

Duration

7 nights, 8 days

Price

6695

Join Young Pioneer Tours on an epic Pitcairn Cruise Tour, one of the most remote and fascinating settlements on Earth. This extraordinary journey links the turquoise lagoons of French Polynesia with a legendary British Overseas Territory deep in the South Pacific, combining adventure, history, and genuine cultural immersion. Unlike unaccompanied transits that simply deliver travellers to Pitcairn, this fully guided Pitcairn Cruise Tour features a carefully curated itinerary both at sea and on the island, led throughout by an experienced YPT guide. This edition of the tour is timed to coincide with the island’s annual January 23 Bounty Day celebrations.

Pitcairn Cruise Tour Summary

The Pitcairn Cruise Tour begins in French Polynesia, where the group meets in Papeete before flying to the remote Gambier Islands. From there, travel continues by ferry to Rikitea, the administrative heart of Mangareva, where exit formalities are completed before boarding a rare cargo passenger vessel bound for Pitcairn. This working ship, which supplies the island with essential goods, becomes home for a memorable 32 hour ocean crossing across a vast and rarely travelled stretch of the Pacific. Life onboard is relaxed and communal, with comfortable twin share cabins, shared lounges, open decks, and meals served as the ship steadily makes its way toward one of the world’s most isolated inhabited islands.

Arrival at Pitcairn is a moment few travellers ever experience. Anchoring offshore, the group transfers by longboat into Bounty Bay before being welcomed by local residents, many of whom are direct descendants of the HMS Bounty mutineers and their Polynesian companions. Guests are hosted in island homestays, offering a rare chance to experience daily life within this close knit community of around fifty people.

We will be on Pitcairn Island for Bounty Day on January 23, the island’s most important annual holiday. The day commemorates the burning of HMS Bounty in 1790, just offshore at Bounty Bay. Celebrations typically include a communal fish fry and the ceremonial burning of a replica of the ship at The Landing, overlooking the bay where the original vessel was destroyed.

In addition to the Bounty Day celebrations, Pitcairn is explored in depth. Travel the island by quad bike, the local mode of transport, visiting Adamstown, the post office, government buildings, and the island cemetery where generations of Bounty descendants are laid to rest. Walk forest trails to Saint Paul’s Pool, a dramatic natural tidal pool set among volcanic rock, and hike to high viewpoints offering sweeping panoramas across the Pacific. A guided eco trail hike reaches the island’s highest ridge, revealing alternate anchorages and the rugged geography that once hid Pitcairn from the outside world.

Cultural immersion is at the heart of the Pitcairn Cruise Tour. Guests visit Pitcairn’s cottage industries, including honey production from one of the world’s few remaining disease free bee populations, complete with tastings straight from the comb. Coffee plantations and processing facilities showcase how high quality coffee is grown and produced in extreme isolation, with tastings rounding out the visit. Evenings are spent sharing home cooked meals with hosts, exchanging stories, and enjoying Pitcairn’s famously clear night skies within the island’s International Dark Sky Sanctuary.

No visit would be complete without experiencing Pitcairn’s most social institution, the Whale’s Tooth Tavern. Join a quiz happy hour hosted by the legendary Pirate Pawl, sample the tavern’s famous whale tooth tequila shot, and enjoy pool, darts, and island storytelling in what is proudly known as the world’s most remote pub.

A highlight of the stay is a full circumnavigation of Pitcairn by boat with local operators, offering a sea level view of the island’s dramatic cliffs, coral filled waters, shipwreck remains, and sites connected to the HMS Bounty story. The Pitcairn cruise concludes with a farewell community lunch and market before returning by ship to Mangareva, carrying memories of one of the rarest and most rewarding travel experiences in the Pacific.

This is Pitcairn as few ever see it: immersive, authentic, and for true Pioneers who live at the edge of the map.

This tour can also be connected to several of YPT's Worldwide Adventures.

Tour Highlight

Take the exhilarating Pitcairn ship ride, where you'll feel the thrill of the wind and waves as you approach the majestic island, surrounded by breathtaking ocean views, promising an unforgettable maritime adventure!
Learn about Pitcairn Island's history and culture, including fascinating stories of the HMS Bounty mutineers and their Polynesian companions.
Discover the natural beauty of Pitcairn, featuring ocean cliffs, tidal pools, and the “Mata ki te Rangi” (Eyes to the Sky) International Dark Sky Sanctuary.
Experience 'Bounty Day' commemorating the burning of HMS Bounty in 1790, celebrated only by Pitkerners!

Included

YPT & English speaking local guides.
Twin share accommodation aboard the Silver Supporter and in Pitcairn guest houses.
All meals on Silver Supporter and Pitcairn.
Itinerary activities on Pitcairn and entrance fees (unless otherwise stated).
Free Pitcairn Honey and Coffee Samples

Excluded

Arrival & departure flights from the tour.
Meals and drinks outside the Silver Supporter and Pitcairn.
Visas or transit visas for any location outside Pitcairn.
Travel insurance.
Souvenirs and Personal expenses.
Single Supplement on the Silver Supporter: $3500 / Pitcairn: $400

Group	Start date	End date	Duration	Price	Single Supplement

Print Itinerary

Full Itinerary

Tuesday 19th January – Mangareva – Rikitea

Morning

Meet your fellow travellers at Faʻaʻā International Airport in Papeete, Tahiti, for the pre-tour meeting. Following the briefing, the group will travel together on a scheduled flight to Totegegie Airport in the Gambier Islands.
Arrive at Totegegie Airport located on one of Mangereva’s reefs.
We will collect our luggage and take the 40 minute ferry to Rikitea, the main village and administrative capital of Mangareva, the largest and central island of the Gambier Islands in French Polynesia. Here, a French Polynesian Gendarmerie will give exit stamps for passengers heading to Pitcairn.

Afternoon

Upon arrival in Rikitea, a crew member will assist with loading your luggage on to the ship and escort you to your cabin. After a brief safety walkthrough with the chief officer, we will depart in the late afternoon as the ship sets sail for Pitcairn. Our cargo passenger vessel, which supplies the island with essential goods, will be our home for the next 32 hours, spanning two nights and one full day at sea, as we cover approximately 480 km to one of the UK’s most remote dependencies, the Pitcairn Islands.
Overnight aboard our ship.

Wednesday 20th January – Pacific Ocean

Morning

Breakfast is served from 7:30am in the dining room. Afterward, we will explore the ship with access to the top deck, weather permitting. While spotting whales or large marine life is unlikely, we can relish the ocean breeze and the breathtaking views of this remote corner of the Pacific.

Afternoon

Lunch will be served at 11:30am, followed by free time to relax, play card games, share travel stories, or catch up on some well-earned rest.
Dinner will be served at 5:30pm, followed by evening drinks, lively conversation, and time to unwind together as the ship continues its crossing.
After dinner, your YPT guide will fire up the popcorn and cue up one of the classic film adaptations of Mutiny on the Bounty. Will it be the 1935 Clark Gable version, the 1962 Marlon Brando epic, or the 1984 Mel Gibson take? Dealer’s choice.
Overnight aboard our ship.

Thursday 21st January – Pitcairn

Morning

We will start our day with breakfast on the boat before heading to the top deck to capture stunning photos as we approach and anchor off Pitcairn, the only inhabited island among the four volcanic islands of the Pitcairn group. With around 50 residents, Pitcairn’s close-knit community is made up of the descendants of the infamous mutineers of the HMS Bounty and their Polynesian companions who arrived in 1790.
Around 8am, we will board longboats and transfer to Bounty Bay, arriving ashore around 9am After clearing customs, we will be warmly welcomed by our homestay hosts, who will escort us to their homes, where you will settle in and get to know your hosts over a welcoming cup of tea or coffee. This is also a great time to discuss any dietary preferences, as your hosts will be providing most of your meals during your stay.

Afternoon

After settling in, we will regroup and kick off our Pitcairn adventure by visiting the Pamai Centre, the island’s central hub and home to the general store, post office, government treasury and museum. Funded by the EU and built in 2020, it serves as the main commercial and administrative spot, crucial for island life, though the store’s hours are very limited, receiving supplies only by ship.
We will also visit the Pitcairn Island Museum before leaving the Pamai Centre. Opened in 2005, the museum showcases fascinating artifacts from the island’s original settlers, along with remains from the HMS Bounty, which was deliberately set ablaze and sunk in 1790 to avoid detection by the Royal Navy and prevent escape from the island.
After our tour, we will head back to our homestays for a delicious lunch, featuring a variety of quality whole foods, fruit, coffee, tea, and juice.
After lunch, we will regroup and set off on a full island tour by ATV, led by our local hosts. ATVs are the ride of choice for Pitkerners and the ideal way to navigate the island’s steep terrain, rugged tracks, and remote viewpoints while reaching areas few visitors ever see. We’ll begin by visiting the ship’s landing point before continuing on to St Paul’s Pool. Weather permitting, there will be an opportunity to swim in this natural tidal pool framed by volcanic rock. We then head onward to Evans Lookout, where you can look down over ancient petroglyphs and take in sweeping views of St Paul’s from afar.
The route continues past the island’s sports field, picnic area at the Big Mango, recycling centre, and radio station before reaching Pitcairn’s highest point. From here, we cross the ridge and descend toward the Western Harbour, offering dramatic coastal perspectives along the way. On the return journey, we’ll walk across Gannets Ridge before heading back toward Adamstown.
Back near town, we’ll stop to visit the island’s famous tortoise, where you may have the chance to feed her if she’s feeling cooperative. We then continue to the grave of John Adams, the Pitcairn cemetery, and the island’s edge overlooking Arcadia Anchorage and Bicentennial Park, with panoramic views across Bounty Bay. The tour concludes back at our accommodation, where refreshments will be served after an unforgettable introduction to Pitcairn’s landscapes, history, and daily life.
We will regroup for a sunset dinner with our local guides to experience the breathtaking night skies of Pitcairn. The Pitcairn Islands are uniquely recognized as the only island group—and the first British Overseas Territory—to be designated as an International Dark Sky Sanctuary. Named Mata ki te Rangi, or “Eyes to the Skies,” this sanctuary spans all four islands (Pitcairn, Oeno, Henderson, and Ducie), covering a vast area of 520,000 square miles.

Friday 22nd January – Pitcairn

Morning

Today will be dedicated to discovering Pitcairn’s small businesses and cottage industries, offering a closer look at the island’s local production and entrepreneurial life. After breakfast with your hosts, step into one of Pitcairn’s most unique cottage industries on the Christian Group Honey Production Tour. Visit a local beekeeper’s hives and discover how Pitcairn has maintained one of the world’s rare populations of disease-free bees. If timing allows, watch the honey extraction process in action, then enjoy the unforgettable experience of tasting raw honey straight from the comb, a true highlight for many visitors. The visit includes light refreshments and a complimentary 250g jar of Pitcairn honey, valued at $20, to take home as a sweet souvenir of the island.

Afternoon

Following a delicious home-cooked lunch with our hosts, enjoy an in-depth visit to Pitcairn’s coffee plantations and working coffee farm, where you’ll learn how coffee is grown, nurtured, and processed on one of the world’s most remote islands. Explore the coffee nursery and processing facilities, and, if she happens to be working in the fields, catch a glimpse of the legendary Mrs T among the plantations. The tour also includes a brief stop at the island’s bee hives and a look inside the apiary processing plant, highlighting the close relationship between Pitcairn’s coffee and honey production. The experience concludes with freshly brewed coffee and local honey tastings.
We will then return to Adamstown to visit the island’s other equally vital enterprise: the pub! Settle in for a lively Pitcairn Quiz Happy Hour at the Whale’s Tooth Tavern, hosted by the legendary Pirate Pawl Warren in his cozy, makeshift bar. Proudly billed as the World’s Most Remote Tavern, the Whale’s Tooth is famous for its signature tequila shot served in a hollowed whale’s tooth, a must try for the adventurous. The afternoon will be spent enjoying cold beers, playing pool and darts, and, if we are lucky, getting a glimpse of Pawl’s private collection of HMS Bounty artifacts.
Dinner, drinks, and an overnight stay at your homestay, where you can relax and share stories of the day’s activities.

Saturday 23rd January – Pitcairn

Morning

After breakfast, we head out with Pitkern Sea Service 360° for a scenic boat journey around the entirety of Pitcairn Island, offering a rare sea-level perspective of its dramatic cliffs, rugged coastline, and hidden coves. From the water, enjoy fish and coral viewing in the island’s clear surrounding seas, with commentary from local crew along the way. The trip also includes viewing of shipwreck remains and sites associated with the historic HMS Bounty story near Bounty Bay, linking Pitcairn’s natural landscape with its remarkable maritime history. Refreshments are served on return, rounding out a relaxed and memorable way to experience the island from a completely different perspective.

Afternoon

We will return to our homestays for lunch, followed by a free afternoon to relax or explore Pitcairn at your own pace, before gathering for a final dinner with our hosts.
*TRIP HIGHLIGHT* Our trip to Pitciarn is timed to coincide with Bounty Day, the island’s most important annual celebration, observed each year on January 23 – and we’ll be joining the festivities. The day commemorates the burning of His Majesty’s Armed Vessel Bounty in 1790, just offshore at what is now known as Bounty Bay. Celebrations take place at The Landing overlooking the bay and traditionally include a communal fish fry and the ceremonial burning of a replica of the Bounty, echoing the moment when the original ship was set alight 235 years ago. In contrast to the secrecy and isolation that followed the mutiny, modern Bounty Day celebrations reflect Pitcairn’s place within the wider world. In recent years, messages from the British monarch have been read aloud to the community, recognizing Pitcairn’s unique history and its global significance.
Overnight at your homestay.

Sunday 24th January – Pitcairn – Pacific Ocean

Morning

After an early breakfast, we will return Adamstown for a final hike on the eco-trail – known as the “Trail of Tears” by the locals who can no longer remember how the trail got its name – which leads up to the Pawala Valley Ridge, the highest point on Pitcairn with an elevation of 347 meters above sea-level. We will also see Tedside on the island’s west coast, an alternate anchorage for arriving vessels if the ocean is too choppy at Bounty Bay.

Afternoon

Upon returning to Adamstown, we will stop by the town square for a farewell community lunch and street market. This will be your chance to pick up one-of-a-kind Pitcairn T-shirts, carvings, fridge magnets, as well as Pitcairn’s famous honey, which is considered some of the rarest and best in the world for its unique flavor due to the nectar from Mango, Passionfruit, Guava and other exotic fruit and flowers found on the island. After securing our Pitcairn keepsakes, our hosts will see us off at Bounty Bay as we board our longboats and transfer back on to our cargo-passenger ship for the 2-day return journey to Rikitea.
Overnight on our ship.

Monday 25th January – Pacific Ocean

With meal times and amenities the same as our journey to Pitcairn, we will spend the day relaxing, reflecting and exchanging stories of our trip.

Tuesday 26th January – Rikitea – Mangareva

Morning

Arrive in Rikitea in the early morning hours, and have a farewell breakfast aboard our ship. At dawn, we will take the ferry back to Mangareva where our Pitcairn cruise will conclude. YPT are able to arrange post-tour accommodation or extra activities in Papeete if you want to extend your trip.

additional tours