9 DISCOVER TREASURE ISLAND IN SAMOA

It’s no coincidence that Robert Louis Stevenson, author of Treasure Island, chose Samoa as the place in which to spend his final years — this is a Polynesian paradise with an edge. For the chance to spot the sperm whales and spinner dolphins that pass between Upolu and Savai’i (the two main islands), join a boat trip from Apia, the nation’s capital. Visit in June, and you might catch a fautasi race, which sees islanders compete in traditional long boats that can accommodate crews of up to 50. There are plenty of yearround activities, too, such as hiking remote trails in rainforest-filled volcanic craters, testing your nerve with a 100ft plunge into the To-Sua Ocean Trench and watching jets of water burst from the Alofaaga Blowholes. samoa.travel