Trip Highlights
Enjoy a comfortable, land-based stay with seamless access to Palau’s most spectacular snorkeling environments—supported by 30+ years of Oceanic Society expertise in the region.
Learn about Palau’s marine biodiversity, Micronesian history, and pioneering local conservation efforts.
Explore vibrant coral gardens teeming with reef fish, sea turtles, sharks, and manta rays in one of the few places where coral reefs remain remarkably healthy despite global climate pressures.
About This Trip
Why Palau? A Snorkeler’s Paradise
Harboring more species of marine life than any similarly-sized area on Earth, Palau is considered one of the best snorkeling sites on the planet. Renowned for its rich marine biodiversity, its waters are home to over 400 species of hard coral and 300 soft corals—the highest coral diversity in Micronesia.
Even as global reefs face increasing pressure from climate change, many of Palau’s reefs remain surprisingly resilient, making this one of the few places where you can still experience coral ecosystems at their healthiest.
Palau’s shallow waters and exceptional visibility reveal a dazzling world of rainbow-colored fish, vibrant sponges, and breathtaking corals. Above the surface, the scenery is just as spectacular—the UNESCO-listed Rock Islands form a maze of lush, jungle-topped limestone outcrops rising from crystal-clear seas.
An Immersive Ocean Experience
From our base in Koror we take day-trips to the jungle-capped Rock Island where you’ll be where you’ll encounter a vibrant kaleidoscope of tropical fish such as anemonefish, gobies, wrasses, parrotfish, mandarinfish, and more. Snorkel alongside graceful sea turtles, clever octopuses, manta rays, and cuttlefish in waters renowned for some of the healthiest reef shark populations in the Pacific. Explore thriving reefs adorned with an array of soft and hard corals, giant clams, sponges, and sea anemones. Above the surface, keep an eye out for kingfishers, Pied Cormorants, and other coastal birds that flourish within this rich island ecosystem.
Throughout the trip, Oceanic Society naturalists help connect your experience beneath the surface to broader global ocean conservation concerns—offering insight into the ecological importance of coral reefs, the challenges they face, and the innovative solutions being led in places like Palau.
Don't miss: 6 Reasons Why the Reefs of Palau are a Must Snorkel
Trip Cost Details
Includes: transfers upon arrival and departure, accommodations, daily breakfast and lunch, activities and excursions listed in itinerary
Does Not Include: airfare to or from destination, accommodation upgrades like a single supplement of $995, daily dinners (allowing flexibility to explore local dining options), optional trip extensions, trip cancellation or travel insurance, visas when applicable, alcoholic beverages, and gratuities. Click here for more detailed trip cost information or read our full expedition terms and conditions.
Conservation Impact
Oceanic Society is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ocean conservation since 1969—and a pioneer in eco travel. When you join this Palau snorkeling expedition, your trip directly supports marine research and protection. Through Oceanic Society expeditions, travelers have helped support projects by the Micronesian Shark Foundation, which works to study and safeguard sharks across Palau and Micronesia. As a nonprofit, we've led expeditions here since 1996, generating thousands of dollars in park fees to help protect Jellyfish Lake and the Rock Islands Southern Lagoon, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Plus, with every booking, we sponsor the removal of 200 lbs. of plastic from the ocean, extending your impact even further.
Dates & Prices
Nov 4-12, 2025
Book This TripJan 6-14,2026
Book This TripMar 3-11, 2026
Book This TripNov 3-11, 2026
Book This TripItinerary
Sample Itinerary
Day 9: Depart Palau or Continue to Yap, Micronesia
Transfer to the airport for your international flight home, or continue your journey with an optional extension to Yap, a remote Micronesian island known for its rich cultural traditions, untouched reefs, and resident population of manta rays.
Optional Trip Extension
Enhance your Palau trip with a 5-day post-tour extension to Yap. Located between Palau and Guam, the Yap archipelago is steeped in ancient traditions. The Yapese maintain one of the most traditional lifestyles in Micronesia, and the islands are also among the best places in the world to encounter manta rays and reef sharks. Spend 2.5 days snorkeling vibrant reefs with opportunities to swim alongside these beautiful animals.
Itinerary Highlights:
- Days 9: Fly from Koror to Yap; overnight at Manta Ray Bay Hotel.
- Day 10-11: Snorkel in Gofnuw or Miil Channel to encounter shallow-water reef manta rays. Weather permitting, we will go on a blue-water shark snorkel where congregations of grey, blacktip, and whitetip reef sharks are often seen.
- Day 12: Cultural village tour featuring Yap’s famous “rai” or stone money banks.
- Day 13: Return flight via Guam.
Cost: $2,950/person (double occupancy); single supplement $450
Includes: Flight from Palau to Yap, hotel, guided activities, breakfast, and transfers
Not Included: Flight from Yap to Guam, some meals, gratuities, and taxes
Limited availability. Download full itinerary for details
Accommodations
Experience the perfect blend of elegance and tranquility at Palau Royal Resort. Nestled on the waterfront of Malakal Island, this upscale retreat offers beautifully appointed rooms with private balconies or patios showcasing stunning lagoon, garden, or harbor views. Just minutes from downtown Koror and perfectly positioned for easy access to our daily snorkel excursions, the resort offers everything you need to unwind between adventures. Indulge in the resort’s pristine pool, private white-sand beach, spa, or enjoy dinner and drinks at the on-site restaurant and bar overlooking Palau's sea. 
Naturalist(s)
Your expedition will be led by one or more of the following expert naturalist guides:
