Crater Lake Hike and Swim
5
Crater Lake Hike and Swim
By Samoan Island Adventures
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About
Embark on an adventurous 6km hike through a dense rainforest, on a 4.5-5.5 hour trip to Lake Lanoto'o. The half-day excursion is perfect for travelers who like to get off the beaten track to see and do something a little different. With maximum six people per group, you enjoy a more immersive and dynamic tour experience. After a moderate sometimes steep ascent through the dense rainforest, cool off in the volcanic crater lake. Snacks & Lunch included in the price!
Please note that this hike can be challenging, with steep and slippery sections, so it is essential to wear footwear with good tread and be prepared for a moderate level of physical exertion.
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 6-99, max of 6 per group
Duration: 5–6 hours
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More
- Water Refills (Please bring your own bottles)
- Lunch
- Snacks
- Driver/guide
- Transport by private vehicle
- Start:Traveller pickup offered.
- Samoan Island Adventures, Apia Marina, next to the Edge Bar Matautu Tai, Apia, SamoaMeet on the deck overlooking the Marina in front of The Booking Hub.
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point. - Not wheelchair accessible
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 66902P8- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Not recommended for travellers with back problems
- Travellers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- A moderate hike that is steep in places and often wet on the trail
- Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
- Sturdy footwear required with good grip required
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 6 travellers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 66902P8
From
AU$118.68
per adult (price varies by group size)
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About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- C3682JNsandrar0 contributionsDON'T MISS THIS TRIP!Our tour guide, Arthur, was great. He has a wonderful personality, and is very well spoken. He gave us a lot of local information and happily answered my many questions. He was a really good, safe driver, and got us to most of the places before the crowds. We loved swimming in the cave pool, the cenote, and the ocean. What a gorgeous itinerary! I highly recommend this trip.Written 15 November 2024
- FordyPerth0 contributionsBeauty at its finestEverything was amazing with an amazing tour guide. Thank you for such a wonderful day and the beauty of Samoa, just beautiful and the lunch was amazing.Written 27 September 2024
- L8845JJkr0 contributionsHighly recommend ❗🌺 What a fantastic day❗💮🌺From the moment we left until we returned a wonderful day, with our guide and driver Arthur/Afa, very knowledgeable, friendly and organised, each place had beautiful clear waters, and we learned alot about Samoan way of life and culture. We felt very lucky to be out with such a proud Samoan ❗👍Written 15 September 2024
- llonav0 contributionsGreat tour and great service 🌺🌺🌺Geoff was amazing! Communication during booking was friendly and efficient ! He accomodated our tour outside of their normal schedule, which we really appreciated. When we met him in person to rent some snorkeling gears (great quality and very reasonable priced)he was friendly and such an amazing guy,we had a nice yarn with him about Samoa and his business. It was really lovely to meet him! The places we went to on tour were beautiful! Despite a little bit of rain. Snorkeling gear and life jackets were made available to us. Arthur gave us enough time in each spot to enjoy ourselves and gave us a lot of info about Samoan living. Would have loved to hear more history of the places we visited. Overall, we had a great time and Would definitely recommend booking this trip! Thanks Geoff and Arthur ! 🌺🌺🌺Written 22 August 2024
- deannita0 contributionsIncredible trips with ArthurWe had a fabulous time with Arthur !! Communication through the office withe Geoff was so quick and efficient we ended up doing two tours We did both the pristine waters tour and the lava walk and had a blast Arthur was a great guide and made our 2 days very special! Highly recommended for others who come to the islandWritten 16 May 2024
- R7704VSmelissap0 contributionsFantastic experience. Highly recommend.Even though we started the day out with torrential rain it didn’t stop us having an amazing time. Arthur was a great guide who answered all our questions and provided so much information as we drove through villages. The area is so pretty, the views breath taking. Highly recommend this tour to anyone.Written 15 April 2024
- Compass120013848260 contributionsHighly Recommend!!We absolutely enjoyed this tour with Arthur, very friendly and communication was good, he had alot of knowledge about Samoa. Despite the rain in the morning, it didn't stop us from having a good time. Views were amazing and the spots we stopped at were nice. Lalomanu beach and the ocean trench were my favourite. Also had a nice lunch with chilled water provided. Would so recommend this tour to any first timers here in beautiful Samoa. Faafetai lava ArthurWritten 5 April 2024
- 247martini0 contributionsA brilliant day outWhat a great day out! It was raining at the start, but not enough to dampen the enthusiasm of our entertaining and informed guide. Samoa is a truly beautiful country, and the trip demonstrated that. Lots of chances to take photos of the great scenery, enjoy the water, and a great (provided) lunch. Highly recommended!Written 5 December 2023
- JamesMontemagno0 contributionsSamoa Tour of a LifetimeWow, what an amazing tour of Samoa. Even though we were staying closer to the airport we made the trip into Apia for this tour and we are glad we did. With just the two of us in the tour, Arthur took us on an amazing trip around the island with gorgeous views, snorkeling, swimming, and relaxation along the way. The country side of Samoa is lovely throughout the entire tour and every stop just kept getting better. We had plenty of time at every stop and never felt rushed at all. Arthur was a great tour guide and answered all of our questions and had great conversation throughout. Couldn’t recommend it enough if you are in Samoa.Written 22 November 2023
- DanvilleMom_1740 contributionsBeautiful scenery with no explanationThe good - We saw many beautiful places on the island and having a picnic lunch at one of our beautiful stops was a treat. The driver was very safe. The bad - The driver and guide talked in their native language the entire time (6 hrs). If we asked a question, we would be given a one or two sentence answer, then they were back to their conversation. We learned ZERO about the island, scenery, people etc. We certainly didn't feel like they had an interest in their paying customers.Written 17 November 2023
- P3744EWnathanr0 contributionsBest Tour of Upolu available!Fantastic tour! Highly recommend Geoff and Arthur they were professional, knowledgeable and friendly!Written 12 October 2023
- simonebD409JQ0 contributionsA must do! Fantastic tour guideAtua is an amazing travel guide! Friendly, informative and funny. We really enjoyed the tour and learnt so much about Samoa and the culture from him. He was extremely punctual and he planned the trip perfectly as to not be in the water spots in overcrowded times. The lunch was delicious too, really happy we booked this and highly recommended to anyone.Written 5 September 2023
- NateM09050 contributionsIsland ParadiseFantastic day tour of all of Upolu's sightseeing gems. Each stop has it's own unique beauty. To Sua ocean trench, Piula cave pool, Lalomanu beach are a must and will provide unforgettable experiences and memories. Loved it!!!Written 24 August 2023
- katiewright11010 contributionsEpic tourEpic day out. Such a cruisey way to see some beautiful spots. The guide Atua was awesome. Would recommend to anyone. Really nice company great communication easy to organise etcWritten 6 August 2023
- brisbane_310 contributionsFun and spectacularArtur our tour guide was amazing, very entertaining and well organised. Definitely recommend 👌 this tour.Written 31 July 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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5.0
9 reviews
Excellent
9
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Connie M
16 contributions
Dec 2019
The Hike to Lake Lanoto'o was wet, muddy slippery and great fun with a rewarding refreshing swim in the calm, serene waters of the Lake. The view at the top was breathtaking and well worth the hike to get there through the rain.We were surrounded by beautiful vegetation all the way. We were also very fortunate to have the entire area to ourselves. Geoff and Aaron were excellent guides who knew the area well and along the way provided very interesting information about beautiful Samoa. At the end of the hike we all enjoyed yummy sandwiches . I highly recommend Samoan Highland Adventures. They are easy to book tours with on line and via credit card. Their communication is excellent, they are super organised, most helpful and even came to pick our group of 5 up from our resort out of Apia on the other side of the island.
For those who love a little adventure this is a must do activity in Samoa.
For those who love a little adventure this is a must do activity in Samoa.
Written 16 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Connie & Co,
Thank you for such an awesome review of your adventure to such an awesome place. Lake Lanoto'o is one of my favourite places in all of Samoa. Hiking there in the rain and swimming in the lake is such fun. Try swimming across the lake!!
Our team do all we can to make the tours an unforgettable experience.
Keep putting out the good word about Samoa.
Written 28 January 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Tala
Palmerston North, New Zealand11 contributions
July 2023 • Couples
Thank you so much Geoff for fitting us in for the Crater Lake hike, it truly was worth it! We had the best guide on the Island, Arthur aka Afa! You are the man! The most chill German Samoan I've met. He makes light work of the track, with his Indiana Jones-like machete in hand to make sure your face and feet are still pristine and untouched on the path by the surrounding plant life. So all that is required from you is a reasonable level of fitness and a go-get-it attitude. So just pace yourself and enjoy the scenery you will be treated to a plethora of exotic plant life, and red and yellow clay soil so make sure you have your camera ready for those picturesque scenes. We were fortunate it wasn't raining, but the track was still slippery and muddy plus the added humidity, the perfect combo for a good workout. Finally when you arrive at the Lake, just pause and take it all in, it is such a magical creation it was so calm and peaceful there and we enjoyed a refreshing dip in its emerald waters. When you are ready to head back, lunch is provided, and fresh tropical fruits and sandwiches just taste divine after such a solid adventure. My wife and I had a great time, so we highly recommend this tour for all you explorers, hikers, and just anyone who would love to go off on the beaten track and discover something different in the tropical landscape of Samoa. Fa'afetai lava Geoff, and Arthur for making this adventure possible.
Written 5 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Out absolute pleasure! Thank you for such a great review, with details that will be very helpful for others to know what to expect.
And from Afa and I, thank you very much for the kind words and for choosing us for your Samoan Island Adventure!
Written 6 December 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Josie
Queanbeyan, Australia36 contributions
This hike was like something I’ve never done/experienced before! I felt super accomplished once we completed it. Arthur the guide was great, reassuring us to take our time and showing us the right place to walk. Sadly we did not swim because of the heavy rainfall and didn’t get to see the lake but it was still an amazing experience, definitely recommend it for people who enjoy a challenge and exploring new places.
Written 27 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
So glad you enjoyed the hike. It is so diverse. Arthur is very knowledgeable.
Now you have an good reason to come back again to see and swim in this utterly unique lake.
Written 6 December 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
AKP999
London, UK61 contributions
The hike to Lake Lanoto’o was well worth it. A moderate effort which was well rewarded with great views of flora and fauna, picturesque views of the lane and a refreshing swim. Chris was an excellent guide who knew practically every nook and corner of the trail, and was a very inspiring companion.
Written 2 October 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I am grateful for your kind words, Ajay. I'm humbled by the fact that with only 2 days in Samoa that I got to share one with you, up until a few hrs before your flight, at one of my most special places in Samoa.
You were only one of four people in the whole of Samoa that went to Lake Lanoto'o that day...
Yet we had it all to ourselves.
Dreaming of Portuguese Goa...
Go well,
Chris Tafili-Reid
Samoan Highland Adventures
Written 22 October 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Amarat
2 contributions
Apr 2019 • Solo
I truly enjoyed every moment of this hike. The guide and I walked through a rain forest so dense that we needed to have a knife to cut down branches and leaves that obstructed our view of the muddy and slimy path. It was very natural with no tourist facilities. There was a handrail somewhere that assisted us in going uphill but it was partly damaged. Despite this, it was so much fun. I was soaked with mud but felt very much alive. At the end of the hike, we got to refresh a little bit by the wonderful lake which had very pristine water. It was also a Sunday when I did the hike so there was no one else around but me and the guide. It was perfect for me as I love quiet places with no tourist around.
Written 16 April 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
HannXYZ
Berlin, Germany13 contributions
We wanted to see the lake and so we booked this tour. Chris was a wonderful guide and motivated us when our mood for walking goes down. It was a little bit rainy and so the way was not very comfortable, sometimes a little bit slippery. When we arrived the lake the sun comes out and we have had a wonderful swimming. The walk through the rainforest was very interesting for us and we felt like explorers. Thanks once more to Chris!
Written 28 September 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
You are most welcome, and danke schön to both of you for enjoying yourselves on 'The Volcanic Crater Lake Hike & Walk' of Lanoto'o.
I know you both were outside of your comfort zone... Yet we laughed our way through it in the spirit of Schadenfreude and truly earned this
special place all to ourselves, of which
Even The sun agreed...
Auf bald & thank you for coming along on the Adventure.
Written 27 October 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Sally G
Cambridge, New Zealand37 contributions
At very short notice we decided to take the Crater Lake hike and swim. Response from Samoan Highland Adventures was immediate and really helpful. Our guide Chris sent us the Google map pin for where to meet him the next morning. (As an aside, getting a Samoan data SIM card for your phone makes everything much easier when contacting businesses and people in Samoa. We got BlueSky at the airport when we landed. Best decision!)
We met with Chris and he briefed us on what safety equipment he was carrying and what the tour would entail. Very reassuring and professional. Normally lunch would be included but we gave him no time to organise that so we brought our own snacks for a discounted tour price. 😊
After briefing we transferred to his truck to navigate the really rough road.
The walk starts as a lovely meander through flat grassland with lots of beautiful plants to photo.
Then the walk starts to gently go uphill. The track is pretty good but in wet conditions would be quite slippery.
There is a short steep section as you get to the crest of the crater and then you see the lake. Beautiful! Nobody else around. Hubby went in for swim as did Chris. I sat on the timber jetty to soak up the scenery.
After swim and snacks we retraced our steps back to the beginning.
Would highly recommend this tour and it's not too steep. Don't try it in jandals! We wore training shoes and it was all good.
We met with Chris and he briefed us on what safety equipment he was carrying and what the tour would entail. Very reassuring and professional. Normally lunch would be included but we gave him no time to organise that so we brought our own snacks for a discounted tour price. 😊
After briefing we transferred to his truck to navigate the really rough road.
The walk starts as a lovely meander through flat grassland with lots of beautiful plants to photo.
Then the walk starts to gently go uphill. The track is pretty good but in wet conditions would be quite slippery.
There is a short steep section as you get to the crest of the crater and then you see the lake. Beautiful! Nobody else around. Hubby went in for swim as did Chris. I sat on the timber jetty to soak up the scenery.
After swim and snacks we retraced our steps back to the beginning.
Would highly recommend this tour and it's not too steep. Don't try it in jandals! We wore training shoes and it was all good.
Written 26 August 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much Sally for the amazing review. We understand that every minute counts when you only have a limited time in Samoa.
Your time and effort to put into words our day in a such brilliant & descriptive manner, are most appreciated.
For as I read them, I visualise hiking along the trail exactly where you describe, and I'm sure it will spark future guests imagination,
so well done for that.
Ali is only one of two of our guests to swim across the lake & back. (Tell him I still haven't done it... yet.)
Although we are flexible to a range of paces, the two of you are still the quickest to have hiked this trail with me.
We had the Volcanic Crater Lake Lanoto'o all to ourselves, and there is nowhere else I would rather have been on than
on that Sunday Outing with you two.
Thanks for coming along on the Adventure.
Written 27 October 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Michella B
Sydney11 contributions
This Crater Lake hike is like nothing I’ve ever experienced. The changes in vegetation from the carpark to the mountaintop and lakeshore is palpable. Beautiful flowers! Mysterious steps lead you to the edge of the crater where the view of the emerald lake takes your breath away.
Arthur ,my guide, confidently led the way with his machete and a swim in the 11 hectare lake was SO refreshing. Tip: wear brown to match the mud! 😉
I felt like I’d really achieved something. It was hard at times but satisfying, fun and interesting.
Arthur ,my guide, confidently led the way with his machete and a swim in the 11 hectare lake was SO refreshing. Tip: wear brown to match the mud! 😉
I felt like I’d really achieved something. It was hard at times but satisfying, fun and interesting.
Written 29 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jukiperky
Wellington, New Zealand2 contributions
Oct 2018 • Solo
An incredible hike through beautiful trees and bush to get to the crater and once there, it certainly didn't disappoint. Lake Lanoto'o is stunning and quite dramatic, we even saw the famous goldfish.... The swim across the lake is well worth the effort and the water a perfect refreshing temperature for a warm day. Tim is a great guide, very knowledgable and makes sure it's a fun and enjoyable experience. Can't wait to go on more of his tours when I come back, they are well worth the money and the effort, they're also a fantastic was to see this beautiful island.
Written 14 October 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi. Do you pick up from Apia port and what itimes does it start. Thank you
Written 15 March 2023
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