Leg 8 — Southern Cook Islands: Island Exploration
Discover the Islands. Experience the Culture.
Rarotonga → Southern Cook Islands → Rarotonga | July 24–30, 2027
7 Days | Approximately 235 Nautical Miles | Maximum 6 Expedition Members
Single Berth: $5,900 per person | Shared Berth: $4,900 per person
There's something special about exploring the South Pacific when the islands themselves are celebrating.
Our expedition coincides with Te Maeva Nui, the Cook Islands' extraordinary annual celebration of Polynesian culture, bringing together communities for traditional music, dancing, storytelling, and island festivities.
Between opportunities to experience this remarkable celebration and the freedom of sailing among the Southern Cook Islands, this expedition offers a distinctive blend of adventure, cultural discovery, and island life.
Join Koru's small crew for seven days exploring beyond the familiar tourist destinations, discovering secluded coastlines, remarkable natural environments, and the extraordinary hospitality of the Cook Islands.
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The Passage: Exploring the Southern Cooks
Our adventure begins in Rarotonga, where lush volcanic mountains rise above beautiful beaches, tropical forests, and coral reefs.
From here, we'll set sail toward the lesser-traveled islands of the Southern Cooks, allowing weather, sea conditions, and opportunities for exploration to guide our journey.
Our likely route includes Atiu, approximately 115 nautical miles northeast of Rarotonga. This remarkable island offers a landscape unlike the more familiar volcanic islands and coral lagoons of the South Pacific.
The prevailing trade winds may provide varied sailing conditions on our outbound and return passages, offering opportunities to develop practical seamanship, navigation, and passage-planning skills.
Depending on conditions, our sailing may include overnight watches and the experience of navigating under the stars.
Unlike a fixed island-hopping cruise, this is a genuine sailing expedition. We'll adapt our itinerary to find opportunities for safe landfalls, meaningful exploration, and memorable experiences along the way.
Our return to Rarotonga completes a wonderful week of sailing and discovery.
What You'll Experience and Learn
Every Koru expedition is hands-on. You'll be an active participant aboard our 50-foot performance sailing catamaran, with opportunities to develop skills in:
Inter-island passagemaking and watchstanding
Sail handling, reefing, and trade-wind sailing
Weather interpretation and flexible passage planning
Celestial navigation and electronic navigation
Coastal approaches, anchoring, and safe landing decisions
Vessel systems, seamanship, and offshore safety
You'll share in the daily responsibilities of life aboard, developing confidence and experience as part of a small sailing crew.
With a maximum of six expedition members, there's ample opportunity for individual instruction and meaningful participation.
Each expedition member receives one complimentary ASA course, subject to eligibility and availability.
[Download the Detailed Expedition Brief]
Beyond the Sailing: Island Discovery and Celebration
The Southern Cook Islands offer extraordinary opportunities to experience both nature and Polynesian culture.
If conditions permit a visit to Atiu, we may arrange locally guided excursions into its ancient limestone caves and tropical forests, discover its rare birdlife, or meet island residents who continue traditions of coffee growing and local craftsmanship.
Atiu's remarkable makatea limestone formations and secluded coastlines create a world quite different from Rarotonga.
Back in Rarotonga, another special opportunity awaits.
Our expedition takes place during Te Maeva Nui, July 23–August 4, 2027, the Cook Islands' national cultural celebration.
Traditional drumming, dancing, music, and cultural performances bring together communities from across the islands in a celebration of Polynesian identity and heritage.
Depending on our sailing schedule and available time, there may be opportunities to experience festival activities before departure or after our return. Guests particularly interested in the celebrations may wish to extend their stay in Rarotonga.
Other possibilities include snorkeling beautiful lagoon reefs, exploring tropical walking trails, visiting local markets, or learning about island traditions from local guides.
Intermediate island visits, landings, and activities depend on weather, sea conditions, and safe access. Atiu's exposed coastline makes any landing particularly weather-dependent.
As always, the ocean determines our schedule, and safety takes priority over specific destinations or activities.
Expedition Details & Pricing
Departure: Rarotonga, Cook Islands (RAR) — July 24, 2027
Arrival: Rarotonga, Cook Islands (RAR) — July 30, 2027
Duration: 7 days
Distance: Approximately 235 nautical miles round-trip, route-dependent
Mandatory Safety Briefing: July 23 at 6:00 PM local time
Embarkation / Disembarkation: 10:00 AM local time
Single Berth — $5,900 per person
Your own berth, with no requirement to share with another expedition member.
Shared Berth — $4,900 per person
Two expedition members sharing one double berth save $1,000 each, a combined savings of $2,000 ($9,800 total).
Each expedition member receives one complimentary ASA course, subject to eligibility and availability.
A $1,000 refundable deposit per person secures your berth, subject to our reservation and cancellation terms.
Ready to Discover the Southern Cook Islands?
Whether you're developing your sailing skills, fascinated by Polynesian culture, or drawn to the freedom of exploring beautiful islands under sail, we'd love to explore whether this expedition is right for you.
Koru expeditions are personal, participatory adventures built around learning, exploration, and meaningful connections.
