Four Seasons is now welcoming travelers to discover the marine wilderness of Palau aboard the Four Seasons Explorer private yacht. Read on to find out how to be among the first to experience Palau with Four Seasons Explorer.
Why Book Onto Four Seasons Explorer?
Eco-adventurers, divers, and cultural explorers will be able to explore the virtually untouched wilderness of more than 340 islands, expansive protected marine territory, and a 4,000-year-old culture while enjoying the warmth and care of Four Seasons from the deck of this luxury catamaran.
“For many years, Four Seasons Explorer was a hugely popular option for exploring the waters and atolls of the Maldives, and now we are delighted to introduce the hidden paradise of Palau through the lens of Four Seasons,” says Rainer Stampfer, President, Global Operations, Hotels, and Resorts.
Four Seasons Explorer is a 39-metre (128-foot) luxury catamaran with three decks, ten staterooms plus the lavish Explorer Suite, restaurant, bar, lounge, library, PADI 5-Star Dive Centre, spa corner plus a dedicated team ready to create unforgettable experiences for guests. This yacht was happily bobbing about in the Maldives but is now set to explore some additional destinations.
“Palau is truly one of the world’s last remaining frontiers, almost untouched by time and now preserved for generations to come thanks to local and international efforts to protect this charming nation and its culture of omengull – respecting all and everything,” says Regional Vice President and General Manager Armando Kraenzlin, noting the synergies with Four Seasons own ethos of luxury with genuine heart. Having overseen Four Seasons Explorer on its expeditions in the Maldives, Armando continues to manage the operations and guest experience as the boat moves to Palau.
Just nine of Palau’s islands are inhabited, and half a million square kilometers (193,000 square miles) of its waters are protected – 80 percent of the country’s total marine territory. The world’s first national shark sanctuary, Palau is also home to the Rock Islands Southern Lagoon – inaugurated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2012 and the locale for many Four Seasons Explorer experiences.
Diving
With visibility up to 100 meters (325 feet) beneath the waves, Palau’s myriad lagoons and marine features offer an underwater world waiting to be explored. Discover more than 1,400 species of fish, 500 species of healthy coral, and numerous shipwrecks.
The on-board PADI 5-Star Dive Centre caters to guests of all experience levels, offering dives at renowned sites such as Blue Corner, German Channel, Peleliu Wall, Chandelier Cave, and Helmet Wreck as well as access to lesser-known gems.
Snorkeling, kayaking, stand-up paddleboard, fishing
In addition, water lovers can snorkel, kayak, stand-up paddleboard, fish and free dive. A favorite excursion is to Milky Way, a shallow “lake” enclosed by islands, with its seabed of volcanic ash creating a warm, milky-blue retreat for yoga sessions and mineral-rich mud bathing.
Trips Ashore
On Palau’s lush green islands, Four Seasons guests can hike through the jungle to hidden waterfalls or grab a pair of binoculars and check off a list of dozens of rare birds that inhabit the region.
History buffs will find much to discover while bicycling on Peleliu Island, which has numerous military ruins, including an old airstrip and American and Japanese memorials to the infamous World War II battle named for the island.
At just under 20 square kilometers (7.5 square miles), Peleliu’s diverse terrain includes steep rises of up to 75 meters (250 feet), casuarina forests, and mangroves, home to many endemic bird populations.
Inhabited for more than 4,000 years, Palau offers an intriguing journey into the past, with many bai (traditional meeting houses); the mysterious Badrulchau Stone Monoliths – known as “Micronesia’s Easter Island” – a double row of 2,000-year-old carved basalt that may have formed the pillars of a bai capable of sheltering hundreds of people; and the ancient red and yellow geometric rock paintings of Ulong Island.
How To Book
The best way to book onto the Four Seasons Explorer Private Yacht is via our luxury travel concierge as we are an official Four Seasons partner agency and can offer extra complimentary benefits on your voyage.
Contact us for more details about our perks on the Four Seasons Explorer private yacht voyages and at all the best four seasons hotels.
These new voyages offer flexibility. Guests can embark daily, with no minimum stay. Several dive boats and tenders transport guests to and from shore, so Four Seasons Explorer guests can customize their stay, whether for serious diving, cultural encounters, or simply relaxing in this tropical utopia.
Guests are met by Four Seasons representatives in the country’s main commercial hub of Koror and are transported offshore to wherever Four Seasons Explorer is anchored.
Palau International Airport in Koror is currently accessible via Taipei, Singapore, Honolulu, Guam, Manila, and Brisbane, with the island nation well placed for further exploration of Australia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and other islands of Oceania such as Yap, Chuuk and the Federated States of Micronesia.
Arrival and departure times are flexible, while inclusive rates aboard Four Seasons Explorer cover on-board accommodations and three meals daily, including hot beverages; unlimited diving, water sports, and island adventures; daily yoga and wellness experiences; and pop-up events from beach barbecues featuring local musicians and dancers to expert talks hosted by the boat’s on-staff marine biologist.
In the galley, the culinary team is adept at creating menus to suit international tastes – whether dining on board, enjoying a castaway-style picnic during a day of diving and exploring, or retreating for a romantic toes-in-the-sand dinner à deux under an endless canopy of stars.
Four Seasons Explorer is also available for tailored private yacht charters in Palau for groups of up to 26, including dedicated seasonal charters for surf enthusiasts with the experts from Tropicsurf.
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