Oceania

Papua New Guinea draws travelers for its tribal cultures and elaborate festivals — but this remarkably diverse nation of 22 provinces offers far more. Over 800 languages are spoken across landscapes that shift from rugged highlands to dense jungles, active volcanoes to tropical islands. World-class diving reveals WWII wrecks and pristine coral reefs, while each province holds distinct traditions and ways of life. Remote, rewarding, and utterly unlike anywhere else.

Vanuatu is a string of volcanic islands offering everything from active volcanoes you can peer into to underwater post offices and blue holes hidden in the jungle. The diving is world-class, the kastom culture remains strong in remote villages, and the islands range from lush and tropical to rugged and wild. Accessible enough to enjoy, remote enough to feel like a discovery.

Samoa keeps Polynesian culture alive in ways many islands have lost. Traditional villages operate under the fa’a Samoa system, extended families live in open-sided fales, and Sunday is sacred — quiet, church-centered, and slow. Dramatic waterfalls, volcanic beaches, and some of the Pacific’s most welcoming people. Less developed than neighboring islands, more authentic, and proud of it.

New Caledonia is France in the South Pacific — baguettes and lagoons, Kanak culture and French wine, all wrapped in a landscape of turquoise waters and pine-studded hills. The main island offers a cosmopolitan capital and excellent food, while the outer islands provide pristine reefs, traditional villages, and some of the Pacific’s clearest water. The surrounding lagoon is UNESCO-listed and rivals any in the world.