Four Seasons is welcoming travelers to discover the marine wilderness of Palau aboard Four Seasons Explorer. Eco-adventurers, divers and cultural explorers can explore more than 340 islands, protected marine territory and a 4,000-year-old culture, all while enjoying the signature hospitality of Four Seasons aboard the 128-foot luxury catamaran. Four Seasons Explorer has three decks, 10 staterooms plus the lavish Explorer Suite, a restaurant, bar, lounge, library, PADI 5-Star Dive Centre and spa corner.
Having swapped its former Maldives homeport for The Rock Islands Southern Lagoon of Palau, Four Seasons Explorer now offers guests the option to embark daily, with no minimum stay. Accompanied by several dive boats and tenders to transport guests to and from shore, guests can customize their stay, whether for serious diving, cultural encounters or simply relaxing.
Just nine of Palau’s islands are inhabited, and 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. With visibility up to 325 feet beneath the waves, Palau’s lagoons house over 1,400 species of fish and 500 species of coral, as well as numerous shipwrecks. The onboard PADI 5-Star Dive Centre caters to guests of all experience levels, offering dives at sites such as Blue Corner, German Channel, Peleliu Wall, Chandelier Cave and Helmet Wreck.
Additional activities include snorkeling, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, fishing and free diving. 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. History buffs will find much to discover while bicycling on Peleliu Island, with numerous military ruins including an old airstrip and American and Japanese memorials to the World War II battle named for the island. At just under 7.5 square miles, Peleliu’s diverse terrain includes steep rises of up to 250 feet, casuarina forests and mangroves, and is 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.
In the country’s main commercial hub of Koror, guests are met by Four Seasons representatives and transported offshore to wherever Four Seasons Explorer is anchored at the time. Arrival and departure times are flexible, while inclusive rates aboard Four Seasons Explorer cover onboard 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 with local musicians and dancers to expert talks hosted by the boat’s on-staff marine biologist.
Palau International Airport in Koror is 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. 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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