Laura Beach, Majuro, Photo: mrlins, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Find your Bliss in the Marshall Islands
The Marshall Islands, made simple: lagoons, wrecks and island warmth, without the worry
The Marshall Islands are twenty-nine coral atolls and five islands scattered across the central Pacific, home to some of the clearest lagoons on earth, legendary wartime wreck diving and a seafaring culture famous for its stick charts. Few travellers come, so the welcome is genuine. This guide takes the guesswork out of flights, entry, money and where to base yourself.
Your trip, step by step
- Before you flyEntry rules, money, health and the limited flight schedule, answered
- LandingAmata Kabua International Airport and your first hour in Majuro
- Your days on the atollsLagoons, museums, outer islands and food, planned around boats and tides
- Home againDeparture tips so a twice-weekly flight never catches you out
Where to go, eat and stay
- Plain answersClear, honest guidance on the questions first-timers actually ask.
- Official sourcesEntry, health and safety facts point you to the official pages to confirm.
- No price surprisesWe explain what costs more and what costs less, so your budget holds.
- Free to useEvery guide and the trip planner are free.
Our promise
The Marshall Islands are among the least visited countries in the world, and that can feel daunting. We answer the questions about flights, cash, outer island permits, water and local customs before they start, so you arrive ready to find your Bliss.
Tourist infrastructure is limited and flights are few. Plan ahead, keep a spare day either side of any outer island trip and treat the slow island pace as part of the experience.
How to use this guide
Four steps from first idea to a trip that feels easy.
- Choose your atollsMajuro for culture and comfort, Arno for village life, Bikini for world-famous wreck diving.
- Sort the essentialsEntry rules, money, health and flight days, checked against official sources.
- Pick your placesUse our places to visit list for beaches, museums, food, events and stays.
- Plan your routeUse the free trip planner to build your days around the few weekly flights.
Everything your Marshall Islands trip needs
Free tools and guides for every stage of the journey.
Destinations
Majuro, Laura, Arno Atoll, Kwajalein and Ebeye, and Bikini Atoll, each explained in depth.
Explore destinationsPlaces to visit
More than a hundred beaches, wrecks, museums, churches, food stops, events and stays.
See places to visitFlights and stays
Search flights into Majuro and the handful of stays on the atolls.
Plan travelPlaces finder
Sights, food and stays mapped around each base.
Find placesFree trip planner
Tell us your dates and interests and build a route that fits.
Plan your trip
The Marshall Islands trip
One capital atoll, many quiet ones
Almost every visit starts on Majuro, a thin ring of land around a vast lagoon where the capital, the Alele Museum and most hotels sit along one long road. From there, Laura's beaches are a short ride west, Arno's villages are a boat trip across the water, and for divers Bikini Atoll holds one of the most remarkable wreck sites on the planet.
- Stick charts and canoe culture at the Alele Museum
- Laura Beach and lagoon swimming on Majuro
- Village life and empty islets on Arno Atoll
- The nuclear test fleet wrecks of Bikini Atoll
Start with the destinations
See how Majuro and the outer atolls fit together.
Marshall Islands destinationsPlan with confidence
Your route, without the worry
Flights into the Marshall Islands run only a few times a week, and domestic flights and boats to the outer atolls change with weather and fuel. Our free planner helps you match atolls to your dates and leave the buffer days that keep a trip stress free.
- The right atolls for your interests
- Realistic flight and boat connections
- Where to base yourself
Where to go in the Marshall Islands
From the capital atoll of Majuro and its beach at Laura to the village life of Arno, the crowded island of Ebeye and the wreck-filled lagoon of Bikini.
Majuro Atoll, Ratak Chain
Majuro
The capital atoll, a thin ring of land around a vast lagoon with the museum, the parliament and most hotels.
Read the guidePhoto: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Majuro Atoll, Ratak Chain
Laura
The rural western end of Majuro, with its best known beach, farms, breadfruit groves and slow village pace.
Read the guidePhoto: mrlins, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Ratak Chain, east of Majuro
Arno Atoll
The closest outer atoll to Majuro, with villages, empty beaches, fishing and traditional island life.
Read the guidePhoto: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Ralik Chain, central Marshall Islands
Kwajalein and Ebeye
A huge lagoon atoll with a restricted US Army base on Kwajalein and the densely packed island of Ebeye.
Read the guidePhoto: U.S. Army USAGKA by Sherman Hogue, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Ralik Chain, northern Marshall Islands
Bikini Atoll
A UNESCO World Heritage Site where the US tested nuclear weapons, now a lagoon of extraordinary shipwrecks.
Read the guidePhoto: Ron Van Oers, CC BY-SA 3.0 igo, via Wikimedia Commons
A note from our founder
A note from our founder
My first time visiting Kenya, I was genuinely surprised with how fast it began feeling like home. The people are so friendly, the food is delicious and familiar, and the accommodations are modern and upscale.
During my travels throughout the continent, I commonly hear tourists share stories about being scammed or taken advantage of, which is both frustrating and disheartening.
Living in Kenya for the last 2 years, I have had the great fortune to meet a network of wonderful Kenyans who have continuously help guide my family's journey. Their shared knowledge has not only greatly enhanced our overall experience here, but it has also saved us tons of time, energy, and resources.
With BlissPoint Travel, my hope is to build a global community that is willing to share useful, uncommon knowledge so that we can all blissfully enjoy the wonders our world has to offer.
Questions we hear most
Is the Marshall Islands worth visiting?
Yes, if you love quiet places. It offers glassy lagoons, superb diving, Second World War and nuclear history you will find nowhere else, and a warm, church-centred island culture. It is not a resort destination, so come for authenticity rather than polish.
Do I need a visa for the Marshall Islands?
It depends on your passport. US citizens enter under the Compact of Free Association, and some other nationalities can get a visa on arrival, while others must apply ahead. Check the Republic of the Marshall Islands embassy website and your own government's travel advice before you book.
What currency is used in the Marshall Islands?
The US dollar. Cards work at the larger hotels and some shops in Majuro, but carry cash for taxis, small restaurants, handicrafts and every outer island, where there are no ATMs.
What language do people speak?
Marshallese and English are both official. English is widely used in government, hotels and shops. Learn "Iakwe" (hello, and also love) and "Kommol" (thank you) and you will use them all day.
When is the best time to go?
December to April is the drier season, with steady trade winds and more sunshine. May to November is wetter, calmer and more humid. It is warm all year, so the choice is mostly about rain and sea conditions.
Is the Marshall Islands safe for tourists?
Generally yes. Serious crime against visitors is rare, but petty theft happens, alcohol fuels trouble at night, and ocean currents, dengue and limited medical care are the real risks. Read your government's current travel advice before you go.
Ready to find your Bliss in the Marshall Islands?
Use the free trip planner to turn ideas into a route that fits your dates and budget.