The base
Almost everyone stays in Koror, the largest town, linked by bridge to the airport on Babeldaob. It has the hotels, dive shops, museums, restaurants and the harbour where every boat trip begins.
The lagoon
The Rock Islands are the reason most people come: hundreds of green limestone islands in a turquoise lagoon, with Jellyfish Lake, the Milky Way, sandbars, snorkel walls and famous dives like Blue Corner. You visit them on day trips by boat from Koror.
The big island
Babeldaob is Palau's largest island and home to the capital, Ngerulmud. A ring road leads to waterfalls, the Badrulchau stone monoliths, traditional meeting houses and quiet villages. It makes a great land day between boat days.
The battlefield island
Peleliu, south of the lagoon, was the scene of one of the hardest battles of the Pacific War in 1944. Today it is a quiet island of memorials, caves, rusting tanks and beautiful beaches, with world-class diving offshore.
The northern atoll
Kayangel is a ring of white sand islands around a lagoon at the far north of Palau, with one small village. It is the place for true peace and empty beaches.
How to fit it together
A week covers Koror, three or four Rock Islands days, a Babeldaob road day and Peleliu. With ten days add Kayangel and rest days. Keep the last day free of diving before you fly. Use the free trip planner to shape your route.