If you set sail from Mangareva, French Polynesia, heading in a south-east direction and cruising for some 2170 kilometres or thereabouts, you’ll find yourself arriving at the isolated Pitcairn Islands group.  Ok, so it’s a lot more complicated than that to arrive at exactly the right spot, but you get the drift. 

The small island group, comprising Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands is one of the most isolated inhabited islands in the world.  Pitcairn Island is well known for being the final settling place of the mutineers of the HMS Bounty, under the leadership of Fletcher Christian.  The group, along with a group of Tahitian men and women, settled on Pitcairn Island, destroyed the HMS Bounty in order that they wouldn’t be discovered by other explorers, and made their home on the island. 

The descendants of this group make up the population of Pitcairn Island today.  Numbers have dwindled over the years and currently just 47 people remain living on the island.

Access to the island is by sea and it is not connected to any major trade routes, therefore the island inhabitants are reliant on designated supply ships that service the islands once every couple of months.  This means the residents rely largely on subsistence agriculture and fishing.

Although not easily accessible, Pitcairn Island enjoys visitors from expedition cruise ships, yachts and tourists who travel with the supply ship for a short stay.  Their purchases contribute significantly to the economy and the islanders welcome the arrival of new people and the busy vibe they bring.

As well as having an incredibly fascinating history (if you thought settling on a deserted South Pacific Island would be calm and boring, just take a look at the drama and adventures the Mutineers experienced after arriving!), the Pitcairn Islands are spectacularly beautiful with rugged cliffs, rock pools, interesting walks and incredible marine life.  The lifestyle here is worlds away from the hustle and bustle of large towns and cities.  It’s an incredible community and visiting is an amazing experience.

The Aranui 5 will be visiting Pitcairn Island in February 2024 and is currently offering an amazing deal which will save guests more than $4000!  For solo travellers, the savings are even greater at more than $6,000!  The 11-day roundtrip voyage from Papeete includes the Tuamotu and Gambier Islands as well as Pitcairn Island.  It should be noted that freight isn’t carried on this trip – the crew are solely dedicated to their guests.

There are limited cabins and this may be Aranui Cruises’ last visit to the Pitcairn Island for some time, so if you would like to experience Pitcairn Island the Aranui way, we recommend you don’t delay! 

Additionally, Aranui Cruises is also offering an amazing offer for their voyages to The Austral Islands in March and November 2024, with 50% off the second passenger or no single supplement! 

The Austral Islands are a breath-taking island group, where the Bounty mutineers spent some time before heading towards Pitcairn Island.  These days, the islands are known for their farming activities and for the breath-taking landscapes of sheer mountains, plunging valleys and intense blue lagoons, not to mention the high cliffs and caves from which visitors can watch humpback whales who visit between August and October to give birth.

Find out more here or contact one of our consultants for full details.