Crater Lake Hike and Swim: The Ultimate Rainforest Adventure in Lake Lanoto'o

Embark on an adventurous 3km hike through a dense rainforest to Lake Lanoto’o. Swim in the volcanic crater lake on this immersive and challenging half-day excursion.

Duration: 6 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Samoan Island Adventures - 8:00am pick-up from central Apia accommodation followed by a short drive along the Cross Island Road.
  • Lake Lanoto’o - The road becomes rough towards the end, so we’ll get as close as possible before continuing on foot. Once we reach the end of the 4WD track, we’ll begin our ascent of the crater—a steep, sometimes…
What's Included
  • Water Refills (Please bring your own bottles)
  • Driver/guide
  • Snacks
  • Lunch
  • Transport by private vehicle
Additional Information

Snacks & Lunch included in the price! Embark on an adventurous 3km hike through a dense rainforest, on a 4.5 hour trip to Lake Lanoto’o. The half-day excursion is perfect for travelers who like to get off the beaten track to see and do something a little different. With maximum six people per group, you enjoy a more immersive and dynamic tour…

Location
Samoan Island Adventures
Meet on the deck overlooking the Marina in front of The Booking Hub.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(10 Ratings)
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Intrepidboho
Sep 5, 2023
The Magical Crater Lake Lanoto'o hike. - Thank you so much Geoff for fitting us in for the Crater Lake hike, it truly was worth it! We had the best guide on the Island, Arthur aka Afa! You are the man! The most chill German Samoan I've met. He makes light work of the track, with his Indiana Jones-like machete in hand to make sure your face and feet are still pristine and untouched on the path by the surrounding plant life. So all that is required from you is a reasonable level of fitness and a go-get-it attitude. So just pace yourself and enjoy the scenery you will be treated to a plethora of exotic plant life, and red and yellow clay soil so make sure you have your camera ready for those picturesque scenes. We were fortunate it wasn't raining, but the track was still slippery and muddy plus the added humidity, the perfect combo for a good workout. Finally when you arrive at the Lake, just pause and take it all in, it is such a magical creation it was so calm and peaceful there and we enjoyed a refreshing dip in its emerald waters. When you are ready to head back, lunch is provided, and fresh tropical fruits and sandwiches just taste divine after such a solid adventure. My wife and I had a great time, so we highly recommend this tour for all you explorers, hikers, and just anyone who would love to go off on the beaten track and discover something different in the tropical landscape of Samoa. Fa'afetai lava Geoff, and Arthur for making this adventure possible.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Michella
May 29, 2023
An adventure to a one of a kind lake. A special place which is worth the effort. - This Crater Lake hike is like nothing I’ve ever experienced. The changes in vegetation from the carpark to the mountaintop and lakeshore is palpable. Beautiful flowers! Mysterious steps lead you to the edge of the crater where the view of the emerald lake takes your breath away. Arthur ,my guide, confidently led the way with his machete and a swim in the 11 hectare lake was SO refreshing. Tip: wear brown to match the mud! 😉 I felt like I’d really achieved something. It was hard at times but satisfying, fun and interesting.
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Kirsty_h
Apr 24, 2023
Must do! - Our guide was so patient and attentive, it was a beautiful Forrest hike and the lake was stunning! My friend is gluten intolerant and they made a personal alternative lunch for her which was so considerate.
Review provided by Viator
Qwesdzxc
Jan 27, 2020
Amazing experience - This hike was like something I’ve never done/experienced before! I felt super accomplished once we completed it. Arthur the guide was great, reassuring us to take our time and showing us the right place to walk. Sadly we did not swim because of the heavy rainfall and didn’t get to see the lake but it was still an amazing experience, definitely recommend it for people who enjoy a challenge and exploring new places.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Connie
Jan 16, 2020
Fantastic Hike and swim in crater lake. - The Hike to Lake Lanoto'o was wet, muddy slippery and great fun with a rewarding refreshing swim in the calm, serene waters of the Lake. The view at the top was breathtaking and well worth the hike to get there through the rain.We were surrounded by beautiful vegetation all the way. We were also very fortunate to have the entire area to ourselves. Geoff and Aaron were excellent guides who knew the area well and along the way provided very interesting information about beautiful Samoa. At the end of the hike we all enjoyed yummy sandwiches . I highly recommend Samoan Highland Adventures. They are easy to book tours with on line and via credit card. Their communication is excellent, they are super organised, most helpful and even came to pick our group of 5 up from our resort out of Apia on the other side of the island. For those who love a little adventure this is a must do activity in Samoa.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Amaratc
Apr 16, 2019
A hike to remember - I truly enjoyed every moment of this hike. The guide and I walked through a rain forest so dense that we needed to have a knife to cut down branches and leaves that obstructed our view of the muddy and slimy path. It was very natural with no tourist facilities. There was a handrail somewhere that assisted us in going uphill but it was partly damaged. Despite this, it was so much fun. I was soaked with mud but felt very much alive. At the end of the hike, we got to refresh a little bit by the wonderful lake which had very pristine water. It was also a Sunday when I did the hike so there was no one else around but me and the guide. It was perfect for me as I love quiet places with no tourist around.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jukiperky
Oct 14, 2018
Amazing hike and swim to the crater... - An incredible hike through beautiful trees and bush to get to the crater and once there, it certainly didn't disappoint. Lake Lanoto'o is stunning and quite dramatic, we even saw the famous goldfish.... The swim across the lake is well worth the effort and the water a perfect refreshing temperature for a warm day. Tim is a great guide, very knowledgable and makes sure it's a fun and enjoyable experience. Can't wait to go on more of his tours when I come back, they are well worth the money and the effort, they're also a fantastic was to see this beautiful island.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Akp999
Oct 2, 2018
Awesome hike - The hike to Lake Lanoto’o was well worth it. A moderate effort which was well rewarded with great views of flora and fauna, picturesque views of the lane and a refreshing swim. Chris was an excellent guide who knew practically every nook and corner of the trail, and was a very inspiring companion.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Hannxyz
Sep 28, 2018
Our tour to the lake - We wanted to see the lake and so we booked this tour. Chris was a wonderful guide and motivated us when our mood for walking goes down. It was a little bit rainy and so the way was not very comfortable, sometimes a little bit slippery. When we arrived the lake the sun comes out and we have had a wonderful swimming. The walk through the rainforest was very interesting for us and we felt like explorers. Thanks once more to Chris!
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Sally
Aug 26, 2018
Sunday outing! - At very short notice we decided to take the Crater Lake hike and swim. Response from Samoan Highland Adventures was immediate and really helpful. Our guide Chris sent us the Google map pin for where to meet him the next morning. (As an aside, getting a Samoan data SIM card for your phone makes everything much easier when contacting businesses and people in Samoa. We got BlueSky at the airport when we landed. Best decision!) We met with Chris and he briefed us on what safety equipment he was carrying and what the tour would entail. Very reassuring and professional. Normally lunch would be included but we gave him no time to organise that so we brought our own snacks for a discounted tour price. 😊 After briefing we transferred to his truck to navigate the really rough road. The walk starts as a lovely meander through flat grassland with lots of beautiful plants to photo. Then the walk starts to gently go uphill. The track is pretty good but in wet conditions would be quite slippery. There is a short steep section as you get to the crest of the crater and then you see the lake. Beautiful! Nobody else around. Hubby went in for swim as did Chris. I sat on the timber jetty to soak up the scenery. After swim and snacks we retraced our steps back to the beginning. Would highly recommend this tour and it's not too steep. Don't try it in jandals! We wore training shoes and it was all good.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $65
up to 6 guests
2 Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).