The Atolls and Rising Seas
A scattered nation on the front line of the ocean - Kiribati's far-flung low-lying atolls spread across a vast expanse of the central Pacific, of turquoise lagoons, palm-fringed islets and traditional village life, a remote paradise that is also one of the world's most acutely threatened by rising seas.
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Kiribati is one of the most remote and extraordinary nations on earth, its territory a scattering of 33 low-lying coral atolls and reef islands spread across an immense expanse of the central Pacific straddling the equator and the international date line, so vast that the country spans all four hemispheres. Beyond the crowded capital, its outer atolls are the classic image of the remote Pacific: turquoise lagoons, palm-fringed white-sand islets, and traditional village life little changed for generations. Yet Kiribati is also, poignantly, one of the nations most acutely threatened by climate change and rising seas, its highest points just metres above the ocean, giving a visit a powerful sense of a precious, precarious world.
What you actually see
- The turquoise lagoons - the atoll lagoons and palm-fringed islets.
- The village life - the traditional life of the outer atolls.
- The remote islands - the far-flung, unspoilt outer atolls.
- The precarious setting - the low islands on the climate front line.
When to go
April to October tends to offer good conditions, though Kiribati is warm year-round; the outer atolls are reached by infrequent flights and boats from Tarawa, so trips require careful planning around limited schedules. The remote islands reward the adventurous with unspoilt Pacific scenery and traditional life.
Honest expectations
Kiribati is among the least-visited nations on earth, extraordinarily remote and undeveloped, with very basic facilities and infrequent, unreliable transport to the scattered outer atolls, so it suits only the most adventurous and patient travellers; the nation is also acutely threatened by rising seas, a sobering reality of any visit. For the reward of some of the most remote and unspoilt atolls in the Pacific, with turquoise lagoons and traditional village life, and a poignant encounter with a nation on the climate front line, though, Kiribati is genuinely remarkable.
Nearby
The capital Tarawa and the distant Line Islands are reached by air and boat.
What to pack for The Atolls and Rising Seas
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
