Play in the warm waters of the Cook Islands | Photo credit: Kirklandphotos
Take a wander around Punanga Nui Market | Photo credit: Kirklandphotos
Spot clownfish, parrotfish and colourful wrasse | Photo credit: Zhang da Qiang
Aitutaki is the island of your dreams with long white beaches around a turquoise lagoon | Photo credit: Kirklandphotos
Explore the lush interior of Rarotonga | Photo credit: Kirklandphotos
Is there a better place to learn to kayak?!
Find your favourite animals at the San Diego Zoo
Play on the beautiful beaches of La Jolla
Enjoy some family fun in California and on the beach with our Cook Islands family holiday. Beginning in Los Angeles you’ll be based in Anaheim, so you’re perfectly located to explore Disneyland, from rollercoasters to the magical parade. Drive over to San Diego and visit the zoo and indulge in some play time at the beach before flying to the Cook Islands for a week in paradise. Discover lush Rarotonga, learn about island life and wander the pretty beaches before flying to Aitutaki - an island lagoon of turquoise waters where your family can snorkel with turtles and colourful fish!
This Cook Islands holiday can be tailored to suit your requirements please contact one of our consultants to start planning your dream trip.
Depart the UK from your chosen airport. You will arrive in Los Angeles later the same day – on arrival you will pick up your hire car from the airport and drive to your hotel in Anaheim, where you will check in for three nights.
Two days in Anaheim is plenty of time to explore Disneyland, “The happiest place on earth”. Kids will love the rides, from Space Mountain to Pirates of the Caribbean, as well as the famous parade where they can meet Cinderella, Snow White and Goofy. We’ve included a 2-day Disneyland Hopper Ticket which means you can hop between the 2 parks throughout your time here as well as making use of the Disney Fastpass system, which allows you to reserve your place in line to minimise queuing.
If you have any energy left after a day at Disney, catch an ice hockey game with the Anaheim Ducks or grab dinner in nearby Long Beach.
Leaving Mickey and Minnie behind, today you’ll drive south to San Diego to enjoy a few days at the beach. Its only around 1.5 hours’ drive so take it slow and stop at a couple of beachside communities on the way down. Our favourites are Laguna Beach and Oceanside, where Spanish style buildings sit by the waves under the swaying palm trees. Arriving in San Diego you’ll check into your hotel for 3 nights.
San Diego is the perfect destination for families, with brilliant beaches and exciting activities to keep your kids busy all day. We’ve included admission to the San Diego Zoo so make sure you take your time exploring. Stay warm in the Northern Frontier area where polar bears, elk and arctic foxes can be seen before experiencing cute koalas in the Australian Outback and colourful toucans in the aviary. It’s a wonderful family day out so why not spend the whole day there before a day of relaxation on the beach where the children can try snorkelling and just mess around on the golden sands.
On your final day in the USA, take one final stroll along the San Diego boardwalk before driving back to Los Angeles Airport where you’ll drop off your hire car in time to catch your overnight flight to the Rarotonga in Cook Islands.
On arrival in the Cook Islands you will be met at the airport and driven to your hotel, where you will check in for three nights.
Spend your time in Rarotonga walking along the white sands of Muri Beach, grabbing a lunch of fresh pork at Punanga Nui Market before hopping on a moped to explore the island. Exploring inland will give you a glimpse into the Cook Islanders way of life before enjoying a seafood dinner on the beach as the sun sets into the ocean
It’s up to you how you want to spend your days here – why not join ‘Pa’ on one of his nature or cross island walks? A total character, Pa is famous in the Cooks for his beliefs in natural medicine. He can walk you around some of the interior forest and offer remedies to any ailment (rub chilli on a bite for example!) or he can take you on the cross island walk where you'll get spectacular views of the island from its peak and enjoy a swim in the cool waters of Wigmores Waterfall. We can book you a tour with him – just ask!
After breakfast you will be driven back to the airport for your short flight to Aitutaki, another of the Cook Islands. On arrival you’ll be taken to your hotel, where you’ll check in for three nights in paradise.
Aitutaki is the island of your dreams with long white beaches around a turquoise lagoon and a laid-back attitude to life. Look for turtles cruising through the clear water and go snorkelling where you’ll spot clownfish, parrotfish and colourful wrasse. We’d recommend a visit to One Foot Island, where you can get your passport stamped in the only post office on an uninhabited island! Your time here will fly by so sit back and relax with your family as you enjoy the tranquillity and solitude of Aitutaki.
After breakfast you’ll be taken back to the airport for your flight home. You flight will cross the date line on your way back so you’ll arrive home two days later.
Southern California enjoys mild winters with a little rain on the coast and dry cold nights inland. The summer brings a rise in heat, tourist numbers and prices but rain is rare so it’s perfect if you’re looking for consistently sunny weather.
The Cook Islands are a great year round destination with temperatures ranging between 18c and 28c in the winter (October to May) and 21c to 29c in the summer (November to April). The Cooks has a pleasantly even climate year round with no real weather excesses, although it can rain often thanks to its high inland mountains. The best time of year to visit is around September/October when you will find warm temperatures and low humidity, also March/April when the weather is generally fine and sunny.
This itinerary is purely a suggestion, and can be tailor-made to your requirements, so please contact us with your dates and requests and we’ll put together a bespoke quotation for you.
12 nights in 3*/4* standard accommodation.
Hotels in this category include:
