Nan Madol, Pohnpei

Explore some of the South Pacific’s most dramatic archaeological sites on beautiful Pohnpei Island, home to an ancient civilisation that once flourished and then declined, well before western contact in the Pacific – perfect for an adventurous honeymoon holiday.

Things to do and see
Discover the sunken city of Nan Madol – often called ‘the Venice of the Pacific’, stroll around the ancient burial vaults and walls of Nan Douwas and try to imagine life as it was in the 12th century as you contemplate the burial mounds of Kosraean royalty on Lelu Island.

Micronesia boasts some of the most spectacular scenery in the South Pacific, where dense forests meet sandy shores on the edge of surrounding lagoons.

Make time to cruise among the thousands of tiny islands, go scuba diving, explore endless coves, trek into lush forests and experience a culture where men flaunt their loincloths and ancient stone money is still valued and used to indicate wealth and status.

Top attractions include:

Nan Madol
Often called ‘the Venice of the Pacific’, the sunken city of Nan Madol, which means ‘spaces between’, is a collection of awe-inspiring megalithic ruins that cover 80ha of coral reef along the shore of Temwen Island and the main island of Pohnpei.

Hike around the ancient stone ruins built on man-made islets linked by a network of shallow canals. Explore the massive walled compounds, temples, burial vaults, meeting houses, bathing areas, tunnels and ceremonial pools for turtles, fish and eels.

Constructed from prismatic basalt columns, some up to 7.5m in length (similar to those found at the famous Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland), Nan Madol was built during the Saudeleur dynasty in the 12th and 13th centuries and served as an elaborate residential and religious compound for Pohnpei’s ancient elite and their servants.

Wonder at the construction of the basalt ‘logs’ of Nan Douwas, the main structure at Nan Madol – an easy 15-minute hike from the capital, Kolonia. The best time to explore the site is either in the early morning or late afternoon, as the midday sun is brutally hot and shade is scarce.

Lelu Island
Stroll the coral-clad walkways of the ancient walled city of Insaru. Explore dwelling compounds, burial mounds and the impressive walls that stand 6m tall. The city was built by hand for Kosraean royalty from huge hexagonal basalt columns erected between the 13th and 14th centuries.

Look for the large sakau-pounding stone at the entrance to Insaru, which holds the pyramidal tombs of the kings. A massive walled causeway links the island with nearby Kosrae Island.

Menke
After a three-hour trek through the lush tropical rainforest to the centre of Kosrae Island, explore basalt walls, chambered living quarters and religious platforms where ancient Kosraens worshipped ‘Singlaku,’ the Goddess of Breadfruit.