National Park of American Samoa

The National Park of American Samoa is the most remote and least visited unit in the entire US National Park System, and that is precisely what makes it extraordinary. Spread across three volcanic islands in the South Pacific, Tutuila, Ofu and Ta'u, it protects paleotropical rainforest, coral reefs teeming with fish, and some of the last strongholds of flying foxes, the great fruit bats that drift over the canopy at dusk. This is the only American national park south of the equator.

A park shared with the people who live in it

Unusually, the land here is not owned outright by the government but leased from Samoan villages, and traditional life, the fa'a Samoa, continues within the park's boundaries. Steep, jungle-clad ridges plunge into a turquoise ocean, the reefs of Ofu are considered among the finest in the Pacific, and the culture is woven into every experience. For a UK family willing to travel to the far side of the world, this is a national park unlike any other: less about ticking off famous vistas, more about immersion in a living Polynesian landscape and a warmth of welcome that lingers long after you fly home.

You visit American Samoa to fall off the edge of the ordinary map. There are no crowds, no queues, no gift-shop bustle, just rainforest trails alive with birdsong, empty white beaches, and reefs where you can snorkel straight off the sand at Ofu into gardens of coral. You come to be hosted, quite literally, through the park's homestay programme, sleeping in a village, sharing meals, and learning the rhythms of Samoan life. Teenagers used to Wi-Fi and instant everything find something recalibrating here: the pace slows, the phone signal fades, and a walk to a hidden cove becomes the whole adventure. It is humbling, joyful and utterly unlike any other trip your family will take. Few places on Earth feel this untouched.

On the main island of Tutuila, a hire car or taxi gets you to the park's trailheads and the visitor center in Pago Pago, though the island is small and the local aiga bus (colourful, informal and cash-only) is an experience in itself. Distances are short but roads can be winding and narrow. The real complication is moving between the three park units: Tutuila, Ofu and Ta'u are separate islands, connected only by infrequent inter-island flights and boats that are weather-dependent and prone to cancellation. If you want to reach Ofu's famous beach, allow generous buffer days in your itinerary. Within any single island, walking and short drives cover most needs. Do not underestimate how much of your time here is spent simply getting from one island to the next.

Public transport on Tutuila consists of the aiga bus, privately owned open-sided buses that run informal routes and are cheap, cheerful and cash-only, though schedules are loose. There is no public transport between the islands beyond scheduled inter-island flights and boats. For a family of five, a hire car on Tutuila offers the most control over your days and luggage, supplemented by the occasional aiga bus ride for the cultural experience. Between islands, you are dependent on booked flights and boats, so arrange these well in advance rather than relying on turning up.

• Ofu Island has the park's dreamiest beach and reef but takes real effort to reach via inter-island flight or boat, so plan logistics well ahead.
• The park's village homestay programme is the single best way to experience Samoan culture, arrange it through the visitor center.
• Respect fa'a Samoa: dress modestly in villages, ask before photographing people, and observe Sunday as a quiet day of rest.
• Bring reef-safe sunscreen, plenty of insect repellent and rehydration salts; the tropics are unforgiving.
• The Mount Alava trail on Tutuila delivers big ridge views but is steep and often muddy.
• Cash is useful, as card facilities are limited outside the main town of Pago Pago.
• Check the cyclone season before booking travel dates.

American Samoa has a hot, humid tropical climate year-round, with temperatures consistently warm and little seasonal variation in heat. The wet season (roughly November to April) brings frequent heavy downpours and the risk of tropical cyclones, while the drier season (May to September) is more settled and comfortable. Rain can fall at any time. Pack lightweight, quick-drying clothing, a good rain jacket, reef-safe sunscreen, strong insect repellent and sturdy sandals or water shoes for reef walking. Modest cover-ups are essential for visiting villages. Stay hydrated, as the humidity is intense.

Reaching American Samoa is a genuine expedition, and half the adventure. There are no direct flights from the UK; the standard route is a long-haul flight to the US West Coast or straight to Honolulu (HNL), then an onward flight to Pago Pago International Airport (PPG) on Tutuila, which operates only a few times a week. Budget a full day or more in transit each way, and build in a Honolulu overnight to break the journey and adjust to the time zone, something teenagers (and parents) will thank you for. From Pago Pago airport, the park's Tutuila section is a short drive, but reaching the Ofu and Ta'u units requires further small-plane flights or boats that need advance arrangement. This is not a spontaneous trip; plan the whole chain of connections carefully before you commit.