Post Tour Itinerary

30 Jul Tue (Day 1) DEPARTURE
Check in at the Fiji Airways counter in the International Terminal, Los Angeles Int’l Airport no later than 8:30PM for your 11:55PM. Meet your tour director at the departure gate.

31 Jul Wed (Day 2) ENROUTE
In-flight entertainment, friendly Fiji Air staff and breakfast pass the time pleasantly on this non-stop flight to Nadi, Fiji Islands. Cross International Dateline lose a day.  

1 Aug Thur (Day 3) ARRIVE GUADALCANAL
Arrive Nadi, Fiji Islands in the morning. Layover until departure on Niugini Airways at 8:30AM with arriving at historic "Henderson Field" by 10:30AM.  We transfer to our hotel for the next week, with time to settle in and refresh before orientation dinner. Hotel: Solomon Kitano Mendana (D—Dinner)

2 Aug Fri (Day 4) GUADALCANAL
Depart for American Memorial at Skyline Ride.  Orientation to the Western Battlefield Sites.  Depart for Mount Austen.  Orientation to the Eastern Battlefield Sites...Depart for Red Beach.  Orientation on amphibious assault operations.  Return to hotel. Meeting to discuss today and tomorrow events. 
(B-Breakfast)/D)

3 Aug Sat - (Day 5) GUADALCANAL
Depart for Alligator Creek (Tenaru River).  Orientation to the Battle of the Tenaru. To include Al Schmid’s position and his Navy Cross Award. Visit to Hell's Point Museum and Old Army and Navy Fleet Hospitals.  Depart for Henderson Field.  Orientation to airfield facilities to include Fighter 1 and Fighter 2 airstrips.  Return to hotel.  Discuss today and tomorrow events. (B/D)

4 Aug Sun – (Day 6) GUADALCANAL
Depart for Edson's Ridge (Bloody Ridge).  Orientation to the Ridge Battles in September and October, we will discuss Merritt Edson and Kenneth Baily's Medals of Honor Awards and hike to John Basilone's position and the events leading to his Medal of Honor Award.  Return to hotel.  Discuss today and tomorrow events. (Extensive walking in uneven terrain will be included in this all day event) (B/D)

5 Aug Mon - (Day 7) GUADALCANAL
Depart for Skyline Ridge.  Orientation to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Battles of the Matanikau River.  This portion of the tour will cover events in John Hershey's book INTO THE VALLEY as well as Mitch Paige's position and the events leading to his Medal of Honor Award.  Also, we will go to the site of the Goettge Patrol, Point Cruz Line, Douglas Monroe Memorial, Coast Watcher Memorial and Casemento Medal of Honor site and other west of Matanikau battle sites.  Return to hotel. Discuss today and tomorrow events.  (Moderate walks will be included in this program) (B/D) 

6 Aug Tue (Day 8) GUADALCANAL
Depart for Mount Austen.  Orientation to the U S Army battlefield sites critical to the U.S. offensive operations southwest of Henderson Field.  This will include discussion of James Jones book THE THIN RED LINE.   Visit Western Battle sites to include Kokumbona and Vilu War Museum.  Return to hotel.  (B/D)

7 Aug Wed (Day 8) GUADALCANAL
Today we commemorate the 82nd Anniversary of the Battle as we visit the American War Memorial, site of the wreath laying and remarks by the all the participating countries. (B/D)

8 Aug Thur (Day 9) GUADALCANAL
(B/D) Today we travel by boat to Tulagi to explore Haleta and Halavo where elements of the 2nd Marine Division first landed. We will also see "Beach Blue" where the 1st Raider Bn and 2nd Bn 5th Marines landed. We will then tour the battle sites on Tulagi as well as Gavutu and Tanambogo. (B/D)

9 Aug Fri - (Day 10) GUADALCANAL DEPARTURE
Leisurely morning check-out before our afternoon departure by air from Guadalcanal to Fiji.  Transfer to your flight back to the USA.  Cross the International Dateline and arrive back in Los Angeles (LAX) on the same afternoon (D provided on plane) or…Remain on Guadalcanal for further exploration or experience diving Iron Bottom Sound wrecks see website for itinerary!
(B)

Tarawa Daily Itinerary

(Day 1-2, Sat & Sun 30 – 31 Oct) Depart LAX
Depart Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) aboard an Fiji Airways flight (FJ811) at 11:30PM for Fiji.  Cross International Dateline and lose a day.  

(Day 3, Mon 1 Nov) Arrive FIJI/Transfer to TARAWA
4:40am Arrive Nadi, Fiji Islands. You have a short layover before your 7:30am departure from Nadi International Airport via FJ 231 for your three hour flight to the island of Tarawa.  Upon arrival, 11:00am we transfer to our hotel for lunch and check-in. Day free to enjoy the varied resort activities and relax after our flight. Meals: (L)

Hotel: George
The Restaurant is open air.  Nice Bar/Lounge. Each room has individually controlled air-conditioning units, private bathrooms and a refrigerator. Rooms are simple but adequate. 
 

(Day 4, Tue 2 Nov) TARAWA

Following breakfast, we head south along the causeway road to Betio, for our first view and orientation of the island. We have a full day walking  tour of the battlefield at Betio.  We begin our exploration with a walk out to the site of the main pier - the target for the initial landing by Lieutenants Hawkins  and Leslie and their combined assault platoon.  After lunch, we continue our walking tour with visits starting on the left flank and Red Beach 3 and the Burns-Philp Wharf, continuing west to Red Beach 1 & 2, and Green Beach. Overnight Hotel: George  Meals: (B & L)

(Day 5, Wed 3 Nov) TARAWA
After breakfast we continue with our walking tour making it the most comprehensive exploration of the island you could experience We explore each phase of the battlefield, visiting sites such as Admiral Shibasaki’s headquarters, the well-known 8-inch Vickers Guns on the “Bird’s Beak”, and the remains from the battle all over the island.  Overnight. Hotel: George Meals: (B & L)

(Day 6, Thur 4 Nov) Depart TARAWA
After a leisurely morning checkout we transfer to the airport for our 12:00pm departure via FJ 230. Arrive Nadi 3:00pm. Meals: (B)

For those heading home: Catch Fiji Airways FJ230 at 11:50am to arrive at LAX at 1:25pm same day.

For those heading on to Guadalcanal: 
Transfer to the airport to catch Solomons Airline (SA721) arriving at historic "Henderson Field" mid-morning. Note We join the tour on Day 2 but save two room nights on Fiji. We meet the main body group before transfering to our hotel for the next week, 
Hotel: Solomon Kitano Mendana

Extended Exploration of Guadalcanal Battlefields 8-15 Nov

Day 1: Mon 8 Nov – Today we travel by boat to Tulagi to explore Haleta and Halavo where elements of the 2nd Marine Division first landed. We will also see "Beach Blue" where the 1st Raider Bn and 2nd Bn 5th Marines landed. We will then tour the battle sites on Tulagi as well as Gavutu and Tanambogo.

Day 2: Tue 9 Nov - Today we will tour Tulagi Harbor by boat seeing a PT Boat Base, a japanese destroyer and the bow portion of an LST. We will then return to Guadalcanal. (B)

Day 3: Wed 10 Nov – Today is a walking tour of the 23rd & 25th Infantry Divisions and 2nd Marine Division’s efforts in the Battle of Mount Austen.

Day 4: Thur 11 Nov - Today is a walking tour of the Galloping Horse and the Sea Horse. This battle in the hills near the Matanikau River is famously depicted in James Jone’s book The Thin Red Line & two movies. This month-long battle was in Dec ‘42—Jan ‘43. (B)

Day 5: Fri 12 Nov – Today we do a detailed study of the Battle of the Sea Horse where the 35th Infantry Regiment fought (B)

Day 6: Sat 13 Nov - Today we will cover the eastern battle sights and the "Second Battle of The Ridge" where LtCol "Chesty Puller's 1st Battalion 7th Marines fought. (B) 

Day 7: Sun 14 Nov - Recovery Day 

Day 8: Sat 15 Nov - Depart on your afternoon departure from Guadalcanal to Fiji.  Transfer to your flight back to the USA.  Cross the International Dateline and arrive back in Los Angeles (LAX) on the same afternoon. (B) Note: To effectively particiapte in the post tour you should be able to hike 1/2 mile up steep and uneven slopes.