The fifteen individual islands that make up this tiny archipelago, scattered across some 2.2 million square kilometres of the South Pacific Ocean, offer an exceptional diversity of Polynesian culture and tantalising scenic beauty. From pristine coral-sand beaches and sparkling azure waters, bold effervescent sunsets lighting the evening skies, to the gentle caress of trade winds brushing the palms that fringe its translucent lagoons — the Cook Islands embody everything you could ever imagine a tropical paradise to be.

Add to that mix a little ‘Island Style’ charm from the local populace – some of the world’s friendliest, most hospitable people – and you have the makings of an unforgettable holiday in one of the world’s most romantic and remote hideaways.

Southern Group

The islands of the Southern Group are easily reached through Rarotonga, the capital, where international visitors are greeted by the sweet scent of frangipani and the gentle ukulele sounds of ‘Papa’ Jake Numaga. For sheer splendour – towering mountains, lush greenery, aqua lagoons and white beaches rising from the Pacific – Rarotonga stands alone.

Just a 45-minute flight away, Aitutaki is home to one of the most breathtaking lagoons in the world. Condé Nast Traveller named Aitutaki’s One Foot Island among its top 30 beaches on the planet. Further afield, Atiu – the island of birds – rewards the curious traveller with jungle-draped trails, thundering reef breaks and a way of life that has changed little over centuries.

Northern Group

Close to the Equator, the Northern Group of the Cook Islands is remote, pristine and truly off the beaten track. These are among the last places on earth where you can explore in genuine solitude – reaching them is an adventure in itself, with only a handful of the islands served by small charter airstrips.

Manihiki, the ‘Island of Pearls’, is celebrated worldwide for its lustrous black pearls and offers intimate accommodation including meals. Its sister island, Rakahanga – a lagoon encircled by two islands and seven small motu – holds the distinction of being the first Cook Island to have a recorded European landing. A Spanish friar, Juan de Torquemada, was so struck by the islanders’ beauty that he named it Gente Hermosa: the Island of Beautiful People.

The northernmost island in the group, Penrhyn (Tongareva), lies some four hours by jet from Rarotonga. The largest atoll in the archipelago, its superb lagoon spans 233 sq km and remains one of the Pacific’s great untouched treasures.