Discover the Marshall Islands: plan a stay in Majuro

Twenty-nine atolls and five islands set just a few metres above the ocean: the Marshall Islands welcome few visitors, who come for the lagoons, the culture of Marshallese navigators and a history marked by the nuclear tests at Bikini.

What is there to see in the Marshall Islands?

The Marshall Islands, in northern Oceania, are mostly visited from Majuro, the capital, and neighbouring Arno atoll. The country is known for its stick navigation charts and for Bikini atoll, the site of US nuclear tests from 1946 to 1958, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010.

What to discover in the Marshall Islands?

Majuro, a capital on an atoll

Majuro stretches along a narrow strip of land, often only a few hundred metres wide, served by a single road of about 50 kilometres between the Rita district in the east and Laura in the west. The town centre holds hotels, government offices and the Alele Museum. Two to three days are enough to travel the atoll by very cheap shared taxi, swim at Laura and visit the traditional canoe workshop. Spring high tides sometimes flood the road.

Arno and the outer atolls

Arno, the closest atoll to Majuro, is reached by boat in one to two hours depending on the sea. It offers quiet villages, empty beaches and a few very basic lodgings, to be booked in advance through Majuro. The other atolls, served by a small domestic airline with irregular schedules, require several spare days. The trip can continue to Kiribati, another atoll nation of the central Pacific.

Bikini and Kwajalein, a legacy of history

Between 1946 and 1958, the United States carried out 67 nuclear tests in the Marshall Islands, mainly at Bikini and Enewetak. Bikini atoll, uninhabited since its population was evacuated, remains almost inaccessible and dive expeditions to its sunken fleet have become exceptional. Kwajalein hosts a US military base with restricted access. Majuro's Alele Museum is the best place to understand this history, in an hour's visit.

Cities to visit in Îles Marshall

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Not to miss in the Marshall Islands

Three essential stops for a first stay centred on Majuro.

Laura beach

A palm-shaded beach at the western tip of Majuro atoll, the most pleasant spot to swim in the lagoon, especially at weekends.

Alele Museum

A small Majuro museum devoted to stick navigation charts, Marshallese crafts and the history of the nuclear tests.

WAM canoe workshop

A Majuro programme training young people to build and sail traditional outrigger canoes, open to visitors on request.

Frequently asked questions

Can you visit Bikini atoll?
In practice, only with great difficulty: the atoll is uninhabited, far from Majuro, and dive expeditions to the ships sunk during the tests have become exceptional. Travellers interested in this history usually head to the Alele Museum in Majuro instead.
How do you get from Majuro to Arno atoll?
By boat, in one to two hours depending on the sea, arranged from Majuro with an Arno lodging or a local boat owner. Crossings are cancelled in bad weather, so leave a buffer before your international flight.
How many days should you spend in the Marshall Islands?
Four to five days are enough for Majuro and a trip to Arno. The Island Hopper schedule, a few flights a week, often dictates the length of the stay, so build your trip around those flight days.
Are the Marshall Islands threatened by rising seas?
Yes, most land rises only a few metres above sea level, and king tides already regularly flood parts of Majuro. This vulnerability has made the country one of the most active voices in international climate negotiations.
What can you combine with the Marshall Islands in the Pacific?
The Island Hopper flight also serves Kosrae, Pohnpei and Chuuk, so you can continue to neighbouring Micronesia and then Guam. It is the simplest combination for a first trip to the North Pacific.

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