NASA Johnson Space Center · Public domainTokelau
“Three atolls, no airstrip, and the first territory to run entirely on solar power.”
Tokelau is three coral atolls — Atafu, Nukunonu and Fakaofo — with about 1,500 people, a total land area of twelve square kilometres and no airstrip on any of them. The only way in is the MV Mataliki from Apia in Samoa, roughly 24 hours each way, running every couple of weeks. That schedule, plus a permit requirement, means visitor numbers are counted in dozens per year.
In 2012 Tokelau became the first territory in the world to meet essentially all its electricity needs from solar power, replacing diesel generators across all three atolls. It is a non-self-governing territory of New Zealand, whose citizenship Tokelauans hold, and it has twice voted narrowly against self-government. There is no hotel: visitors stay with families, arranged in advance, and the reason to come is to see one of the most isolated functioning communities on earth.
Highlights
The solar transition
In 2012 all three atolls switched from diesel generators to solar arrays with battery storage, making Tokelau the first territory to run on essentially 100% renewable electricity. The arrays are visible on every islet.
Fakaofo
The southernmost atoll, with the historic islet of Fale where the population once lived densely on a few hectares, and the coral slab of Tui Tokelau still standing.
The village-based life
Each atoll is run by a Taupulega council of elders, with communal fishing, inati sharing of the catch and a rhythm that has very little to do with the outside world.
The lagoon reefs
Almost never dived or fished commercially — the atolls sit within a large protected area and the reef fish and shark populations reflect it.
Entry requirements for Tokelau
Checking your passport…
We don't hold entry details for this passport group yet.
Before you fly
The detail
- Passport validity
- Most destinations want validity beyond your stay, and some want six months. Check yours against the return date.
- Onward travel
- Airlines may ask for a return or onward ticket at check-in.
- Health
- Each atoll has a small health centre with basic capability. Anything serious means evacuation to Samoa or New Zealand, arranged by ship or charter and measured in days. Comprehensive insurance is essential.
- Money
- New Zealand dollar, cash only. No banks, no ATMs, no card acceptance anywhere. Bring everything you need for the whole trip.
When to go
BestMay–Oct.
Dry season; calmer seas for the crossing.
The band above each month is our editorial verdict - it weighs crowds, prices and access as well as weather. The line is average daily temperature, the bars are monthly rainfall. Select a month for the figures. Climate figures: ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2005–2024 normals.
What it costs
A day in Tokelau
Comfortable · sample day
≈ $103
Line items are real prices we track. The daily budget is an editorial estimate for this level, not their sum.
Where this sits among 244 countries we have costed
The sailing schedule governs everything. There is no commercial tourism market and therefore no seasonal pricing at all.
Updated Aug 2026 · Editorial synthesis — Tokelau Apia Liaison Office information and shipping schedule (2025–2026) · confidence low
Excludes international flights - they depend on where you fly from.
Regions to know
5Atafu
The northernmost and smallest atoll, with a single village and a closed lagoon.
Nukunonu
The largest atoll by land area, with a lagoon passage, a causeway between islets and a Catholic majority.
Fakaofo
The southernmost atoll, the historic islet of Fale and the Tui Tokelau coral monument.
The lagoons
Enclosed reef systems, almost never fished commercially, with reef sharks and healthy coral.
Swains Island
An atoll geographically part of the group but administered by American Samoa — a long-standing Tokelauan claim.
Practical guide
Getting there
The MV Mataliki from Apia, Samoa, roughly fortnightly, about 24 hours each way. That is the only route. A long-discussed airstrip has never been built.
Getting around
Each atoll is walkable end to end. Small boats cross the lagoons and connect islets. The ship calls at all three atolls in sequence, so moving between them means fitting the sailing.
Money & costs
New Zealand dollar, cash only. No banks, no ATMs, no card acceptance anywhere. Bring everything you need for the whole trip.
Safety
No crime of any consequence. The hazards are the sea crossing, the lagoon passes and the total absence of emergency services — a serious injury means waiting for the ship or a chartered evacuation.
Health
Each atoll has a small health centre with basic capability. Anything serious means evacuation to Samoa or New Zealand, arranged by ship or charter and measured in days. Comprehensive insurance is essential.
SIM & internet
Satellite-based internet reaches each atoll with limited bandwidth. Mobile coverage is minimal. The .tk domain, once given away free and used worldwide, was among the territory's few external revenue streams.
Driving
There are a handful of motorbikes and small utility vehicles on tracks a few hundred metres long. Everyone walks. There is no vehicle hire of any kind.
Rules change - verify with an official source before you rent.
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TokelauFrequently asked questions
How do I get there?
The MV Mataliki sails from Apia in Samoa, about 24 hours each way, roughly every two weeks. There is no airstrip. Your visit length is set entirely by the sailing schedule, and rough seas can delay it. Book the voyage before anything else.
Do I need permission?
Yes. Visitors need approval from the Council of Elders of the atoll they intend to visit, arranged in advance through the Tokelau Apia Liaison Office, together with a confirmed home stay. Turning up without it is not an option, since the ship will not carry you.
What should I bring?
Cash in New Zealand dollars — there is no bank, no ATM and no card acceptance. Any medication you need. A gift for your host family. Anything you cannot buy in a village shop with limited stock, which is most things.