You can now fly to the island paradise of Palau in just 5 hours

Imagine a place where crystal-clear waters meet lush green landscapes with coral reefs teem and vibrant marine life. Welcome to the idyllic archipelago of Palau, a remote destination of such astonishing natural beauty that it is often referred to as the “underwater Serengeti” for its mind-boggling marine diversity.

Until recently, going to Palau from Singapore required an arduous journey with at least two transit stops. However, a newly launched direct flight between Singapore and Koror, Palau has changed that. Visiting this destination, featured on Lonely Planet's Top Sustainable Travel Destinations list for 2024, is now just a mere five-hour plane ride away.

Alii Palau Airlines and Changi Airport Group have announced a new route directly connecting Singapore to Koror, Palau, which will be operated by Royal Bhutan Airlines (Drukair), the national carrier of the Royal Government of Bhutan.

“Alii Palau Airlines is delighted to introduce a new era of convenience with our direct flight, effectively opening the gateway to paradise. We firmly believe that this new route will be a gamechanger for those who were previously deterred by long flight durations,” said Alii Palau Airlines managing partner, Akanksha Johri.

“With our non-stop route from Singapore to Palau, this pristine paradise becomes effortlessly accessible from any corner of the world, facilitated by the unparalleled connectivity of Singapore Changi Airport.”

The Drukair Airbus A320neo aircraft, with 120 economy class seats and 20 business class seats, will fly from Bhutan to Changi Airport and then on to Palau. The inaugural commercial flight begins on Nov 23 and will operate once a week on Thursdays until Dec 20. From Dec 21, flights will be increased to twice weekly on Thursday and Sunday.

Located in the western Pacific, Palau comprises about 340 islands, islets and atolls, of which just eight islands are inhabited. With a population of about 18,000 people, the country is serious about protecting its natural environment. For instance, in 2020 Palau became the first country to ban sunscreen that is known or suspected to be reef-toxic and only mineral sunscreens that exclusively list zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide as their active ingredients are permitted.

After all, the island nation sits at the convergence of three large ocean currents, resulting in a nutrient-rich environment where an abundance of marine life, including turtles, sharks, manta rays and fish of all sorts thrive. It is estimated that there are about four times the number of coral species in Palau compared to the Caribbean.

Some of the high-end resorts in Palau include Palau Royal Resort and Cove Resort Palau. Divers will also enjoy liveaboard arrangements on ships for easier access to dive sites. For instance, the Four Seasons Explorer is a catamaran that bills itself as a floating luxury resort with varying cruise routes for maximum flexibility.

One of the top destinations in Palau is the UNESCO World Heritage site, Rock Islands, a collection of several hundred limestone formations. It is home to some of the most abundant marine life on the planet, making it a dream destination for scuba divers.

Other dive sites in Palau include various World War II era shipwrecks as well as the Ngemelis Wall. Also known as the Big Drop-Off, this sheer vertical wall was described by oceanographer Jacques Cousteau as the best wall dive in the world.

Travellers are already showing interest in Palau as their next vacation destination. Francis Lee, general manager of travel agency SoulTrips.co, said: “The new direct flights from Singapore to Palau are definitely what some 200,000 divers in Singapore have been looking forward to and we have seen a flurry of inquiries since the announcement.”

“This new route from Singapore to Palau is not just about convenience ‒ it is about the prospect of discovering an unspoiled jewel in the Pacific Ocean, an opportunity for travellers to embark on an authentic transformative trip.”