Boutique hotels in Kiribati

Kiribati is a nation of 33 low coral atolls spread across an area of the Pacific as large as the United States, and it is among the first places on earth to see each new day. Its people, the I-Kiribati, are warm and welcoming, and life is simple: fishing, copra, thatched meeting houses and the sea. Tourism is tiny, and accommodation is a handful of lodges and guesthouses.

Tarawa

South Tarawa is the capital atoll, a crowded strip with a lagoon on one side and ocean on the other, WWII battlefields and the country's international airport. A small number of guesthouses and a bed-and-breakfast offer the main places to stay.

Kiritimati

Christmas Island, the largest coral atoll in the world by land area, is known for fly fishing on its bonefish flats and for birdlife. A small group of lodges in Ronton, London and Tabakea villages receive anglers, many on packages.

Abaiang

North of Tarawa, Abaiang is a quiet atoll of villages and white beaches, with a few thatched guesthouses.

Good to know

Flights are infrequent and expensive, and facilities are basic. Check official travel advice, confirm bookings directly with the host and carry cash. The islands are very exposed to sea-level rise.