{"id":100546,"date":"2026-11-04T13:55:17","date_gmt":"2026-11-04T13:55:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/?p=100546"},"modified":"2026-11-04T13:55:22","modified_gmt":"2026-11-04T13:55:22","slug":"pitcairn-island-supply-ship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/it\/pitcairn-island-supply-ship","title":{"rendered":"Pitcairn Island by Supply Ship: The Silver Supporter (2026)"},"content":{"rendered":"<head><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\n    \"@context\": \"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\n    \"@graph\": [\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"BlogPosting\",\n            \"headline\": \"Pitcairn Island by Supply Ship: The Silver Supporter (2026)\",\n            \"description\": \"How to get to Pitcairn Island in 2026: Air Tahiti to Mangareva, the MV Silver Supporter supply ship, fares, sailing dates, stays and what to do.\",\n            \"mainEntityOfPage\": \"https:\\\/\\\/cargoholidays.com\\\/pitcairn-island-supply-ship\",\n            \"image\": \"https:\\\/\\\/cargoholidays.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/11\\\/pitcairn-island-supply-ship-cargoholidays.jpg\",\n            \"datePublished\": \"2026-11-04\",\n            \"dateModified\": \"2026-11-04\",\n            \"inLanguage\": \"en-GB\",\n            \"author\": {\n                \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n                \"name\": \"CargoHolidays\"\n            },\n            \"publisher\": {\n                \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n                \"name\": \"CargoHolidays\",\n                \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/cargoholidays.com\"\n            }\n        },\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\n            \"mainEntity\": [\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n                    \"name\": \"How do you get to Pitcairn Island?\",\n                    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                        \"text\": \"Fly to Tahiti, take Air Tahiti&rsquo;s Tuesday flight to Mangareva in the Gambier Islands, then sail about 32 hours to Pitcairn on the island&rsquo;s supply ship, the MV Silver Supporter.\"\n                    }\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n                    \"name\": \"Is there an airport on Pitcairn Island?\",\n                    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                        \"text\": \"No. Pitcairn has no airstrip, and its small Bounty Bay landing only takes longboats, so ships anchor offshore.\"\n                    }\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n                    \"name\": \"How much does the Silver Supporter cost?\",\n                    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                        \"text\": \"A return berth from Mangareva costs about NZ$6,000 per person, including meals on board and the transfer ashore.\"\n                    }\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n                    \"name\": \"How long can you stay on Pitcairn?\",\n                    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                        \"text\": \"The schedule allows stays of about 4, 11 or 18 days. Four days, from Thursday to Sunday, is the most common.\"\n                    }\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n                    \"name\": \"How many people live on Pitcairn Island?\",\n                    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                        \"text\": \"Fewer than 50, most of them descendants of the HMS Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian companions.\"\n                    }\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n                    \"name\": \"Do you need a visa for Pitcairn?\",\n                    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                        \"text\": \"Short visits do not need a visa for most nationalities, but you must have a confirmed berth and accommodation, and follow the island&rsquo;s entry requirements.\"\n                    }\n                }\n            ]\n        },\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"VideoObject\",\n            \"name\": \"Life on Pitcairn Island &ndash; home of the descendants of the Bounty mutineers\",\n            \"description\": \"BBC Britain&rsquo;s Treasure Islands clip on life on Pitcairn Island.\",\n            \"thumbnailUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/i.ytimg.com\\\/vi\\\/vPZHzfRXzjA\\\/hqdefault.jpg\",\n            \"embedUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\\\/embed\\\/vPZHzfRXzjA\",\n            \"uploadDate\": \"2016-04-08\"\n        },\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"VideoObject\",\n            \"name\": \"Pitcairn (2025 short documentary)\",\n            \"description\": \"Short documentary on Pitcairn Island and its marine life.\",\n            \"thumbnailUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/i.ytimg.com\\\/vi\\\/bgrWyp_RinM\\\/hqdefault.jpg\",\n            \"embedUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\\\/embed\\\/bgrWyp_RinM\",\n            \"uploadDate\": \"2025-04-06\"\n        }\n    ]\n}<\/script>\n<\/head><div class=\"ch-post\"><p class=\"ch-updated\">Last updated: 4 November 2026<\/p>\n<p><strong>You get to Pitcairn Island on a supply ship.<\/strong> There is no airport, so visitors fly to Tahiti, take a weekly flight to Mangareva in French Polynesia, and then sail about 32 hours on the MV Silver Supporter, the island&rsquo;s chartered passenger and cargo vessel. It is one of the last places on Earth where the only regular way in is a working ship.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ch-key\"><strong>Quick answer<\/strong><ul><li>Gateway: Mangareva (Gambier Islands), via Tahiti<\/li><li>Ship: MV Silver Supporter, about 32 hours each way<\/li><li>Fare: about NZ$6,000 return per person<\/li><li>Typical stay: 4 days (Thursday to Sunday)<\/li><li>Population: fewer than 50 people<\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n<h2>Where Pitcairn is<\/h2>\n<p>Pitcairn is a 4.5 km&sup2; volcanic island in the South Pacific, around 540 km south-east of Mangareva and more than 2,000 km from Tahiti. It is the only inhabited island of the Pitcairn Islands, a British Overseas Territory that also includes Henderson, Ducie and Oeno. Its one village, Adamstown, is home to descendants of the HMS Bounty mutineers, who landed here in 1790 and burned their ship in what is now Bounty Bay.<\/p>\n<h2>The journey, step by step<\/h2>\n<ol><li><strong>Fly to Tahiti<\/strong> (Papeete), usually via Los Angeles, Auckland, Paris or Tokyo. Allow two or three nights there in case of delays.<\/li><li><strong>Take Air Tahiti&rsquo;s Tuesday flight to Mangareva.<\/strong> Ship departures are timed to match it, so book this flight before anything else.<\/li><li><strong>Cross the lagoon<\/strong> by shuttle boat to Rikitea village, where the Silver Supporter crew meets you at the wharf.<\/li><li><strong>Sail to Pitcairn.<\/strong> The ship leaves late on Tuesday afternoon and arrives around dawn on Thursday.<\/li><li><strong>Go ashore by longboat<\/strong> at Bounty Bay, then ride or walk up the Hill of Difficulty to Adamstown.<\/li><\/ol>\n<figure style=\"margin:1.6em 0\"><img src=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/pitcairn-island-supply-ship-v2-steps-infographic-cargoholidays.jpg\" alt=\"Infographic of the journey from Tahiti to Pitcairn Island\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"width:100%;height:auto;border-radius:12px;display:block\" title=\"Infographic of the journey from Tahiti to Pitcairn Island\"><figcaption style=\"font-size:.85em;color:#6b7280;margin-top:.45em;text-align:center\">From Tahiti to Pitcairn takes at least three days.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>About the MV Silver Supporter<\/h2>\n<p>The Silver Supporter is a small passenger and cargo vessel chartered by the Pitcairn Islands Government. Each quarter it loads supplies in Tauranga, New Zealand, sails to Pitcairn, and then shuttles back and forth to Mangareva with visitors and islanders, around 26 times a year. It sails at about 10 knots, and passengers share simple cabins and eat with the crew.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ch-table\"><table><thead><tr><th>Dettagli<\/th><th>Cosa aspettarsi<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Percorso<\/td><td>Mangareva (Rikitea) &#8644; Pitcairn; some voyages to or from New Zealand<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Crossing time<\/td><td>About 32 hours: two nights on board<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Departures<\/td><td>Usually Tuesdays, timed to the Air Tahiti flight<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Fare<\/td><td>About NZ$6,000 return, meals included<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Stays on Pitcairn<\/td><td>About 4, 11 or 18 days<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div>\n<figure style=\"margin:1.6em 0\"><img src=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/AdobeStock_311601159-1024x419.jpeg\" alt=\"Rugged volcanic coastline with turquoise water\" width=\"1024\" height=\"419\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"width:100%;height:auto;border-radius:12px;display:block\" title=\"Rugged volcanic coastline with turquoise water\"><figcaption style=\"font-size:.85em;color:#6b7280;margin-top:.45em;text-align:center\">Pitcairn has no harbour for ships: everything comes ashore by longboat.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3>Watch: life on Pitcairn Island<\/h3>\n<div class=\"ch-video\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/vPZHzfRXzjA\" title=\"Life on Pitcairn Island &ndash; home of the descendants of the Bounty mutineers\" loading=\"lazy\" allow=\"accelerometer; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n\n<h2>2026 sailing pattern<\/h2>\n<p>From September to December 2026 the Silver Supporter runs mostly weekly round trips from Mangareva, for example 8&ndash;15 September, 22&ndash;29 September and every Tuesday in October, with a break in November while it sails to New Zealand for cargo. A few voyages link Pitcairn with New Zealand, giving a one-way route between Mangareva and Auckland via the island.<\/p>\n<p><em>Check the current timetable with Pitcairn Islands Tourism before booking flights; dates move with weather and cargo.<\/em><\/p>\n<h2>What it costs<\/h2>\n<figure style=\"margin:1.6em 0\"><img src=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/pitcairn-island-supply-ship-costs-infographic-cargoholidays.jpg\" alt=\"Infographic of the typical costs of a trip to Pitcairn Island\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"width:100%;height:auto;border-radius:12px;display:block\" title=\"Infographic of the typical costs of a trip to Pitcairn Island\"><figcaption style=\"font-size:.85em;color:#6b7280;margin-top:.45em;text-align:center\">The ship fare is the biggest single cost.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Add international flights to Tahiti and two or three nights in Papeete. A four-day visit from Europe or the UK typically costs well over &pound;8,000 per person once everything is included, which is part of why fewer than a few hundred people visit each year.<\/p>\n<h2>What to do on Pitcairn<\/h2>\n<ul><li><strong>Bounty history:<\/strong> the museum in Adamstown holds Bounty relics, including the ship&rsquo;s Bible, and the wreck lies in Bounty Bay<\/li><li><strong>Christian&rsquo;s Cave:<\/strong> a steep climb to the cave where Fletcher Christian is said to have kept watch for ships<\/li><li><strong>Hiking:<\/strong> trails cross the whole island, which you can walk end to end in a day<\/li><li><strong>Swimming and snorkelling:<\/strong> at St Paul&rsquo;s Pool, a natural rock pool<\/li><li><strong>Pitcairn honey and crafts:<\/strong> carvings, woven baskets and stamps make unusual souvenirs<\/li><li><strong>Dark skies:<\/strong> there is almost no light pollution<\/li><\/ul>\n<figure style=\"margin:1.6em 0\"><img src=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/AdobeStock_299575058-1024x576.jpeg\" alt=\"Cargo ship crossing open ocean\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"width:100%;height:auto;border-radius:12px;display:block\" title=\"Cargo ship crossing open ocean\"><figcaption style=\"font-size:.85em;color:#6b7280;margin-top:.45em;text-align:center\">Supply ships are the only regular link between Pitcairn and the world.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3>Watch: Pitcairn&rsquo;s marine life and community<\/h3>\n<div class=\"ch-video\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/bgrWyp_RinM\" title=\"Pitcairn (2025 short documentary)\" loading=\"lazy\" allow=\"accelerometer; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n\n<h2>Where to stay<\/h2><p>There are no hotels on Pitcairn. Visitors stay in homestays or small guest lodges run by island families, usually with meals included, and hosts will ask for proof of your Silver Supporter berth before confirming. Pitcairn Islands Tourism matches visitors with hosts. Rooms are few, so book as soon as your berth is confirmed.<\/p><h2>Best time to visit<\/h2><div class=\"ch-table\"><table><thead><tr><th>Season<\/th><th>Months<\/th><th>Cosa aspettarsi<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Southern summer<\/td><td>Dec&ndash;Mar<\/td><td>Warm, humid, some heavy showers; Bounty Day on 23 January<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Autumn<\/td><td>Apr&ndash;May<\/td><td>Settled, comfortable for hiking<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Winter<\/td><td>Jun&ndash;Aug<\/td><td>Cooler, bigger swells, landings can be delayed; humpback whales pass by<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Spring<\/td><td>Sep&ndash;Nov<\/td><td>Most weekly Silver Supporter round trips in 2026<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div>\n<h2>Tips before you go<\/h2><ol><li><strong>Book in this order:<\/strong> Tuesday flight to Mangareva, then the ship, then your homestay.<\/li><li><strong>Bring New Zealand dollars:<\/strong> it is the island&rsquo;s currency and card use is very limited.<\/li><li><strong>Expect a wet landing:<\/strong> the longboat transfer can be lively in a swell.<\/li><li><strong>Get medical evacuation cover:<\/strong> serious cases take days to reach Tahiti. See our <a href=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/it\/assicurazione-di-viaggio-per-navi-da-carico\/\">travel insurance guide<\/a>.<\/li><li><strong>Take seasickness remedies<\/strong> for the open Pacific crossing; our <a href=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/it\/mal-di-mare-su-una-nave-da-carico\/\">Guida al mal di mare<\/a> explains what helps.<\/li><\/ol>\n<h2>Domande frequenti<\/h2><div class=\"ch-faq\"><h3>How do you get to Pitcairn Island?<\/h3><p>Fly to Tahiti, take Air Tahiti&rsquo;s Tuesday flight to Mangareva in the Gambier Islands, then sail about 32 hours to Pitcairn on the island&rsquo;s supply ship, the MV Silver Supporter.<\/p><h3>Is there an airport on Pitcairn Island?<\/h3><p>No. Pitcairn has no airstrip, and its small Bounty Bay landing only takes longboats, so ships anchor offshore.<\/p><h3>How much does the Silver Supporter cost?<\/h3><p>A return berth from Mangareva costs about NZ$6,000 per person, including meals on board and the transfer ashore.<\/p><h3>How long can you stay on Pitcairn?<\/h3><p>The schedule allows stays of about 4, 11 or 18 days. Four days, from Thursday to Sunday, is the most common.<\/p><h3>How many people live on Pitcairn Island?<\/h3><p>Fewer than 50, most of them descendants of the HMS Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian companions.<\/p><h3>Do you need a visa for Pitcairn?<\/h3><p>Short visits do not need a visa for most nationalities, but you must have a confirmed berth and accommodation, and follow the island&rsquo;s entry requirements.<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"ch-related\"><strong>Guide correlate<\/strong><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/it\/passenger-freighter-cruises\/\">Passenger-freighters you can book like a cruise<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/it\/how-to-get-to-tristan-da-cunha\/\">How to get to Tristan da Cunha by ship<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/it\/freighter-travel-from-papeete\/\">Freighter travel from Papeete<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/it\/transpacific-freighter-travel\/\">Transpacific freighter travel<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n<div class=\"ch-cta\"><strong>Cross the Pacific by cargo ship<\/strong><p>Want to reach the South Pacific without flying? Tell us your month and we&rsquo;ll check which freighters have a passenger cabin.<\/p><a class=\"ch-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/it\/richiedi-informazioni-su-una-crociera-con-trasporto-merci\/\">Richiedi un preventivo per il viaggio \u2192<\/a><\/div>\n<p class=\"ch-sources\"><em>Sources: Visit Pitcairn (Pitcairn Islands Tourism) shipping schedule 2026&ndash;2027; Wikivoyage Pitcairn Islands; Langsamreisen Silver Supporter guide; recent traveller cost reports. Checked November 2026.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<style>\n.ch-post{font-family:inherit;line-height:1.7;color:#1f2937;max-width:820px;margin:0 auto}\n.ch-post h2{font-size:1.6em;margin:1.8em 0 .6em;color:#0b2545;border-bottom:3px solid #f5a623;padding-bottom:.25em}\n.ch-post h3{font-size:1.15em;margin:1.4em 0 .3em;color:#0b2545}\n.ch-post p{margin:0 0 1em}\n.ch-post ul,.ch-post ol{margin:0 0 1.2em 1.3em}\n.ch-post li{margin:.35em 0}\n.ch-post .ch-updated{font-size:.9em;color:#6b7280;margin-bottom:1.2em}\n.ch-post .ch-key{background:#fff7e8;border-left:5px solid #f5a623;border-radius:10px;padding:1em 1.3em;margin:1.4em 0}\n.ch-post .ch-key strong{color:#0b2545;font-size:1.1em}\n.ch-post .ch-key ul{margin:.5em 0 0 1.2em}\n.ch-post .ch-table{overflow-x:auto;margin:1.2em 0 1.6em}\n.ch-post table{border-collapse:collapse;width:100%;font-size:.95em}\n.ch-post th{background:#0b2545;color:#fff;text-align:left;padding:.65em .8em}\n.ch-post td{padding:.6em .8em;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb;vertical-align:top}\n.ch-post tr:nth-child(even) td{background:#f6f8fb}\n.ch-post .ch-video{position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%;height:0;overflow:hidden;border-radius:12px;margin:1em 0 1.8em;background:#0b2545}\n.ch-post .ch-video iframe{position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;border:0}\n.ch-post .ch-faq{background:#f6f8fb;border-radius:12px;padding:1em 1.4em;margin:1em 0 2em}\n.ch-post .ch-faq h3{margin-top:1em}\n.ch-post .ch-related{border:1px solid #e5e7eb;border-radius:12px;padding:1em 1.4em;margin:1.5em 0}\n.ch-post .ch-related strong{color:#0b2545}\n.ch-post .ch-cta{background:linear-gradient(135deg,#0b2545,#13315c);color:#fff;border-radius:14px;padding:1.6em 1.8em;margin:2.2em 0;text-align:center}\n.ch-post .ch-cta strong{display:block;font-size:1.35em;margin-bottom:.4em;color:#fff}\n.ch-post .ch-cta p{color:#dbe4f0;margin:.2em 0 1.1em}\n.ch-post .ch-btn{display:inline-block;background:#f5a623;color:#0b2545 !important;font-weight:700;text-decoration:none;padding:.8em 1.6em;border-radius:999px}\n.ch-post .ch-btn:hover{background:#ffbb45}\n.ch-post .ch-sources{font-size:.85em}\n.ch-post em{color:#4b5563}\n<\/style>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Pitcairn has no airport: fly to Mangareva and sail 32 hours on the Silver Supporter. Fares, dates and tips.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":100543,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"single3.php","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[356,357],"tags":[1155,1944,1940,1945,1947,1946],"yst_prominent_words":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/100546"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=100546"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/100546\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":100567,"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/100546\/revisions\/100567"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/100543"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=100546"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=100546"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=100546"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=100546"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}