Palau trip from India: Rock Islands, Jellyfish Lake and diving
Plan Palau from India: flight routes via Manila, Taipei or Seoul, entry rules, the Pristine Paradise Environmental Fee, Rock Islands, best months and costs.
By the Agrima Holidays Team · Updated October 2026 · 3 min read
Why Palau
Palau is a small Pacific island nation east of the Philippines, known for clear water and strict protection of its reefs. The Rock Islands, hundreds of green limestone domes rising from turquoise lagoons, form a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Divers come for Blue Corner and the German Channel. Snorkellers and kayakers come for the lagoons. Few Indian travellers have been, which is part of the appeal.
Entry rules for Indians
Indian citizens receive a 30-day visa on arrival in Palau. Carry a passport valid for six months, a return ticket and hotel bookings.
Every visitor pays the Pristine Paradise Environmental Fee, collected with the airline ticket. Visitors to the Rock Islands also buy a permit, and a separate permit covers Jellyfish Lake when the lake is open. We include the permits in our quotes. Rules checked in October 2026.
Getting there from India
Palau has no flights from India. The usual routes:
- Through Manila on Philippine carriers
- Through Taipei on China Airlines
- Through Seoul on Korean carriers on some days
- Through Guam on United, which needs a US visa
Flight days are limited, so the trip length follows the schedule. Allow 12 to 18 hours of travel each way.
Rock Islands and Jellyfish Lake
A day boat trip through the Rock Islands is the core of every visit.
- Milky Way lagoon, where the white limestone mud makes the water glow pale blue
- Long Beach, a sandbar that appears at low tide
- Snorkel stops at coral gardens and giant clams
- Jellyfish Lake, where millions of golden jellyfish without a strong sting drift near the surface. The lake closes when jellyfish numbers fall, so check the status before you plan around it
Kayak tours through the quieter channels suit travellers who prefer the water to themselves.
Diving
Palau ranks among the top dive destinations in the world.
- Blue Corner: strong currents bring sharks, barracuda and turtles to a reef point
- German Channel: manta rays at cleaning stations
- Ulong Channel: a drift dive over coral
- Chandelier Cave: a cave dive near Koror
Currents are strong, so advanced certification helps. Non-divers book an introductory dive in calm sites.
On land
- Ngardmau waterfall on Babeldaob, a jungle walk to the tallest falls in Micronesia
- The Belau National Museum in Koror
- Stone monoliths at Badrulchau
- Japanese war relics on Peleliu, the scene of a major 1944 battle
Koror holds most hotels and restaurants.
When to go
- November to April: drier months with calmer seas, the best time
- May to October: wetter, with typhoon risk in the late months
Water stays near 28°C to 29°C all year.
How many nights
- 4 nights: two boat days and one land day
- 5 to 6 nights: three or four dive or snorkel days
- Combine with the Philippines or Taiwan to make the long flights worth more
What our trips cost
Our Palau packages are quoted on request because boat permits, dive days and flight schedules change the price more than the hotel does. Expect land costs above Maldives guesthouse level and below Maldives resort level. International flights are quoted at actual cost.
Practical tips
- The US dollar is the currency
- Bring reef-safe sunscreen. Palau bans sunscreens with harmful chemicals
- Do not touch coral or take shells
- Mobile data is limited. Hotels have Wi-Fi
- Get dive insurance if you dive
Share your dates and whether you dive. We send a plan with flight options within 24 hours on working days.
