Not to miss

Mejit Island

Mejit is a single, tiny coral island with a population of about 450 people. It's a beautiful island of lush taro patches and an abundance of coconut, breadfruit and pandanus trees. Mejit has a small freshwater lake, a rarity in the Marshalls, that makes for a lovely (if algae-ful) swim.

Arno Atoll

Arno is the closest atoll to Majuro, just 15km (9 mi) away. It has 133 islands, two airstrips and nearly 1700 people. The Longar area is famous for its 'love school', where young women were once taught how to perfect their sexual techniques.

The waters off Longar Point are known for superb deep-sea fishing; marlin, yellowfin tuna, mahi-mahi and sailfish abound. About 4500kg (10,000lbs) of tuna and reef fish caught nearby are sold on Majuro each month, thanks in part to a Japanese-funded upgrade of the islands' fishing industry.

Laura

If the heady pace of Marshall Island life is getting too much take a very pleasant drive along the palm-lined road to Laura. Found at the far western end of Majuro, Laura is famed for its quiet beaches. Pick up a picnic and spend the day lolling on the gorgeous white-sand beach and snorkelling on the shallow reef, it shouldn't be too painful.

Like all Marshallese land it's privately owned, but it's open to the public for a small fee per person.

Alele Museum & Public Library

Next to the courthouse in Uliga is the Alele Museum & Public Library with small but good-quality exhibits of early Marshallese culture, including stick charts, model canoes and shell tools. Stick charts were tools used by the Marshallese to help them memorise wave patterns, a key to success amongst the hundreds of low lying atolls.

Arno Atoll

Arno, with 133 islands, is the closest atoll to Majuro, just 14.5km (9mi) away and the only one served by regular public boats. The Longar area in Arno is famous for its 'love school' where young women were once taught how to perfect their sexual techniques. The waters off Longar Point are known for superb deep-sea fishing, where yellowfin tuna, marlin, mahi-mahi and sailfish abound.