Saipan & Tinian 2-Day Tour: Enola Gay Runway & Bomb Sites
The runway is still there, and so are the bomb pits: Tinian's role in World War II is harder to ignore when you stand on it.
A private 2-day tour of Saipan and Tinian with a local guide, hotel pickup and transport by private vehicle. Day 1 covers Saipan's historical and cultural sites. Day 2 focuses on Tinian, where you walk the actual runway the Enola Gay used for the Hiroshima and Nagasaki missions, see the bomb pits, view life-sized replicas of the atomic bombs, and visit Japanese-era structures and Chamorro cultural landmarks. The guide shares local knowledge, access to sites not on standard maps, and stories about life then and now on an island most visitors never reach.
More experiences you might like
Step-by-step itinerary
Explore Tinian historical sites
- Visit bomb pits
- Drive Enola Gay runway
- See North Field artifacts
- View atomic bomb replicas
- Tour village cultural sites
- Visit House of Taga
- See largest latte stone pillars
- Explore Shinto shrines
The experience
You arrive in Saipan with limited time and a question: is Tinian worth the trip? The answer is yes, and a guide makes the difference. Typhoons and time unearth sites that don't appear on maps. The bomb replicas sit on private property and most visitors never find them. A local guide who has written books about the islands knows the detours, the access points and the stories the guidebooks miss or get wrong. You get hotel pickup on Day 1, then return to Saipan that evening before heading back to Tinian on Day 2 for the full historical immersion.
Day 2 on Tinian is the core of the tour. You drive the actual runway (the one that was the busiest airfield in the entire war), and stand at the bomb pits where the Enola Gay and Bockscar were loaded. You see life-sized replicas of Fat Man and Little Boy, the two atomic bombs. The contrast hits hard: then a frenzy of activity and history-changing missions, now an eerily quiet piece of rock fading from memory. The guide takes you to the North Field, which holds Japanese and American artifacts from the war, then into the village to see the House of Taga (the legendary chief of the Chamorro people) and the largest latte stone pillars in existence, plus Shinto shrines that remain from the Japanese occupation.
The tour is private, so the pace and the stops are yours. The guide speaks English or Spanish, and the whole experience is built around the fact that few people ever make it here, which is exactly why the history matters and why a guide who knows the island is worth the trip.
What’s included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off on both days.
- private vehicle transport between Saipan and Tinian.
- local guide who speaks English or Spanish.
- access to historical sites including the Enola Gay runway, bomb pits, and life-sized bomb replicas.
- visits to Japanese-era structures and Chamorro cultural landmarks like the House of Taga and latte stone pillars.
Options for this experience
2 optionsYou pick the guide language when booking.
Before you book
Prices and times updated 14 days ago
Operated by Walt Goodridge
Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want a guide who knows which sites are off the standard map and has the access to reach them. The private format means you're not waiting for other groups or following a fixed schedule, and the guide's local knowledge turns a self-guided visit into a conversation with someone who has written books about the islands.
Traveler reviews
Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
Live guide in English and Spanish.
What exactly is on Tinian that makes it worth visiting?
Tinian is the airfield from which the Enola Gay took off on the Hiroshima and Nagasaki missions. You walk the actual runway, see the bomb pits where the weapons were loaded, view life-sized replicas of Fat Man and Little Boy, and visit Japanese-era structures and Chamorro cultural sites like the House of Taga and the largest latte stone pillars in existence. It's a place most visitors never reach, and the historical significance is hard to ignore when you stand there.
Why would I need a guide instead of going to Tinian on my own?
A guide has access to sites that don't appear on maps (typhoons and other activity unearth them regularly), and knows the private property where the bomb replicas are located. The guide also shares local lore, facts the books don't include or get wrong, and introduces you to locals who can share stories about life then and now. Maps won't reveal any of that, and many visitors aren't even aware the bomb replicas exist.
How long is this tour and what does each day involve?
The tour spans 2 days and takes about 6 hours total. Day 1 covers Saipan's historical and cultural sites with hotel pickup and drop-off. Day 2 focuses entirely on Tinian, where you drive the runway, see the bomb pits and bomb replicas, visit the North Field with its Japanese and American artifacts, and explore the village cultural sites.
Is this tour private or shared with other travelers?
This is a private tour, so you travel with your own guide and vehicle. The pace and stops are tailored to your interests, and you're not waiting for or traveling with other groups.
Saipan & Tinian 2-Day Tour: Enola Gay Runway & Bomb Sites
EN · ES
from US$ 1,150 per person
4.8715 reviewsVerified traveler reviews via our booking provider