100% customisable travel idea
Alone in Polynesia Dream lagoons and a private catamaran cruise
Polynesia - Society Islands
The taste of true solitude
The intimacy of your accommodation
After a night on gentle Tahiti, in a hotel on the west coast, a short flight carries you to the beaches of Moorea, the butterfly island. Here, you check into a property set amid lush greenery - a small, intimate property with a distinctly Polynesian feel. Hereiti, a local guide, meets you and introduces you to an authentic side of her island. Next, set course for Taha’a, the vanilla island. Discreet and accessible only by boat, it remains largely untouched. Even more exclusive is your hotel, the sole occupant of a motu set at the edge of the lagoon. From here, you embark on a private tour of the Society Islands aboard a catamaran. Four days of sailing lead you to the final destination: the legendary Bora Bora. You have reached the end of your escape to the edge of the globe. Phones have long since run out of battery; fully disconnected, you're no longer keeping track of either calendar or map. All the better - that is the very purpose of this journey. And should an unexpected event or last-minute idea arise along the way, our on-site concierge will assist you with professionalism.Private cruise in the Society Islands
Polynesia is aquatic by nature; land exists merely to anchor it. It was by sea that the Maohi people arrived, navigating by winds, currents and the migration of birds. They relied not on books, but on the names of the stars, sung as a celestial map passed down through generations. A cruise allows you to approach each island in turn by its most beautiful gateway: its lagoon. A catamaran is the ideal way to explore the Society Islands, avoiding repeated packing and unpacking or long waits at airports. Step aboard, raise the sails and glide towards these jewel-like islands resting on turquoise waters. A skipper handles navigation, while a hostess takes care of meals and daily logistics. At 40 feet (12 metres) long, the boat offers both comfort and privacy for each guest.
Itinerary
100% customisable for you
Reception at Papeete airport and private transfer to your hotel. Stay the night in the heart of unspoilt vegetation, along the magnificent Lafayette beach, facing Matavai Bay. The establishment is elegantly decorated and combines modernism and Polynesian architecture. While close to Papeete, you will be immersed in an exceptional tropical world, where you can enjoy the magnificent infinity pool and disconnect from the outside world. At the restaurant, local flavours and international classics offer a wide choice. Only one thing is mandatory: the view. The long hours spent flying are already a distant memory.
Optional - Wake up in your hotel in Papeete with a private yoga session.
Private transfer to the airport and flight to Moorea (approximately 15 minutes). Stay for three nights in a charming property on the west coast of the island. Nestled in a garden backed by the mountains, bungalows and villas share a beautiful space. With its beach directly overlooking the lagoon and its pontoon offering extraordinary views of the hinterland, your accommodation provides everything you need for a peaceful and rejuvenating stay.
The contrast between green and blue is most striking here: mountains, hiking and vegetation on one side; lagoon, diving and relaxation on the other. The island's gentle way of life has always inspired painters, sculptors, writers and poets.
On your itinerary - A private boat trip around the lagoon, surrounded by dolphins, sharks, rays and sea turtles. Keep your mask and snorkel handy! You'll see all this in the company of Hereiti, a native guide who loves her island's treasures. Keen to protect her environment, she also invites visitors to discuss Polynesian culture and way of life.
Things to do and experience - Enjoy mahi-mahi on the beach; watch traditional dance performances; go kayaking or cycling around the island; visit Tiki Village, which is dedicated to Polynesian culture, and the Agricultural College Opunohu, which is surrounded by pineapple plantations; visit the famous Cook and Opunohu bays for the panoramic views.
Already planned - You have a table booked at one of the best restaurants on the island.
Private transfer to Moorea airport and flight to Raiatea (approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes). From there, board a boat to Taha'a (approximately 45 minutes). As you approach the island, you will see the striking beauty of nature: a white sandy beach, the different shades of blue of the sea and the play of shadows in the coconut grove. Stay for three nights on a private motu in the middle of one of the archipelago's most beautiful lagoons. The beachfront villas are covered with pandanus leaves, the local thatch material. All the rooms feature honey-coloured Polynesian wood. The restaurant is hidden among the trees overlooking the lagoon, where meals are a joyous affair. The cuisine is inventive and inspired by fresh catches.
It is like a large water lily leaf floating on the sea. Taha'a preserves itself, and rightly so! If you are in too much of a hurry, you will miss it. You have to open all your senses, let yourself be lulled by the gentle sound of the waves, enjoy the caress of the water that seems to match the temperature of your skin and, above all, savour the scents and flavours. Taha'a deserves its nickname of Vanilla Island: most of Polynesian vanilla is produced here, on small-scale farms. You can take a few pods away with you that will bring you back there later.
Optional - Tour of Taha'a by bike.
Not to be missed - Take a stroll in the lagoon from your hotel. Set off from the beach with your mask and snorkel to discover the fabulous coral garden adjacent to your room. It is located on a small shallow channel that separates two motus. Beneath the crystal-clear water lies a multicoloured ecosystem: trumpetfish, white-striped damselfish and other tropical fish, corals and anemones.
Morning transfer by boat to the Apooiti marina on the island of Raiatea (approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes), then you will board a catamaran. You are now ready for four days of sailing among the untouched splendours of the Society Islands. First stop: Raiatea, one of the Society Islands, known as the sacred island. It was from here, via the sacred Te Ava Moa pass, that the Maohi navigators set out in their canoes to conquer the Pacific. Their precise point of departure: the great international marae (Polynesian temple) Taputapuatea in Opoa, the most important cultural site in the South Pacific. Raiatea takes travellers back to the epicentre of this culture, which is still deeply felt today. You then set off again for Taha'a and Fa'a'aha Bay, where the landscape dominates the ocean. Not far from there is the white sand of Motu Mahaea, a small uninhabited island in a lagoon that you are now familiar with. You can snorkel, relax and swim. Have dinner and spend a night on board.
Have breakfast on board. Those who wish to do so can then dive into the middle of a coral garden. As you drift with the current, you will see schools of butterflyfish, wrasses, clownfish and beautiful giant clams basking in the sun. In Apu Bay, you will then discover a pearl farm. You’ll have lunch on board, then set sail for the legendary island of Bora Bora. The breeze rustles the emerald palm trees, and the white sand reflects the dazzling sunlight. Have dinner and spend a night on board.
Bora Bora: is there a more evocative name? The most beautiful lagoon in the world, the jewel of the southern seas, the Pearl of the Pacific. There is no shortage of superlatives. Bora Bora embodies the ultimate dream holiday: an island surrounded by sublime shades of blue, a majestic coral reef, a string of motus and sumptuous beaches.
Have breakfast on board and sail to Povai Bay. You’ll then sail along the string of motus scattered across the lagoon. Time seems to stand still as you soak up as much beauty and peace as you can. Have dinner and spend a night on board.
Optional - A private kitesurfing lesson; rental of an electric vehicle on the island of Bora Bora.
Have one last breakfast on board and then sail to Motu Piti. Enjoy one last glimpse of the underwater splendours before disembarking at the quay in the village of Bora Bora at the end of the morning. Transfer to the airport and flight to Papeete. You will be welcomed at Tahiti airport and provided with assistance before taking an international return flight. Spend the night on board and arrive the next day.
À la carte
This suggested itinerary can be customisable down to the smallest detail, including duration, stops and content. An à la carte menu of experiences is also available to create a journey that reflects who you are.
Private yoga session
Yoga helps guide you along the path towards harmony between body and mind, bringing energy, well-being and ease. It is an inner journey unique to each individual, travelled through posture and breath. Your instructor delivers a session adapted to all levels - a lovely treat to yourself on arrival in Papeete, easing you gently into the rhythm after a long journey.Taha'a by bike
Exploring the vanilla island by bike is a wonderful way to awaken the senses. The route is dotted with fascinating stops: a rum distillery, a pearl farm and the Vanilla Valley. At the end of the ride, a delicious lunch is served with your feet in the sand.Riding the wind in Bora Bora
Kitesurfing lets you glide, fly and play while discovering the lagoon in an environmentally respectful way - silent and pollution-free. Led by a qualified instructor, this session offers a safe introduction to the sport, with the first sensations of pull in the water and your first starts on the board coming quickly.Bora Bora by electric vehicle
Bora Bora is the postcard image of Polynesia, with its turquoise-blue lagoon and overwater bungalows. But the island also deserves to be discovered differently, to be appreciated from within. You travel between villages, marae and lush landscapes at the wheel of an electric vehicle, setting your own pace and, by gaining a little height, enjoying magnificent views over the bays and the iconic Mount Otemanu.
Why visit French Polynesia with Voyageurs du monde?
Every day, our travel specialists craft bespoke experiences shaped around each traveller's profile, desires and budget. These passionate experts design experiences delivered on the ground by a local network of Concierges and trusted contacts. These fully customisable, made-to-measure trips are complemented by a wide range of high-end services (lounges, 24/7 assistance, travel booklet, app, Wi-Fi, restaurant booking, etc.)
Let us create your tripA few of the advantages of travelling with us to French Polynesia
- Globally unique concierge service
- Wi-Fi: 1 GB/day included
- CO2 absorption
