Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1 Arrival in Tahiti — welcome to Polynesia
Morning Arrivée à l'aéroport de Faa'a et transfert à l'hôtel
Land at Faa'a International Airport, the gateway to French Polynesia. A tiare flower lei welcomes you. Transfer to your hotel in Papeete for a first glimpse of Tahiti's lush mountains meeting the Pacific.
Afternoon Marché de Papeete et front de mer
Dive into the vibrant Papeete Market — two floors of vanilla, monoi oil, black pearls, pareos, and exotic fruits. Stroll along the renovated waterfront with views of Moorea across the channel.
Evening Dîner aux roulottes de la Place Vai'ete
Dinner at the famous roulottes (food trucks) of Place Vai'ete. Locals and visitors mingle over grilled fish, chao mein, and crêpes at affordable prices, with ocean breezes and port views.
Day 2 Inner Tahiti — waterfalls and sacred valleys
Morning Randonnée aux trois cascades de Faarumai
Hike to the three Faarumai waterfalls on Tahiti's east coast. Vaimahuta, the main fall, drops 80 meters into a natural pool surrounded by lush tropical vegetation. The two hidden falls require a jungle trail through bamboo forest.
Afternoon Pointe Vénus et plage de sable noir
Visit Point Venus, where Captain Cook observed the transit of Venus in 1769. The white lighthouse overlooks a stunning black sand beach lined with ironwood trees. One of Tahiti's best swimming spots thanks to the reef pass.
Evening Spectacle de danse polynésienne et dîner tahitien
Attend a traditional Polynesian dance show at a resort or Tiki Village. Dancers in plant-fiber costumes perform the tamure to thundering drums. The accompanying Tahitian buffet features ahima'a roast pork, poisson cru, and coconut desserts.
Day 3 Crossing to Moorea — the magical sister island
Morning Ferry vers Moorea et installation
Board the ferry to Moorea for a stunning 30-minute crossing. The approach reveals the twin bays of Cook and Opunohu framed by the jagged peak of Mount Rotui (899m). Moorea's dramatic volcanic landscape is even more striking than Tahiti's.
Afternoon Tour de l'île et belvédère d'Opunohu
Drive around Moorea and climb to the Opunohu Valley viewpoint for one of Polynesia's most stunning panoramas: both bays flanking Mount Rotui with the turquoise reef below. Stop at the Agricultural School for fresh juice and homemade jams.
Evening Dîner les pieds dans le sable à la baie de Cook
Romantic dinner by Cook's Bay. Moorea's small restaurants serve fresh local cuisine in intimate settings. Watch the sunset paint the mountains gold as the lagoon shifts from turquoise to amber.
Day 4 Moorea — swimming with rays and sharks
Morning Excursion lagon — raies et requins à pointe noire
Board an outrigger canoe for a lagoon tour. Swim with stingrays in shallow water — they glide against you like marine cats. Then snorkel with blacktip reef sharks, impressive but harmless, patrolling the crystal-clear waters.
Afternoon Plage de Temae et snorkeling
Relax at Temae Beach, Moorea's most beautiful public beach. White sand meets an impossibly clear turquoise lagoon. Snorkeling from the shore is exceptional: butterfly fish, parrotfish, and colorful coral just meters from the sand. Tahiti looms across the channel.
Evening Cocktails au coucher de soleil au Hilton Moorea
End the day with sunset cocktails at the Hilton Moorea bar. The resort, nestled between both bays, offers panoramic views of the lagoon and mountains glowing in the evening light. An icy Mai Tai is the perfect companion.
Day 5 Moorea — mountain trails and Polynesian culture
Morning Randonnée au col des Trois Cocotiers
Hike the Three Coconut Trees Pass, one of Moorea's most iconic trails. This moderate trek through dense tropical forest reaches a col with 360° views of both bays, the lagoon, and the open ocean. On clear days, you can see Tahiti in the distance.
Afternoon Visite du Tiki Village et artisanat polynésien
Visit Tiki Village, a reconstructed traditional village where Polynesian artisans preserve ancestral skills. Watch volcanic stone tiki carving, pandanus weaving, monoi preparation, and traditional ma'a tahiti earth-oven cooking. An authentic cultural immersion.
Evening Dîner de poisson frais au bord du lagon
Enjoy freshly caught fish at a local Moorea restaurant. Red tuna, mahi-mahi, and bonito are served grilled, as carpaccio, or as poisson cru in coconut milk. The relaxed atmosphere of small Polynesian eateries, barefoot in the sand, is pure bliss.
Day 6 Flying to Bora Bora — the pearl of the Pacific
Morning Vol Moorea → Tahiti → Bora Bora
Ferry back to Tahiti, then fly Air Tahiti to Bora Bora (50 min). The flight over the Tuamotu atolls is mesmerizing — turquoise coral rings in the vast Pacific. Landing on Motu Mute and the boat transfer reveal the world's most famous lagoon.
Afternoon Installation au bungalow sur pilotis et premier snorkeling
Settle into your overwater bungalow, the quintessential Bora Bora experience. Glass floor panels reveal tropical fish below your room. Dive from your private deck for a first snorkel on the house reef — clownfish, blue tangs, and living coral await.
Evening Dîner romantique sur la terrasse du bungalow
Order a private dinner served on your overwater bungalow deck. Bora Bora resorts offer this experience: white tablecloth, candles, gourmet cuisine, and the moonlit lagoon as your backdrop. A timeless moment for honeymooners.
Day 7 Bora Bora — lagoon safari and coral garden
Morning Safari lagon en pirogue à moteur
Board a motorized outrigger for a lagoon safari with a local guide. Explore the lagoon's many shades of blue, stopping at deserted motus (islets). The guide shows you secret snorkeling spots and shares Polynesian legends about Mount Otemanu.
Afternoon Plage de Matira — la plus belle plage du monde
Spend the afternoon at Matira Beach, regularly voted among the world's most beautiful beaches. This fine white sand strip extends into the turquoise lagoon, offering calm, warm waters perfect for swimming. One of Bora Bora's few public beaches.
Evening Coucher de soleil et dîner au St Regis
Sunset at the St Regis bar, one of the world's most stunning settings. Mount Otemanu silhouettes against a blazing sky. The hotel's fine dining restaurant serves refined Franco-Polynesian cuisine with ultra-fresh seafood.
Day 8 Bora Bora — diving with manta rays
Morning Plongée sous-marine au spot Anau
Dive at the Anau spot, Bora Bora's manta ray meeting point. These graceful giants with wingspans up to 4 meters feed in plankton-rich currents. Suitable for beginners (discovery dives available). Lagoon visibility is exceptional.
Afternoon Excursion snorkeling au Jardin de Corail
Visit the Coral Garden, an exceptional snorkeling site between two motus. Hundreds of tropical fish species swim around preserved coral formations in crystal-clear 27°C water. One of the world's finest snorkeling spots — a natural aquarium.
Evening Cocktails polynésiens et dîner au bord de la piscine
Relax at your resort's pool bar with a Polynesian cocktail — the Maitai (rum, Curaçao, lime juice) is the signature drink. Dinner by the open-air pool, with lagoon views under the Southern Hemisphere stars, is unforgettable.
Day 9 Bora Bora — island tour and WWII relics
Morning Tour de l'île en 4×4
Explore Bora Bora by 4x4 for a different perspective. Climb to Mount Otemanu viewpoints, visit hidden WWII American cannons, and pass through authentic fishing villages. Your guide shares the island's history as a US military base from 1942 to 1946.
Afternoon Kayak et paddle sur le lagon
Use your resort's kayaks and paddleboards for a peaceful lagoon exploration. Glide over translucent water watching fish from the surface. Nearby motus offer deserted beaches where you can land for absolute solitude in the middle of the Pacific.
Evening Dîner au restaurant Bloody Mary's
Dine at legendary Bloody Mary's, Bora Bora's most famous restaurant. White sand floor, raw wood tables, and the day's catch displayed on ice at the entrance — choose your fish and cooking style. Celebrities worldwide have dined here, their names engraved at the entrance.
Day 10 Bora Bora — Polynesian spa and relaxation day
Morning Soin spa au monoï et massage polynésien
Treat yourself to a traditional Polynesian spa treatment. The Tahitian monoi oil massage with tiare flower essence is Polynesia's signature wellness experience. Resort spas in Bora Bora are often set on overwater platforms with waves as your natural soundtrack.
Afternoon Farniente et baignade au lagon
Absolute relaxation day by the lagoon. Enjoy sun loungers, the infinity pool, and warm lagoon waters. Read your book, nap under coconut palms, and savor the luxury of doing nothing in one of the planet's most beautiful settings.
Evening Soirée étoilée et dîner gastronomique
Gourmet dinner at your resort restaurant. Bora Bora, isolated from light pollution, offers an exceptional starry sky. After dinner, sit on your terrace to watch the Southern Cross and Milky Way reflecting on the still lagoon.
Day 11 Bora Bora — jet ski and private motu picnic
Morning Tour du lagon en jet-ski
Circle the entire Bora Bora lagoon by jet ski — a high-speed adventure with spectacular views of Mount Otemanu from every angle. The route passes through different lagoon hues, from deep cobalt blue to dazzling turquoise shallows. Snorkeling stops included.
Afternoon Pique-nique sur un motu privé
Get dropped off on a private motu for a romantic picnic in the sand. Resorts and operators offer this: a white sand islet with coconut palms entirely for you, gourmet food basket, champagne, and a parasol. Snorkeling from the motu is usually excellent.
Evening Dîner barbecue polynésien sur la plage
Join a Polynesian beach barbecue organized by your resort. Grilled fish, lobster, lime-coconut chicken skewers with rice, tropical fruit salad, and coconut desserts. Live ukulele music creates a warm, festive atmosphere under the stars.
Day 12 Bora Bora — swimming with lemon sharks
Morning Nage avec les requins citron et raies dans le lagon
Join a unique tour to swim with lemon sharks in the shallow lagoon. These sharks, up to 3 meters long, are impressive but accustomed to humans. Stingrays join the encounter, creating a memorable underwater spectacle in impossibly clear water.
Afternoon Cours de cuisine polynésienne
Take a Polynesian cooking class at your resort or with a local chef. Learn to prepare poisson cru (the authentic Tahitian recipe), fafaru (fermented fish), and po'e (passion fruit and arrowroot dessert). Skills you can recreate at home.
Evening Croisière sunset privée sur le lagon
Book a private sunset cruise on the Bora Bora lagoon. A traditional Polynesian boat takes you to the middle of the lagoon as the sun blazes behind Mount Otemanu. Champagne, canapés, and the Pacific's most romantic natural spectacle. Unforgettable.
Day 13 Bora Bora — last treasures and memories
Morning Visite d'une ferme perlière
Visit a pearl farm to discover the fascinating process of Tahitian black pearl cultivation. An expert guide explains oyster grafting, pearl growth (2-3 years), and quality criteria — shape, luster, size, and color. You can choose your pearl from the day's harvest.
Afternoon Dernière baignade et snorkeling d'adieu
Enjoy your last afternoon for one final snorkel from your bungalow or at Matira Beach. Every dive in Bora Bora's waters reveals new species and colors. Savor these last moments in the bluest water on Earth before leaving paradise.
Evening Dîner d'adieu gastronomique au resort
Savor a final gourmet dinner at your resort's best restaurant. Order the dishes you haven't tried yet and toast to an extraordinary journey. The warm, attentive Polynesian service makes every meal memorable.
Day 14 Departure — farewell to Polynesia
Morning Dernier lever de soleil sur le lagon
Wake early for your last sunrise over Bora Bora's lagoon. The first golden rays caressing Mount Otemanu and reflecting on the still water offer a moment of absolute serenity. Enjoy breakfast on your terrace, savoring every second of this surreal setting.
Afternoon Transfert vers l'aéroport et vol retour via Tahiti
Take the boat shuttle to Motu Mute for your return flight. The lagoon crossing offers a final panoramic view of Bora Bora and Mount Otemanu receding behind you. The flight to Tahiti (50 min) then your international connection marks the end of your Polynesian adventure.
Evening Vol retour — souvenirs de Polynésie
Your international flight from Tahiti marks the end of two unforgettable weeks in French Polynesia. Between Tahiti, Moorea, and Bora Bora, you've discovered the world's most beautiful lagoons, authentic Polynesian culture, and nature's finest luxury. Polynesia never truly leaves you.