French Polynesia

It doesn't get much more remote than French Polynesia, but if there's any truth to the maxim that the harder the journey the better the arrival, this place is nigh on unbeatable. French Polynesia is a scattered archipelago of volcanic islands and atolls strewn across the South Pacific. For centuries, these beautiful islands have represented the epitome of the tropical island paradise to the European consciousness, and have lured and inspired visitors from Gauguin to 21st-century holiday-makers.

French Polynesia Holidays

Pape'ete, capital of Tahiti, is not necessarily the best advertisement for an island chain that stretches across some million square miles of ocean, but beyond the city Tahiti itself has a lot of charm. The real stars of the show, however, are the other picture perfect islands and motus (islets) twinkling in the turquoise waters. These island chains are divided into the Society Islands, the Tuamotus, the Marquesas, the Australs and the Gambier Archipelago, and they are home to some of the planet's very finest hotels. Original Travel team members have visited the pick of the bunch and look forward to talking you through the best of the bunch.