Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
The Underwater World of French Polynesia Moorea, Rangiroa and Fakarava
French Polynesia - Moorea - Rangiroa - Fakarava
Kick off your holiday in Moorea, Tahiti’s ‘sister island’, where you’ll be introduced to French Polynesia’s wonderful wildlife on whale watching cruises and snorkelling trips. Here, you can familiarise yourself with the island way of life: think ultra-fresh seafood, beautiful views and ice-cold cocktails on the beach.
Next up? Rangiroa. Located in the Tuamotu Archipelago, the world’s largest scattering of coral atolls, Rangiroa boasts a number of internationally renowned dive sites, including exhilarating passes and thriving coral walls. The island is also home to a wealth of marine life, from big pelagics (hello, hammerheads) to teeny reef fish.
Finally, head to Fakarava, a beautiful UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, for three days of island bliss. In between diving the atoll’s renowned northern and southern passes, spend time lounging on the beach, tucking into French Polynesian fare and even visiting a local pearl farm, where you can try your hand at winning the perfect pearl. There are worse souvenirs to bring home…
Itinerary
100% customisable for you
Sunglasses at the ready: your holiday to the sunny shores of French Polynesia begins today. Head to the airport, speed through security and enjoy a pre-flight tipple in the lounge before boarding your international flight to Papeete. With a speedy stopover in California, the journey will take around 23 hours, landing early the next morning.
When you arrive, you’ll be met and privately transferred by car and boat to the island of Moorea, which takes just over an hour. Disembark, collect your hire car and drive to your hotel, your home away from home for the next three nights.
You’ll likely be tired after your long journey, so enjoy a tasty lunch and spend the rest of the day relaxing on the beach – it won’t take you long to get used to these postcard-perfect landscapes.
Hit the ground (or should we say water?) running this morning with a whale-watching cruise across the sparkling sea. Once you’ve ventured far enough out (and hopefully found what you’re looking for), you’ll have the chance to dive in and swim alongside the majestic humpbacks, which migrate to the warm waters of French Polynesia between July and November to breed and give birth.
Suitably wowed, head back to your hotel for a refuelling lunch and a sunbathing stint out on the sand. The rest of the day is yours for the taking, but if you’re still raring to go, we can arrange a scuba diving excursion in the charming Papetaoi Lagoon. Mask up, dive down and explore the crystal-clear waters, keeping your eyes peeled for clownfish, turtles and even the occasional shark.
Come evening, head to a local restaurant for sundowners and seafood – our clued-up Concierge is on hand to recommend some stellar options.
Enjoy another active start this morning as you head out to snorkel with sleek sting rays and blacktip sharks. Hop aboard a kayak, paddle out to sea and moor your boat on a buoy before slipping into the shallow water, watching as these incredible creatures congregate.
Memories made, resurface and head to a nearby motu for a tasty lunch – think ultra-fresh fish, perfectly cooked meat and refreshing salads.
This afternoon, leave the sea behind as you venture to some of Moorea’s best viewpoints. Begin with the climb to To’atea for a panoramic view over Temae Beach and Tahiti, before heading to the Moorea Belvedere, a postcard-perfect spot nestled between two bays. If all that walking works up an appetite, you’re in luck: the nearby agricultural high school specialises in a range of tasty jams, from pineapple to banana.
To make your final night on Moorea truly special, we can also arrange a sunset cruise aboard a traditional wooden canoe. Cameras at the ready…
Wave goodbye to Moorea this morning as you’re privately transferred to the airport for the short 15-minute flight to Tahiti. After a quick stopover, it’s time to board your next one-hour flight to Rangiroa, an incredible atoll in the heart of the Tuamotu Archipelago.
When you touch down, you’ll be transferred ten minutes to your hotel, where you’ll check in for a three-night stay. Spend the rest of the day soaking up the sun and getting stuck into your holiday read – best enjoyed with an ice-cold cocktail, of course.
French Polynesia’s largest atoll, Rangiroa, is a haven for divers, boasting some of the most beautiful dive sites in the world.
This morning, you’ll have the chance to snorkel in Rangiroa’s passes, where strong currents create an almost waterslide-like experience through the natural gaps in the reef. This might sound challenging, but don’t worry: if you’re new to diving, we can arrange a visit to the Six Passengers Dive Centre, where the expert team will take you on an introductory dive and allow you to experience this incredible site in a beginner-friendly way.
Alongside an expert instructor, you’ll be swept up by the currents and propelled through channels into a sparkling lagoon. Here, the waves are calmer, allowing you to glide slowly through the water and spot cute turtles, sleek rays and reef sharks.
Another day, another dive. This morning, embark on a boat trip to Rangiroa’s island reef, a barrier reef comprised of dolomitised coral formations. Rising over six feet above sea level, these formations have been shaped by weather and sea conditions over hundreds of years, making for an exciting diving experience.
Along the way, keep your eyes peeled for marine life flitting between the corals, from bumbling wrasses to grey-striped fish. You may also encounter dolphins as you travel along Tiputa Pass, before stopping for a refuelling picnic lunch along the way at Motu Nuhi Nuhi, a small coral islet.
Fancy discovering a different (but no less beautiful) site? Head to the iconic Blue Lagoon instead, where you’ll be treated to pristine white sand, coconut palms, sparkling waters and pretty coral gardens.
Back on dry land, tuck into some local fare for your final dinner on Rangiroa. Poisson cru (fresh raw tuna with lime and coconut), anyone?
It’s time for the last leg of your French Polynesian adventure to begin. This morning, you’ll be privately transferred ten minutes to the airport to board the short 45-minute flight to Fakarava, enjoying a bird’s eye view of its UNESCO-listed blue waters along the way.
When you touch down, you’ll be met and transferred ten minutes to your last hotel, where you’ll be staying for the next three nights. Check in, drop your bags and make a beeline for the beach, where you can spend the rest of the day soaking up the sun with a coconut in hand. And, relax…
This morning, dive straight in (sorry) to Fakarava with a boat trip across its northern waters. Alongside a friendly guide, sail to the Garuae Pass, the largest pass in French Polynesia, where you can spot sharks, tuna and barracudas among the colourful corals.
Next, it’s onto Teahatea. Affectionately known as the ‘Green Lagoon’, this stunning natural pool boasts postcard-perfect coconut palms, white-sand shores and sparkling waters, perfect for a dip. Once you’ve dried off, meet some local artisans for a hat and headband braiding workshop, learning about traditional techniques and crafting a memorable souvenir.
Later, pay a visit to the Havaiki Lodge Pearl Farm, the oldest pearl farm still operating on the atoll. Alongside the farm’s owner, learn all about Tahitian pearl cultivation and processing, taste ultra-fresh oysters with a squeeze of lemon and even enter the farm’s pearl lottery. Who knows? You might just win the pearl of your dreams…
Yesterday was all about exploring the north of Fakarava; today’s about discovering the south. Meet your expert guide and set off on a day trip across southern Fakarava’s most beautiful spots, from open-water aquariums to sandy shores.
Start off by snorkelling at Tumakohua Pass, famous for its impressive shark wall, where hundreds of grey reef sharks congregate. Once you’ve been suitably wowed, pay a quick visit to the village of Tetamanu before heading to Pink Sands, where – you guessed it – a pink-sand beach creates a stunning contrast against the crystalline waters and blue lagoon.
Next, unwind on Hirifa Beach, where you’ll be treated to a delicious barbecue lunch featuring fresh fish and local flavours. Finally, take part in a niau weaving workshop, learning the traditional Polynesian art of braiding coconut fronds, and enjoy one last dip before heading back to your hotel.
After one last beachfront breakfast, it’s time to begin your journey home. Head to the airport for the speedy one-hour-and-15-minute flight back to Papeete, where you’ll have a couple of hours to stock up on local treats and souvenirs before beginning your journey home.
With a quick stopover in San Francisco, you’ll be travelling for around 24 hours, arriving back in the UK two days later (thanks to the time difference). Just enough time to plan your next adventure…
Suggestions
Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included
EXPLORE PAPETOAI LAGOON - MOOREA
Keen to dive right in? Kick off your holiday right with a trip to Moorea’s Papetoai Lagoon, home to beautiful flora and fauna. With an expert guide, mask up and set off on an introductory scuba dive, keeping your eyes peeled for cute clownfish and gangly trumpetfish. If you’re an experienced diver, head down further to depths of up to 50 metres, where sharks, turtles and moray eels skulk over the lagoon floor.WATCH THE SUNSET FROM A CANOE - MOOREA
For a truly romantic evening, hop aboard a traditional sailing canoe with a local skipper and set off along Moorea’s sparkling coastline. As you marvel at the golden sky and sip refreshing juices, your skipper will fill you in on the history of the island and its legends, point out local marine life and demonstrate their eco-responsible approach by collecting anything that doesn’t belong in the water. Scenic and sustainable? Island evenings don’t come much better than this…DIVE THE SIX PASSENGERS - RANGIROA
Rangiroa is famous for its passes, natural gaps in the reef that pull in strong currents (think a smaller and gentler version of Crush’s natural waterslide in Finding Nemo). If that sounds a little intense, don’t worry: we can arrange for you to experience this incredible dive with the Six Passengers Dive Centre, who’ll take you out on an introductory dive in a beautiful coral garden and always make sure you’re safe and comfortable. Once you’re feeling ready, dive into this underwater ecosystem and feel yourself propelled through the passes before ending up in the calm waters of the lagoon, where you can spot sharks, rays and turtles alongside tropical reef fish.
Why visit French Polynesia with Original Travel ?
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
Enquire nowA few of the benefits of travelling with us to French Polynesia
- Our local Concierges
- The Original Travel app
- Wi-Fi router and e-Sim
- Destination Dossier
- 24-hour helpline
- Expert guides
- 100% carbon absorption
