Islands of Discovery

Taha'a

Taha’a, accessible by a short ferry ride, shares a lagoon with Raiatea, which is just four kilometers away. Ohiri (590 m) and Puurauti (550 m), the two mountains peaks rising from the island’s center, can be visited on excursions. The deep bays dissect the coastline, and the coral barrier is scattered with numerous motu.

Taha’a is known worldwide for its vanilla (Vanilla taitensis) production, which earned it the nickname “Vanilla Island”. It is also well known for its many archaeological sites, hidden under dense tropical vegetation.

Accommodation:

Le Taha'a Island Resort & Spa is an elegant resort that is part of the prestigious Relais & Châteaux Group. Another option is the charming Vahine Private Island Resort, which features a limited selection of intimate overwater bungalows and beachfront suites. Both located on their own private "Motu", or islet, along the lagoon.

Rangiroa

Rangiroa is a typical atoll of the Tuamotu Archipelago. Composed, quite classically, of a barrier reef surrounding a central depression, filled with saltwater forming the lagoon, and surrounded by several islets, called motu in Polynesia, but it is striking for the sheer size of its lagoon, making it the second largest atoll in the world. This exceptional environment has given rise to an impressive submarine fauna, giving the atoll its international reputation.

Sharks, dolphins, open ocean and lagoon fish, and even whales, during the season, abound and are easily observed, especially in the Tiputa and Avatoru passes.

Accommodation:

The two main resorts, located near the Tiputa Pass are the Hotel Maitai Rangiroa and the Hotel Kia Ora Resort & Spa. Both offer convenient access to the airport and a selection of lovely beach and garden bungalows; while the Hotel Kia Ora features the highly desired overwater bungalows.

Tikehau

Tikehau is a beautiful oval-shaped atoll, with a maximum length of 27 km by 19 km in width and 20 km² of land above water land, consisting of delicate motu (islets) bordered by beaches of fine white or pink sand. Lying 15 km from Rangiroa and 340 km north of Tahiti, it can be reached by a 55-minute flight.

Jacques-Yves Cousteau, the famous French oceanographer and explorer who carried out a large expedition here in 1987, considered the waters surrounding the atoll to be the “most fish-filled in the world”.

Tikehau has also carved itself a reputation with surfers worldwide, thanks to the perfect break, in the Tuhieva pass, the atoll’s only pass.

Accommodation:

Aside from a few pensions and guesthouses, there are two resort accommodations in this remote locale: Le Tikehau by Pearl Resorts, and alternatively the seven bungalow Ninamu Resort ideal for water sports enthusiast.

Raiatea

Among the largest islands in French Polynesia, Raiatea is a little over 200km from Tahiti. The small town of Uturoa, capital of the Leeward Society Islands, has a harbor that can receive large cruise ships.

The island is also the site of one of the largest archaeological sites in French Polynesia, today on UNESCO’s list of world heritage sites, the marae Taputapuatea, which is at the heart of eastern Polynesia’s ancient religion and mythology.

Accommodation:

There are two quaint hotels on the island, as well as several pensions and guesthouses. The first option is the charming Raiatea Lodge Hotel, and second is the Opoa Beach Hotel, which features white wooden cottages along a lovely beach. Furthermore, Raiatea is the top yachting location in The Islands of Tahiti with excellent sailing conditions. Most charter companies have settled around this island, commencing and finishing their voyages in Raiatea.

Huahine

Huahine casts a spell over you from the moment you arrive. Only a 40-minute flight from the island of Tahiti, the enchanted Huahine, with its lush forests, untamed landscape and quaint villages can feel like the Garden of Eden. Huahine is one of The Islands of Tahiti’s best-kept secrets, a place where you can live like a local. A deep, crystal-clear lagoon surrounds the two islands that comprise Huahine, while magnificent bays and white sand beaches add drama to the experience.

Relatively unchanged by the modern world, Huahine Island offers the slower, more tranquil pace of old French Polynesia. With only eight small villages scattered across the island, the few residents welcome visitors with great kindness. Not surprisingly, this fertile world offers a rich soil providing the local farmers a bountiful harvest of vanilla, melons and bananas.

Accommodation:

There are three distinctively unique hotels on Huahine. The first is the simple Royal Huahine Resort featuring Overwater Bungalows. The second is the charming lakeside Maitai Lapita Village. The third is the beachfront Relais Mahana.