TAHITI

Embarkation at Papeete Port at 3-4 pm. Welcome cocktails and dinner. Afternoon sailing to Bora Bora. Overnight at sea.

Early morning arrival in Bora Bora possibly the most photographed place on earth and one dreams to visit once in their lifetime. Our ship sails into Bora Bora lagoon with Mount Otemanu standing tall in the center. We will be spending 2 days in this paradise and choose from a variety of optional activities such as A/ the Bora Bora Cultural Tour by 4x4, B/ the Snorkeling with Stingrays and Sharks excursion, C/ the Open air Lagoon Aquarium experience, D/ the Bora Bora tour by "le Truck" and more. We spend the night at anchor.

We continue our Bora Bora activities. After lunch we cruise the Bora Bora lagoon and sail to Huahine. We reach Huahine late in the evening. Overnight at anchor inside the lagoon.

Huahine, once home of the Tahitian royalty, is considered as cradle of Polynesian culture. The island maintains the largest concentration of ancient marae (temples) in French Polynesia, some of which are believed to date back to the original ancestors of the Tahitians, the Lapita people, around 700 AD. Huahine is an immense tropical jungle thriving with coconut plantations, vanilla orchids, banana groves, breadfruit trees and watermelon fields. Our optional half day tour takes us by 4x4 vehicle around the island to visit Fare, Maeva, an archaeological site, a vanilla plantation and then have a chance to see and feed the sacred blue-eyed eels of Faie. An optional full day excursion is also available including a land 4x4 tour + a boat excursion including a visit to a pearl farm and a picnic. Overnight at anchor.

We leave Huahine early in the morning and sail to nearby Taha’a which shares a magnificent lagoon with Raiatea. Morning arrival intro Taha'a, a true botanical paradise. Her fertile valleys and sloping hillsides are covered with banana, watermelon and coconut groves. The island is also an immense natural greenhouse for the highly prized Tahitian vanilla orchid. Our optional half day Taha’a Island Adventure excursion will allow us to explore the beautiful interior of Taha`a by 4x4 and discover its luxurious tropical vegetation. You will taste the local fruit and admire breathtaking views of the magnificent turquoise bay of Haamene. This excursion also includes a visit to the pearl farm and a traditional vanilla plantation. In the afternoon we will have plenty of time for swimming and snorkeling from a motu. Overnight at anchor.

We sail inside the lagoon to reach nearby Raiatea, which translates to "faraway heaven" and was once the cultural and religious center of the Society Islands. Known in legends as Hawaiki, "the homeland", many cultures believe that this is where the great Polynesian migration began. The island remains a place of pilgrimage today. Our optional excursion will start by exploring the Faaroa River, French Polynesia's only navigable river, by kayak with your expert guide leading the way through Raiatea's verdant interior. Then, we will visit the ancient marae temple at Taputapuatea, a recent UNESCO World Heritage Site, and learn about its Polynesian origins and historical relevance before sitting down to a locally inspired picnic lunch. Late in the evening we sail to Moorea. Overnight at sea.

This morning we reach Moorea, believed to have inspired the mythical Bali Hai from James Michener's Tales of the South Pacific. Moorea is geographical marvel. Eight voluminous mountain peaks rise from its translucent lagoon, creating a distinctive and rugged silhouette visible from the western coast of Tahiti. Pick from 2 optional excursions, a Snorkeling and ray feeding tour or the 3 Coconuts Hiking tour. Tonight, we will enjoy our Farewell Dinner. Overnight at anchor.

Early morning sailing to Tahiti. Morning arrival in Papeete. Disembarkation 9 to 10 am.