The Islands of Tahiti

The Islands
Tempting Tahiti, the island of love and largest of the sensual islands of French Polynesia, has long been a magnet to those seeking a tropical paradise and, from the moment that visitors step off the plane, the perfumes of frangipani and tiare capture the senses... From the soft light and the gentle warmth of the climate to the exotic beauty of the scenery and the tranquil pace of life, Tahiti is the perfect setting for romance and relaxation.
Moorea, Tahiti’s sister island, is unique among the Society Islands in having magnificent expanses of white-sand beaches and a ring-like surrounding reef enclosing a truly spectacular lagoon. Picturesque and unspoiled, Moorea offers a distinctive Polynesian experience.

Visitors to Bora Bora appreciate at once why Polynesian legends say this stunning holiday mecca was created by the gods. Indeed, Bora Bora’s famed lagoon is an ever-changing kaleidoscope of crystal blues and shades of turquoise which has enchanted travelers for decades. Like Tahiti, Huahine is composed of two islands connected by a bridge, Huahine Nui and Huahine Iti. Covered by lush, tropical forests, the Garden Island’ of Huahine is one of the most picturesque and pristine in French Polynesia and offers an unparalleled degree of solitude and relaxation. Raiatea offers the magical atmosphere of an island rich in legends and archaeological wonders. It was the first French Polynesian island to be settled - over a thousand years ago - and holds great religious and cultural significance in the region.

Enclosed within the same barrier reef as Raiatea, Taha’a is a romantic island with deep, fjord-like inlets and beautifully fragrant vanilla plantations. Taha’a’s surrounding waters have an abundance of sea life and offer spectacular fishing for marlin, sailfish, mahi mahi and tuna.

Like a string of pearls laid out across the eastern Pacific, the Tuamotu Islands form the world’s largest chain of atolls. An archipelago comprising 78 low coral islands scattered over an area roughly the size of Western Europe, the Tuamotus are a quiet haven for black pearl farms, fishing and world-class diving.

Called i Te Henua Enanai’ - The Land of Men - the Marquesas lay claim to the Pacific’s first tattooing and some of the most ancient and enigmatic sites in French Polynesia.

You may come to Tahiti and her islands to seek paradise,
but as soon as you set foot on its shores, you'll find a whole lot more...
you'll discover experiences of a lifetime.

Accommodation
World travelers often describe the lagoons of Tahiti as the closest thing to paradise on earth, with water’s-edge accommodation options available to suit any travel plan or budget. From five-star resorts, luxury superyacht voyages and cruises, to over-water bungalows and B&B-style pension’ cottages, the archipelagos of Tahiti offer visitors an array of ways to enjoy luxurious lagoon living.
Here, in the lap of luxury, marine life swims at your feet! Inside your dwelling, glass coffee tables - known as Tahitian televisions’ - look straight through the floor to a kaleidoscope of swirling, glittering sea life below. While you’ll feel wonderfully secluded from civilization, over-water bungalow living is a far cry from being stranded on a deserted island. Guests often are only a short stroll from exotic restaurants, providing deliciously inspired local specialties prepared by five-star chefs.
Pension (pronounced pen-see-own’) accommodation is ideal for the traveler seeking an authentic Tahitian experience, offering charming, laid back living and allowing visitors to meet local families. Located close to the beautiful lagoons and beaches, and offering very reasonable rates relative to the resorts, pensions are comfortable and informal. These idyllic, family-run dwellings provide quality facilities for guests and are most often positioned amongst lush gardens, enjoying stunning views of the tropical eastern Pacific.
For the more nautically-inclined traveler, private yacht charters and cruise packages are inspiring vacation options, especially considering that the 118 islands of Tahiti are spread across an area the size of Western Europe! There really is no better way to explore these islands than by sea. From beautiful, crystalline lagoons and towering island vistas to motu so tiny they’re veritable islands made for two’, private yacht charters - in particular - offer travelers the freedom to explore and set their own itinerary. By the same token, the many set-itinerary’ cruises offer unique perspectives on these beautiful island chains, also allowing guests to choose among a range of island-hopping tours’. Voyage to the heart of Tahiti and share in a unique experience...

Visitors to Tahiti are quick to notice a change in themselves.
Years fall off their face, and their bodies are suddenly infused
with the youthful energy of days gone by. Tahiti's deepest secret
lies in its magic to rejuvenate both body and soul.

The Cultural Revival
Tahitians are proud of their islands and are happy to share their way of life with their visitors in many ways. Their relaxed disposition is often expressed in their passion for dance and music of all sorts - traditional dance, polyphonic group singing, church music, percussive rhythms of the traditional pahu and to’ere, and the guitars and ukuleles played in the kaina bands. The same can be said for their love of the sea, whether expressed in fishing, surfing or traditional canoe racing - which has become the top sport among all the island groups.
Artistic expression can be seen in beautiful woodcarving, the prerogative of men throughout the islands. For this they carve - as the mood inspires them - ancestral graphic and symbolic designs in precious woods such as tou’, a local variety of purple wood, and miro’ or rosewood. Marquesans excel in this area and produce superb pieces, including spears, war clubs and umete’ or fruit bowls.
The revival of traditional tattoo in Tahiti began in 1981 when two young men, one Marquesan and one Tahitian, traveled to Europe to research tribal’ tattoo designs. Then traveling to Samoa, where traditional tattooing had been maintained throughout the generations, the pair were tattooed in the style of their forefathers and the Polynesian renaissance’ of tatau’ bega

Legend has it that the beautiful sparkles in the sands of Tahiti's
beaches are cupid's dust. It is said that the gods came here to find
their true loves. These tales are easy to believe. There is romance
in the wind and the proof is in the many love stories
celebrated everyday under the island sun.

Activities
The Tahitian archipelagos offer an array of excursions and experiences so diverse that it would be simply impossible for visitors to see and do it all.
If you’ve always harbored a fantasy of yourself as an Indiana Jones-type character, then the lava tubes of Hitiaa may be just the tonic. Hike deep into Tahiti’s mountainous hinterland and explore an awe-inspiring web of lava tubes that twist and turn through the mountainside, punctuated by grottos and waterfalls, coursing streams and water-filled caves. Visitors to Tahiti are quick to notice the change within them, as years fall away from wearied faces and bodies are suddenly infused with energy and joie de vivre’. From the local practice of Taurumi’ to thalasotherapy’, French Polynesia offers many spa options, including the traditional vea vea’ or stone massage. Truly relaxing and wholly invigorating, spa treatments are a blissfully enjoyable part of your Tahitian experience.
Many excursions offer lagoon-edge dining as an exotic and highly enjoyable afternoon event. Set up at the very edge of the eastern Pacific, with uninterrupted views across pristine lagoons, this is an unparalleled culinary experience which provides visitors with an inspiring taste of Tahitian life. Freshly caught seafood, tropical fruits and vegetables feature on a delicious menu of local fare. Hand-feeding Sharks and Rays. This is a great opportunity to get up close and personal with some of the ocean’s most misunderstood predators. While floating in the water in snorkeling gear, you can feed friendly lemon sharks and rays with morsels of food direct from your hand. Throughout Tahiti and her islands there are a range of four-wheel drive excursions taking visitors to very remote places. While most Tahitian holidays begin and end at the lagoon’s edge, the many steep, jagged volcanic peaks and deep valleys of these island hinterlands are dotted with dramatic archaeological sites and spectacular natural attractions such as waterfalls, caves and dramatic lookouts across islands, atolls, reefs and deep ocean.
The Tahitian archipelagos are blessed with an extraordinary concentration of sea life and dive excursions in the region are unparalleled in their beauty and sheer exuberance. Great clusters of life - from reef sharks, giant hammerheads, humpback whales and huge manta rays to billfish, barracudas, turtles and moray eels - are all in a day’s dive. Known for towering, saw-toothed peaks, secluded valleys, ancient religious sites and waterfalls so
high that the falling water evaporates as it descends, the Marquesas are probably best explored on horseback. Stark and spectacular, the interior of the islands offer an array of trek and riding routes in beautiful forests specifically catered to horse riding. Offered by Moorea Dolphin Center, at the InterContinental Moorea, swimming with dolphins allows visitors to share an enchanting excursion with these magnificent mammals.