7 days French Polynesia: Tahiti + Moorea + Bora Bora

Trip map

Click each numbered marker to see the corresponding day.

Day by day

1. 1

   Day 1

   Arrival Tahiti (Papeete)

   Paris-Papeete (PPT) flight via Los Angeles (Air France, Air Tahiti Nui) or via Tokyo - 22h MINIMUM with stopover (sometimes 24-28h), €1,500-3,500 return depending on season. No visa (French COM territory). Time difference -12h winter, -11h summer (geographical opposite of France). Land at Papeete (Tahiti). Car rental for 1-2 days on Tahiti (option). Settle Papeete hotel (Intercontinental Tahiti Resort €350-600, Tahiti Pearl Beach €250-400) or directly transfer to Moorea (30 min ferry, €12-15). Evening first maa tahiti (raw fish in coconut milk, poulet fafa) or Vaiete roulottes (food trucks at Papeete port, €15-25).

   Tips

   • · Paris-PPT flight: 22h MINIMUM via Los Angeles, €1,500-3,500 return depending on season
   • · No visa for French (COM) - passport recommended anyway
   • · Time difference -12h winter / -11h summer: allow 2-3 days adaptation
   • · Vaiete roulottes (Papeete port): local food trucks €15-25/meal
   Papeete (Tahiti) →
2. 2

   Day 2

   Tahiti (Pointe Venus + Teahupoo)

   Tahiti tour by car (east coast then south). Morning Pointe Venus (Cook's first landing site 1769, lighthouse, black sand beach, free). Faarumai Falls (Tiarei, 3 jungle falls, free). Continue to Taharuu beach (Papara, black sand, surf). Afternoon Teahupoo (south coast, JO Paris 2024 SURF SITE, mythical waves up to 10m, observation from taxi-boat or belvedere). Vaipahi Garden (Creole botanical). Evening traditional Tahitian dance show (otea, tamure) at Intercontinental.

   Tips

   • · Teahupoo: 2024 Paris Olympics surf site, mythical waves visible from coast
   • · Faarumai Falls: 3 falls accessible 15 min walk, free
   • · Taharuu beach: volcanic black sand, beginner surf calm zone
   • · Tahitian dance show: €30-50/person, hotel accommodation or cultural centre
   Papeete (Tahiti) →
3. 3

   Day 3

   Transfer to Moorea (30 min ferry)

   Morning return car (if rented). Tahiti → Moorea ferry (Aremiti, 30 min, €12-15/person). Arrive Moorea. Settle hotel (Sofitel Moorea Ia Ora Beach Resort 4*, €400-700/night; Hilton Moorea Lagoon 5*, €500-900/night; budget option family pension €80-150/night). Afternoon island tour by car/scooter (60 km, 2h without stops): Cook's Bay + Opunohu Bay (the two spectacular fjords), Belvedere (plunging panorama over both bays), Temae beach (white sand, turquoise water). Dinner over-water restaurant.

   Tips

   • · Aremiti ferry Tahiti-Moorea: 30 min, €12-15/person, several departures/day
   • · Moorea hotels: Sofitel Ia Ora 4* (€400-700), Hilton 5* (€500-900), pension €80-150
   • · Moorea island tour: 60 km, scooter/car, rental €50-80/day
   • · Belvedere: UNIQUE panorama over Cook and Opunohu bays - iconic photo
   Moorea →
4. 4

   Day 4

   Moorea: humpback whales + snorkeling

   Full day boat excursion: humpback whales + snorkeling stingrays + sharks (July-November breeding season, €100-150/person, 4-5h). Recommended companies: Moorea Ocean Adventures, Dr Michael Poole Whale Watching (pioneer respectful observation eco-tour). Observation probability: 90%+ in season. Afternoon snorkeling: stingray and shark feeding (stingrays at 1m depth that can be touched, black-tip reef sharks). Dinner Hilton Moorea restaurant (over-water bungalow + Polynesian buffet).

   Tips

   • · Moorea humpback whales: STRICT SEASON July-November
   • · Dr Michael Poole: 30+ year pioneer eco-tour, whale respect charter
   • · Stingray feeding snorkeling: HARMLESS black-tip reef sharks (1-1.5m), touchable rays
   • · Iconic Moorea hotels: Hilton Moorea Lagoon (over-water bungalows €500-900/night)
   Moorea →
5. 5

   Day 5

   Moorea → Bora Bora flight (50 min)

   Transfer to Moorea airport. Air Tahiti internal flight Moorea → Bora Bora (50 min, €200-300/person, several flights/day). Arrive Motu Mute (airfield on offshore atoll). 5 min boat transfer to main island or directly to motu resort. Settle iconic resort (Four Seasons Bora Bora €1500-3000/night, St Regis €1200-2500, InterContinental Thalasso €800-1500, Le Bora Bora by Pearl Resorts €600-1000, alternative Anau village pension €150-300). Afternoon over-water bungalow relax: plunging view over turquoise lagoon and Mount Otemanu (727m). Iconic sunset: world postcard photo.

   Tips

   • · Moorea-Bora Bora flight: €200-300/person, 50 min, Air Tahiti only carrier
   • · Bora Bora over-water bungalows: €800-3000/NIGHT (Four Seasons, St Regis, InterContinental)
   • · Budget alternative: Anau village pension (€150-300/night), lagoon access by boat-taxi
   • · Mount Otemanu (727m): Bora Bora's global icon, visible from all atoll
   Bora Bora →
6. 6

   Day 6

   Bora Bora: lagoon tour + manta ray snorkeling

   Excursion lagoon tour by outrigger boat (Moana Adventure, Lagoon Service - €100-150/person, 4-5h, motu lunch included with grilled Tahitian fish). Typical program: coral garden snorkeling (coral fish), manta rays (June-October season best) + lemon sharks (harmless despite appearance), desert motu for feet-in-water lunch, last swim. Back resort late afternoon. Romantic over-water dinner or private beach (resort option €150-300/person).

   Tips

   • · Bora Bora lagoon tour: €100-150/person, full day, lunch included
   • · Manta rays + lemon sharks: best season June-October
   • · Ethical operators: Moana Adventure, Lagoon Service (distance charter)
   • · Romantic over-water dinner: €150-300/person, book 1 week ahead
   Bora Bora →
7. 7

   Day 7

   Bora Bora → Papeete → Paris return

   Free morning last lagoon swim + Mount Otemanu postcard photo. Resort brunch. Boat transfer Motu Mute airfield + Bora Bora → Papeete flight (50 min, €200-300). International flight connection Papeete → Paris CDG/Orly via Los Angeles or Tokyo (22h+ return). +12h TIME DIFFERENCE back to France, jet-lag management: take a full night on arrival if possible. End of trip. Souvenirs: Tahitian black pearls (€50-500+), monoi (perfumed coconut oil), pareo, Tahitian vanilla, tapa paintings.

   Tips

   • · Tahitian black pearls: €50-500+, certificate of origin mandatory
   • · Monoi: perfumed coconut oil, €5-15 per bottle
   • · Tahitian vanilla (XL pod): €10-25/pod, reputed quality
   • · 4-5h Papeete connection margin (long-haul international flight)
   Bora Bora →

Frequently asked questions