Things to do — Society Islands

The Society Islands offer a range of activities that alone justify a two-week stay in French Polynesia.

On Tahiti, the island loop by car (114 km, 4-5 hours) is essential: it lets you discover Pointe Vénus (where James Cook first landed in 1769), the Vaipahi gardens, the Three Cascades of Faaurumai, the Museum of Tahiti and the Islands at Punaauia, and the great Teahupoo surf on the peninsula. In Papeete, the central market (Te Mahana) is one of the finest in the South Pacific: tropical fruits, vanilla, black pearls, raw fish, crafts. In the evening, the Place Vai'ete food trucks on the waterfront serve steak-frites, grilled fish and Chinese dishes for €10-15/person.

On Moorea, key activities include: the Opunohu Bay belvedere (unique panoramic view of the two bays), the Three Coconuts pass hike (3 h round trip, mountain trail), diving with lemon sharks and rays in the lagoon (excursion €80-120), and from July to October humpback whale watching (excursion €100-150, supervised swim €180-250). The Mont Rotui climb (899 m) is a tough trek for experienced hikers.

In Bora Bora, the signature experience is the lagoon tour by motorised pirogue (€90-150/person, full day): swim with stingrays and blacktip reef sharks on the ray bank, snorkelling at the coral garden, picnic on a deserted motu, view of Mont Otemanu from the motus. A helicopter overflight of the lagoon (€250-400/person, 20-30 min) delivers the most spectacular views in French Polynesia. For divers, several sites around the Teavanui pass offer fine dives with manta rays and sharks.

In the Leeward Islands, the sailing cruise (catamaran or yacht, 7-10 days, €2,500-5,000/couple) between Raiatea, Tahaa, Bora Bora and Huahine is the ultimate experience: navigation in protected lagoons, anchorages in wild coves, visits to Tahaa vanilla plantations, diving on Raiatea sites, the UNESCO marae of Taputapuātea. Probably the best way to discover the archipelago in depth.