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Itinerary - In Brief
Itinerary - Detailed
Day 1:
U.S./Tahiti, Society Islands
Arrive in Papeete, Tahiti and transfer to your hotel where you will spend the balance of the evening at leisure.
Day 2:
Tahiti, Society Islands
In the afternoon, visit the Paul Gauguin Museum to see the artist’s work. Stroll through the tropical gardens, streams, and water lily ponds of the adjoining botanical garden, gathered by an American physics teacher who escaped to the South Seas in 1919. Also visit the former home of James Norman Hall, author of "Mutiny on the Bounty." Embark to the Spirit of Oceanus and sail out at sunset.
Day 3:
Bora Bora,/Taha'a, Society Islands
A circle tour of the island takes us past colorful villages, archaeological sites, and World War II relics. Or you can opt to glide over the reef in a glass-bottom boat, swim with gentle stingrays, or watch wild sharks being fed. Take time to browse in Vaitape, Bora Bora’s main village, before you make your way to Taha’a and the Hibiscus Foundation Turtle Reserve, dedicated to protecting these magical sea creatures.
Day 4:
Rangiroa, Tuamotu Islands
You won’t believe how many fish abide in the clean, fresh waters of the Tuamotus! The second largest atoll in the world, Rangiroa offers some of the best swimming, snorkeling and scuba diving in the South Pacific. When you’re not exploring the underwater world, stroll through a local village, soaking up the slow, tropical pace of life.
Day 5:
Takapoto, Tuamotu Islands
The rare black pearl is farmed here, and you’ll learn more about this fascinating industry as you tour a black pearl farm and visit the small village. To end the day, a beach barbecue with the best swimming opportunities of the voyage.
Day 6:
At Sea
Relax while cruising between islands. During the day, the Exploration Leader and other experts will brief you on the natural history and cultures you are about to visit.
Day 7:
Ua Huka, The Marquesas
Thousands of seabirds inhabit Ua Huka’s surrounding islets. As you approach, breathe in the smell of fresh herbs and wild cotton that blanket the hills of the southern coast. Bounce along dirt roads on a four-wheel-drive tour of the island’s lush interior, the Museum of Vaipee and the villages of Hane and Hokato, where traditional woodcarving is still a fine art. Ancient petroglyphs and red rock tikis, or carved talisman, reveal life on Ua Huka tracking back to 300 AD.
Day 8:
Hika Oa, The Marquesas
The largest and most fertile island in the southern Marquesas, Hiva Oa is chiseled with deep valleys, fertile plateaus and lush forests. In Paumau, visit the Oipona me’ae temple, home of Takaii, an eight-foot-tall stone tiki, the largest in French Polynesia. Enjoy a special performance by the villagers and tour the Paul Gauguin and Jacques Brel Cultural Centers. Hiva Oa was where Gauguin spent the last years of his life (many of his descendents still live on the island), and you’ll have the chance to visit his grave.
Day 9:
Fatu Hiva, The Marquesas
Learn about Marquesian culture here, on an island where artists are reviving traditional crafts including intricately carved wood bowls and war clubs. This is the only place in French Polynesia where they still make tapa, beaten bark cloth. Villagers perform their traditional dances, demonstrate their handicrafts and explain their traditional tattoos. Tattooing reached its zenith in the Marquesas, where it was used to express personality, social status, and to protect against evil spirits.
Day 10:
At Sea
Time at sea to relax.
Day 11:
Fakarava, Tuamotu Islands
This protected atoll supports some especially rare flora and fauna, including the hunting kingfisher and the Tuamotu palm, and also offers excellent snorkeling opportunities. The local villagers of Rotoava will demonstrate their handicrafts and cultural traditions
Day 12:
Tahiti, Society Islands
Disembark and check into individual day rooms at your hotel. Spend the afternoon at leisure until it is time to transfer to the airport for your overnight flight home.
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