Map of Tahiti & the Pearls of French Polynesia including French Polynesia

Experience the vibrant natural landscapes and relaxing pace of French Polynesia.

It might sound like a cliché, but the crystal blue waters, colourful coral and lush green islands of French Polynesia are anything but boring. Snorkelers and swimmers will be in their element, with abundant marine life, stunning lagoons and pristine coral reefs just begging to be explored. On dry land, learning about the fascinating ancient culture of the French Polynesian people is an experience, with temples and archaeological sites abound. From your base on the Panaroma II, a comfortable small ship and an expert crew to show you the way, you’ll embrace the island life in no time.


Start
Papeete, French Polynesia
Finish
Papeete, French Polynesia
Destination
French Polynesia
Style
Comfort
Theme
Adventure Cruising
Code
LYKP
Physical rating
Ages
Min 7
Group size
Min 1, Max 47

Why you'll love this trip

  • Snorkel with sting rays and sharks in beautiful Bora Bora.

  • Take a tour of a local pearl farm on the lush island of Taha'a.

  • Enjoy a canoe tour down Faaroa River in Raiatea.

  • Visit an ancient marae (temple) at Taputapuatea, which was recently listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Is this trip right for you?

  • This trip is operated by our partners at Variety Cruises and is best suited to independent travellers who want flexibility from their itinerary. On Variety Cruises, all shore excursions are optional, so you don’t have to pay for an activity you’re not interested in. Trips operated by Variety begin at port, do not include tips and require solo travellers to pay a mandatory single supplement.

  • This is a small ship Adventure Cruise, which means you’ll be sailing on a motorised yacht with 30–50 other people. The boat is spacious and comfortable, but this cruise focuses more on the destination than on-board activities. Instead of a pool, we have the sea itself. Instead of a casino, we’ve got board games and a good book. There’s also no formal dress code to worry about. Wi-Fi is available for a small charge.

  • Our ship moves under engine power, rather than sailing, so all cabins will experience light engine noise when the ship is moving (and occasionally when we drop anchor). It’s probably worth packing earplugs if you’re a light sleeper.

  • The ship will experience some roll and pitch in choppy conditions, however all of our ships come equipped with stabilisers to minimise movement. There will be seasickness tablets on board and your crew will do all they can to minimise any discomfort.

  • This trip is very much focused around marine activities so confidence in the water will allow you to make the most of the snorkelling opportunities. Flotation aids will be available on board as well as kayaks and stand-up paddleboards.

  • There are no lifts (elevators) on board our ships, so you’ll have to navigate a few steep flights of stairs (fitted with handrails) to access all the decks.

  • French Polynesia is a tropical climate, so while the weather is normally quite warm in some parts of the year you might experience a heavy downpour of rain that lasts around 30 minutes or so.

  • None of the activities on the trip are included, they are all optional extras.

Boats

Panorama II Adventure Cruising

Panorama II

For all our cruises in Asia and select departures in Greece, your home at sea is the M/S Panorama II.

Itinerary

Ia Orana, welcome to Tahiti! This afternoon, you’ll make your way to your floating home for the next eight days – the Panorama II, which is docked in Papeete Port. Meet your fellow travellers, crew and leaders between 2:00pm and 3:00pm and after a welcome briefing and safety drill you’ll set sail for Moorea. On this trip, all meals are included on the boat, so you will enjoy dinner at sea before rocking to sleep with the gentle waves.
Accommodation
  • M/Y Panorama II (1 night)
Meals Included
  • Dinner
Special Information
Variety Cruises' itineraries are contingent upon weather and sea conditions as well as local port authorities. In cases where wind speeds reach 6/7 Beaufort or high swells occur, itinerary changes may be necessary. It is upon Captain’s discretion to alter the itinerary or skip port calls due to adverse weather or sea conditions to ensure the safety and comfort of passengers and crew.
You’ll reach Mo'orea first thing in the morning, which is easily spotted thanks to the eight huge mountain peaks that rise from its lagoon. This place is thought to have inspired the mythical Bali Hai from James Michener's Tales of the South Pacific. Today the optional activities are a Dolphin watching expedition and a Culture Eco Tour. Late in the evening you will depart for Huahine.
Accommodation
  • M/Y Panorama II (1 night)
Optional Activities
  • Moorea - Cultural Eco Tour - EUR75
  • Moorea - Dolphin Watch Expedition - EUR108
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
Today you will be exploring the two main islands of Huahine, a jungle paradise filled with tropical plantations including coconuts, vanilla orchids, banana groves, breadfruit trees and watermelon fields. Aside from blossoming with nature, Huahine is also known for its cultural significance – it was once home to Tahitian royalty and has many ancient temples known as marae in French Polynesian culture. Some of these date back as far as 700 AD! Today you can join a tour where you will be driven around in 4x4 vehicles to visit the small villages of Fare, which is an archaeological site and Maeva, a vanilla plantation. There will also be an opportunity to see and feed the sacred blue-eyed eels of Faie Bay. If you choose this option, you will return to the boat for lunch. Or if you prefer, you can spend the day at your leisure – either relaxing on the boat or exploring the area around the lagoon. Tonight, after dinner onboard you will sail towards Bora Bora
Accommodation
  • M/Y Panorama II (1 night)
Optional Activities
  • Huahine - Sacred Sites & Legendary Places tour - EUR87
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
Arrive in Bora Bora first thing this morning. After enjoying breakfast with a view of Bora Bora lagoon and the famous Mount Otemanu in the backdrop, you’ll have a choice of a number of optional activities to enjoy your day. These include a cultural tour with a local guide in a 4x4, or a snorkeling trip where you can keep an eye out for the sharks and sting rays. There may be more optional activities available on your trip, so have a chat to your Cruise Director about the different options. Tonight you will depart for Taha'a, overnight at sea.
Accommodation
  • M/Y Panorama II (1 night)
Optional Activities
  • Bora Bora - Tour by Le Truck - EUR58
  • Bora Bora - Snorkeling Tour - EUR99
  • Bora Bora - 4WD Cultural Safari - EUR104
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
Early morning arrival into Taha'a, which shares a magnificent lagoon with neighbouring Raiatea Island. This lush island is extremely fertile and is covered with banana, watermelon, vanilla orchid and coconut groves. Today you’ll have the chance to explore the beautiful island by 4x4 vehicle in an optional tour. You’ll visit a pearl farm and a traditional vanilla plantation. It’s also the perfect opportunity to try some of the local fruits that are grown in the region and take in some of the incredible views of Ha'amene Bay. The afternoon is free for swimming and snorkeling on the “motu”, or reef islet, or exploring the area around the reef on your own. Tonight, overnight in port.
Accommodation
  • M/Y Panorama II (1 night)
Optional Activities
  • Taha'a - 4WD Taha'a Safari - EUR97
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
First thing this morning you’ll sail across the lagoon to reach Raiatea, which is considered the homeland of the ancient Polynesians. While it was previously known as Havai’i, Raiatea translates to “faraway heaven” and “sky with soft light”. Today you’ll have the chance to take part in an optional excursion which will introduce you to the highlights of Raiatea. Meet your guide for an informative & intimate tour by minibus. Enjoy a panoramic drive through the main town of Uturoa, the cultural and administrative center of Raiatea. Shortly after leaving town, you will see Mount Temehani, endemic home to the Tiare Apetahi. Next stop is at the main ancient Marae (open-air temple) of Taputapuatea, which recently became a UNΕSCO protected site. Your guide will cover the origins and history of this famous land- mark. Here, you will learn about its Polynesian origins and historical relevance. In the afternoon you can join an optional Pearl Bed snorkeling tour, exploring the stunning reef where the mysterious black pearl is born. Learn all about the history and legends of pear farming. Tonight enjoy a captains dinner onboard. Overnight in port.
Accommodation
  • M/Y Panorama II (1 night)
Optional Activities
  • Raiatea - Anapa Pearl farm( half day) - EUR92
  • Raiatea - Tour by local Truck Marae Taputapuatea - EUR66
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
Special Information
In the morning you can discover the local market or join an optional canoe tour of the Faaroa River, French Polynesia's only navigable river, with an expert guide leading the way through Raiatea's verdant interior. After lunch onboard, you will sail to Papeete. Overnight at sea.
Accommodation
  • M/Y Panorama II (1 night)
Optional Activities
  • Raiatea - Faaroa River & Motu Beach Break - EUR88
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
This morning arrive into Papeete by 9am. From here, you will say farewell to your fellow travellers and the crew before disembarking the Panorama II.
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Meals

7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 7 dinners

Transport

Small cruise ship

Accommodation

Small cruise ship 7 nights

Dates & availability

Trip departures are unavailable.

There are currently no scheduled departures on our Tahiti & the Pearls of French Polynesia trip. If you are interested in other trips in the region visit one of the links below.

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Important notes

Your voyage is operated by our partner company, Variety Cruises.

SPECIAL BOOKING CONDITIONS
You are required to pay a non-refundable deposit of AUD600, USD600, EUR450, NZD600, GBP300, CAD600, CHF450 or ZAR6,000 per person per trip for your booking to be confirmed. Full payment is required 60 days prior to departure.
Please refer to our “Booking and Conditions” section on our website including the special conditions that apply to Adventure Cruising (Variety) trips for further information.

SHORE EXCURSIONS
On this itinerary, shore excursions are optional and are paid on board the ship in Euro’s. The approximate price and a description of these excursions are listed in the day to day itinerary. Please note all activities are subject to availability and require minimum numbers of customers to operate.

SINGLE TRAVELLERS
It is not possible to share with a stranger on a Variety Cruises voyage and single travellers must pay the Single Occupancy rate.

FELLOW TRAVELLERS
Your group will be a mixture of Intrepid booked passengers and other international like-minded travellers from Variety Cruises.

HEALTH SCREENING
Variety Cruises have implemented Health screening measures prior to embarkation and during the cruise for all guests and crew. This includes:
Mandatory pre-boarding health reporting and screening questionnaire.

Essential trip information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

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