French Polynesian Bucket List Trip to Tahiti, Moorea and Bora Bora

Days 1 and 2: Exploring Pape’ete and the Island of Tahiti

Upon arrival in Pape’ete, we checked into the Hilton Hotel Tahiti, which is close to the Fa'a'ā International Airport and perfectly situated for access to the city. The hotel offers a picturesque setting with a very nice infinity pool and stunning views of the lagoon and the island of Moorea across the channel.

We opted to rent a car on the second day in order to do a circle island tour of Tahiti, during which we made stops at the Pape’ete Market, the Arahoho Blowholes and Pointe Vénus, where Captain James Cook observed the transit of Venus across the face of the sun in 1769. During this trip around Tahiti, we also had a lovely lunch at Le Manoa in Taravao, which is situated on the narrow isthmus connecting Tahiti Nui and Tahiti Iti.

Days 3 and 4: Relaxing on the Island of Mo’orea

On Day 3, we took a quick 45-minute ride onboard the Aremeti Ferry from Pape'ete to Mo’orea’s Vaiare Marina, where we were met by a private car that took us to the Sofitel Kia Ora Moorea Beach Resort. After exploring the resort, we enjoyed the afternoon snorkeling right off the beach before heading to dinner at Rudy’s, a popular restaurant offering fine French cuisine with authentic island influences.

The next day we headed out on a pre-arranged 4x4 Safari Tour of the island with Francky Franck Tours. We visited Cook's Bay, a vanilla plantation in the "Tropical Garden" overlooking Opunohu Bay, pineapple fields and some special overlooks with impressive scenery. We particularly enjoyed tasting the locally made marmalade and taro ice cream along the way!

Days 5 through 10: Luxuriating in Bora Bora

From Mo’orea, we flew Air Tahiti to Bora Bora, where we were greeted upon arrival with flower leis by members of The St. Regis Bora Bora team before being whisked off to the resort by boat. As we arrived at The St. Regis’ dock, our personal butler welcomed us and proceeded to provide us with a personalized tour of the resort by golf cart. To add that extra touch, our butler gave our son a special welcome necklace with a magical Polynesian fish hook charm evocative of the one featured in Disney’s Moana. He was excited, to say the least!

Our premier overwater villa features amazing views of Mount Otemanu in addition to luxurious furnishings. The private deck with plunge pool was the perfect jumping off point for swimming and snorkeling in the crystal-clear turquoise water… that is when we weren’t sipping on champagne and enjoying the sunset from our chaise lounges.

St. Regis’ signature butler service did not disappoint. Our butler made sure we were well-equipped with bikes for all three of us that we could use for getting around the resort, and she was more than happy to deliver fresh French press coffee to our villa every morning.

Another wonderful feature of the St. Regis is its Lagoonarium, which is a protected underwater sanctuary for a variety of tropical fish and coral… all on property! We enjoyed snorkeling in the Lagoonarium and learning about the various marine life from the marine specialist on site.

During our stay, we also took advantage of a couples massage at the peacefully scenic spa, swam in the pools, kayaked in the lagoon, enjoyed a special Polynesian cultural show and took the complimentary boat shuttle to Vaitape Village, where we got the opportunity to explore a bit of local island life. In addition, we took a private catamaran sailing trip around the lagoon with Vitamin Sea, during which we sipped cocktails from a floating bar in the crystal clear shallow waters.

And over the course of our five-day stay at The St. Regis, we enjoyed amazing dinners at the resort’s Italian, Asian and Polynesian restaurants, as well as the over-water restaurant Lagoon by Jean-Georges where we dined on local produce and the fresh catch of the day. But the highlight was our private anniversary dinner by candlelight under the stars prepared exclusively for us… complete with a beautifully decorated table scape and special woven leis. Gratefully, the hotel concierge was more than happy to arrange a private babysitter for our son in our villa while we marked our special occasion.

It was truly a vacation in paradise… one we won’t soon forget!

French Polynesia stands out as a one-of-a-kind travel destination for its unparalleled natural beauty — from the crystal-clear lagoons and pristine beaches to the lush tropical landscapes and exceptional hospitality. You cannot go wrong with Bora Bora, specifically! When flying into Bora Bora on Air Tahiti, be sure to sit on the left side of plane in rows 2 or 3 if possible for spectacular views before landing.

If you’re looking for an unforgettable and intimate escape that’s filled with both relaxation and adventure, be sure to reach out to me. I’d love to help plan your dream trip to the islands of French Polynesia!

This trip report is part of our ongoing series on travel to French Polynesia. In need of further inspiration? Check out Andrew Bergeron’s guide, A Guide to Taha'a in French Polynesia.