Tahiti 1st time

[jmoyerdarr]

Hi. I've read a bunch of posts which were very helpful - thank you. Looking for a little more feedback from but those who have been. My husband and I will be traveling to Tahiti aug 16 (arrive 5am) thru aug 29 (depart 9:30 pm). we are celebrating an anniversary (20th) and birthday (60th) so while we want to dive we also plan to splurge on a few days of pampering as well. I'm thinking 4 nights Moorea (diving, maybe swimming with whales), 3 nights Bora Bora, 5 nights Fakarava (diving, probably staying on the north end but hopefully a day trip to the south), 1 night in Papeete.

Any feedback regarding time spent in each area (I wonder if it's not enough in Moorea or too much in Fakarava), diving/lodging recommendations, or simply a recommendations of something you are so glad you did or wish you would have skipped.

Thank you!

 

[ColoDale]

You will have to time up the inter-island flights and possibly travel to Papeete first. There is not alot to do in the Tuamotus than dive/snorkel. The diving on Fakarava will be better than the other two.

 

[Manuel Sam]

The itinerary as you outlined is very doable and Air Tahiti (the domestic airline) offers a multi-island pass, the Bora Tuamotu Light Pass, that allows you to do all of those places in the order that you listed. However, as I understand it, August is a very popular time with local and as well as European vacationers, so if your plans are pretty much set, don't wait too long to book.

I have never stayed in either Moorea or Bora Bora, but if you want AC in Fakarava, I know of only two places that offer it: Havaiki Lodge and Kaipolanie Gardens. I stayed in Kaipolanie in December and highly recommend it: it is cheaper than Havaiki and the owners are really nice - but it only has two bungalows so it is not easy to find availability.

 

[ACHiPo]

Another possibility for pampering and diving would be the Paul Gaugin cruise ship. It is a small ship (~250 guests as I recall), great food, and access to diving. No idea what their schedule would work for you at the time you're going, but I can highly recommend the cruise (and I don't like cruise ships).

World's Best Luxury Tahiti, French Polynesia, Fiji and South Pacific Cruises

tahiticruise.pgcruises.com

 

[Altamira]

Paul Gauguin cruises are great, but you would miss too much of other things to see and do on Moorea and Bora-Bora, two of the most beautiful islands you could visit. Diving is best in Fakarava, especially if you like drift diving, but there is not much else to do on the island. You might need AOW to dive the passes on Fakarava, depending on your actual real world dive experience and currency. Personally I would add another night to Bora-Bora, and subtract one from Fakarava because I love to dive, but I don’t live to dive.

 

[Shasta_man]

Having been to Bora Bora and Rangiroa and looking at how many nights in each, I would strongly suggest cutting one of the islands out and staying on each of the remaining islands longer. You can certainly get around but the issue is every travel day is spent mostly traveling whether coming or going and so it's lost. When leaving, you are out of there by noon if not before and when arriving, you probably get your room in early afternoon, so you are hanging out until then. By reducing the number of islands and travel days, you will get more time on the island to do things if not relax and snorkel. The three days in Bora Bora will be day 1 lost traveling, then 1 day relaxing, day 2 relaxing and packing your stuff to leave again the next day. Don't worry about missing anything on island 3, you will get a great vacation on the 2 islands. YMMV