Destinations · Australia & Oceania

French Polynesia.

Jagged green peaks, overwater bungalows & impossibly blue lagoons.

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The country

Few names carry the romance of the South Pacific quite like French Polynesia, and at the heart of it sits Bora Bora, the iconic, overwater-bungalow dream that draws travelers from the other side of the world. Its jagged green peak rises straight out of a lagoon so blue it hardly looks real, ringed by a necklace of palm-covered islets and water in every shade from pale turquoise to deep sapphire. It is the image most people picture when they imagine paradise, and it lives up to it.

But this is far more than a single island. Spread across an expanse of ocean the size of Western Europe lie one hundred and eighteen islands and atolls, gathered into archipelagoes that each have their own character. There are the soaring volcanic peaks and pineapple valleys of Moorea, the lush waterfalls and black-sand shores of Tahiti, the near-deserted motus of Huahine, and the ring-shaped coral atolls of the Tuamotus, where the diving is among the finest on earth. The thread that runs through them all is the Polynesian welcome, warm, unhurried and wrapped in flowers and song.

French Polynesia is an overseas collectivity of France, so the baguettes are fresh, the wine list is long and the currency is the Pacific franc, all set against a backdrop that is pure South Seas. We design island-hopping itineraries that string together the islands that suit you best, handling the flights into Tahiti, the inter-island hops, the lagoon transfers and the overwater bungalows, so all you have to do is slow down to the rhythm of the lagoon.

Capital: Papeete (on Tahiti)
Currency: CFP franc (Pacific franc)
Ideal trip: 8–12 nights
Best for: Overwater bungalows, lagoons & diving

When to go

The best time to visit French Polynesia.

French Polynesia keeps to two seasons: a dry, breezy austral winter that is prime for the lagoons and the atoll dives, and a hotter, wetter summer that carries the cyclone risk. This is how we read the year across the desk.

Prime season Shoulder Quieter & better value

May–June

Our favorite window: the start of the dry season brings warm, sunny days, low humidity, calm seas for island-hopping and superb underwater visibility on the lagoons and atolls, all before the busy peak.

July–September

Peak dry season: reliably blue skies, gentle trade winds and the best conditions of the year for diving the Tuamotu passes and lounging over the lagoon. It is the busiest and priciest stretch, so we book the marquee overwater resorts well ahead.

October–November

The shoulder months are still mostly dry and a touch quieter and better value before the humidity builds. Warm seas, fewer crowds and a good balance of weather and price for a relaxed island trip.

December–April

The wet season is hotter and more humid, with short tropical downpours and a chance of cyclones. The islands are greener and quieter and rates are lower, but the seas can be less settled and visibility more variable.

Where to go

The regions of French Polynesia.

French Polynesia is really a scatter of island groups, each with its own scenery, mood and pace, from the headline glamour of Bora Bora to the wild diving atolls of the Tuamotus. These are the islands we weave together most often, and we shape the route, the resort choices and the inter-island flights and lagoon transfers around the rhythm you have in mind.

Region

Bora Bora

The icon of the South Pacific: the jagged green spire of Mount Otemanu rising from a luminous turquoise lagoon, ringed by palm-clad motus and the world's most famous overwater bungalows. The headline of almost every trip.

Region

Tahiti

The largest island and the gateway, home to the capital Papeete and its lively market. Beyond the town lie black-sand beaches, lush interior valleys, cascading waterfalls and the surf breaks of the Teahupoo coast.

Region

Moorea

Bora Bora's dramatic, accessible neighbor, just a short ferry from Tahiti. Cathedral-like volcanic peaks tower over the twin bays of Cook's and Opunohu, with pineapple plantations, a snorkel-friendly lagoon and resident rays and reef sharks.

Region

The Tuamotu Atolls

A chain of ring-shaped coral atolls, including Rangiroa and Fakarava, where wafer-thin strips of sand enclose vast inner lagoons. The drift dives through the passes, swimming with sharks, rays and dolphins, are among the finest on earth.

Region

Huahine & the Society Islands

The quieter, time-warp corner of the Societies: lush, unhurried Huahine with its sacred sites and sleepy villages, alongside the vanilla island of Taha'a and the soaring peaks of Raiatea, the cradle of Polynesian culture.

Coming soon

More from French Polynesia on the way.

We're busy writing up our favorite French Polynesia experiences. There's far more here than we can list, so the fastest way to start is simply to tell us what you're dreaming of.

Plan a French Polynesia Trip

A sample journey

One way to spend a week in French Polynesia.

1

Days 1–2
Arrive Tahiti & Papeete

Land at Papeete and ease into island time on Tahiti: the bustling market, a black-sand beach and a lush valley waterfall, shaking off the long flight before the island-hopping begins.
2

Days 3–4
Moorea

Cross by fast ferry to Moorea, where cathedral peaks tower over Cook's and Opunohu bays. Snorkel the lagoon with rays and reef sharks, drive the pineapple road and settle into your first overwater or beachfront bungalow.
3

Days 5–7
Bora Bora

Fly on to the headline of the trip. Three nights in an overwater bungalow on the Bora Bora lagoon, with Mount Otemanu as your backdrop, a sunset lagoon cruise and snorkeling in the famous coral gardens.
4

Day 8
Mount Otemanu & the lagoon

Give a full day to Bora Bora's lagoon: a circle island tour by boat, a stop to feed the rays, a motu picnic on a sandbar and the chance to take in Otemanu's dramatic spire from every angle.
5

Day 9
Lagoon cruise & motu day

Slow the pace right down with a private lagoon cruise to the outer motus: swimming and snorkeling off a deserted sandbar, a barefoot lunch under the palms and a last, languid afternoon on the water.
6

Days 10–11
The Tuamotus: Rangiroa or Fakarava

Finish with the finest diving in the South Pacific. Fly out to a Tuamotu atoll for drift dives through the passes among sharks, rays and dolphins, before a final lagoon sunset and the journey home.

Every itinerary we build is bespoke: this is a starting point, not a package.

Getting around

By inter-island flight: Every trip begins at Faa'a airport on Tahiti, the springboard to the islands. Air Tahiti hops out to Bora Bora, Huahine and the Tuamotu atolls take under an hour, and we time them around your resort check-ins.
By fast ferry: Between the closer islands the ferry is the easiest link, with a fast crossing to Moorea in around half an hour. It saves a flight and makes a scenic, relaxed start to the island-hopping.
By lagoon transfer: The final leg is the loveliest: a boat or, in Bora Bora, a short transfer across the lagoon to the bungalow, often met with a flower lei and a cool drink. The resort's own launch handles it from the airstrip.
On the island: Once you are settled you rarely need to go far, with bicycles, snorkeling and lagoon cruises all on the doorstep. A circle-island drive or a motu picnic fills any day you want off the water.

Where to stay

Bora Bora: The home of the classic overwater bungalow, with a cluster of luxury resorts strung along the motus that ring the lagoon, many with glass floors and steps straight into the water. Our pick for the headline, once-in-a-lifetime stay with Mount Otemanu as your view.
Moorea: An easy ferry from Tahiti and a scenic, more relaxed alternative to Bora Bora, with overwater and beachfront bungalows beneath soaring green peaks. Ideal for pairing dramatic scenery and a snorkel-rich lagoon with a gentler pace and friendlier rates.
Tahiti: Most useful for a first or last night close to the airport, with full-service resorts near Papeete and the lush Tahiti Iti coast. A convenient base to ease in or out of the trip, with the market, museums and waterfalls within easy reach.
The Tuamotu atolls: For divers and true escapists, intimate lodges and a handful of luxury hideaways sit on the slender motus of Rangiroa and Fakarava, where the lagoon and the legendary pass dives are the whole point and the pace could not be slower.

Every inter-island flight, ferry and lagoon transfer is arranged and timed around your resort check-ins, so the island-hopping is seamless from the moment you land at Papeete.

Good to know

French Polynesia travel questions.

How many days do you need in French Polynesia?

Eight to twelve nights is the sweet spot. A week and a bit comfortably covers an ease-in night on Tahiti, a few days on Moorea and the headline stay on Bora Bora, all at an unhurried pace. Closer to two weeks lets you add the diving atolls of the Tuamotus or the quieter Society Islands like Huahine and Taha'a without rushing the island-hopping.

When is the best time to visit French Polynesia?

The dry season from May to October is prime, with warm, sunny days, lower humidity, calm seas for island-hopping and the clearest water for snorkeling and diving. The wet season from November to April is hotter and more humid with short downpours and a small chance of cyclones, though it is greener, quieter and better value if you do not mind the occasional shower.

Is Bora Bora worth it, and how do you get there?

Absolutely; Bora Bora is the iconic image of the South Pacific and a highlight of almost every trip, with its dramatic peak, luminous lagoon and world-famous overwater bungalows. You reach it on a short Air Tahiti flight of under an hour from Papeete, followed by a boat transfer across the lagoon to your resort, which we arrange and time around your arrival.

How do you get between the islands?

Most trips begin with a flight into Papeete on Tahiti, and from there the islands are linked by short inter-island flights and, between the closer islands, by ferry. Air Tahiti hops to Bora Bora, Moorea, Huahine and the Tuamotus take under an hour, while a fast ferry crosses to Moorea in about thirty minutes. We book every flight, ferry and lagoon transfer as part of the itinerary.

Do I need a visa, and what currency is used?

French Polynesia is an overseas collectivity of France, and entry rules generally follow French and Schengen-style requirements, so many travelers, including US citizens, do not need a visa for a tourist stay; we confirm the current rules for your nationality when we plan the trip. The currency is the CFP franc, or Pacific franc, and cards are widely accepted at resorts, though a little cash is handy for smaller islands.

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