You will embark on the Aranui 5 in the morning, receive a warm welcome from the crew and sail to Moorea island.

Moorea, or the “Yellow Lizard” in Tahitian, is a perennial favourite for many visitors to French Polynesia. Located less than 20km from Tahiti, or a 30 minute ferry ride, its proximity to downtown Papeete makes it convenient to access without living in the frenetic environment of the Capital. It is ideal for the locals who travel to town in the morning for work and return to Moorea’s slower pace of life at the end of the day. With no streetlights and only a handful of stop signs, once the sun sets, the island goes dark, illuminated only by the lights of homes and hotels. Visually, the island is stunning. The two nearly symmetrical bays on the north side, Cook’s and Opunohu Bay, with a large mountain ridge as a backdrop, are equally as impressive from the sea as they are from atop the Belvedere, a lookout point on Mount Rotui. Land and water activities abound on Moorea, giving you the opportunity to do as much or as little as you want during your visit.

Within the Polynesian triangle, Raiatea, or Havai’i as it was originally known, is considered the cradle of Polynesian civilisation. As the first island to be populated by seafaring Polynesians,, this is where all migration to New Zealand, Hawaii and Easter Island began. Taputapuatea, a 1,000-year-old large marae complex, or open air temple, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and regarded as the religious and spiritual centre of Eastern Polynesia. From here, navigators and sailors would venture out to settle new lands. Appropriately, Raiatea, with its main town of Uturoa, is the base for many yacht charter companies. Mount Temehani, the island’s most sacred mountain, is home to the tiare apetahi, a flower found nowhere else in the world, which only blooms at dawn.

The tiny island of Maupiti sits 40 kilometres to the west of Bora Bora. The main island, only about 11 square kilometres, is surrounded by a shallow lagoon with translucent waters and several long and smaller motus that make up the barrier reef. Secluded from the world, Maupiti offers a more authentic and traditional view of Polynesian life. Archeological sites such as marae, petroglyphs and graves dating from around 850 A.D. can be found across the island. A hike up to the peak of Mount Teurafaatiu offers an unforgettable panoramic view of the lagoon below and Bora Bora in the distance.

Bora Bora. A name that evokes visions of paradise on Earth. A playground known throughout the world. For two days, Aranui 5 will be anchored across from the village of Vaitape, where you will have ample time to discover how and why the island has earned its much-deserved reputation. You will begin your journey into the Pearl of the Pacific with a picnic on the private island paradise of Motu Tapu.

Only a 15-minute flight from Bora Bora, yet worlds apart, Huahine represents old Polynesia. Less visited than its glitzy neighbour to the East, this tropical Garden of Eden and its people have maintained the warmth and simplicity Polynesians are known for, mostly unaffected by the modern world. Huahine is actually two islands, connected by a small bridge. In the north, Huahine Nui, or big Huahine, is where the main village of Fare is located. Several marae and a small museum exhibiting objects and remnants from digs including stone fish traps, an ancestral method referred to as “lazy fishing”, and sacred blue-eyed eels can be found here. In the south, Huahine Iti, or small Huahine, though a little more rugged, offers a postcard image of gorgeous white sand beaches and a lagoon in varying shades of blues and greens at the tip of the island.

Disembark at Papeete, Tahiti with your fun-filled memories and beautiful tans.