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Explore the landscape of French Polynesia.

Marquesas, Tuamotus & Society Islands

Example 15 Day Cruise aboard Paul Gauguin
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On this two-week South Pacific cruise, first call at the breathtaking isle of Bora Bora. Then it's on to the Tuamotus, specifically Fakarava, an atoll known for its pristine beaches, rare wildlife, and exceptional diving. Next, explore the mist-covered Marquesas, where you discover the islands of Fatu Hiva, Hiva Oa, Ua Huka, and Nuku Hiva. On these wild islands find waterfalls, wild stallions, tiki sculptures, and an arboretum, among other delights. More enjoyment awaits on Taha'a (Motu Mahana), your own private motu, and a day at spectacular Moorea.
Paul Gauguin sits outside Bora Bora.Travelers getting ready to scuba dive.Four-wheel drive excursion around the island.Local Tahitian singing.Explore the landscape of French Polynesia.
Highlights
  • Visit Fakarava, the remote island sanctuary for rare birds and plants
  • Explore the island of Hiva Oa, the burial place of artist Paul Gauguin
  • Search for humpback whales in the warm waters of the South Pacific
  • Spend time snorkeling, kayaking, or paddleboarding in Bora Bora
Places Visited
  • South Pacific
  • Tahiti
  • Atuona
  • Bora Bora
  • Fakarava
  • French Polynesia
  • Hiva 'Oa
  • Huahine
  • Marquesas Islands
  • Moorea
  • Nuku Hiva
  • Oceania
  • Omoa
  • Papeete
  • Polynesia
  • Society Islands
  • Taha'a
  • Tahuata
  • Taiohae
  • Tuamotu Islands
Activity Level: Relaxed
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
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Full Itinerary

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Day 1: Embark Paul Gauguin in Papeete, Tahiti

The islands of Polynesia are a gorgeous collection of volcanic atolls strewn across the grand Pacific Ocean, and the island of Tahiti is the largest of all 118. Explore the dynamic dining, nightlife, and shopping in the capital city of Papeete before embarking on The Gauguin.

Day 2: At Sea

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Spend the day enjoying the Paul Gauguin's Polynesian ambience: casual, leisurely, and graceful. Perhaps take in a lecture on local wildlife or history, then dine in the evening over classic French cuisine at L'Etoile.

Day 3: Fakarava, Tuamotus

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Before modern navigation, this region was known as the “Dangerous Archipelago” for its shallow passages. Today, that same characteristic makes Fakarava a diver’s paradise. Those who prefer to stay on dry land can explore charming villages, ancient temples, and a 19th-century coral church.

Day 4: At Sea

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Take another day to enjoy shipboard life: relax poolside, watch the South Pacific slip by, play some table tennis, or take advantage of the Reading Library.

Day 5: Omoa, Fatu Hiva, Marquesas Islands

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
The southernmost island in the Marquesas, Fatu Hiva may also be the most beautiful. This remote paradise has no airstrip, only one road, and just 500 residents. A century ago, the island was known as a haven for sailors looking to avoid the attention of the authorities. Today, it's known for the production and sale of tapa, beaten bark cloth decorated in ink with traditional Polynesian artwork.

Day 6: Atuona, Hiva Oa, Marquesas Islands

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Above the steady rumble of the Pacific surge, the sharply sculpted mountains of Hiva Oa hide their summits in the mists of rain-filled clouds. The largest and most fertile island in the southern group of the Marquesas, Hiva Oa has deep valleys, lush plateaus, and thickly wooded forests. The main town of Atuona is a favorite port of call for yachters, who dock within Traitors Bay. And, Paul Gauguin himself called the town home and is buried on the island.

Day 7: Hapatoni, Tahuata, Marquesas Islands

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Its name means “sunrise” in Marquesan, and this tiny, 19-square-mile island in the Marquesas archipelago is just as beautiful as the name suggests. Visitors arrive via the charming seafront village of Hapatoni, with tamanu trees shading an ancient paved royal walkway and the air smelling of tiare and frangipani. The island’s beauty extends to its architecture too, especially its huge Catholic church, which was built by the Vatican and decorated with stunning stained-glass windows and beautiful local carvings.

Day 8: Taiohae, Nuka Hiva, Marquesas Islands

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
A charming seafront village, Taiohae is the administrative, economic, educational, and health center of the Marquesas Islands and the gateway to the island of Nuku Hiva’s natural beauty. Visitors are enchanted by lush valleys, impossibly blue bays, sky-high waterfalls, and ancient ruins—it’s no wonder Nuku Hiva is called “Mystic Island.” Witness Mother Nature at her best with an optional 4x4 excursion through the Taipivai Valley. 

Day 9-10: At Sea

  • Ship
  • 2 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 2 Dinners
The next two days are at sea, which affords you plenty of time to relax and enjoy the amenities and entertainment onboard The Gauguin, like the award-winning spa, casino, and lectures by onboard experts. 

Day 11: Huahine, Society Islands

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Huahine is known as “The Garden Island” for its beautiful rainforests, dramatic terrain, and enchanting lagoon. Explore some of the abundant archaeological treasures – ancient homes, buildings, and marae (stone platforms that served as places of worship) – excavated and preserved throughout the island. Or dive in Huahine’s crystalline lagoon, which teems with over 450 species of fish.

Day 12: Bora Bora, Society Islands

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
The dream destination of Bora Bora just begs to have its picture taken, with lush peaks, white sand beaches, and romantic lagoons. But perhaps Bora Bora’s most iconic image that of Mount Otemanu, with its jagged, emerald-hued peaks rising high above the shoreline. With only 4,225 inhabitants and a laid-back, island vibe, visitors to this beautiful corner of the world can’t help but just relax and take it all in.

Day 13: Taha'a (Motu Mahana), Society Islands

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Embark on your choice of exciting shore excursions today, or spend your whole day relaxing on Motu Mahana, a private islet. Enjoy swimming, snorkeling, and kayaking, or simply lounge on the beach with a chilled beverage from the floating bar. Musical entertainment is provided and traditional Polynesian crafts are demonstrated. A delicious barbecue lunch is provided. 

Day 14: Moorea | Papeete, Tahiti

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Vibrant colors abound on Moorea, in everything from fresh fruits and flowers to multi-hued lagoons, and from spectacular mountain peaks to palm-fringed beaches. Shop for local handicrafts, embark on an optional dolphin-watching expedition with a marine biologist, and sample the local pineapples, said to be the most delicious in all of French Polynesia. 

Day 15: Disembark in Papeete, Tahiti

  • 1 Breakfast
Tahiti’s capital city of Papeete welcomes you back with emerald hillsides, sapphire waters, and warm breezes. If you’re not ready for your South Pacific vacation to end, spend a few days here experiencing resorts, spas, restaurants, nightlife, and shopping. 

Ship/Hotel

Paul Gauguin

Local Entertainers
Relaxing on the balcony of the Paul Gauguin.
Gourmet meals complete your luxurious South Pacific cruise

Dates & Prices

My Preferred Start Date

Per person starting at
$7,550
Rates are dynamic and fluctuate based on capacity. Contact us for a specific quote.
Porthole stateroom F
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Porthole Stateroom (F)
14 staterooms, 200 sq feet, two portholes
Window Stateroom E
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Window Stateroom (E)
37 staterooms, 200 sq feet, picture window. Some have a loveseat convertible for third guest accommodations.
Balcony Stateroom D
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Balcony Stateroom (D)
26 staterooms, 202 sq feet with 37 sq feet veranda. Some have a loveseat convertible for third guest accommodations.
Balcony stateroom C
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Balcony Stateroom (C)
63 staterooms, 202 sq feet with 37 sq feet veranda. Some have a loveseat convertible for third guest accommodations.
Veranda suite B
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Veranda Stateroom (B)
17 staterooms, 249 sq feet with 56 sq feet veranda. Butler service. Can accommodate a third guest with a rollaway.
veranda suite A
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Veranda Suite (A)
5 suites, 300 sq feet with 58 sq feet veranda. Butler service, can accommodate 4 guests by adding two rollaways.
Grand Suite
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Grand Suite
2 suites, 332 sq feet with 197 sq feet veranda. Butler service, can accommodate 4 guests by adding two rollaways.
Owners suiteOwners Suite
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Owners Suite
2 suites with 437-531 sq feet and a 57-77 sq feet veranda. Butler service, separate dressing area, can accommodate 4 guests by adding two rollaways.

Notes

-  Port, security, and handling fees of $140 to $320 are included.
- Cruise fare does not include optional shore excursions, available to purchase, and additional fees.
- Cruise fuel surcharges may apply.
- Rates are posted as double occupancy. Subject to availability, may not be combinable with other offers, are capacity controlled, and may be withdrawn at any time without prior notice. 
- PGC reserves the right to limit the number of single-occupancy cabins on any sailing. Single supplements are available at 100% for categories OG, OS, A, and B. Categories C, D, E, and F have a much smaller or different single supplement. Single supplements are in addition to listed cruise fare and vary by voyage. Contact us for exact rates.
- Optional hotel stays, Land programs, and Air programs are available, please contact us for details.
Included
  • 14 Breakfasts, 13 Lunches, 14 Dinners
  • 14 Nights Accommodations
  • Accommodations as listed
  • Ground transportation as listed
  • Activities as listed
  • Meals as listed
  • Access to a 24-7 Emergency line while traveling
  • Room Service 
  • Wifi
  • Complimentary drinks, including select wines and spirits, beers, soft drinks, bottled water, and hot beverages
  • Onboard Gratuities for Room Stewards and Dining Staff
  • Complimentary Water Sports 
  • Day at a private islet - Motu Mahana
  • Access to a private beach on Bora Bora 
  • Enrichment lectures
  • Polynesian activities
  • Shipboard Entertainment
Excluded
  • Travel Insurance
  • Personal Expenses
  • Flight costs (please request a quote)
  • Additional excursions during free time
  • Fuel and transportation surcharges (when applicable)
  • Pre- or Post-cruise hotel  
  • Premium liquors, specialty wines, and certain Cognacs incur an additional charge

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Our guide and driver were very good with their knowledge and were very helpful with our questions. It was a very pleasant visit that would have been impossible to do on our own. Hotels and restaurants were fantastic. The special places we got to go to, like the kitchens, were great. Enjoyed the entire trip!
Meyer Smolen

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