Swiss long-haul travel specialist for over 60 yearsFrench Polynesia
Travel to French Polynesia
White sandy beaches, a turquoise sea, fascinating cultural diversity, colours, flora, extraordinary underwater worlds, exotic food, volcanic peaks, atolls, sunshine and constant temperatures of around 27 degrees – all this is what makes French Polynesia so special. But Tahiti and its islands have much more to offer!
The most popular tours in French Polynesia
Tahiti and its islands
The islands of French Polynesia lie in the southern Pacific Ocean and are the very essence of a South Pacific journey. Long, dreamy beaches of fine sand, turquoise water and a fascinating culture await you. The islands are scattered across 4 million square kilometres of ocean and offer a great variety of landscapes. The 118 islands are spread over five archipelagos: the culturally rich Marquesas in the north, the mountainous Society Islands, the Tuamotu atolls with their magnificent lagoons in the centre and, in the south-east, the slightly less well-known but equally interesting and varied Austral and Gambier Islands. Most of the islands are sparsely populated, and as many as 40 of them are still uninhabited.
The Society Islands
Tahiti, the main island and the largest in French Polynesia, is usually where you arrive in the archipelago. The capital, Papeete, has an international port and airport. Tahiti is a volcanic island, ideal for hiking, surfing and relaxing. A short ferry crossing or a brief flight connects Tahiti with the charming island of Moorea and its sapphire-blue lagoon. The other jewels of the Society Islands are Huahine, Raiatea, Taha’a, Bora Bora and Maupiti, all of which have a coral reef and a magnificent lagoon. Bora Bora, with its world-famous lagoon, is the epitome of any South Pacific holiday. It is not only the natural diversity of these islands that impresses – their ever-present, ancient culture is fascinating too. Visiting typical Polynesian villages, watching the dance and song performances held in the hotels and exploring traditional marae, the meeting places of the Polynesians, are all ways to discover Polynesian culture, and they are easy to combine with a beach holiday in the Society Islands. The hilly landscape also offers a wide range of experiences and activities. Whether from the air, on the water, on 4 wheels or on horseback, the range of possible excursions is limited only by your imagination. Discover these islands and let yourself be enchanted by their beauty.
The Marquesas Islands
The Marquesas Islands, around 4 hours' flight from Tahiti, are known for their jagged peaks, often shrouded in cloud, and have an almost magical atmosphere. The Marquesas are an ideal destination for anyone interested in the islands' original culture. Have you always wanted to see the monumental tiki statues, follow in the footsteps of Paul Gauguin and Jacques Brel, or visit the Baie des Tahitiens and the Marquesan villages? Then wait no longer! In this archipelago, ‘mana’, the ancestral Tahitian belief and way of life, can still be felt particularly strongly. In the valleys of the Marquesas you can still hear the chants and the pahu, the large traditional drum, echoing. You can also discover the dances, tattoos, sculptures and local crafts.
‘Mana’, the Tahitian way of life and belief, accompanies you throughout your stay on these wonderful islands. Understood as a spirit of ‘connection between nature and culture’, it is something visitors to Tahiti can experience through touch and taste, sensing the incredible bond the friendly locals have with their unique islands and with the extraordinary flora and fauna. It is a fascinating facet of Polynesian culture that you will not find in our part of the world.
The Tuamotu Archipelago
Long white-sand beaches lined with coconut palms and crystal-clear lagoons – that is what awaits you in the Tuamotu Islands, around an hour's flight from Tahiti. Not only will sun-seekers and beach lovers be in their element: thanks to the magnificent coral reefs, divers will find paradise here too. The Tuamotu Islands, a myriad of low-lying islands or ‘atolls’ – simple rings of coral set with lush islets enclosing sumptuous lagoons – are also known for the legendary Tahitian black pearl, which is cultivated here with great love, patience and respect for the noble blue oyster.
Culture in French Polynesia
Alongside tourist attractions such as typical Polynesian villages, the marae (important traditional meeting places), magnificent bays and lagoons and the tropical rainforest, French Polynesia offers numerous Tahitian festivals and cultural events all year round, which visitors from all over the world are invited to join.
‘Hawaiki Nui Va'a’ is a famous race in outrigger canoeing, French Polynesia's traditional sport. More than 100 canoes line up for the most famous race of its kind, which runs from Huahine via Raiatea and Taha'a to Bora Bora. The finish of this legendary race at Matira Point on Bora Bora is a spectacularly colourful moment.
‘Heiva i Tahiti’ is the best-known cultural festival in the South Pacific. After Tahitian dancing had been banned by missionaries for many years, its grand return was celebrated in 1881, and this marked the birth of the first ‘Heiva i Tahiti’ festival. Today, almost all the islanders celebrate Tahitian dance, music and song for weeks on end. ‘Heiva i Tahiti’ has become a symbol of Polynesian culture and is an important festival for the local people, who are proud of their roots.
Good to know
Tahiti: practical information
French is the official language, but the indigenous languages, including Tahitian, are still widely spoken in every archipelago. English is also commonly spoken, particularly in the tourism sector. The local currency is the Pacific franc (CFP or XPF), which is pegged to the euro at a fixed exchange rate. Credit cards are accepted in most hotels, restaurants and shops. Cash machines can be found at Papeete airport, among other places. The electricity supply is 220 V (110 V in some hotels), 60 Hz. Depending on the time of year, the time difference is between -11 and -12 hours. The water is safe to drink in the large hotels and restaurants, but bottled water is recommended on the smaller islands.
Best time to travel
Although there are no major differences over the course of the year, there are two main seasons: a mild, humid period from November to March and a drier period, also with pleasant temperatures, from April to October. The average water temperature is 26 °C.
Climate
French Polynesia enjoys a tropical climate and boasts up to 3 000 hours of sunshine a year. The pleasant temperatures are influenced by the trade winds, which blow all year round.
Food
‘Raw fish in coconut milk’ is a national dish not to be missed. Polynesia also produces countless tropical fruits such as watermelon, pineapple and mango.
Clothing
We recommend light cotton clothing. A good pair of shoes is essential for exploring the islands on foot.
Taxes
A local tourist tax is charged on most islands in French Polynesia.
Expenses
The cost of extras in French Polynesian hotels is comparable to that of upmarket hotels in Switzerland.
Tipping
Tipping is not necessarily customary in the South Pacific, and travellers may sometimes offend locals by offering a tip. However, some situations do deserve a reward, and in such cases a tip is welcome (amount at your discretion).
Domestic flights
Air Tahiti operates a good network with several flights a day. The main routes link Papeete with Moorea, Raiatea, Huahine, Bora Bora, Rangiroa, Tikehau, Nuku Hiva and Hiva Oa, as well as certain islands with each other, for example Moorea and Bora Bora, Huahine and Raiatea, Bora Bora and Raiatea, or Rangiroa and Tikehau.
Price on request.
Air Tahiti air pass
With Air Tahiti's multi-island passes you can visit several of the Society and Tuamotu Islands at an attractive price; extensions are available for the Marquesas and the Austral Islands. Each island on the pass can be visited only once, and the pass is valid for up to 28 days from the first flight. Our specialists will be happy to advise you on the right combination.
Price on request.
Ferry
Several companies run daily ferries between Papeete and Moorea. The crossing takes about 30 minutes.
Island combinations
You can combine your stay on at least two islands with hotels from the same chain and benefit from discounts. These are mentioned in the hotel description. They are valid for a limited period only and cannot be combined with other discounts.
Meet & Greet
The Meet & Greet is compulsory on arrival. If you book a transfer, the Meet & Greet is already included.
Christmas and New Year's Eve dinners
Most hotels in French Polynesia hold compulsory Christmas and New Year's Eve dinners. Price on request.
YOUR SPECIALISTS FOR French Polynesia holidays
- How it works:
- 1 Inspiration
- 2 Contact our specialists
- 3 Plan together
- 4 Experience French Polynesia
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