French Polynesia island hopping holiday
Description of French Polynesia island hopping holiday
From vibrant handicrafts markets to underwater coral gardens and sacred, UNESCO-listed religious complexes, this French Polynesia island hopping holiday is a wonderful way to see the Society Islands. As you venture from Tahiti to Bora Bora via Moorea and Raiatea by public ferries, you’ll stay in a succession of luxurious ecolodges powered by renewable energy such as solar – there’s plenty of sun in this part of paradise.
You’ll have a rental car at your disposal, so that you set the pace of your adventures. Our recommended itinerary takes you into the lush, scarcely populated realm of Tahiti Iti, where you can hike green valleys and enjoy stunning Pacific views from your mountainside bungalow. Then, from a beachfront lodge on Moorea, take an enthralling boat tour with a marine biologist, and perhaps snorkel with rays, turtles and schools of fish above colourful coral reefs – some of the best-preserved in the world.
It’s hard not to relax in French Polynesia – from the moment you step off the plane and the lei is placed around your neck, the rhythms of island life swiftly overtake you. This holiday enhances the experience, allowing you several days to enjoy each island. There’s a host of soothing activities available to you, such as a visit to a Polynesian spa, a traditional canoe tour of the Raiatea Blue Lagoon, or just time to soak up a gorgeous sunset from the beach.
This French Polynesia luxury island hopping holiday is a departure from the typical high-end stays here. Eschewing the all-inclusive resorts, it sees you staying in locally owned properties and eating at locally owned restaurants for an authentic cultural introduction to the Society Islands. It also makes a donation to a local marine biology association, working to ensure people can continue enjoying these islands for years to come.
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Responsible Travel
Planet
CARBON REDUCTIONEvery accommodation on this trip follows an environmentally friendly approach. They all use renewable energy, primarily solar power. Some are also built using natural materials like wood and bamboo, feature plant rooftops that provide natural cooling, help restore nature, and minimize visual pollution of the place.
Most of the food and beverages offered during the tour are locally sourced and seasonal. The restaurants at our accommodations source their ingredients from local producers in order to offer fresh and authentic meals.
ENVIRONMENT AND WILDLIFE
This itinerary includes an immersive participative science experience that has been fully co-created by our team and a local environmental association. Designed to deepen understanding and appreciation for fragile ecosystems, this experience allows travelers to learn about marine biology and actively participate in collecting data on coral health. A portion of the trip cost is donated directly to the association to support its environmental initiatives, including the development of educational programs.
We work hand-in-hand with local environmental NGOs and proudly support the Federation of Environmental Associations in Polynesia (FAPE). Together, we raise awareness about urgent environmental issues, including biodiversity loss, coral reef degradation, ocean conservation, and the importance of sustainable tourism. Each trip participates financially to support the FAPE.
We provide our own naturalist guides, all carefully selected from the local communities and trained by our team. Each guide is trained in hospitality, environmental awareness, and local culture. They also receive specific training for the tours we offer, ensuring they can deliver an enriching and responsible experience for our guests. We are currently in the process of obtaining official certification for these training programs.
People
People are at the heart of everything we do.We believe that travel should uplift—not only the traveler, but also the communities who welcome them. That’s why we work hand-in-hand with local communities, not only to co-create authentic and immersive experiences, but to ensure that tourism contributes to empowerment, dignity, and social impact.
LOCAL ECONOMY
All accommodations included on this trip are locally owned, ensuring an authentic experience and direct support to the local economy.
The tour includes a walking visit of the city of Papeete, where travelers discover local artisans and community associations. This experience provides economic support by including financial support to artisans and street artists while encouraging the purchase of locally made crafts and products, helping to sustain traditional skills and cultural heritage. Local guides enrich the visit with insights into the city’s vibrant culture, history, and daily life, offering a meaningful connection to the community and its people.
EMPLOYMENT, INCLUSIVITY AND DIVERSITY
Through long-standing partnerships with local associations, we actively support vulnerable women and children, particularly those affected by domestic violence. By sponsoring activities and experiences that are part of their healing and reintegration programs, we help create moments of joy, self-confidence, and connection—small but powerful steps on the path to rebuilding lives.
Between 90% and 100% of the people employed by us and our local operating partners are from the country. From our office staff to our guides, our entire team is composed of local people, mostly women.
We collaborate with marginalized groups, notably women experiencing homelessness, by sourcing all our guest welcome bags from a local shelter initiative. Each bag is handmade from recycled materials, offering both an income stream and a sense of pride to individuals facing difficult transitions.
We meet with members of our community who help bring the city to life but are often overlooked or forgotten, yet remain essential to what makes Papeete unique. As an example, we share moments with local musicians whose energetic sounds enliven the streets of Papeete, capturing the essence of the city.
All our partners are paid above the minimum wage and benefit from social security coverage. We are committed to fair working conditions and long-term, respectful collaborations with all our local partners.
This trip is LGBTQ+ friendly, designed to offer a respectful and inclusive space for all. It is also suitable for people with limited mobility, vision, hearing, or cognitive challenges. We are also actively working in collaboration with a local federation for people with reduced mobility (PRM) to further improve our services and ensure they align with their specific needs and expectations.
We are developing a “Trip for a Trip” initiative aimed at offering immersive day experiences to children from underprivileged neighborhoods. During these special days, the children will take part in environmental education activities designed to raise awareness about the importance of protecting our natural surroundings.
They will join unique experiences such as the “Corals for Our Lagoon” citizen science immersion and the Marine Epic, Dolphin and Horizons in the island of Moorea. These outings will be entirely funded through donations collected from our regular tours as well as contributions from individual donors, ensuring no cost for the participating children.
Every journey booked through us contributes directly to these efforts. This is our way of ensuring that travel leaves behind not just footprints, but hope, solidarity, and opportunity—woven into the very fabric of the places and people our travelers encounter.
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