Every year my friend and business partner Jennifer Westfall Te Mana Holidays We host an annual group tour, one of the most unique tours in French Polynesia. Tahiti Escape. Unlike your typical resort vacation, this intimate trip combines the best of land and sea. Explore one island for a few days at a boutique hotel, then spend a few unforgettable nights sailing through another group of islands aboard a luxury catamaran. Designed for travelers who want to slow down, immerse themselves in Polynesian culture, and experience French Polynesia beyond postcards.
This year’s itinerary took us to the breathtaking Society Islands. 3 nights in Moorea Then 4 nights sailing the lagoons of Raiatea and Tahaa. I have visited French Polynesia seven times now, but somehow this trip was able to show me a completely different side of the island.
One of my favorite parts of this trip was the group itself. It’s intentionally kept small, making it easy to connect with other travelers who share the same love for beautiful destinations, meaningful experiences, and slow travel. By the end of the week, strangers felt like friends. Travels become more memorable when shared with like-minded people.
Mo’orea is one of the most beautiful islands in French Polynesia and a destination you’ll never tire of visiting again and again. A short ferry ride from Tahiti, it is famous for its dramatic volcanic peaks, lush green mountains, emerald valleys and two iconic bays: Cook’s Bay and Opunohu Bay. Surrounded by crystal-clear lagoons teeming with marine life, Mo’orea offers the perfect balance of adventure and relaxation. Whether hiking to panoramic overlooks, snorkeling with sharks, stingrays, and sea turtles, exploring pineapple plantations, or simply soaking up the island’s laid-back atmosphere, Mo’orea captures everything people dream of when they imagine French Polynesia. This was the perfect place to start our Tahiti escape before setting sail for Raiatea and Taha’a.
Accommodation at Cook’s Bay Hotel & Suites
On the land portion of the trip we stayed in beautiful accommodation. cooks bay hotel and suites, Nestled in one of Mo’orea’s most iconic bays.
I really liked this boutique hotel. The rooms were bright, modern, spacious and clean and had beautiful views of Cook’s Bay. The location couldn’t be better. It’s close to restaurants, shops and some of the island’s best activities, yet still feels peaceful and relaxing. The on-site restaurant quickly became one of my favorite restaurants, offering delicious meals with amazing waterfront views. It was the perfect place to unwind after a day of exploring.
Moorea Lagoon Tour
One of the highlights was the lagoon tour. wild meat tour. The lagoons of Mo’orea never disappoint. We spent the day swimming with blacktip sharks, graceful stingrays and sea turtles before stopping at a secluded motu for lunch.
What made this trip so memorable wasn’t just the scenery, it was the cultural experience. Captain Willfred shared Polynesian traditions by showing us different ways to tie pareos, teaching us how to prepare fresh Poisson Cru, and sharing stories about local life. It felt authentic, personal and incredibly welcoming.
Explore the Moorea by land
We also explored the island together. Moorea VIP Tour. This tour combines Mo’orea’s stunning scenery with its fascinating history and culture. We stopped at the famous Belvedere Lookout for panoramic views of Cook’s Bay and Opunohu Bay and learned about ancient Polynesian history and traditions. Of course, no visit to Moorea is complete without a stop at Rotui Juice Factory. There we sampled locally made juices, jams and fruit liqueurs.
After spending time in Mo’orea, we traded land for sea as we boarded a luxury catamaran to explore the breathtaking lagoons of Raiatea and Taha’a. These sister islands share one of the largest and most beautiful lagoons in French Polynesia, but each has its own unique characteristics. Known as the “Holy Island,” Raiatea is considered the cultural and spiritual center of Polynesia and is home to the UNESCO-listed Taputapuātea Marae, one of the most important archaeological and religious sites in the Pacific. Just across the lagoon is Taha’a, affectionately known as “Vanilla Island” for its world-famous vanilla plantations, fragrant air and slow, traditional way of life. These islands offer a beautiful blend of culture, history, lush mountain landscapes, secluded motus, vibrant coral reefs and some of the most pristine lagoons in French Polynesia, making them an incredible destination to explore by catamaran.
My first catamaran charter in French Polynesia
Despite having visited French Polynesia seven times, this was my first private catamaran charter. It has completely changed the way I experience this island. For four unforgettable nights, we sailed around the stunning lagoons of Raiatea and Taha’a aboard a beautiful 62-foot luxury catamaran.
Each cabin has its own private bathroom, creating a comfortable and intimate feel while still providing an incredibly luxurious experience. Our experienced captain took care of all the sailing while we simply enjoyed life on the water.
Every morning we woke up in a completely new place. Traveling by catamaran allowed us to visit hidden motus, crystal-clear lagoons, quiet anchorages and secluded corners of Raiatea and Taha’a that are inaccessible on standard resort holidays. Instead of rushing from one trip to the next, we explored at our natural pace, sailing the lagoon all day, stopping whenever we discovered an incredible snorkeling spot and taking in the beauty around us. As someone who loves being in the water, I don’t think I’ve ever spent so much time swimming on a single trip. Even after visiting French Polynesia seven times, I can honestly say that exploring the islands by catamaran has become one of my favorite ways to experience the islands. This is a slower, more intimate style of travel that allows you to truly disconnect, take in the incredible scenery, and discover a side of French Polynesia that many visitors never see.
life on board
I got used to the wonderful boat life really quickly and now I see why Jen kept telling me I had to experience the island this way. There was something incredibly peaceful about moving to the rhythm of the ocean and letting each day unfold naturally.
One of the things that really surprised us was how well we were looked after. Our wonderful hostess Nono prepared three fresh meals each day and every meal felt worthy of the restaurant. From delicate tuna carpaccio and fresh local seafood to traditional Polynesian dishes, tropical fruits, homemade desserts and unforgettable tiramisu, every meal celebrated the amazing flavors of French Polynesia. We were completely spoiled. Sharing a long lunch on the deck surrounded by the turquoise waters or gathering together for dinner after a long and eventful day quickly became my favorite part of the day.
Not to mention the amazing sunrises and sunsets we experienced every day!
endless snorkeling
We brought 2-3 different snorkeling spots each day. We explored vibrant coral gardens, snorkeled along crystal-clear waterways and jumped into water so blue it almost felt unreal.
One of my favorite parts about boat life was being able to jump into the lagoon whenever I wanted. Tahaa has the most amazing coral reefs I have seen in all of French Polynesia!
Hidden and unspoilt motus
One of my favorite parts of sailing around Taha’a and Raiatea was exploring the islands’ beautiful, remote motus. The small uninhabited island is surrounded by powdery white sand and incredibly clear turquoise waters.
Many of these secluded places are only accessible by boat, making them feel untouched and remote from the rest of the world.
Exploring Raiatea
Raiatea is known as the sacred heart of French Polynesia, but experiencing it from the water offers a completely different perspective. One of our most meaningful stops field equipmentIt is the most important sacred marae in Eastern Polynesia and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Walking through this ancient ceremonial complex added depth to our trip while learning about its importance to Polynesian navigation and culture.
discover taha
We also spent a full day exploring Taha’a. Manaba Tour with Hoani. The day included snorkeling in beautiful coral gardens, visiting one of the island’s famous vanilla plantations, enjoying lunch on a secluded motu, and learning more about daily life on the island. It was the perfect combination of adventure, culture and local craftsmanship.
While anchored around Taha’a, we visited the Manao Tahiti Rum Distillery to sample rum made locally using French Polynesian ingredients, then visited the Champon pearl farm to learn how Tahitian black pearls are farmed.
On board last night
On our last night on the catamaran, we enjoyed a beautiful cultural night on board with local musicians sharing traditional songs and live music under the stars. The atmosphere was incredibly special, with the lagoon completely surrounding us and the boats anchored gently in the dark, creating the most magical environment for the evening. What was even more memorable was that we all got involved, learned a few songs and interacted in a way that involved participating in traditional singing and dancing. It was such a fun and unexpected way to connect with Polynesian culture and each other, and honestly the most beautiful way to end an unforgettable week at sea.
This trip reminded me that sometimes it’s not the destination that changes, but how we choose to experience it. I had previously visited Raiatea and Taha’a, but being on a catamaran changed everything. Waking up somewhere new every morning, anchoring next to an untouched motus, exploring hidden lagoons, swimming whenever the mood strikes, and simply hanging out, the whole experience felt like discovering the island for the first time all over again. If you’ve already visited French Polynesia, I can’t recommend a catamaran charter enough, and if it’s your first trip, it’s probably the most unforgettable way to experience this amazing island.
A huge thank you to our amazing Captain Tomas and Hostess Nono!
If you’re reading this and dreaming about French Polynesia, I have some exciting news for you.
In 2027, Jen and I will be co-hosting our own event. Tuamotu AdventureI take travelers to two of my favorite islands in French Polynesia: Rangiroa and Fakarava.
This intimate trip combines luxury, adventure, world-class snorkeling, amazing marine life, local culture and unforgettable experiences across one of the most beautiful islands on Earth. If you want to experience French Polynesia beyond Bora Bora, I would definitely love to share this trip with you.
Learn more Reserve your spot here. There are limited places available. We sincerely hope for your participation.
Thanks for stopping by xo
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All drone photos by: Emmanuel Lachet.
