Day 1 – Arrive Bora Bora, French Polynesia

There are direct flights to/from Tahiti (Faa’a International Airport) from cities on the west coast of the USA: Los Angeles and San Francisco.  We arrive at Faa’a International Airport, situated on the Island of Tahiti, then take a direct 50 minutes’ flight to Bora Bora.  Upon our arrival at Bora Bora Airport, located on the Islet of Motu Mute Islet, we meet the representatives of the Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora and take a boat to the resort.  We settle in our overwater bungalow suite, swim in the blue lagoon and have dinner in the resort.

Day 2 – Beach Day 

We spend the day in our resort.  We enjoy the resort’s exquisite white sand beaches and swim along young lemon sharks and manta rays in the lagoon.  After lunch, we snorkel, enjoy watersports and relax in our overwater bungalow suite.  In the evening, we degust the regional cuisine and watch a traditional Polynesian fire dance.

Day 3 – Snorkeling with Sharks

Our guided Snorkeling with Sharks Excursion explores multiple snorkeling spots, encountering sting rays, sharks and tropical fish.  We depart our resort and traverse the blue lagoon, stretching along Mount Otemanu.  Near the shallow sandbanks of the lagoon, we snorkel along a group of stingrays and schools of fish.  Afterward, we take the boat to the deeper waters of the lagoon, encountering blacktip reef sharks.  We take the boat a little farther to explore brightly colored coral gardens.  In the afternoon, we return to our resort and enjoy a dinner and a beautiful sunset.

Day 4 – Outrigger Canoe Expedition

Our guided Outrigger Canoe Expedition comprises snorkeling, swimming and sunbathing.  In the morning, we depart our resort and take a traditional Polynesian outrigger canoe.  We navigate across the lagoon and observe the magnificent peaks of Mount Otemanu.  Snorkeling in the shallow waters, we see finger corals, sea cucumbers, elkhorn corals, sea urchins, giant clams, tropical fish and sea turtles.  We enjoy a traditional Polynesian cuisine for lunch, then return to our resort.  We enjoy a relaxing afternoon and dinner, and then watch a featured movie outdoor on the beach.

Day 5 – Barrier Reef Exploration

Our guided Barrier Reef Exploration comprises snorkeling in the lagoon and exploring the barrier reef.  We depart our resort and take a speed boat to several snorkeling locations in the shallow waters of the lagoon.  Afterward, we dock the boat at the edge of the lagoon, walk through the forested land and arrive at an unspoiled islet and the barrier reef.  A rich diversity of marine life exists near the barrier reef, such as colorful coral gardens and abundant sea creatures.  We spend a bit of time on the beach and degust a Polynesian cuisine.  After arriving at our resort, we learn about the local basket weaving traditions and enjoy Tahitian music and dance performances.

Day 6 – Vaitape Excursion

We organize a boat transfer from our resort to the Vaitape Wharf.  The small town has several souvenir shops and jewelry boutiques, featuring beautiful Tahitian pearls.  We spend a few hours browsing for souvenirs, discovering Polynesian traditions and degusting local cuisine.  We enjoy a relaxing afternoon in our resort.

Day 7 – Beach Day, Ruahatu Lagoon Sanctuary  

We spend the day in our resort.  The Ruahatu Lagoon Sanctuary, an inner lagoon within the grounds of our resort, is a remarkable snorkeling location and a research center.  The lagoon is a vibrant ecosystem that hosts over 100 species of marine life.  We relax in our overwater bungalow villa and have a romantic dinner on the beach.

Day 8 – Arrive Tahiti Island, Papeete City Tour; Tahiti Departure

In the morning, we take a boat to Bora Bora Airport, then take a direct flight to Tahiti Island (Faa’a International Airport).  Upon our arrival, we take an organized multi-hour Papeete City Tour.  We drive a few miles to the center of city and visit numerous historic, religious and cultural sites.  Our multi-hour city tour explores the City Hall, the newly built Presidential Palace, the Pearl Museum, the Waterfront Esplanade, the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Municipal Market in Papeete.  After lunch, we drive back to Faa’a International Airport and take our international flight in the evening.

French Polynesia – The islands of the South Pacific Ocean were settled by the Polynesians, explored by the Europeans and colonized by the French.  French Polynesia, a collection of atolls and islands in the South Pacific Ocean, is an overseas territory of France.  The archipelago of French Polynesia comprises the Society Islands, Tuamotu Islands, Austral Islands, Gambier Islands and Marquesas Islands.  The Society Islands are divided into two groups: the Windward Islands (Îles du Vent) to the east and the Leeward Islands (Îles Sous le Vent) to the west.  The islands are encircled by barrier reefs and have protected lagoons that separate the landmass from the coral reefs.  The Island of Tahiti, part of the Windward Islands, is the largest island within the Society Islands.  It hosts the capital city of Papeete and Mount Orohena, the highest point of French Polynesia.  Tahiti enchants visitors with its lush rain forests, volcanic mountain peaks, warm turquoise waters, white sand beaches and fascinating culture.  The Island of Bora Bora, part of the Leeward Islands, is a famous tropical island.  Bora Bora is very popular with honeymooners, scuba divers and nature enthusiasts.  It is surrounded by coral reefs and has the most beautiful lagoon, a natural habitat for a diverse marine life.  The coral gardens mesmerize visitors with their brightly colored sponges, sea cucumbers, giant clams, sea fans and other species of marine life.  The turquoise blue lagoon and the open ocean are a habitat for diverse sea creatures, including blacktip reef sharks, stingrays, barracuda, lemon sharks, manta rays, sea urchins, moray eels and sea turtles.  Situated in the center of Bora Bora, Mount Otemanu is the remnant of an extinct volcano, recognizable by its high peaks, sharp edges and lush valleys.  Vaitape is the largest city of Bora Bora with several souvenir and jewelry stores and is a nice place to experience the traditional culture.  Bora Bora has a tropical rainforest climate, ensuring consistent temperatures throughout the year.  The dry season lasts from May to October and the wet season lasts from November to April.  The tropical climate, surreal scenery, underwater wonderland and exotic culture attract many visitors.  The Polynesian culture, inherited from the Mā’ohi ancestors, includes a rhythmic music, spirited dances and the ancient art of fire dancing.

Beaches & Coastlines – Bora Bora, a jewel of French Polynesia, has exquisite beaches and breathtaking coastlines.  The iconic island has abundant sunshine, tropical breezes and warm turquoise waters.  The calm blue lagoon and the surrounding coral reefs create a remote tropical heaven.  A collection of luxury resorts offers overwater bungalows, thatched-roof villas and beachfront estates.  Adventure-seekers enjoy a wide range of underwater adventures and watersports activities.  Seekers of solitude enjoy sunbathing on sandy beaches, swimming in the turquoise waters and relaxing in the shade of the palm trees.  Bora Bora’s landscape is defined by sharp-edged mountain peaks, rolling green bluffs and tropical vegetation.  Bora Bora is a world-famous island celebrated for its unrivaled beauty, spectacular coral gardens and blissful sunsets on the horizon.

Snorkeling with Sharks – Bora Bora’s protected lagoon environment is a fascinating underwater world with beautiful coral gardens and rainbow-colored marine life.  The Snorkeling with Sharks Excursion comprises snorkeling in different locations, encountering sting rays, sharks and schools of colorful fish.  We depart our resort and traverse the blue lagoon, gliding through the turquoise waters.  We enjoy panoramic views of Mount Otemanu, defined by sharp peaks covered with lush tropical vegetation.  We arrive at the shallow sandbanks of the lagoon to explore the vibrant underwater life.  We snorkel near majestic stingrays, admiring their gallant movements as they swim at slow speeds.  Afterward, we take the boat to the deeper waters of the lagoon, location of nourishing tropical gardens.  We observe exuberant black tip reef sharks swimming at fast speeds.  We take the boat a little farther to snorkel in the crystal clear waters and explore colorful corals and diverse tropical fish.

Barrier Reef Exploration – Bora Bora has an exceptionally beautiful barrier reef and coral gardens.  The Barrier Reef Exploration comprises a guided snorkeling in the beautiful lagoon and nearby the barrier reef.  It is a perfect sunny day as we depart our resort and travel through the calm lagoon.  Our speed boat traverses warm tropical waters toward several beautiful snorkeling sites, situated in the shallow waters of the lagoon.  We dock the boat at the edge of the lagoon and then walk a few minutes through the forested land.  We arrive at the unspoiled islet and at the barrier reef, and discover the rich diversity of marine life.  The pristine beach and vast ocean create a feeling of seclusion.  We snorkel in the shallow waters over sharp-edged corals, admiring the brightly colored underwater gardens.  We observe vibrant shades of soft corals, diverse species of hard corals and an abundance of sea creatures.  The bright sunlight, high visibility and unspoiled barrier reef create ideal environment to explore the underwater wonders of Bora Bora.

Vaitape – Tourism is a thriving industry in Bora Bora.  A selection of luxury resorts, high-end restaurants and exciting outdoor adventures await the visitors of the island.  Vaitape is the largest town in Bora Bora, situated on the western side of the island.  We organize a boat transfer from our resort to the Vaitape Wharf.  The town has several souvenir shops and jewelry boutiques, featuring beautiful Tahitian pearls.  Cultivated in French Polynesia, the Tahitian pearls are rare black pearls with dark tones of grey, silver and green colors.  We spend a few hours browsing for souvenirs, discovering the Polynesian traditions and degusting local treats and fruits.

Papeete (Tahiti Island) – Tahiti is part of the Windward Islands, a group of islands within the Society Islands.  Located on Tahiti Island is Papeete, the cultural hub and the capital city of French Polynesia.  Faa’s International Airport, a primary entry to French Polynesia, is situated a few miles from Papeete.  A 50-minutes’ flight connects Tahiti to Bora Bora.  Papeete boasts numerous historic, religious and cultural sites.  Our multi-hour city tour explores the City Hall of Papeete, a recreation of Tahiti’s former royal palace.  The City Hall, designed in the French colonial style and surrounded by gardens, features a yellow façade with a white-colored veranda, red roof and a clock tower.  The newly built Presidential Palace is the residence and government quarters of the president of French Polynesia.  The Pearl Museum, created by Robert Wan, educates about the history of the pearl cultivation in Tahiti.  The Waterfront Esplanade stretches along Nanuu Bay and overlooks Moorea Island.  The bustling Municipal Market in Papeete is filled with fruits, vegetables, handcrafts, textiles, jewelry and various other souvenirs.  The Notre Dame Cathedral is a historic Catholic church in the center of Papeete.

Outrigger Canoe Expedition – Polynesian people used the traditional Polynesian Outrigger Canoe since ancient times.  They used the canoes for fishing and for transporting people across the islands in the Pacific Ocean.  Nowadays, the traditional canoe is used for competitive racing, snorkeling excursions and the Island Discovery Expeditions.  The Polynesian Outrigger Canoe, a lightweight boat equipped with a wooden paddle, is designed to effortlessly glide across the ocean.  Traversing the crystal clear waters of the lagoon, we enjoy splendid views of Mount Otemanu.  The turquoise lagoon is a thriving habitat for diverse species of tropical fish and exotic corals.  Snorkeling in the shallow waters, we observe finger coral, sea cucumbers, elkhorn coral, sea urchins and colorful giant clams.  We are mesmerized by the flourishing coral gardens, the schools of tropical fish and a beautiful sea turtles.  The Outrigger Canoe Expedition preserves a Polynesian tradition and is a thrilling adventure.

Tropical Fruits – The remote islands of French Polynesia were created by volcanic activity.  The tropical climate and the fertile volcanic lands enable the cultivation of diverse tropical fruits across the islands.  Many varieties of fruits that are cultivated in French Polynesia were originally brought from other countries and continents.  Visitors may degust an array of tropical fruits, including breadfruits, coconuts, bananas, mango, pineapple and papayas.  Our favorite is the passion fruit, a round-shaped fruit, light yellow or dark purple in color.  The passion fruit is cut in half, showing an orange-colored pulp with small seeds and flavorful juice.  The ripe passion fruit is highly nutritious and uniquely delicious, slightly sweet and sour at the same time.

Fish – The seafood-based Polynesian cuisine perfectly incorporates its native culinary methods and the European and Asian culinary styles.  Freshly caught fish is the main ingredient, served grilled, steamed, marinated or raw.  Yellowfin tuna, swordfish, mahi-mahi and opah are few varieties of fish caught in the Pacific Ocean.  Coconut milk or lime juice are frequently used to marinate the fish or to make delicious sauces.  Across Bora Bora, the high-end resorts create Tahitian, Asian and French-influenced dishes, made with fresh seafood and locally sourced tropical fruits and vegetables.

Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora – Bora Bora is an exotic island in French Polynesia.  The Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora is a luxury resort nestled at the edge of Bora Bora’s beautiful lagoon, overlooking the majestic Mount Otemanu.  The overwater bungalow suites, set in shallow lagoon waters, offer ultimate luxury and relaxation.  The beachfront villa estates are set along the pristine beach and are encircled by a lush tropical vegetation.  The Ruahatu Lagoon Sanctuary, an inner lagoon within the grounds of the resort, is a remarkable snorkeling location and research center.  The lagoon is a vibrant ecosystem that hosts over 100 species of marine life, including eagle rays, octopus and diverse tropical fish.  The resort hosts sophisticated dinning venues, serving Polynesian, Asian, Mediterranean and French cuisines.  Bora Bora’s velvet blue ocean waters and the turquoise lagoon are ideal snorkeling and scuba diving destinations.  The Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora symbolizes tropical luxury.