Recline in the shade of a swaying palm tree, cocktail in hand, while your charter yacht sits in the flat-calm lagoon waters of your own private ‘motu’ and the children explore the local reef with the crew. From the chic restaurants and spas of Papeete to the remote anchorages and pristine forest of the remote islands, Tahiti is a Polynesian Paradise.
Embark in the capital Papeete and head west for a short crossing to neighbouring Moorea, from which you will spend the afternoon exploring the island’s tropical treasures, either by 4 wheel drive or scooter. Enjoy dinner at anchor, soaking in the view of twinkling stars and jagged mountainous peaks.
Weigh anchor and head to the other side of Moorea to explore its greatest trump card: its water. In the morning, swim with huge, gracefully soaring manta rays, or suit up and head to a reef for a scuba dive like no other you have experienced. After a gourmet picnic lunch on the white-sand beach, head into deeper water to try out the sport fishing, or relax ashore while the kids try out their skills at the beach Olympics. After dinner at anchor, you will head to Huahine in preparation for tomorrow’s adventure.
Huahine has a huge area of tropical jungle to explore on foot or horseback, or you can visit the sacred ancient temples hidden among the dense jungle, eat the abundant tropical fruits or take a 4 wheel drive tour of the island. Or take to the water on jet-skis to see the coastline from a unique and thrilling perspective. Surfers should be sure not to miss the legendary waves of Huahine, at Ava Mo’a Pass near the reef at Fare.
After cruising west for two to three hours, you will reach these once-conjoined islands encircled by a richly populated reef. Raitatea and Taha’a are more developed than Huahine and offer more in the way of shore-side pampering and activities. Visit one of the many pearl farms and pick up some delicately hued souvenirs, then enjoy spa treatments at one of the local resorts. Watch an evening performance from the colourfully dressed local dancers before returning to the yacht for a freshly caught fish dinner.
After a leisurely morning enjoying the reef by kayak or snorkelling, set out on the two-hour crossing to magical Bora Bora. Protected by a reef and lagoon, the calm waters are a perfect place to pick an anchorage for the last two days of your Tahiti yacht charter. Like many of the land forms in this region, Bora Bora was originally created by a now-extinct volcano. Hike up to the summit of Mount Otemanu to see the island in all its gem-coloured glory, before heading back to the water and exploring the reef before you reluctantly head back to Tahiti by air in the evening.
With 300 islands dotted around Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, the two major islands, you are spoiled for choice on a yacht charter in Fiji. Divide your time between exploring the world’s most beautiful reefs, visiting the friendly village outposts and hiking through pristine rainforests.
Fiji is every inch the Pacific island perfection. Consisting of 322 islands and 522 smaller islets, the two most important islands are Viti Levu and Vanua Levu. They are mountainous, with peaks up to 1,300 metres, and covered with thick tropical forests.
On a Tahiti yacht charter, you truly experience the South Pacific dream. Drop anchor in flat-calm lagoons encircled by chains of uninhabited low islands or ‘motu’, while local Maohi fishermen in outrigger canoes paddle up to offer you the day’s catch.