3 weeks in French Polynesia - Multi-island tour, Air Tahiti Pass?

To visit French Polynesia in 3 weeks, before choosing accommodation, you must first define the best circuit. The first difficulty is choosing the most beautiful islands and atolls to visit (see my preferences on Which islands to choose in Polynesia).

Tahiti

Then you have to know how to go to these islands (Air Tahiti Pass, ferry and / or dry flights…) and in what order to plan them in a circuit according to the duration of the trip.

Indeed, the connections between the islands of the Society Archipelago, the Tuamotu, the Austral Islands, the Marquesas Islands and the Gambier Islands are few and difficult to combine in a 3 or 4 week itinerary. Especially since on some atolls, aircraft rotations are limited to 2 flights per week.

For my last trip to Polynesia, I optimized a 21 day itinerary by combining the 2 most beautiful islands of the Society archipelago, the 2 most beautiful Atolls of the Tuamotu and a getaway to Moorea.

3 weeks in French Polynesia - Multi-island circuit

After my first trip to Tahiti in 2015, I made a 2nd multi-island circuit in French Polynesia in October-November 2021. And there, I wanted to enjoy the most beautiful lagoons, the most paradisiacal beaches, the most beautiful diving and snorkeling spots but also discover Polynesian culture and identity.

In 3 weeks, I was able to combine in addition to the island of Tahiti and Moorea, 2 islands of the Society archipelago and 2 of the most beautiful lagoons of the Tuamotu.

So I selected for my multi-island tour in French Polynesia:

  • Among the Society Islands: Huahine (for its authenticity and its culture), Bora Bora (for its undeniable beauty), Moorea (for its many activities and excursions) +
  • Among the most beautiful Atolls of the Tuamotu: Tikehau (for its paradisiacal side and its diving spots), Mataïva (for a stay closer to the locals: traditions, fishing, typical meals…).

See the photos of these islands at the end of my article.

3 weeks in French Polynesia - Multi-island itinerary

After selecting the islands to visit for my 3 week tour in French Polynesia, I went to the site ofAir Tahiti to choose the most suitable pass.

Indeed, by booking domestic flights via an Air Tahiti pass, the flights are cheaper than by booking them directly, all separately.

I built my tour by booking 4 flights with the Bora Bora Tuamotu pass :

  • 19/10/21 Flight Tahiti - Huahine - 4 nights in Huahine
  • 23/10/21 Flight Huahine - Bora Bora - 4 nights Bora Bora
  • 27/10/21 Flight Bora Bora - Tikehau - 4 nights in Tikehau
  • 31/10 / 21Flight Tikehau - Tahiti - 1 night in Papeete

Following, I added separately a stay in Moorea (ferry transport: https://www.terevau.pf:

  • 01/11/21 Ferry Papeete-Moorea - 2 nights in Moorea
  • 03/11/21 Ferry Moorea-Papeete - 1 night in Papeete

And finally, I booked an A / R Tahiti-Mataiva flight separately on Air Tahiti because it was impossible to integrate it into my Bora Bora Tuamotu multi-island pass:

  • 04/11/21 Flight Papeete - Mataiva - 3 nights in Mataiva
  • 07/11/21 Flight Mataiva - Papeete - 1 night in Papeete or more.

Multi-island tour in French Polynesia - Air Tahiti Pass

If you are planning a multi-island tour in French Polynesia, I advise you to book Air Tahiti flights as early as possible. This will make it easier to coordinate inter-island flights because you will have more availability. Indeed, some destinations are very popular so flights are quickly full and other destinations are poorly served (so few rotations).

For my last 3 week trip, I booked my flights using the recommended route of 3 islands of the Bora-Tuamotu Pass : Tahiti - Huahine - Bora Bora - Tikehau - Tahiti. And I added the return flight Tahiti - Mataiva in addition to the pass.

Of course, before booking your flights, plan accommodation on site. Indeed, depending on the period, some accommodations (especially the cheapest) are quickly full. Discover below the accommodations that I was lucky enough to be able to book for my multi-island tour.

Multi-island tour in French Polynesia - Hotels

Here are the hotels in the order of my multi-island tour in French Polynesia (all very well placed and with good value for money):

Which hotel in Papeete?

For my stopover nights in Papeete, I booked a cheap but air-conditioned hotel a 10-minute walk from the center of Papeete, the market, the caravans, the ferry ...

Certainly theSarahnui hotel is a bit old-fashioned, in an environment that is not really heavenly but it is sufficient for a few nights of stopover in Papeete:

multi-island circuit French Polynesia my hotel in Papeete

Which hotel in Huahine?

I had hesitated between the most beautiful hotel south of Huahiné and another beautiful place more isolated and therefore quieter ... I finally opted for the 2nd choice which turned out PERFECT: the Royal Huahine. But you should know that it will close during 2022 for a year of work and re-open normally in 2023.

Which island to choose in Huahine Polynesia
Royal Huahine Hotel

Which hotel in Bora Bora?

For my 4 night stay in Bora Bora, I found an excellent hotel not too expensive but ideally located on Matira the most beautiful beach of Bora Bora: theMaitaia hotel.

hotel in Bora Bora most beautiful island of Polynesia
Maitai Bora Bora Hotel

Which hotel in Tikehau?

To be honest, I wish I had stayed at Tikehau by Pearl Resorts. But the rates were way too high for my budget.

So I preferred to book a pension on a beautiful motu nearby: Hakamanu Lodge. And I did not regret it because the setting was simply heavenly and very peaceful because hardly anyone on the motus.

WHICH ISLAND TO CHOOSE IN TAHITI TIKEHAU
Hakamanu Lodge pension beach

Which hotel in Moorea?

For the 2 nights spent in Moorea, I chose an apartment accommodation at Moorea Sunset Beach. Ideally located in the north of Moorea, right next to the Tipanier hotel from which most excursions depart.

Multi islands in Polynesia - Hotel in Moorea
Beach hotel in Moorea

Which hotel in Mataiva?

There is no hotel in Mataiva but only 2 guesthouses.

I was able to book the pension at Mataiva Village which had been recommended to me by friends who had stayed there. Here is their contact details to book directly: pensionmataivavillage@gmail.com ou https://mataivavillage.wordpress.com/home/contact/

3 weeks in French Polynesia - Photos

Here is an overview of the islands and atolls of my multi-island tour in French Polynesia:

Belvedere of Tefareri in Huahiné one of the most beautiful islands of Polynesia
Panorama of the Belvedere of Tefarerii HUAHINE
Bora Bora among the most beautiful islands in Polynesia for my 4 islands tour
Bora Bora
Air Tahiti Bora Bora stage pass itinerary
Bora Bora
tikehau in my 3 week French Polynesia tour
Tikehau
Multi-island tour French Polynesia
Tikehau
in the waters of the most beautiful lagoons of French Polynesia
snorkeling in French Polynesia
In the Tuamotus

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