Tahiti itinerary 3 weeks - My budget tour in Polynesia and good deals

You prepare your next circuit in Polynesia and look for ideas ofroute for visit Tahiti in 3 weeks ?

So don't miss out! Indeed, when considering a trip to Polynesia, it is often the trip of a lifetime, the one that we plan for a special occasion (honeymoon in Tahiti, 10 years of marriage, children's birthday gift…), one that must be 100% successful, that must be eye-catching and remain in his memory for life.

It is for this reason that it will be necessary to calculate its itinerary to visit the most beautiful islands of Polynesia, coordinate transport well, and think of everything:

  • When to go to Tahiti?
  • What formalities to enter French Polynesia?
  • How long ?
  • Which islands to visit in Polynesia?
  • Which itinerary for 3 weeks?
  • Which hotels?
  • What budget for a trip to Tahiti?

Without making a travel guide to Tahiti and her islands, I'm just going to share my route and my experience by addressing all the questions that I myself asked myself when preparing my 3 week trip to Polynesia.

Tahiti 3 weeks - My 21-day tour in Polynesia

See also my 2nd trip to Tahiti: 4 islands tour in Polynesia

When to go to Tahiti?

There are 2 main seasons in French Polynesia: the dry season, known as austral winter (April to October) and the wet season we call austral summer (from November to April).

The southern winter is the best time for a trip to Tahiti. Indeed, between April and early November, there is little rain and the heat is very pleasant.

Between the month of November and the month of March, it is a little less favorable because it will be necessary to endure some showers, a higher rate of humidity and strong heat ...

Going to Tahiti in October?

I had chosen to go to Tahiti in October to take advantage of a favorable climate (despite some rains) but above all to be able to watch the whales which come to breed at this time off the coast of Tahiti.

In fact, the best time to see the whales in Polynesia go from July to early November.

On the other hand, it is also interesting to go to Tahiti in October simply because plane tickets and accommodation prices are much cheaper than in July or August.

What formalities to enter French Polynesia?

No visa required for a tourist trip to French Polynesia (from France). You just have to check that your passport is still valid for at least 6 months after the date of return to France.

On the other hand, as my flight went through Los Angeles, I had to comply with the rules of entry into the United States: biometric passport + ESTA authorization (to be done online on the official website https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/).

Tour in Tahiti - How long?

I would have liked to spend a full month there but when I looked at the prices of accommodation and transport on site, I quickly reduced the duration of my trip to 3 full weeks there. I left Toulouse on September 30 and returned on October 22, 23 days including 21 days on site.

Circuit in Tahiti - Which islands to visit in Polynesia?

Among the must-see islands that I wanted to visit in Polynesia, were precisely those of BORA BORA -TUAMOTU pass offered Air Tahiti for its Multi-island circuit from Tahiti (the largest of the Polynesian islands where the capital Papeete is located):

  • Moorea 17 km from Tahiti for its proximity, its volcanic mountains and its beautiful beaches,
  • Huahine  175 km from Tahiti for its wild side with its preserved traditions,
  • Raiatea for its magnificent lagoon,
  • Maupiti for its beauty and its sweetness of life,
  • Bora Bora for its romantic side, its motus of white sand and its coral gardens,
  • Rangiroa for its worldwide scuba diving spot,
  • Tikehau to go to Pink Sand Island or Bird Island,
  • Fakarava for the pleasure of diving and for its dreamy beaches.

Bora Bora Tuamotu Pass in 3 weeks?

The concern I had was that I couldn't achieve combining all the stages of the Bora Bora Tuamotu Pass in just 3 weeks. Indeed, some of these islands have departures to the other islands only on certain days of the week. Suddenly, as I wanted to spend 2 to 3 days on each island, it was impossible for me to combine with my dates and the dates of the available flights a circuit with all the islands of the BORA BORA - TUAMOTU pass.

To choose the stage islands of my 3 week tour in Polynesia, I favored the islands closest to the Island of Tahiti by choosing the combined flights of the BORA BORA pass (€ 419). It allows to include in my itinerary the Windward Islands and Leeward Islands with: Moorea, Huahine, Raiatea, Bora Bora, Maupiti.

But I knew that among the most beautiful places in Polynesia, the Tuamotu archipelago is number 1!

So I had to give up Tikehau (no regrets) and that I add an extension to the BORA BORA pass (280 €) by choosing betweenFakarava atoll or Rangiroa atoll.

Fakarava or Rangiroa for my itinerary?

Rangiroa Atoll

Rangiroa is the 2nd largest coral atoll in the whole world. It is the most famous place in Polynesia for diving. Each year, divers from all over the world enjoy the pleasure of diving in the passes which are full of all the sharks, barracudas, parrot fish, turtles… of the Pacific.

But, you should know that this Atoll does not have superb white sand beaches… So, among the Tuamotu atolls, I chose theFakarava atoll.

Fakarava Atoll

Located 440 km from the island of Tahiti, in the Tuamotu archipelago, Fakarava Atoll is one of the 7 atolls classified as Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO.
This large coral atoll is also a scuba diving spot ranked among the best in the world. It is a site where you can swim with sharks in magical and paradisiacal places for diving like the Alibaba Canyon.

This atoll, perhaps because of or thanks to its remoteness from Tahiti, is preserved from mass tourism (far fewer divers than in Ranguiroa) and yet offers beaches of sublime beauty.

My tour in Tahiti 3 weeks stopover in the Tuamotus

Circuit in Tahiti - Which itinerary in Polynesia?

My flight with Air Tahiti Nui landing in Papeete on October 1 at 21 p.m., 45 night in Papeete, took the ferry on October 1 to Moorea then I did a series of flights from BORA BORA pass with theextension to Fakarava Atoll (350 € / person) as the last stop.

Here is the detail of my 3 week itinerary in Polynesia :

  • Papeete 10/01/15
  • Moorea 10/02/15
  • Moorea (MOZ) - Huahine (HUH) 10/03/15
  • Huahine (HUH) - Raiatea (RFP) 10/07/15
  • Raiatea (RFP) - Bora Bora (BOB) 10/10/15
  • Bora Bora (BOB) - Maupiti (MAU) 10/13/15
  • Maupiti (MAU) - Tahiti (PPT) 10/16/15
  • Tahiti (PPT) - Fakarava (FAV) 10/17/15
  • Fakarava (FAV) - Tahiti (PPT) 10/20/15
  • Papeete - Toulouse 10/21/15

See also my 2nd trip to Tahiti from October-November 2021: Circuit 4 islands + Moorea in Polynesia


Cheap hotels in Polynesia for my itinerary

For this 3 week tour full in Polynesia, I spent a total of 20 nights in guesthouse type accommodation, pensions and hotels. The total cost of the accommodation budget amounted to 2 Euros by choosing the cheapest formulas as a priority (see my selection ofcheap hotels in Polynesia).

What budget for a 3-week tour in Tahiti?

I was able to make a small estimate of the cost of this 3 week tour in Polynesia (see Tahiti Budget table below) but it must be taken into account that there are many expenses that will necessarily be added (souvenir gifts, purchase of cultured pearls, tattoos, sarongs, monoi, Hinano beers, etc.). 

This type of travel mode personalised tour is much more expensive than a trip to Tahiti in stay. In fact, it is the movements and transport of this type ofroute which are relatively expensive because they are added to an already substantial budget in terms of flights and expenses on the spot.

budget for 3 weeks in Polynesia (tahiti bora bora tuamotu)

And if you want to plan your honeymoon in Paradise, check out the article: Honeymoon in Polynesia

budget for 3 weeks in Polynesia PHOTO LAGOON TUAMOTU
TAHITI TRIP 3 WEEK LAGOON PHOTOS
3 week trip to Tahiti - Good deals on cheap hotels for my trip to Tahiti

And why not a stay in Maldives ou in the Seychelles ?

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