Circuit 4 islands in Polynesia or 5 islands - Which islands to choose?

For my second trip to Tahiti, I wanted to do a tour of 4 islands in Polynesia or 5 islands (including Moorea) but difficult to know which islands to choose?

Indeed, between the Society archipelago (Windward Islands and Leeward Islands), the Tuamotu, the Marquesas Islands, the Austral Islands and the Gambier Islands, choose the most beautiful islands of Polynesia rise to the challenge! Especially since the archipelagos are quite remote, the rotations of planes rather limited and the number of days of the trip as well.

But during my first trip to Polynesia, I had the opportunity to discuss with Polynesians who had given me good advice and good addresses.

Today, back from this magnificent 2nd trip (see my photos on Instagram), I will tell you my choice of islands to visit and my real favorites in Polynesia.

So, if you are going to Polynesia for the first time, here are some tips for a ideal itinerary combining the 4 most beautiful islands of Polynesia achievable in 3 weeks or more.

Which islands to choose in Polynesia?

Among the most beautiful islands of French Polynesia, the most visited are Bora Bora (the pearl of the Pacific), Moorea (for its proximity to Tahiti) and Rangiroa (best diving spot). They are certainly essential islands of Polynesia but not necessarily the most beautiful or the most interesting. There are indeed other islands with equally magnificent lagoons, more authentic, more interesting and more pleasant because mass tourism does not exist there !!!

This is why I designed my itinerary including the mythical Bora Bora for its exceptional lagoon, Moorea for its many activities and other islands that will remain my absolute favorites: Huahine, Tikehau et Mataïva.

Which islands for a 4-island tour in Polynesia?

I would have liked to be able to enjoy the most beautiful islands of all the archipelagos of Polynesia but it is impossible in just 3 weeks.

I had to content myself with favoring 2 archipelagos: the islands of the Society archipelago and the magnificent Tuamotu atolls. And it was a good choice because my circuit knew how to combine the beauty of the lagoons, paradisiacal beaches, underwater fauna and flora, authenticity and culture.

Here below are the 4 most beautiful islands chosen for my 2nd trip to Polynesia to which I added Moorea:

Most beautiful islands in Polynesia: Bora Bora

It is not for nothing that Bora Bora is nicknamed the Pearl of the Pacific and that its splendid lagoon is famous around the world. Indeed, even if some say that Bora Bora is too touristy, this island is worth a visit!

In fact, I was surprised when I arrived in the far south of the island on Matira beach. Forced to note that the coast is not at all affected by mass tourism. In fact Bora Bora is surrounded by small motus where the large luxury hotels and their overwater bungalows are located. However, these are where all the tourists gather, especially Americans.

Indeed, on the whole coast which borders the most beautiful public beach of Bora Bora (Matira), the hotels are few and do not distort the landscape at all. The beach remains wild and uncrowded. It is shared with tourists, locals and dogs!

Along the Matira beach, we find small guesthouses, small hamlets where the life of the locals is not impacted by tourists (who remain to do the lizards on their stilts).

For my accommodation, I chose theMataia hotel because very well placed on Matira beach and ideal starting point for excursions on the lagoon and perfect location for visiting Bora Bora (car rental a few meters).

Most beautiful islands in Polynesia - Huahine

It is because I already knew Huahine that I decided to go back a second time. Indeed, this island is a small Polynesian treasure preserved from mass tourism: Wild and magnificent nature, strong cultural identity and maintenance of traditions, wonderful welcome and kindness of the locals ...

To visit it, you have to go to the tourist office in Fare (warm welcome, good advice on visits, stories and legends of the island).

It is an island where we cut ourselves off from the whole world, where we resource ourselves in peace and where we take in the view!

For my accommodation, I did not choose the most beautiful hotel in the South of the Island but a more exceptional and quieter place because isolated (15 minutes by boat): the Royal Huahine.

Most beautiful atoll in Polynesia: Tikehau

This Tuamotu atoll has the most beautiful white and pink sand beaches in Polynesia. It is a real favorite!

With a very rich and varied marine life, its lagoon is in my opinion the most beautiful and wildest of all.

We see turtles, many sharks, rays (mantas, leopards, stingrays), barracudas, parrot fish and this without even diving.

It is a true paradise for snorkeling but also for surprising walks from motus to motus on foot along the sandbanks. These paradisiacal landscapes are also very easy to discover by kayak.

HAPPINESS in Robinson Crusoe version!

Tikehau is a pearl-shaped atoll which forms an immense turquoise basin 28 km in diameter surrounded by motus all as beautiful as each other.

There are few accommodations on this Atoll. My budget did not allow me to stay on the Tikehau by Pearl Resorts.

But I chose a pension on the motu next door which was a wonderful find: Hakamanu Lodge. Indeed, to summarize: I was in PARADISE! The setting was idyllic with hardly anyone on the motus.

Live Polynesia with Polynesians: Mataiva

Among the most beautiful islands in French Polynesia, I also chose Mataïva. It is a magnificent Tuamotu Atoll very sparsely inhabited and little known to tourists. In fact, it was a Polynesian who advised me to choose this atoll for my tour of 4 islands in Polynesia.

Mataiva has the only alveolar lagoon in Polynesia (70 interior basins and 9 channels). Its waters are an almost fluorescent turquoise!

In addition to the beauty of the site, the main interest in choosing Mataiva among the most beautiful islands of Polynesia is for the contact with the Polynesians.

Indeed, when you book one of the 2 unique pensions in Mataiva, you are in total immersion on a daily basis with the owners. In the price of the pension, everything is included and organized by the family pension: Transfers, accommodation, full board, entertainment and excursions.

Unfortunately, I don't have any photos to show you (rushed departure due to a family problem) but I asked the pension to send me to publish them on this article. I'm waiting for them ...

To contact and book the pension at Mataiva Village, here are their contact details:

Edgar Tetua: pensionmataivavillage@gmail.com ou https://mataivavillage.wordpress.com/home/contact/

Moorea to add to a 4 islands tour in Polynesia

Moorea is not the most beautiful island in Polynesia but it would be a shame not to include it in an inter-island circuit because it has beautiful beaches and other attractions not to be missed. I had some memorable experiences there: swimming with rays and sharks, seeing humpback whales, going up to the Belvédère ...

In addition, Moorea is easily accessible from Papeete. In just 30 minutes by boat you are on a very nice and lively island. And the icing on the cake, the fastest crossing is not expensive (see prices on: https://www.terevau.pf).

So, if you have enough time, I strongly advise you to add this island to your tour of 4 islands or 5 islands in Polynesia.

My home (Moorea Sunset Beach), I chose it in the north of the island for its ideal location near the Tipanier hotel, where most excursions depart. It is in particular from the Tipaniers beach that you can rent a boat without a license to go swimming with stingrays ...

Circuit 4 islands in Polynesia or 5 islands - Which itinerary?

Once I chose the 4 most beautiful destinations for my tour of 4 islands in Polynesia (+ Moorea), I had some difficulties integrating them into an itinerary of a little over 3 weeks. I had to combine a Bora Bora Tuamotu pass + a return ferry trip + a return flight Tahiti-Mataiva (2 rotations per week).

Tahiti itinerary - 4 islands circuit + Moorea

Here is the detail of theitinerary for my inter-island circuit in Polynesia :

• Arrival in Pappete on 17/10 at 5:05 am + 2 nights in Papeete
• 19/10/21 Flight Tahiti - Huahine Flight VT 373 15:00 p.m. - 4 nights in Huahine
• 23/10/21 Flight Huahine - Bora Bora Flight VT 444 14:35 p.m. - 4 nights Bora Bora
• 27/10/21 Flight Bora Bora - Tikehau Flight VT 546 12:05 - 4 nights in Tikehau
• 31/10 / 21Flight Tikehau - Tahiti Flight VT 541 13:00 p.m. 
• 01/11/21 Ferry at 7:00 a.m. Tahiti-Moorea –- 2 nights in Moorea 283 € 
• 03/11/21 Ferry Moorea-Tahiti at 16:10 p.m. - 1 night in Papeete
• 04/11/21 Flight Papeete - Mataiva Flight VT 506 10:05 - 3 nights in Mataiva
• 07/11/21 Flight Mataiva - Papeete Flight VT 558 15pm - 30 nights in Papeete
• Return from Papeete on 10/11/21 (as no seats are available on the flights on November 7, 8 or 9).