TAHITI The islands of French Polynesia are a spectacular collection of volcanic atolls strewn across the tranquil Pacific Ocean, and the island of Tahiti is the largest of all 118. Called the “Queen of the Pacific,” the royal moniker is appropriate and you’ll see why. Majestic, stately, and steeped in history, the island is synonymous with paradise.
Before embarking The Gauguin, sample the bounty that Tahiti proffers. As the ship awaits in the harbor, the capital city of Papeete offers shopping, waterfront dining, nightlife, and sunsets that have inspired swoon-inducing romance for thousands of years.
HUAHINE It is the Society Islands’ ace up the sleeve. Often referred to as the Garden of Eden, it’s hard to envision a more idyllic setting. Seemingly untouched by the outside world, your first port sets the stage for what is to come on this truly singular voyage.
Of all the ports you visit, you’ll always remember the warmth of the people of Huahine. It’s as if they can’t help but smile as they invite you to share the beauty they call home. Eight tiny villages spread over two islands encourage wandering. The largest, Fare, is where you’ll find local handicrafts and intimate eateries showcasing the true tastes of French Polynesia. You can also arrange underwater
activities and guided tours of the islands’ many ancient temples and mythical sites.
Up for a little adventure? The Gauguin’s Island Tour by WaveRunner excursion lets you access Huahine’s wild beauty front and center from a completely different on-water perspective. Your guide will show you how to safely operate the WaveRunner, then off you go to zip about the lagoon. Safe, exciting, and a true adrenaline rush.
Bora Bora (OVERNIGHT) Spend two days here, inside the postcard looking out. With the castle-like centerpiece of Mount Otemanu soaring skyward, the "Romantic Island" offers a decadent display of endless blue skies, emerald waters, and colorful wildlife on land, sea, and air. Tuck a hibiscus flower behind your ear, go native, and surrender to the fragrant breezes of one of the world’s top honeymoon destinations.
One of the most unforgettable experiences you’ll find in the South Pacific is the opportunity to stand in shallow waters as beautiful, playful (and harmless) stingrays swim around you. Do this on the Sting Ray Ballet & Snorkel Safari shore excursion.
The rays are accustomed to visitors and gently glide around you as your guide feeds them, and even holds them, giving you the chance to stroke their satiny skin. This story will inspire disbelief every time you tell it.
RANGIROA Welcome to the largest atoll of the Tuamotus (and the second largest in the world). Take a few moments for your eyes to adjust to this color spectrum: from the deepest blue to green so pale it’s almost white (and a peacock’s worth of every color in between). Surrounded by two bodies of water, Moana-tea (Peaceful Ocean) and Moana-uri (Wild Ocean), Rangiroa’s lagoon invites you below the surface to snorkel or dive, or view from above by canoe, kayak, or glass-bottom boat. Rangiroa is also one of the world’s most coveted dive destinations: 240 tiny islets encircling a vast blue lagoon create a surreal marine habitat that must be experienced to be believed.
The Gauguin’s Black Pearl Farm excursion shows you how pearls are grown and harvested, and watch a grafter as he skillfully plies his trade. Or if you want to take advantage of this area's superior diving, embark on SCUBA Rangiroa, where divers explore the famed Tiputa Pass to possibly swim alongside hammerhead sharks, manta rays and dolphins.
FAKARAVA They call it the "Island of Dreams," but you could never sleep through this. The second-largest of the Tuamotu atolls (second only to Rangiroa), Fakarava’s rectangular reef is home to a rich ecosystem, one of seven designated UNESCO Biosphere Reserves for the
Paul Gauguin Cruises |
www.pgcruises.com
37
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84
