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t’s not enough to call this a vacation; for it’s so much more than that. Part bucket-list adventure, part transformational experience, these 14 unforgettable nights aboard the m/s Paul Gauguin explore some of the most majestic islands in all of the storied South Pacific.
Tis journey is an exercise in juxtaposition: Te relaxed luxury of shipboard life contrasts beautifully with the wilds of the Marquesas Islands. Te picture-perfect Society Islands beg for photos to be taken and postcards to be sent back home, while the Tuamotu Archipelago gives you the perfect reason to unplug and immerse yourself in all Mother Nature has to offer.
Two weeks is the perfect amount of time to decide: which island will be your favorite? Marquesas, Tuamotus & Society Islands
TAHITI Tere’s a buzzy energy to Tahiti's capital city of Papeete that is unmistakably Polynesian. Vibrant, friendly, and unpretentious, the city is the flip side of the island’s majestic peaks, lush jungles, tumbling waterfalls, and stellar blue lagoon. Before you sail, you might want to take in some of the history, culture, island lore and art found in the many museums and galleries throughout the city.
At Sea Tere’s something very special about the first day at sea on board Te Gauguin. Tis is Page 1, with many unwritten chapters ahead. Will your story be a romance? A fantasy? An adventure? Perhaps all of these… and more.
Do a little exploring and get to know this beautiful vessel, your home upon the sea for the next two weeks. Take some time to relax and let the South Pacific trade winds carry your cares and concerns away.
Fakarava It’s called the “Island of Dreams,” and you’ll be dreaming of Fakarava long after your visit. Te second largest of the Tuamotu atolls (second only to Rangiroa), Fakarava’s rectangular reef is home to a rich ecosystem, one of seven in a designated UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Above and below the water, it’s as if Mother Nature put on her best dress for you to admire and exclaim, “My, aren’t you fetching!”
Fakarava lures divers from all over the world, inviting them to take a peek below the surface in search of barracudas, manta and eagle rays, hammerhead sharks, dolphins, and turtles—
all playing amidst the dramatic coral landscape. On land, let the sea breeze guide you to the southern end of the lagoon, where you’ll find a church made entirely of coral, built by missionaries in 1874.
At Sea Tere is something innately glamorous about lounging on the deck of a ship as the horizon drifts past. Whether in a deck-side chaise with a tropical libation in hand and a novel at the ready, or relaxing poolside simply soaking up the sun, Te Gauguin is designed for your idle and indulgent pleasure. Consider a visit to the fitness center, capped with a rejuvenating interlude at the spa.
Your onboard hosts, Les Gauguins and Les Gauguines, are happy to lead Tahitian dance lessons, hands-on crafting projects, and an array of activities for all ages and interests.
As the Golden Hour approaches, prepare for a spectacular Polynesian sunset enjoyed on deck. Te colors really do defy description.
Fatu Hiva Te Marquesas: Wild. Dramatic. Bold. Here, the Pacific Ocean pounds against jagged cliffs—sharply sculpted mountains reaching so high that a fine mist of clouds often comes down to meet them. In contrast to the aquamarine waters and lagoons of the Society Islands, the water here is a deep indigo; no coral reef barriers, but a world of wonder still.
Te southernmost island in the Marquesas, Fatu Hiva may also be the most beautiful. Tis
isolated paradise really is “off the radar.” No airstrip, only one road, and just 500 residents. Explorer and archaeologist Tor Heyerdahl immortalized Fatu Hiva in a book of the same name published in 1974, detailing his one- and-a half-year quest to escape civilization in the 1930s. Little has changed since then.
Hiva Oa With its deep valleys, rugged peaks, and dense velvet rain forests, Hiva Oa’s jungles hold many secrets, including ancient, massive stone tiki carvings and petroglyphs whose true meanings have never been definitively explained. If you enjoy exploring, this is the place. Experienced guides are eager to lead you to some truly mysterious hidden treasures.
Te city of Atuona is a favorite of the yacht set, with just enough of an islandy-cosmopolitan vibe to make things interesting. It’s easy to understand how artist Paul Gauguin and Belgian-born songwriter Jacques Brel came to call this island home. (Tey’re still here; you can visit both at the Calvaire Cemetery.)
Te island’s rich history plays out on an unforgettable guided off-road Atuona to Taaoa expedition leading you to beautifully preserved dwellings, ceremonial sites, and sacred archaeological ruins. You’ll see enormous tiki, sacrificial altar stones, and thousand-year-old relics, among the most significant in the Marquesas.
Tahuata Te smallest of the Marquesas’ inhabited islands with only 600
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