I
f there were traffic signs along the waterways throughout the Society Islands, they might read
“Stress-free Zone.” And while (fortunately) you won’t see any signage, the atmosphere here is indeed one of relaxing bliss, as if a tonic of calm were sprinkled on the sea breeze. Add the tropical serenity
and low-key vibe of the Cook Islands to the route and you won’t have a care in the world… other than getting into the water or going ashore.
Sound tempting? Book this 11-night itinerary and you’re on your way. To adventures above and below the turquoise sea. To emerald mountains and sugar-white beaches. To enchanting customs and enduring legends. And, above all, to a South Pacific world of relaxation, discovery, and runaway romance.
Discover the remote Cook Islands, from rugged Rarotonga to watery Aitutaki. Relish two-day stays in bucket-list perennials Bora Bora and Moorea. Visit the vanilla-scented rainforests of Huahine. And find your bliss on Te Gauguin’s own private Taha’a beach islet.
Cook Islands & Society Islands
TAHITI Long known as the “Queen of the Pacific,” the island of Tahiti is quite used to admiring glances. You’ll no doubt be casting a few of your own on its triple-peak magnificence as you board the m/s Paul Gauguin in Papeete harbor.
Welcomed by a crew and staff genuinely thrilled to have you along, you’ll find plenty to admire right here on the ship that will serve as your own personal harbor for the next while. Departing port as the sun descends, feel your spirits begin to soar.
HUAHINE Tucked shyly between Tahiti and Bora Bora, the Garden Island of Huahine is actually two islands—said to have been separated eons ago by a local god’s canoe and blanketed like twins by a plush coral reef. Rich in cultural artifacts and redolent of vanilla vines, this wonderfully underdeveloped Eden is a tranquil refuge that progress has wonderfully overlooked.
Reef-lovers might opt for the waterborne Island Tour & Snorkeling excursion. Landrovers can seek adventure on 4WD, ATV, or e-bike outings. And archaeology enthusiasts can marvel at the famousmaraes (ancient Polynesian temples) of Maeva on a Cultural Highlights of Huahine tour.
At Sea Above all else, days at sea are for indulging. And Te Gauguin’s chefs have definitely seen to that. From deckside breakfast accompanied by sea breezes at La Veranda to theme-driven poolside lunching at Le Grill, and on to high-style Afternoon Tea replete with finger sandwiches and petit fours. As the sun settles, the culinary options elevate: L’Etoile sets its linens for multi- coursed, wine-paired deliciousness. Le Grill shifts to Asian-Pacific and finned fare. And La Veranda brings artful French dining to heights as tall as its wraparound glass walls.
Aitutaki Bid adieu (temporarily) to French Polynesia and say g’day to Aitutaki in the Cook Islands, politically allied with far- off New Zealand but deeply tied to it Maori tradition through song, dance, and crafts like the intricate patchwork quilts known as tivaevae handsewn with love and colorful fabrics by the local matriarchs.
Several hundred fish species add still more local color, inhabiting the reefs of a vast triangular central lagoon framed by low-lying, palm-shaded islets. Kiteboarders ride the trade winds across the shallows, scooterists circumnavigate the island for the fun of it, and hikers make easy work of trekking
to Maunga Pu, the isle’s non-lofty summit, rewarded with sensational 360-degree vistas.
Another Aitutaki high point is One Foot Island, a beach with few peers for beauty and even fewer for post offices; the one here is among the world’s tiniest and most remote. Te Gauguin’s Lagoon Cruise and Beach Break excursion lunches here and calls on other must-see island locales. A shorter Snorkeling Tour brings you to Motu Maina, home to famously giant clams and vibrant birdlife.
Rarotonga It’s the hub of the Cooks—yet small-town in stature. No building taller than a coconut tree. And no traffic lights, since there’s scant traffic. What is here are fabulous sugar-sand beaches, lushly rugged interior mountains, and the unmistakable island sound of drumbeats and ukulele riffs. Te perfume of frangipani floats in the air, while palm fronds rustle in the onshore breeze. Overall, not a bad place at all to find yourself this day.
Will you spend it on an offroad Raro Safari by 4WD, calling on inland villages to get a real sense of islander life? Steeped in tropical and marine beauty on a Muri Lagoon Cruise? Or maybe at Takitumu Conservation Centre, seeking a sighting of
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