A
ssembled an ambitious Polynesia bucket list with limited off-time to fill it? Tis two-week itinerary packs impressive variety into a single voyage. Romance, luxury, beauty, relaxation, adventure—all are thoroughly explored as you voyage from island to island in an arc
around the storied South Pacific.
Savor the relaxed luxury of shipboard life aboard the m/s Paul Gauguin even as you venture into the mountainous wilds of the Marquesas Islands. Soak up days of picture-perfect dreaminess in the fabled Society Islands and be immersed in fluorescent underwater wonders in the Tuamotu Archipelago.
Lose all track of time, gain a fresh perspective on the beauty of our planet, and find yourself transformed by the experience.
Marquesas, Tuamotus & Society Islands
TAHITI Te Gauguin awaits you in the harbor of Papeete, Tahiti’s capital. As you board, notice the energy here in the waterfront with shoppers eyeing the fruits and flowers, crafts and souvenirs, and local Tahitian goods. For all the urbane sophistication of this ‘big’ city, its backdrop of dramatic green mountains gives the scene an unmistakably Polynesian vibe. Te perfect intro to the journey to come.
At Sea Morning finds you reveling in your first day at sea as the South Pacific trade winds gently carry off the stresses of everyday life. Consider today Chapter One of an as-yet- unwritten South Seas epic. Will yours be a romance? A fantasy? An adventure? Perhaps all of these. But for now, surrender to the comforts of this beautiful vessel that will serve as your floating home during the journey. Tis ease could be habit-forming!
Fakarava Welcome to Mother Nature’s showplace in the Tuamotus, an island sought out by divers from all over the planet for its incomparable bounty of marine life. Fakarava is one of just seven UNESCO Biosphere Reserves in the world, its vast rectangular lagoon providing a uniquely pristine coral nursery for fish and crustaceans of every stripe, as well as a cruising ground for manta and eagle rays, hammerhead sharks, dolphins, and turtles.
Te atoll’s landside riches are considerable as well, among them a church in Tetamanu built entirely of coral by missionaries in 1874—
and one of the oldest and most photogenic lighthouses in Polynesia, shaped like a pyramid. Strolling or cycling along splendid beaches reveals a lush menagerie of tropical plants and colorful avians.
At Sea Is there anything more glamorous than lounging on the deck of a ship as the South Seas horizon drifts past? Unlikely. Whether your agenda this day involves occupying a chaise with a tropical libation in hand and a novel at the ready or chatting poolside with newfound travel friends, Te Gauguin is designed for your absolute pleasure.
Te dining is enticing. Te fitness center and spa, invigorating. Your onboard hosts, Les Gauguines and Les Gauguins, are leading Tahitian dance lessons and hands-on craft- making workshops. Soon it will be Golden Hour, when another spectacular Polynesian sunset will be queued up. Followed by starlight that defies description.
Fatu Hiva As if in deliberate contrast to the low-lying Tuamotus, the mountainous Marquesas vault out of the Pacific to reach ruggedly dramatic heights. Deep indigo swells pound against jagged sea cliffs so tall, misty clouds drop down to meet them. No coral lagoons or sandy beaches here, but ample natural and cultural riches await.
Beautiful in its isolation, Fatu Hiva sits at the southern end of the chain, an “off the radar” paradise with no airstrip, a mere 500
residents, and just one road linking its two small villages—though what a scenic wonder that drive is!
In addition to ancient petroglyphs and the renowned beaten-bark tapa cloth handicrafts made by its local artisans, Fatu Hiva’s luxuriant jungle gorges, plunging waterfalls, and stunning Bay of Virgins make excursions here a sensual delight.
Hiva Oa Of all the islands in Polynesia, master Post-Impressionist Paul Gauguin and famed songwriter Jacques Brel both chose Hiva Oa to spend their final years and to rest for eternity at Calvaire Cemetery. Teir works live on here, too, enshrined at cultural centers in the island’s principal settlement, Atuona. Curiously, this village is also a favorite of the yachting set, imparting a distinctly cosmopolitan vibe to this otherwise rugged island.
Attention explorers: With its deep valleys, weathered peaks, and velvety rainforests, Hiva Oa’s interior holds many hidden secrets, including massive stone carvings and ancient petroglyphs whose true meanings have yet to be fully explained. An unforgettable off-road Atuona to Taaoa excursion leads you to beautifully preserved ceremonial sites, dwellings, and sacred archaeological ruins, including enormous tikis, sacrificial altars, and thousand-year-old relics—among the most significant in the Marquesas.
Paul Gauguin Cruises |
www.pgcruises.com 57
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 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88
