TAHITI Welcome aboard. You are on the cusp of an extraordinary journey that will take you places you may have never dreamed of. It begins with embarkation on the m/s Paul Gauguin in Tahiti.
You’ve seen photos of Tahiti and wondered what kind of filters or Photoshop magic have made the colors so intense. Your first task is to suspend disbelief. You’re here. What you're seeing is real, and this is just the beginning.
HUAHINE Daybreak brings you to “The Garden Island” for a morning of exploration. Where will your curiosity lead you in this veritable Garden of Eden? Temptations (the good kind) abound. Once the playground for Tahitian royalty, you find yourself in the very cradle of Tahitian culture. Temples, monuments and archaeological relics dating as far back as 700 B.C. have waited thousands of years for your arrival.
Everywhere your eye lands is lovely and very green. Life is quiet here; the jungle greets you with sights, sounds and scents you will only experience in the South Pacific. In the distance, the islands of Raiatea, Taha’a and Bora Bora welcome you to the neighborhood.
An array of island excursions is yours to consider. From diving and snorkeling, safaris and tours by land and sea, the choice is yours. Te Gauguin’s guided Cultural Highlights of Huahine tour begins in the island’s main village, and includes visits to a working vanilla
plantation, ancient temples and the home of the island’s sacred blue-eyed eels. Te excursion concludes with a stop at Huahine’s most-photographed scenic spot, with plenty of time for selfies, group shots and other “wish you were here” pictures.
Bora Bora (OVERNIGHT) Spread out in a lavish opulence of colors and textures is one of the world’s most famous romance destinations: Bora Bora. It’s easy to understand why this island is the site of so many weddings, honeymoons, vow renewals and spontaneous declarations of love. Te unparalleled beauty of this setting has inspired passion for thousands of years.
Have your camera ready. Bora Bora just begs to have its picture taken, with lush mountains, white sand beaches and dreamy lagoons. You can’t miss the island’s most iconic image: Mount Otemanu. One of a pair of extinct volcanoes, this mighty monolith soars 2,400 feet above the aquamarine lagoon. For a truly epic adventure, arrange a guided hike or 4x4 trek to its lofty peak. Te views cannot be adequately communicated with words.
Te drama of Bora Bora’s landscape is in sharp contrast to life on this island: casual, barefoot, unhurried, easygoing. Play on land or on water, or experience the underwater domain, where fish of every size and color play in the cathedral of the coral reef.
RANGIROA If you were a mermaid, you’d probably choose Rangiroa. Not only are the views beyond compare, the schools (of fish) are first-rate.
A bucket-list destination for divers and snorkelers everywhere, the “Island of the Immense Sky” offers an under-the-sea experience with some of the most colorful and abundant marine life you’ll experience anywhere. Te underwater landscape borders on the hedonistic, with fish of every shape and color cavorting against a filigreed coral backdrop. You may even spy wild dolphins, enjoying life as only dolphins can.
Spend the day on this secluded atoll with a crystal lagoon so vast that the entire island of Tahiti could fit within it. Envision your perfect beach. If tranquil waters fringed by white velvet sand come to mind, you’re covered. Pink sand, you say? How decadent. Rangiroa delivers to the east at Les Sables Rosas. Wander the picturesque village of Avatoru, or venture a stone’s throw further, where you’ll discover Dominique Auroy Winery, which produces French Polynesia’s only wine label, Vin de Tahiti.
Whether you spend your day exploring below the surface of the water or above, you’ve found paradise. As your cares melt away with the breeze, imprint this beautiful day in the bank of memories you reach for when one day someone asks you when you were happiest.
Paul Gauguin Cruises |
pgcruises.com
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