TAHITI Your journey begins in Tahiti. And that, as they say, is a very good place to start. Tere’s an energy and buzz to the 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, pick up any last- minute necessities, grab some authentic local cuisine in a cafe and gear up for the next two blissful weeks. Or wander about and soak up some history, culture, island lore and art. Museums, galleries and historical points of interest abound.


At Sea Tere’s something very special about the first day at sea on board Te Gauguin. Tis is Page 1, with many unimaginable chapters ahead. Will your story be a romance? A fantasy? An adventure? Maybe all of these. Probably much more.


Do a little exploring. Get to know this beautiful vessel, which will take you to many great places. Take another peek at your itinerary and imagine the days and nights ahead.


Fakarava It's called the Island of Dreams, but you could never sleep through this. Te 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 preservation of rare species. 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.”


Naturally, Fakarava lures divers from all over the world. Take a peek below the surface. You may see barracudas, manta rays, eagle rays, hammerhead sharks, dolphins and turtles playing in 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 As Te Gauguin glides from the Tuamotu Archipelago toward the Marquesas, you will enjoy a full day 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 an appropriately tropical cocktail and an epic


novel at the ready (or your favorite guilty- pleasure gossip magazines) or relaxing poolside and soaking up the sun, Te Gauguin was designed for your idle pleasure. A day at sea is also the perfect time for a fitness center workout followed by an indulgent spa treatment.


Your onboard hosts, Les Gauguins and Les Gauguines are also at the ready with Tahitian dance lessons, hands-on traditional craft demonstrations and an array of activities for all ages and tastes.


One more thing: Nothing has a greater wow factor than watching the spectacular Polynesian sunset from the deck, and you’ve got the best seats in the house. Te colors really do defy description.


Fatu Hiva Te Marquesas: Wild. Dramatic. Bold. Te Pacific Ocean pounds against jagged cliffs. In contrast to the aquamarine and turquoise waters of the Society Islands, the water here is a deep indigo. Sharply sculpted mountains reach so high, the fine mist of clouds come down to meet them.


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 As the second-largest of the southeastern Marquesas, Hiva Oa beckons with deep valleys, rugged peaks and dense velvet rain forests. Te city of Atuona is a favorite of the yacht set, with just enough of a small island/cosmopolitan vibe to make things interesting. It’s easy to understand how artist Paul Gauguin and Belgian-born singer/ songwriter Jacques Brel fell madly in love with this isle and called it home. (Tey’re still here; you can visit both at the Calvaire Cemetery.)


Hiva Oa’s jungles hold secrets, including ancient, massive stone tiki carvings and petroglyphs whose true meaning have never definitively been explained. If you enjoy exploring, this is the place. Guides are at the


ready to lead you to some truly mysterious hidden treasures.


Discover the ancient tribes of the Taaoa Valley during this unforgettable off-road expedition on Atuona to Taaoa. Te island’s rich history plays out before you as you visit beautifully preserved dwellings, ceremonial sites and sacred archaeological ruins. You will come face to face with enormous tiki, sacrificial altar stones and thousand-year-old relics, among the most significant in the Marquesas.


Tahuata Te name means “sunrise” in Marquesan. What could be friendlier than that? Tahuata is the smallest of the inhabited islands in the Marquesas archipelago, and with only 600 residents, you’ll immediately feel welcome by the locals (and quite possibly by the pod of dolphins who regularly play in the area.) Tis tiny, 19-square-mile island presents a lovely vision of untouched South Pacific beauty.


You’ll arrive via the quaint village of Hapatoni, where an open-air market presents a wealth of locally made handicrafts. No self-respecting South Seas traveler returns home without a woodcarving. You’ll find beautiful specimens here.


It is believed that Tahuata was inhabited by Polynesians as early as 200 A.D. Te island is rich with archaeological sites to be explored— and the ancient royal walkway, with its floral- scented air, is an enchanting setting for a stroll.


Unlock the charm of the Hapatoni wilderness with help from Te Gauguin's onboard anthropology and archaeology expert on the Hapatoni Discovery tour. Your all-terrain- vehicle trek takes you to the villages of Hapatoni and Vaitahu, where you will learn about the island's rich history. You'll also visit the ancient church, en route to a spectacular scenic lookout. After all your exploring, you'll be rewarded with vistas of brilliant blue skies pierced by regal mountain peaks.


Nuku Hiva Be prepared to have your breath taken away. It will be promptly returned after that initial gasp at the beauty of Nuku Hiva.


Te largest of the Marquesas Islands, Nuku Hiva’s beauty is untamed. Rugged cliffs nose- dive into the ocean. A carpet of green jungle


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