It has since become one of the world’s most exclusive hideaways, attracting the likes of Barack Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Leonardo DiCaprio and Kim Kardashian to its shores. It’s easy to see why. Paradise views aside, there’s a focus


on culture, history and ecology here that goes beyond just yÞin} >n` yo««in}° /hi niÝÌ `>Þ]


wn` mÞÃilv VÞVlin} >ÀoÕn`


the atoll’s archaeological sites in the company of an expert naturalist, who points out the remnants of temples once used for sacred rituals by Tahitian chiefs. Then I snorkel my way through the coral garden, an oÌhiÀÜoÀl`lÞ ÕniÛiÀÃi ÜhiÀi À>inLoÜ-hÕi` wÃh `>ÀÌ LiÌÜiin coral formations so colourful they look Photoshopped. I spend hours each day gazing out over the lagoon – a stretch of sparkling turquoise peppered with patches of sapphire – feeling like I’ve stumbled upon a secret castaway isle. It’s utterly mesmerising. (The Brando: Reviews, page 110)


Paradise found


This is far from the only castaway-esque experience I have during my time in French Polynesia, though. Spanning roughly the size of Europe, this sprawling archipelago in the mi``li ov Ìhi -oÕÌh *>ViwV `iÃhià ի «>À>`iÃi-ÜoÀÌhÞ «ÀiÛ>Ìi isles in spades, and I’m here to see some of the best. We start at Motu Nao Nao, an exclusive-hire, private


island resort reached by a 40-minute speedboat ride from Ìhi Li}}iÀ iÃl>n` ov ,>i>Ìi> ­>VViÃÃi` LÞ > ÃhoÀÌ yi}hÌ vÀom Bora Bora and Tahiti). The property opened last October with just three villas to its name, and the setting is spectacular – all white-sand shores washed with aquamarine ocean, thatched-roof villas peeping out from emerald palms and silhouetted mountains rising against a cobalt-blue sky. Local designer Alain Fleurot handcrafted the villas, and


they’re an artistic masterpiece, with tree trunks strewn across the ceilings, shells covering the walls and a natural colour palette that’s perfectly in keeping with the setting. /hiÀi½Ã > Üholi ÀoÃÌiÀ ov >VÌiÛiÌiià >Û>il>Lli] vÀom wÃhin}] sailing, paddleboarding and jetskiing to visiting pearl farms, but the standout for me was the food. Chef Wilfred Kobylt grows about 30 edible plants here, making the island almost inÌiÀilÞ Ãilv-ÃÕvwViinÌÆ Üi Ì>ÃÌi` oÕÀ Ü>Þ ÀoÕn` Ìhi hiÀL garden, sampling various weird-and-wonderful plants, from ÌoÀVh }in}iÀ] > LÀi}hÌ-Ài`] i`iLli yoÜiÀ Ìh>Ì Ì>ÃÌi` liki


ª aspiretravelclub.co.uk


TOP AND MIDDLE: Motu Nao Nao ABOVE: La Villa Royale, Vahine Island Resort PAGE 49 AND FACING PAGE: The Brando, Tetiaroa Atoll Credits: Tim McKenna; Eric Pinel


SEPTEMBER 2022 ASPIRE


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