DESTINATIONS TAHITI | AUSTRALASIA
Pacific paradise
From its misty mountain peaks to the myriad marine life in its ocean depths, French Polynesia is worth the journey, finds Sarah Gillespie
m
travelweekly.co.uk
arooned in the middle of the South Pacific, French Polynesia comprises 118 islands scattered
over a vast area of ocean. Its landscapes are relatively young, geologically speaking, having burst out of the sea from volcanic hotspots just 40 to 60 million years ago (by contrast, Europe’s terrain is billions of years old) and eventually settling into an array of islands and atolls. Younger still is its human history, with the
first Polynesian settlers arriving around 1,000 years ago, using only canoes and the stars for navigation. The islands are now under French jurisdiction, as they have been since 1842. Today, these coral-sand beaches, verdant landscapes and teeming oceans are a perennial draw for visitors, with each island’s unique character, culture and wildlife lending itself to a multi-centre trip. Recommend spending at least two weeks here, starting in main island Tahiti, followed by a short domestic flight to one of its other archipelagos. Understandably, the long journey to get here – around 22 hours, with changes in Paris and Los
Angeles – might give clients pause. Yet this island nation’s isolation is its reward. Once here, guests may have many of the beaches and islets all to themselves.
French Polynesia is a perennial
draw for visitors, with each island’s character, culture and wildlife lending itself to a multi-centre trip
TAHITI: SURF AND SAIL International visitors will begin their adventure at Faa’a International Airport on Tahiti, the largest island in the archipelago. During the 2024 Paris Olympics, surfing events were held at the wave break of Teahupo’o, where the surf can regularly reach up to seven metres. I took a day trip with Tahiti Boat Excursion & Surf to see the waves and the Vaipo’iri Cave; in fact, the big blue is best viewed from a boat, as the surf is too challenging for beginners.
² 9 APRIL 2026 35
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