EXPERIENCES / INTERNATIONAL
French Polynesia
Overview
We will explore parts of
- Tahiti and the Society Islands.
- The Marquesas Islands
- The Austral Islands
You will get a chance to experience the local culture and visit places well off the tourist track accompanied by a French Speaking guide who will handle all the details.
Guide:
Sébastien Heritier
INTERNATIONAL
16 Nov - 6 Dec 2025
Welcome to Polynesia, this land at the end of the world, a string of small islands spread across 2,000 km of ocean.
Then, a four hour flight will take us next to the equator, where the magnificent Marquesas Islands are nestled. We will spend half of our trip on the fascinating Marquesas Islands.
As expected, we will begin our journey in Tahiti, where we'll head to the “Petit Tahiti” peninsula for our first walk along the shore of the Ronui volcano. It's a fairly well-known spot, as it's here that the famous Teahupo'o Olympic wave hits a few times a year, attracting the best surfers in the world.
We will land on the island of Hiva Oa. The kindness of the Marquesan will operate at the landing, where we will be welcomed with flowers and necklaces. .
In the following days, we will search for the Tikis (ancient stone statues nestled in the heart of the rainforest), swim on black-sand beaches, savour French and Polynesian cuisine, explore the islands' history, and, of course, enjoy the natural beauty of the landscapes. Hiva Oa is also the final resting place of Jacques Brel, one of the greatest French-speaking singers, and that of the painter Paul Gauguin, whose paintings hang in the greatest museums in the world.
We will discover the rich culture of the Marquesas at Puamau and Tohua Upeke, search for a Tiki at Hanapaaoa and petroglyphs at Tehueto. We will swim and walk at Hanatekuua. In this beautiful bay, we may also camp.
We will visit Tahuata, the island just south of Hiva Oa. It's a short boat ride across the turquoise ocean waters to the small village of Hapatoni. From there, we will walk along a road that winds through the forest to the village of Vaitahu.
After 5 or 6 days on Hiva Oa, we'll take a short flight to Nuku Hiva, the largest island in the Marquesas. Our first hike will be near the village of Anaho, in the far north, where we can likely set up a tent camp. Our second excursion will take us to the south of the island, to the valley of Hakaui, which we will reach by boat. A walk through the rainforest will take us to the highest waterfall of Polynesia.
After 5 or 6 days on Hiva Oa, we'll take a short flight to Nuku Hiva, the largest island in the Marquesas. Our first hike will be near the village of Anaho, in the far north, where we can likely set up a tent camp. Our second excursion will take us to the south of the island, to the valley of Hakaui, which we will reach by boat. A walk through the rainforest will take us to the highest waterfall of Polynesia.
Then, we will return to the Society Islands near Tahiti, at Raiatea and Bora Bora.
In Raiatea, we will visit the famous Marae Taputapuatea site, which was the nerve centre of Polynesian culture that extended as far as the Cook Islands, Hawaii, and even New Zealand. From all these islands, Polynesian people came to Taputapuatea to participate in religious ceremonies. They left with a stone that served as a cultural link and became the foundation stone of a new temple.
We will then conclude our trip with a 20-minute flight to Bora Bora and its legendary lagoon, where we will spend two to three days
We may also explore the island of Moorea, which can be reached by ferry from Tahiti. The guide has't had time to explore it, but it's a destination we should love. We are thinking of including it at the beginning of our trip, after the hike on Ti Tahiti.
Details
DATES
16 November - 6 December
PRICES
Full price: A$4000 + expenses
GROUP SIZE
6-10 including our guide
CAMPSITES & ACCOMMODATION
Contact the guide for details. We can't make bookings until we have the number needed to run the trip.
SWIMMING
Good swimming.
WILDLIFE
Mainly birds and small land animals.
CLIMATE
The normal maximum is about 28°C and the normal minimum about 21°C. We will almost certainly have some rain, but it shouldn't be too bad. By going at this time of year, we miss the peak tourist season.
ADDITIONAL EXPENSES
Please contact us for more information.
WALK RATING - EASY TO MODERATE
Terrain
Almost everything from flat and easy to steep climbs on tracks.
Tropical. The photos in the gallery should give you an idea what to expect.
Distance
4-6 hours per day of walking on the longest days.
Pack Weight
Day packs some of the time, moderate at others.
