French Polynesia Holidays

How to get to French Polynesia?
Let’s not pretend it’s around the corner. To get to French Polynesia, you’re looking at roughly 24 hours of travel from the UK, depending on your stopover. You can’t get there in one direct flight, which actually makes the journey more fun, as you can take advantage of stopping somewhere along the way. Los Angeles is a classic gateway, with plenty of flights onwards and the option to sneak in a few days of sunshine and city buzz. San Francisco is another good choice if you prefer something urban and cultural before heading out to the islands. If you’d rather keep things beachy, Hawaii and the Cook Islands bring their own tropical twist — although you’ll still need to factor in an airport layover. 

Wherever you decide to break up your journey, your flight into French Polynesia will land at Faa’a on Tahiti, the entry point to French Polynesia. And from there, you scatter out across the islands by air or ferry. 

How to holiday in French Polynesia
French Polynesia covers a vast stretch of ocean, so nobody comes expecting to see it all. Most itineraries stick to the sensational Society Islands, which include Tahiti, Moorea, and Bora Bora, as they’re most accessible and best known of the five island groups of French Polynesia. 

A night or two in Tahiti is usually part of the plan, either on arrival or before your flight home – or both. After that, hop across to Moorea, where peaks rise out of the lagoon and pineapples grow in the valleys. Then drift over to Taha’a, quieter and scented with vanilla. Bora Bora is usually saved for the finale, the island that feels like a curtain call with its turquoise lagoon and views of Mount Otemanu. All in all, ten nights is the shortest you’d sensibly want, and two weeks allows your holiday rhythm to settle in.

If you’d rather add a dash of adventure, you can swap the hotels for a place on the Aranui 5. It’s half cargo ship, half passenger vessel, a South Pacific workhorse that doubles as your ride between far-flung islands. 

Choosing where to stay in French Polynesia
You’ll find everything from good-value beach hotels, like Hotel Maitai Polynesia, to the famous overwater villas on Moorea and Bora Bora that made French Polynesia a honeymooner’s dream. The trick is pacing yourself: if you’re island hopping, mix beach bungalows and garden rooms with the grand finale of an overwater stay in Bora Bora. It’s the lagoon that makes those villas worth it, so hold back for that ‘wow’ moment.

What to see and do in French Polynesia
You’ll spend plenty of time in and on the water, whether that’s snorkelling with tropical fish, diving alongside manta rays, paddleboarding, kayaking, sailing or heading out to watch whales between July and November. Venture inland and you’ll find volcanic peaks to hike, pineapple fields to cycle through, and waterfalls that appear just when you need to cool off. Add in visits to vanilla farms, local markets, and the chance to see Polynesian dance or tattoo traditions, and you start to realise this is far more than a beach holiday. 

Perfect for

Island hopping
With 118 islands scattered across an ocean the size of Western Europe, French Polynesia was made for exploring. You’ll never see them all, but a few days in Tahiti, Moorea, Taha’a, or Bora Bora feels like moving between chapters of one very good story.

An overwater finale
French Polynesia is the birthplace of the overwater villa, and staying in one is almost a rite of passage. Mix in garden or beach rooms along the way and save the overwater for a last stop in Bora Bora, where the lagoon is the star of the show.

Culture with substance
The islands aren’t just about beaches and scenery. Polynesian culture is alive in dance, tattoo traditions, canoe racing, and vanilla farming. Markets buzz with daily life, and stories run deep in every island. 

Active escapes
Snorkel, dive, or go whale watching, then head inland for waterfalls, hikes and 4x4 tours through volcanic peaks. There’s even a golf course on Moorea, proof that doing nothing is entirely optional.