French Polynesia Extended Exploration Cruise

Your Journey to French Polynesia
Fly from the UK to Papeete, the capital of French Polynesia, with flights typically routing via Los Angeles, San Francisco or Paris.

Tahiti
Arriving in the early hours of the following morning, you will be transferred to Le Tahiti by Pearl Resorts, set on the shores of Lafayette Beach overlooking Papeete.

Two Nights in Tahiti
With two nights at the hotel before your cruise begins, there is time to properly settle in, recover from the journey and begin to feel the warmth and pace of the islands.

A Day to Discover Papeete
Take your time exploring Papeete at your own pace. Le Marché — the city's bustling municipal market — is the natural starting point, filled with tropical produce, black pearls and local crafts.

Culture and History in the Capital
The Museum of Tahiti and Her Islands tells the story of Polynesian culture and migration, while the waterfront promenade offers a more relaxed introduction to daily life in the capital.

An Evening at Le Tahiti
Spend the evening at the hotel — the Hiti Mahana Restaurant looks out over Matavai Bay and makes for a memorable setting for your last night ashore before the longer voyage begins tomorrow.

The Island That Inspired Bali Hai
Moorea's jagged volcanic peaks and crystal lagoon have captivated travellers for centuries — James Michener immortalised it as the mythical Bali Hai, and it is easy to understand why.

Opunohu Valley and Mount Tohi'e'a
An optional 3.5-hour island tour winds through the lush Opunohu Valley and past the dramatic Cook's Bay, climbing towards Mount Tohi'e'a with a stop at the Moorea Fruit Juice Factory.

Snorkelling and Watersports
Panorama II spends the morning at anchor with swimming, snorkelling and watersports from the platform before departing in the evening towards Huahine — the first of three islands where you will spend two nights.

One of French Polynesia's Hidden Gems
Huahine is among the least visited of the Society Islands and rewards the extra time this itinerary gives you. Lush, unhurried and rich in Polynesian tradition, it holds the largest concentration of ancient marae in French Polynesia.

Outrigger Canoe and Private Motu
An optional tour takes you by traditional outrigger canoe through Huahine's coral gardens, snorkelling among tropical fish before a picnic on a secluded sandy motu — one of the most peaceful experiences of the voyage.

Overnight in Huahine
Panorama II remains in port overnight, giving you a gentle introduction to an island that reveals more of itself the longer you stay.

A Second Day to Explore
With two nights in Huahine, there is time to see beyond the obvious and discover what makes this island so special. Spend the day at your own pace or join an optional tour of the island's ancient temples and villages.

The Sacred Blue-Eyed Eels of Faie
Visit Faie Bay, where the sacred blue-eyed eels revered in Polynesian culture can be seen and fed — a quietly memorable experience that reflects the deep spiritual connection between the people of these islands and the natural world.

Overnight Sailing to Bora Bora
Panorama II departs in the evening, sailing overnight towards Bora Bora — the most celebrated island in the South Pacific.

The World's Most Famous Lagoon
Bora Bora needs little introduction. The lagoon is an extraordinary shade of turquoise, the coral gardens are alive with colour and the silhouette of Mount Otemanu rising above the water is one of the most recognised views on earth.

Le Truck and the Villages of Bora Bora
An optional excursion aboard Le Truck takes you on a 2.5-hour journey around the island, passing through villages adorned with ancient marae and ending at Matira Point with panoramic views across the lagoon.

First Evening in Bora Bora
Panorama II remains in port overnight — time for a sundowner on deck or a stroll along the waterfront as the light fades over the lagoon.

A Second Day in Bora Bora
The longer itinerary gives you two full days in Bora Bora — time to explore the lagoon properly, join optional excursions or simply enjoy being in one of the world's most extraordinary places.

Swimming with Stingrays and Sharks
Optional lagoon excursions offer the chance to swim with stingrays and reef sharks in the turquoise shallows and snorkel over coral gardens teeming with marine life.

Farewell to Bora Bora
Panorama II departs in the evening for Taha'a. Stay on deck as you leave — the view of Bora Bora's lights reflected on the lagoon is not easily forgotten.

Vanilla Island
Taha'a shares a magnificent lagoon with Raiatea and is known throughout French Polynesia as Vanilla Island — its fertile valleys filled with orchid plantations, banana groves and coconut palms.

Vanilla Plantation and Rum Distillery
An optional excursion combines a visit to a vanilla plantation and a local rum distillery with snorkelling in the clear lagoon — a vivid introduction to Taha'a's flavours and landscapes.

Swimming in Taha'a's Lagoon
The afternoon is spent swimming and snorkelling from Panorama II's platform before departing overnight for Raiatea.

The Sacred Heart of Polynesia
Raiatea — whose name translates as faraway heaven — is regarded as the spiritual homeland of the ancient Polynesians, the island from which the great Pacific migrations set out across the ocean.

The Faaroa River and Pearl Farm
Optional activities include a journey along the Faaroa River — the only navigable river in French Polynesia — by traditional outrigger canoe, and a visit to the Anapa family pearl farm.

Overnight in Raiatea
Panorama II remains in port overnight, giving you a peaceful first evening on an island whose depth and significance reveals itself slowly.

A Second Day in Raiatea
A single day is not enough to fully appreciate Raiatea. With two nights here, there is time to explore the island's ancient marae, quiet interior and lagoon shores at a genuinely unhurried pace.

Ancient Legends and Sacred Sites
An optional excursion explores the island's marae and sacred sites, offering insight into the spiritual traditions that made Raiatea the cultural centre of the entire Polynesian world.

Setting Sail for Moorea
After dinner, Panorama II departs for Moorea — returning to the island where the voyage began for a final night at sea.

Returning to the Magical Island
Moorea appears on the horizon once more — a final morning among the Society Islands before returning to Papeete.

A Last Morning in the Society Islands
The day is yours to spend freely — swim from the platform, explore the shoreline independently or simply sit on deck and take in the view one last time before sailing back to Papeete.

Sailing Back to Papeete
Panorama II departs for Papeete in the afternoon, arriving back in the capital as your Society Islands cruise draws to a close.

10-night cruise
Panorama II arrives in Papeete in the morning. After a final breakfast on board, disembarkation takes place at 9am. Guests transfer to Le Tahiti by Pearl Resorts for a relaxed final afternoon and last evening in French Polynesia.

11-night cruise
Panorama II arrives in Papeete in the morning. Guests enjoy an included half-day excursion to Venus Point — where Captain Cook observed the Transit of Venus in 1769 — continuing to the Faarumai Waterfalls and the dramatic Arahoho blowhole, before returning to Panorama II for a final dinner on board.

Papeete — A Final Taste of Tahiti
Whether your cruise ends today or tomorrow, Papeete makes a fitting final chapter — lively, colourful and unmistakably French Polynesian.

10-night cruise
After breakfast at Le Tahiti by Pearl Resorts, guests transfer to Papeete airport for their overnight flight home, routing via Los Angeles, San Francisco or Paris.

11-night cruise
After a final breakfast on board, guests on 11-night departures disembark Panorama II and transfer directly to Papeete airport for their overnight flight home.

Arriving Back in the UK
You will arrive back in the UK the following morning after 13 nights in the Society Islands of French Polynesia.