Picture Paradise.
Now Times it with a Thousand. That is exactly what you get when you see with Tahiti.
People in the world spend to early December prepping for Christmas. Not I. Rather, I was delighted, no, ecstatic, to be encouraged on the trip of a lifetime into the islands of Tahiti.
Yes, you read that correct. Tahiti: possibly the very distant, though not the exclusive. A pearl paradise honeymooners and so much more, as our heaven were to learn. A stereotypical view is that Tahiti and its islands (there are 118 in total, including the infamous Bora Bora) is only a couple’s playground. Well, it certainly provides, and is an amazing escape. Yet Tahiti is the destination for pleasure seekers and adventurers alike, and I’m a little bit of both.
Getting There:
Our journey started with a quick visit. It is the closest stepping stone to Tahiti, via LA, provided by national carrier Air Tahiti Nui (‘Nui’ means ‘large’ in Tahitian. It’s the planes that travel distance — and we mean looong space. Air Tahiti without the ‘Nui’ is the little neighborhood airline that helps you jump from island to island).
I’ll be honest. A great 36 hours once you account for the layover in LA.. But it’s worth every moment and it really drives home just how far off you’re out of everything. You are bang in the middle of the South Pacific. The expression ‘escape’ hasn’t been true.
Tahiti
Head to Tahiti Pearl Beach Resort and we chased the sunset all the way from LA and have been relieved to finally reach our destination. About coming in the dark, the very best thing was that, even though I couldn’t see anything in my balcony, I COULD HEAR THE SEA.
The hotel itself, apart from its incredible location right on the water’s edge, has historic significance. Overlooking Matavai Bay, it’s situated on exactly the site. It’s ideally located for the capital, Pape’ete of the nation, along with the gift shop includes a pearl boutique that provides rates.
You are able to do yoga with a sea view or visit the spa to get the most luxurious massages. I could have died and gone and went having frangipani oil to heaven, weren’t already in Paradise.
Most individuals don’t spend a lot of time on Tahiti mainland, but to do a bit of shopping (Pape’ete is where to buy pearls and visit the municipal marketplace for souvenirs).
However, we found that there’s plenty to do on the island, especially if you travel in-land.
We were blessed to have an amazing guide — Teuai Lenoir from Iaorana Tahiti Expeditions — who adheres to many of Tahiti traditions, including its historical faith. He drove us up in a 4 into the site of Fare Hape, where we witnessed him enact a spiritual ritual to the heart of the waterfall valleys.
We saw a palm tree hanging around the ocean like Tarzan is scaled by him.
He is also a professional dancer who has won the “Ori Tahiti” — a dance contest held within the Heiva, a nationwide, inter-island festival. Believe me when I say, if you pick at any guide for the mainland, make certain it’s him!
Taha’a
From Tahiti, we jumped on a flight, then piled on a ship, then caught another ship to our most remote location yet (yes, it’s possible to find a more remote spot, even after traveling 36 hours from the united kingdom!) . The ship brought us to my hotel of the excursion: Le Taha’a Island Resort & Spa, situated on the Motu Tautau islet. Why was it my favorite? 2 words: Overwater Bungalows.
This was by far the most breathtaking accommodation of the trip. Our ideal beds were set. The genius of the design is not to be outdone by the angle windows which dissect a wall, giving 180 degree views of blue, blue sea to you.
We arrived in a haze of rain. Though it’s never cold rain you tend to find a lot of this in Tahiti and, truth be told, since you can see below, the rain really adds to the atmosphere.
But imagine my delight, as a, if those twilight showers have been changed to a rainbow flanked by a stunning multi-coloured sunset just a few hours later!
Believe it or not, these pictures are completely unedited, because nature needs no filter. While this happened, I had been lounging in a hammock on the sea. It was one of the moments I have ever experienced.
Le Taha’a dancing — such as fire dancing and also places on regular live entertainment, together with folk tunes! It is also a good spot to find out some moves, if you are feeling brave.
During our two night stay, we took advantage of the resort’s proximity to Taha’a itself, booking onto an ATV Quad tour together with Ranipoe Tours. The few who led the tour were major survivalists — the kind with.
We learned all about the medicinal properties of various flora and fauna, in addition to how locals use bamboo to generate rope. My favourite part held the stunning, fragrant ylang yang flowers, which can be utilized to make Chanel no.5!
We also visited a conventional family pearl farm where we learned that it can take three years for oysters to produce their first harvest.
Following the educational part of the tour, we then commandeered a couple of shiny red jeeps and taken off to the top of a hill.
It was then, during the off-road leg of this trip, that the tropical skies decided to open. We may have slid back down that mountain such as that waterslide it turned into. I haven’t felt so ‘off road’ in my life! Obviously it was an adventure could be an understatement. More than just a bit soaked, the tour piled off with a much-welcome dinner stop, joining a local family right from the waterside below a canopy of netting that was shell-studded.
High Seas — Dream Yacht Charter
We made our way where we boarded a catamaran yacht from Dream Yacht Charters for an overnight cruise. We captured some sunsets and took advantage of some photo ops while on board.
I must say, this was summit luxury for me. Basking using a book in the sun onto a tractor that is suspended, feeling the rush of water beneath you, catching sight of dolphins in the space and snorkeling outside in the open sea. Need I say more?
I was stunned at how the yacht was. Using space is ingenious, with our large catamaran providing enough room for 12 double cabins!
The feminine Captain (AKA Chef, AKA bartender) was incredible and that I discovered her ‘Poisson Cru’ (a favorite standard dish prepared with raw fish, citrus and coconut) to be the best we had on the trip.
The following day, we took a rest from paddle boarding and snorkeling to have a spin round the Windward Islands. Where the main town is a good place, one of these, we had a fast stop at Moorea. It is where I picked up my Tahitian Rum and a couple of jars of yummy guava jam!
Huahine
Our final island was Huahine, which means the ‘Pregnant Woman’. But don’t ask a local what it means, since the translation is little impolite! (Read: how she got pregnant in the first place). With just a little creativity, it’s easy to see this beautiful island’s contours could be viewed to follow the curves of a pregnant girl. That island, more than any other we visited, conveyed the soul of Moana that Disney has ignited all over the world.
It’s shallow waters for miles on end, with so many lagoons and startling beautiful. It’s a island, meaning less of a tourist trap. Even our hotel, the Relais Mahana, was more low-key, offering star accommodation. On the other hand, the view — particularly if you’re in a position to nab one of the more upmarket beach front bungalows — was magnificent.
There’s even a house to the water! You wake up every morning wondering where it will be. And, what’s more, the snorkeling here is on fleek. You don’t have to go far a coral reef that is very active, highly populated lies right at the conclusion of the resort’s pier. You need simply to borrow a snorkel (offered free to guests) and jump off the pier. Getting out of this water does require a bit of navigation around the sea slugs though.
For sipping cocktails of the beach Relais Mahana offers a hour. Therefore, while it’s more simplistic in terms of amenities, it was be among my favorite spots. It is the only location where I’ve ever noticed orchids springing out of a tree!
Here, we also hitched a ride on a boat with an outrigger that took us on a splendid tour of the lagoons.
Organised by Huahine Nautique, it had been one of the most memorable excursions, which included a generous flask of rum punch for passengers en route to a “Motu Picnic” where we saw traditional Tahitian cuisine being prepared fresh on the shore and that I had a Katy Perry minute up in a tree.
Following the picnic we had a spell at the normal aquarium where we — I kid you not — swam with sharks. Definitely one for the bucket listing. And all along our excellent host Armando kept us all by strumming along on his ukulele the entire way through.
We took the chance to perform a property tour with anthropologist Paul Attalah, that took us to observe a few fish lands, the famous ‘eels’ and another site.
We were also fortunate enough to catch a rehearsal for the forthcoming Heiva — it seemed like the whole city had turned up to join the dance!
One of the nice things about Huahine is that you really get to know the local people and their customs. Being lower down the typical tourist agenda, it’s among the greatest islands to witness Tahitians just doing life and keeping it real.
Family is the main matter to Tahitians. Each weekend, families gather together and Sunday mornings are often filled with parties that are large, with lots of dancing and singing. Tahitians are church-goers, which means joyful congregations that ring throughout the community. It’s a real sight.
Saying Goodbye
You will never be able to be ready to leave Tahiti. It is the furthest flung corner of the planet. So, so worth going the distance for, but not so much pleasure when you are taking a look at a two-day travel back into the hustle and bustle of (cold, rainy) Britain.
We left Tahiti having taken nine ships along with no more than six flights to our destinations in the area of just 7 days! It was, without doubt, the excursion of a lifetime, but I genuinely hope to be back 1 day. After all, Tahiti has 118 islands…and I’ve only seen three!
Top tips:
- Be Sure to have a valid ESTA for the USA. You’ll need it for your own transit through LA..
- Bug spray! I can’t stress how important this is.
- Go to the Tahiti Tourism Office if you’re in Papeete — it’s a wealth of information.
- Look in to performing a yacht tour — they offer incredibly good value for money and enable you to do plenty of island hopping, all in the lap of luxury.
- Carry cash. A few of those distant excursions will just have money facilities, even though card is accepted by most places. Euros are accepted, but check in advance. Fantasy Yacht Charter boats only accept money on board.
- Take lots of swim gear and plenty of sun tan cream! You’re guaranteed to spend a lot of time swimming in the sea, and this is where you’re most likely to catch the most sun, so be certain that you’re well protected!
- Keep a bottle with you that may be refilled. Tahiti is pricey and purchasing things may set you back a few quid!
- Be conscious of the local culture; Tahiti isn’t just multicultural and multilingual, it’s also multisexual, so be mindful when using gender identifiers in conversation. It is part of what gets the culture so interesting!
- Consider investing in First Class, or at least spending those air miles to upgrade! Tahiti is a long way off and you be glad of this relaxation on back and the road!
Picture From:seeninthecity.co.uk
