Tahiti and Her Islands:

Tiscali Travel visited Tahiti & Her Islands hosted by Tahiti Tourism

Tahiti & Her Islands (formerly known as French Polynesia) are made up of 118 islands that are scattered over five island groups in the South Pacific. The island groups, the result of heavy volcanic activity, offer incredibly diverse landscapes, beaches, attractions and cultures. The islands were often considered as an idyllic location for honeymooners, yet they offer so much more for people of all ages.

• Lava-tubing in the Hitiaa mountains just outside of Papeete on Tahiti
• Jet-skiing and snorkeling in the beautiful bays of Moorea
• Hike and picnic through the pineapple plantations
• Dolphin-spotting in Rangiroa
• Snorkeling in the blue lagoon of Moorea

i) Arrival - Landing in Tahiti was an experience in itself. We were travelling on the same plane as the National Tahiti Boat Squad who were flying in after winning the world championships. We were greeted with what only can be described as a heroes welcome. There was everything from fresh flower garlands to local musicians and dancers. Initially we thought that this was for our arrival but it was soon apparent that this was for the true heroes! Regardless, a welcome like that was truly magical and set the tone for the rest of the trip.

ii) Accommodation - We stayed in the luxurious Radisson Plaza Hotel, located on Lafayatte beach just outside of bustling Papeete. From here you can easily access Tahiti's great shopping, watersports, museums and tours. The hotel's amenities cover all of the usual bases eg infinity pool, fitness centre, beach access etc. The hotel sets itself apart from the competition by having strong links with Tahitian culture. Twice a day locals teach guests traditional crafts, dances and culture, leaving you feeling like you've truly experienced the real Tahiti lifestyle.
Rates: Rooms start at £196 pp for an ocean view room to £276 pp for an ocean view Duplex
More information and booking details

iii) Lava-tubing - Okay, so what exactly is lava-tubing? I was under the impression that we would be going on a casual stroll through the lavafields of Tahiti - my idea of of 'stroll' could not have been further from the truth. After an hour of 4x4 offroading, our guide Herve Maraetaata (or 'stone temple man') gave us each a wetsuit and a hard-hat with a torch on it... Slightly apprehensive, we began our trek. After two hours of wading through streams, climbing up waterfalls and scrambling across rocks (in the torrential rain I hasten to add) I realised that lava-tubing is basically Tahitian for canyoning! With some of the most amazing views that I have ever experienced coupled with a guide who was not only very amusing but also highly captivating, this proved to be an unforgettable experience. The genuine sense of achievement afterwards created a noticeable bond amongst the group.
I must stress that lava-tubing is not for the faint-hearted and you must be of adequate fitness to partake.
Cost: £73 pp - Mato-Nui Excursions. Minimum 4 persons with picnic included.
Contact: tmatonui@mail.tf or www.tahiti-tourisme.co.uk

i) Accomodation - We stayed at the amazing Sofitel Beach resort on Moorea. Situated on the edge of a magnificent lagoon, the Sofitel is the epitomy of luxury offering luxurious overwater and beachfront bungalows. Guests can spend the day lazing by the beautiful pool, chilling in the spa or chasing rays snorkelling off the beach. They also have 2 restaurants serving anything from freshly-caught seafood to high-end French cuisine. Amazingly I found the hotel to have a bit too much of a 'coupley' atmosphere as a single traveller. It's the kind of place you would go to when truly treating yourself for an occasion such as a honeymoon or a special anniversary.
Rates: From £212 per night for a Deluxe Garden Bungalow, from £385 per night for an Overwater Bungalow.
More information and booking details

ii) Jet Skiing - Jet skiing is pretty self-explanatory - however with rolling mountains, crystal clear water and pristine beaches, Moorea provided the perfect backdrop for the activity. With history being paramount to all Tahitians, our guide made sure that we knew that the bays we were racing through were once discovered by Captain Cook. Informative and fun, this is a must for all adrenalin junkies.
Cost: Jet Ski - 1 hour £82 per bike (max of 2 people per bike). Parasailing - £42 pp
Contact: Moorea Mahana Tours - rutammt@mail.pf

iii) Hiking through the pass of the 3 pine trees - Our guide Hiro (pronounced quite aptly Hero) had single-handedly built over 25kms of paths through the pass. We covered 8km, however you can opt for 2, 4, 8 or 16 kms depending on your own experience. Hiro taught us about the local legends, wildlife and a few survival tricks. With stupendous views of Moorea and the surrounding islands this is a must for any budding photographers or botanists.
Cost: £43 pp minimum of 5 persons per group - with picnic lunch included.
Contact: Moorea Hiking - Tohie'a Excursions - hiro@magicmoorea.com

iii) Day Spa - After a hard days trekking what better way to end the day than a relaxing massage back at the Sofitel Beach Resort? Perfect.
Cost: £58 for 30 mins.

i) Accommodation - Getting straight back to reality we stayed at the Raira Lagoon family pension in Rangiroa. We were all given a beach-view bungalow which, although not 5-star, was very comfortable. The staff bent over backwards to accommodate us and make us feel welcome. With a home cooked meal and lunch each night for as little as £18 a head, including alcohol, you really can't go wrong.
Cost: £67 per night - £11 per extra person.
Contact: www.raira-lagon.pf

ii) Dolphin Watching and Snorkeling in the natural aquarium - On a fairly rough and wet day I didn't imagine that we would see anything at all. I couldn't have been more wrong. We found a pod of Dolphins and luckily it was playtime for them. We gazed at them for over an hour and it was a truly magical experience. We then headed to the natural aquarium for a spot of snorkeling - with hundreds of fish in all shapes and sizes - what better end could there be to such a perfect day.
Cost: £28 pp - Minimum 4 persons per group.
Contact: www.tahiti-tourisme.co.uk

iii) Black Pearl Farm excursion - One of the good things about staying with a small pension is that they are well connected to the local community. They arranged for us to visit the local Black pearl farm and find out exactly how Pearls are formed and farmed. This isn't one of the trip's most exciting activities but it's still interesting and offers the chance to pick up some bargain pearls to boot.
Cost: Free - Most local pensions offer free transfers.

i) Accommodation - The final leg of our tour took us back to Tahiti and to the Sheraton Hotel Tahiti Resort and SPA. Located close to the airport and to the ancient city, this hotel is a luxurious base to end your holiday or to begin your Tahitian adventure.
More information and booking details

I'd never really considered going to Tahiti as a holiday destination before as I always thought it was too far away. However, with new routes such as London - Paris - LA -Tahiti or London - New York - Tahiti make it easy to either break up the journey with a shopping trip stop off or go straight there in one go.

As a destination Tahiti can be quite expensive so make sure that you have adequate funds as there are hundreds of different activities that you can participate in and not all come cheap. That said, most islands have crystal clear beaches and miles of untouched white sand - so kick back and relax.

The most endearing feature of Tahiti is the zest for life that the locals have and, despite being a modern society, Tahiti retains its traditional flair for making any visitor feel welcome. My experience was definitely something that I'll certainly never forget and I thank the Tahitians for the unique experience that I had.

Getting there:

Air Tahiti Nui, the national carrier of Tahiti & Her Islands, now runs services from New York and LA to Papeete, the capital of Tahiti. The airline operates a partnership with Virgin to offer flights from the UK to the US. Air Tahiti Nui passengers are welcomed by the fragrance of the Tiare flower and the sounds of island music as soon as they step on board the plane, ensuring a unique Tahitian experience.

For the fifth consecutive year, Air Tahiti Nui has been named 'Best Airline for the Pacific Region' in the 2007 Skytax world Airline Survey.

For more information and to book visit www.airtahitinui.com

Cost of return flight from Tahiti to Rangiroa
Public rates, all taxes included:
From Jan 05th to May 31st 2007 and from Nov 16th to Dec 21st 2007: £189
From Jan 01st to Jan 04th 2007 / from June 01st to Nov 15th 2007 / from Dec 22nd to Dec 31st 2007: £203
Excess baggage per kilo: £1.16

Turquoise Package
Package Includes: Flights from London Heathrow to Papeete with Virgin and Air Tahiti Nui (via New York), 3 nights at Radisson Plaza Tahiti, 4 nights at Sofitel Moorea, 3 nights at Relais de Josephine (Relais de Josephine includes Half Board), domestic flights and transfers.
Cost: £2295 per person (2 sharing)
For more information visit: www.turquoiseholidays.co.uk

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