Island guide
French Polynesia has 118 islands in five archipelagos. Most visitors go to the high islands of the Society group (Tahiti, Moorea, Bora Bora, Taha’a, Huahine) — volcanic peaks inside lagoons; to the north-east, the low atolls of the Tuamotus offer world-class diving. Picking an island is really deciding whether to take a domestic flight, whether to stay on a motu or the main island, and whether you want mountain-and-lagoon scenery or a pure atoll.
…
Each ring sits on the average coordinates of the resorts we list. Bigger ring = more resorts; colour is the island’s most common way to arrive. Open a ring and use the link to jump to its section below.
Bora Bora
Mount Otemanu over a vast lagoon of overwater villas — the classic, and the priciest, stop
Bora Bora is a volcanic island ringed by a wide lagoon and a chain of motu (reef islets); Mount Otemanu in the middle is the peak on every postcard. Most of the luxury resorts among the eight we list are on the outer motu, with overwater villas facing the mountain; the main island has the lower-priced hotels and guesthouses.
Access Air Tahiti from Papeete-Faa’a (PPT) takes about 50 minutes to Bora Bora airport, which sits on Motu Mute on the reef; resorts then run a 10–20 minute boat transfer. Guests on the main island can take the free public ferry to Vaitape.
Le Bora Bora by Pearl ResortsConrad Bora Bora NuiFour Seasons Resort Bora BoraInterContinental Bora Bora Le Moana ResortMaitai Polynesia Bora BoraThe St. Regis Bora Bora ResortSunset Hill LodgeThe Westin Bora Bora Resort & Spa
Moorea
The sister island you can reach by boat: peaks, bays, hiking and friendlier overwater prices
Moorea lies about 17 km north-west of Tahiti, known for jagged peaks and two deep bays, Cook’s Bay and Opunohu Bay. You don’t need a flight to get there, overwater villas cost clearly less than on Bora Bora, and there is plenty to do on land — hikes, lookouts, pineapple plantations, whale-watching trips — so it suits people who want both rest and activity.
Access The Aremiti and Terevau ferries from Papeete port take 30–45 minutes, run often and are what most people use; Air Tahiti also flies from Faa’a in about 10 minutes. On the island you rent a car or use resort transfers — the round-island road is about 60 km.
Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort & SpaHotel KavekaManava Beach Resort & Spa MooreaSofitel Moorea Kia Ora Beach Resort
Taha’a
The vanilla island, sharing a lagoon with Raiatea — quiet and remote
Taha’a and Raiatea sit inside the same reef, and Taha’a is known for vanilla farms and pearl farming with almost no large-scale development. Both resorts we list are on private outer motu, built around quiet and privacy — a common choice for honeymooners avoiding the Bora Bora crowds.
Access Air Tahiti from Faa’a takes about 45 minutes to Raiatea airport, then a 20–35 minute resort boat to the outer motu of Taha’a — one of the longest transfers among the Tahiti resorts we list.
Le Taha'a Island Resort & Spa, a Pearl Resorts hotelVahine Island Private Island Resort
Tahiti (main island)
The main island with the international airport — your first night in and last night out
Tahiti itself is the gateway to French Polynesia and home to the capital, Papeete. Its beaches are mostly black volcanic sand and its lagoon is narrower and less clear than the outer islands’, so few people make it their main stay — but international flights often land late at night or early morning, so a night here before moving on is almost standard.
Access Faa’a International Airport (PPT) is on the island’s west coast; both hotels we list are 5–15 minutes away by car, with no boat or flight needed.
InterContinental Tahiti Resort & SpaTahiti Pearl Beach Resort
Tetiaroa
Marlon Brando’s private atoll, with a single ultra-luxury resort
Tetiaroa is a ring of a dozen-odd motu that was once Marlon Brando’s private island. Today it has a single resort, The Brando — all-inclusive, every villa with a private pool — and it doubles as a base for conservation and research on the atoll.
Access Only by the resort’s own Air Tetiaroa plane from Faa’a, about 20 minutes; seats are for guests only and booked with the room.
Tikehau
A pink-sand Tuamotu atoll known for the density of its fish life
Tikehau is an almost circular low atoll with a fish-rich lagoon and beaches with a faint pink tint. Unlike the high Society Islands there are no mountains — just sky, lagoon and motu — and the pace is very slow.
Access Air Tahiti from Faa’a takes about 50 minutes to Tikehau airport, then a 15–20 minute resort boat to the motu.
Fakarava
A UNESCO biosphere reserve whose south-pass “wall of sharks” is famous among divers
Fakarava is the second-largest atoll in the Tuamotus and part of a UNESCO biosphere reserve. The grey reef sharks of the south pass (Tumakohua) and the June–July grouper spawning aggregation are what divers come for; accommodation is mostly family-run lodges — simple, with a strong local feel.
Access Air Tahiti from Faa’a takes about 70–75 minutes to Fakarava airport; lodgings are mostly around Rotoava village, 5–10 minutes by car.
Huahine
The “garden island” — little development, traditional Polynesia at a slow pace
Huahine is two islands, north and south, lush and dotted with small villages, with many ancient marae (temple sites); the Maeva area is one of the most important archaeological sites in the Society Islands. It suits people who want to see a Polynesia little changed by tourism.
Access Air Tahiti from Faa’a takes about 40–45 minutes to Huahine airport, then about 25 minutes by hotel transfer.
Rangiroa
One of the world’s largest atolls, famous for pass diving and dolphins
Rangiroa’s lagoon is so big you can’t see the far side. The Tiputa pass is a world-famous dive site with dolphins and reef sharks, plus great hammerheads from December to March; the Blue Lagoon day trip is the signature outing for non-divers.
Access Air Tahiti from Faa’a takes about 55 minutes to Rangiroa airport; hotels are mostly around Avatoru village, 5–10 minutes by car.
Search with my criteria