Photo: Tom Donders ↗THE JOURNEY IN DETAIL
The lagoons of Raiatea, Taha’a and Bora Bora.
The Leeward Society Islands, Raiatea, Taha’a, Bora Bora and Huahine, lie 20–25 miles apart, each ringed by its own lagoon and barrier reef. Inside the lagoons the water is flat; between them is an ocean passage with the trade wind on the quarter. Ten days on a catamaran from Raiatea: the Taha’a coral garden, Mount Otemanu over Bora Bora, the quiet villages of Huahine and the sacred marae of Taputapuatea.
- Drift snorkelling the Taha’a coral garden
- Anchored beneath Otemanu in the Bora Bora lagoon
- Marae Taputapuatea, the UNESCO site on Raiatea
- Vanilla plantations and pearl farms
With old friends or new ones
Join a group or arrange a separate departure for your own team. Before travelling, we get to know each other, discuss everyone's experience and find suitable dates. You can also prepare together.
DAY BY DAY
Your daily itinerary.
A provisional itinerary. Weather, group readiness and local conditions may change the order and length of the stages.
- DAY 1 · Handover
Raiatea and boat handover
The 45-minute flight from Papeete to Raiatea. Handover at Apooiti marina, provisioning and a first night in the lagoon off Uturoa.
Overnight: Yacht, Uturoa lagoon - DAY 2 · 6 nautical miles
The shared lagoon of Raiatea and Taha’a
Six miles across the lagoon to Taha’a. A vanilla plantation, a pearl farm and a night in Haamene Bay, with the mountains mirrored in flat water.
Overnight: Yacht, Haamene Bay - DAY 3 · 8 nautical miles
The Taha’a coral garden
Round to the west of Taha’a and anchor off Motu Tautau. Drift snorkel the current between two motu, with Bora Bora on the horizon at sunset.
Overnight: Yacht, Motu Tautau - DAY 4 · 25 nautical miles
Ocean passage to Bora Bora
Out through the Paipai pass and 25 miles of ocean on a broad reach to Teavanui, Bora Bora’s only pass. Anchor off Vaitape beneath Mount Otemanu (727 m).
Overnight: Yacht, Bora Bora lagoon - DAY 5 · 10 nautical miles inside the lagoon
The Bora Bora lagoon
A day inside the lagoon: the east side off Motu Piti Aau, rays and blacktip reef sharks in the shallows and dinner at a restaurant on stilts.
Overnight: Yacht, Motu Piti Aau - DAY 6 · 25 nautical miles
Back to Taha’a
The 25 miles back south-east, close-hauled, to Taha’a. Anchor in Apu Bay and dine at a family restaurant ashore.
Overnight: Yacht, Apu Bay - DAY 7 · 25 nautical miles
Passage to Huahine
Twenty-five miles east to Huahine, the quietest of the four. In through the Avamoa pass, anchor off Fare and browse the evening market.
Overnight: Yacht, Fare - DAY 8 · 10 nautical miles
Huahine’s southern lagoon
Down the west coast into Avea Bay between Huahine Nui and Huahine Iti. Ancient stone fish traps and the sacred blue-eyed eels of Faie.
Overnight: Yacht, Avea Bay - DAY 9 · 30 nautical miles
Taputapuatea and Faaroa Bay
The 22 miles back to Raiatea through the Iriru pass. Marae Taputapuatea, the central temple of Polynesia, and a kayak up the islands’ only navigable river in Faaroa Bay. Boat return at Apooiti.
Overnight: Yacht, Apooiti marina - DAY 10 · Transfer
Departure
Breakfast, transfer to Raiatea airport and the flight to Papeete.
Overnight: —
Included in the estimated price
Double cabin on a 42–46 ft catamaran
A professional skipper
Breakfasts and lunches on board
Raiatea airport — marina transfers
Snorkelling kit, a kayak and a paddleboard
End-of-charter cleaning and linen
Not included in the price
Flights to the meeting point
Personal travel insurance and visas
Personal equipment
Single-room supplements and personal expenses
Kitty for dinners ashore, fuel, water and moorings
Domestic flight Papeete — Raiatea
Single-cabin supplement
YOUR PREPARATION
Arrive ready for the route.
No experience needed, but the 4–5 hour ocean passages between islands carry swell. Ivan explains in advance how reef passes work and why we move inside the lagoons only under a high sun.
Prepare with IvanROUTE QUESTIONS
BEFORE WE MEET ON THE TRAIL
What to prepare in advance
- A soft bag rather than a hard suitcase
- Shoes with clean, non-slip soles
- Sun and wind protection, and a light rain layer
- Personal essentials suited to your experience at sea
Once we choose a date, we agree on the equipment list, meeting point and transfer time. Please wait until the programme is confirmed before booking flights.