Cruising Aboard the Paul Gauguin - Tours & Excursions

There are quite a few adventures from which to choose while cruising the South Pacific islands aboard the Paul Gauguin. Here are some of my top favorite adventures:

Aito Off Road Safari - Travel in a four-wheel drive vehicle for a journey inside the volcanic crater that created Moorea.
Catamaran Sail with Snorkel - Explore Moorea’s beauty aboard a catamaran. Ride to Moorea’s northern coast, then on to Cook’s and Opunohu Bays. Upon reaching Opunohu Bay, the captain will drop anchor in the clear blue waters of a coral garden.
Dolphin Watching Expedition - Join Marine Biologist Dr. Michael Poole or his assistant for this eco-tour. With luck, you’ll see schools of spinner dolphins while listening to informative commentary about their remarkable society. Dolphins are found on 95% of the tours, but the engaging narrative and magnificence of Moorea’s coastline ensure a rewarding time. Guests visiting between July and early November may also view humpback whales in their annual mating and calfing rituals.
Coral Gardens Drift Snorkeling - After a short ride by motorboat, walk across an uninhabited motu off the coast, where your guide will lead you as the current carries you through the shallow lagoon on the way back to the boat. You will be delighted to find that this area abounds with a spectacular variety of tropical fish and amazing coral. This shore excursion is available from both Raiatea and Taha’a.
Exploration of Taha’a - You’ll drive via a safari off-road vehicle across one of Taha’a highest mountains. Visit a scenic viewpoint, learn the traditional use of local plants and trees, and learn the tamure, a Tahitian dance. Then tour a local vanilla plantation and a black pearl farm to learn how these treasures are cultured and harvested.
Golf in Paradise at the Moorea Green Pearl -Enjoy magnificent mountain and ocean views while playing this 18-hole championship course. The Nicklaus Design team created the course around the natural beauty of the island. Amateurs and professionals alike will find the Moorea Green Pearl Golf Course to be both challenging and inspirational.
In Paul Gauguin’s Footsteps - Take a walk in the footsteps of Paul Gauguin and explore the museum that bears his name during this scenic tour of Tahiti.
Raiatea Highlights Island Tour - Explore the interior of this picturesque island, climbing the hillside through untouched forests of bamboo, balsa and rosewood. Then pass pearl farms, local agriculture and conclude at the Botanical Garden with a guided nature walk.
Snorkel and Black Pearl Farm - Discover the Motu Pearl Farm, where you’ll learn all about the magnificent black pearl. Continue to a small motu for some snorkeling in the crystal clear lagoon of Taha’a and get acquainted with the myriad of tropical fish there. You’ll also find a small lagoonarium where you can swim with turtles, rays, and fish enclosed in different pools.
Tahiti - Off the Beaten Path - Explore a side of Tahiti not commonly seen by visitors during a scenic off-road journey through this idyllic island. Depart the pier with your guide in an off-road vehicle for the scenic drive through Tahiti’s pristine interior.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

The Ultimate South Pacific Cruise visiting The Marquesas, Tuamotus & Society Islands

The small luxury cruise ship m/s Paul Gauguin has scheduled a fantastic 14 day cruise where your first port is the breathtaking isle of Bora Bora. Then it’s on to the Tuamotus, specifically Fakarava, an atoll known for its pristine beaches, rare wildlife, and exceptional scuba diving.

Next, explore the mist-covered Marquesas, where you’ll discover the islands of Fatu Hiva, Hiva Oa, Ua Huka, and Nuku Hiva. On these wild islands you’ll find waterfalls, wild stallions, tiki sculptures, and an arboretum, among other delights. More enjoyment awaits on Taha’a (Motu Mahana), Paul Gauguins own private motu, and a day at spectacular Moorea. Check out the day by day itinerary below and then give us a call ASAP!

Day 1 Embark Paul Gauguin in Papeete, Tahiti - Begin your journey through paradise in the capital of Tahiti, the largest and most populated of the French Polynesian islands.

Day 2 At Sea - Spend the day enjoying the m/s Paul Gauguin’s Polynesian ambience: casual, leisurely, and graceful. Perhaps you’ll take in a lecture on local wildlife or history, then dine in the evening over classic French cuisine at L’Etoile.

Day 3 Fakarava - Explore the clear waters of Fakarava in the remote and pristine Tuamotus. The island is a sanctuary for rare birds, plants and crustaceans - stroll the pink-sand beaches and you will view many of them. You may also want to visit the island’s black pearl farm, or the ruins of the first church in French Polynesia built entirely of coral.

Day 4 At Sea - Take another day to enjoy shipboard life: relax poolside, watch the South Pacific slip by, play some table tennis, or take advantage of our Reading Library.

Day 5 Hanavave, Fatu Hiva - Fatu Hiva is wild and spectacularly beautiful. The jungle greenery begins at the water’s edge, with narrow ravines, deep gorges and luxuriant valleys briefly open to view as the boat glides past, close to the sheer cliffs that plunge straight down into the splashing surf.

Day 6 Atuona, Hiva Oa - Hiva Oa is an island marked by wild beauty and a somber bearing. The main town is Atuona, where Paul Gauguin is buried. You might visit the village of Puamau to see the largest stone sculptures of Marquesas. The are considered links to the tikis of Easter Island and Necker Island, north of Hawaii.

Day 7 Vaipaee, Ua Huka - Home to the only arboretum in French Polynesian, the people of Ua Huka have a commitment to the conservation and the preservation of their culture that is palpable. The oldest ruins in the Marquesas are located in the Hane Valley and date back to AD 254-300.

Day 8 Tiaohae, Nuku Hiva - As the governmental and economic center, Nuku Hiva is the most important island in the Marquesas. It’s also stunningly beautiful, with three major bays on the south coast and similarly gorgeous inlets on the north coast as well.

Days 9 - 10 At Sea -Take more time to enjoy shipboard life on the m/s Paul Gauguin , your own personal South Seas isle.

Day 11 Huahine - Known as the “wild” Society for its untamed, verdant forests, Huahine remains relatively untouched by modern development. Explore some of the abundant archaeological treasures - ancient homes, buildings, and marae (stone platforms that served as places of worship) - excavated and preserved throughout the island. Or dive in Huahine’s crystalline lagoon, which teems with over 450 species of fish.

Day 12 Bora Bora - Bora Bora’s lagoon is a must-see: this is your chance for a swim, snorkel or outrigger cruise. The lagoon is constantly replenished with ocean water from the swells that crash between sandy motus (small islets) and over the fringing reef.

Day 13 Taha’a (Motu Mahana) - Arrive at our South Seas paradise island - featuring white sand beaches with swaying palms, crystal-clear waters and gentle breezes. As an exclusive Paul Gauguin event, guests will spend a full day exploring this idyllic, isolated island, and relaxing with a delicious barbecue lunch and Polynesian entertainment which features strolling musicians and singers.

Day 14 Moorea/Papeete, Tahiti - The island of Moorea’s scenery is like a dream. Try out some exciting optional watersports like scuba diving among a host of interesting sea creatures - including sea turtles, a staggering number of fish species such as barracuda, tuna, jackfish, red snapper, moray eels, trigger fish, various sizes and shapes of rays and more. At the end of the afternoon, we cruise to our home port in Papeete, docking there for the night.

Day 15 Disembark in Papeete - In the morning you’ll disembark the m/s Paul Gauguin , capping off your epic journey through the South Pacific.

This cruise is offered just 4 times in 2010 and there are fantastic early booking discounts - call The Travel Gal at 800 644-6659 or email teresa@luxuryhideaways.net for details, dates and pricing.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!