TAHITI will always be your first and last impression of FRENCH POLYNESIA as it is the island you fly in to and out of when visiting THE ISLANDS OF TAHITI. Sound confused by all those different destination names?!! Let’s clear things up for you; Tahiti is the name of the largest island of the 118 islands that comprise the destination called French Polynesia. French Polynesia is also referred to as The Islands of Tahiti or just Tahiti, so when people talk about TAHITI it could mean the island of Tahiti itself or the entire destination … we usually find a cocktail helps us figure things out!
Tahiti island is the most populated and where you’ll find Faa’a International Airport as well as the destination’s capital city of Papeete. Often too quickly dismissed as just a transit island, Tahiti has a bustling & vibrant cultural hub in Papeete and the island abounds in natural beauty too. A stay on the island of Tahiti offers you museums, markets, theatres, galleries, restaurants & shops as well as waterfalls, surf breaks, dive sites, parks, botanic gardens, caves, a golf course, archaeological sites and of course many fabulous black & white sand beaches and a blue lagoon.
All international flights arrive and depart from the island of Tahiti and due to flight schedules from Australia we always use Tahiti island for at least 2 nights in all our holiday itineraries to French Polynesia. We also create Tahiti holiday itineraries staying just on the island of Tahiti, mainly for our lovers of hiking, dance and the French language.
Our Tahiti hiking trips offer you remote valley treks and encounters with imposing majestic mountains. You can discover hidden waterfalls, natural swimming holes, mysterious grottoes and mythical archaeological sites. Thanks to her volcanic past you can hike through lava tubes and along rocky coastal outcrops and if you’re feeling particularly sporty hike up the mountain peaks that culminate at about 2200 metres! Whatever your chosen path you’ll be rewarded with unrivalled views and hidden paradises. Depending on your passion you can do half day, full day or overnight hikes in Tahiti. All our hiking itineraries use a local guide so no need to worry about finishing up with a Robinson Crusoe experience.
Tahitian dance is not a hobby in Tahiti, it is a way of life! For our dance Tahiti holiday itineraries, we partner with a renowned local Tahitian dance school and you’ll split your time between dance lessons, island exploring & of course chill-out beach time. To get your hips swinging we always include a Tahitian Dance Show at a local resort allowing you to get up and showcase your new talents. The Heiva festival is an annual event held during July and August, and showcases traditional dancing and singing competitions as well as traditional sports and games, a must see if you get the chance.
Parlez-vous français? There’s something so exotic and sensual about the French language that appeals to foreigners the world over. French Polynesia, as its name suggests, is an Overseas Territory of France so French is the main language spoken, as well as the local Tahitian language. Tahiti is the perfect playground to finally learn the French language or to simply brush up on those skills learned long ago at school. For our French language holiday itineraries we partner with a small local language school and have created an itinerary with a great mix of class time and down time. To ensure you have the perfect French Polynesian experience we’ve included a trip to Moorea for you to relax and of course test out your newly learned skills.
Whatever your passion, Tahiti island is worth setting down your suitcase for more than just a night!