Tahiti and French Polynesia

Discover French Polynesia’s unique history and ancient traditions on this unparalleled voyage through the colorful landscapes of the storied South Pacific from February 21 to March 3, 2025. This ten‑night land and sea journey reveals the spectacular coastlines, vibrant coral reefs, lush interiors and cultural mystique of Tahiti and the Society Islands of Mo’orea, Taha’a, Ra’iatea, Bora Bora and Huahine.

Begin your exploration of this storied region with two nights at the deluxe InterContinental Tahiti Resort & Spa or Hilton Tahiti in Pape’ete before embarking on a seven-night voyage on the elegant small ship Star Breeze. Specially designed to cruise these crystal-clear waters, our intimate ship provides extensive luxury amenities, including complimentary use of kayaks and snorkeling equipment.

Take in an abundance of exquisite scenery while swimming or snorkeling in sparkling blue waters with stingrays, manta rays, lagoon sharks and colorful fish. Savor a barbecue dinner under the stars, and embark on a catamaran adventure to a private motu in Bora Bora for a Tahitian-inspired dinner. In addition to the included excursions, this itinerary has the opportunity to custom tailor your cruise with a selection of optional excursions at every island at an additional cost.

Shared with participants from cosponsoring associations, this incredible journey will fill up quickly. Request your reservation online today while space and early booking savings are available. Please contact the Georgetown Travel Society at GeorgetownTravelSociety@Georgetown.edu or 866-525-8664 for more details.

 

Dates and Rates:

Trip Dates: February 21 – March 3, 2025
Rates: $5,795 – $13,495 per person based on double occupancy. Taxes are an additional $125 per person.

Traveling solo? Stateroom Categories 8, 9 and 10 may be reserved by single travelers at 160% of the per person double price (per person rate x 1.6),  or please contact us to inquire about any possible roommate options

Request your reservation online today while space and early booking savings are available. Please contact the Georgetown Travel Society at GeorgetownTravelSociety@Georgetown.edu or 866-525-8664 for more details.

Itinerary:

Day 1 – Depart home city

Depart for Pape’ete, Tahiti. Please check your bags from your gateway city to your arrival city. Passengers arriving tonight will transfer to to either the deluxe InterContinental Tahiti Resort and Spa or the deluxe Hilton Tahiti.

Day 2 – Pape’ete, Tahiti

Remaining passengers arrive in the early morning at Fa’a’ā International Airport. Transfer to either the deluxe InterContinental Tahiti Resort and Spa or the deluxe Hilton Tahiti.

Spend your first day in Tahiti at your leisure. Enjoy the hotel’s luxury amenities or head out to explore Pape’ete on your own. Pape’ete has a wonderful market to pick up handicrafts, foods and other locally made items.

Tonight, meet up with your fellow passengers for a Welcome Reception at the hotel before enjoying dinner on your own.

Day 3 – Pape’ete/Embark Star Breeze

Depart Pape’ete for a tour of Tahiti’s scenic west coast. Walk through the sacred Arahurahu site and visit the Mara’a Grotto with its freshwater pools and small caves. Continue to the Spring Garden of Vaipahi, a heaven of tranquility where rare species of precious wood and tropical flowers can be found.

Transfer and board the deluxe Star Breeze. Unpack, get to know the ship’s amenities, and settle in for a delicious lunch on board the ship.

Tonight, join your fellow passengers for a Captain’s Welcome Reception on the ship, followed by a safety drill and a delectable dinner.

Day 4 – Cook’s Bay, Mo’orea

Welcome to Mo’orea, a jaw-dropping oasis! Soak up this ethereal paradise and beautiful volcanic landscape during time at leisure. You might wish to swim in the crystal-clear waters, host to an abundance of marine life. You also have a choice of optional excursions this morning and this afternoon, including a visit to Belvedere Point for views of Mount Rotu’i. Please see the Optional Excursion list for more information.

Return to your ship and dig into a satisfying lunch on board. After lunch, set off for more adventures on Mo’orea.

Depart Mo’orea and set sail for Ra’iatea. Settle in for dinner on board; then head to the deck and enjoy an evening under the stars.

Day 5 – Uturoa, Ra’iatea

Delve deeper into Polynesian lifestyles in Ra’iatea, the second-largest island of the Society Islands. This slice of paradise is home to rare flora and fauna, including the Tiare Apetahi, a flower found nowhere else on Earth. Spend time at leisure in Ra’iatea or choose from a selection of optional excursions this morning and this afternoon. One of today’s optional excursions is an enriching Opa Heritage tour that takes you to visit French Polynesia’s only UNESCO World Heritage site, the well‑preserved marae complex of Taputapuatea. Please see the Optional Excursion list for more information.

Return to the ship for another tasty lunch and an enriching lei-making demonstration this afternoon.

Tonight’s highlight is a special barbecue beneath the stars. Dress tropical casual and partake in line dancing and a deck party by the pool afterwards.

Day 6 – Fa’a’aha, Taha’a

Depart Ra’iatea and sail to Fa’a’aha, Taha’a.

Spend time at leisure on this low-key island or choose an optional excursion to discover the traditional use of local plants and trees. You can also opt to tour the grounds of a vanilla plantation, which includes time to snorkel and potentially encounter stingrays. Please see the Optional Excursion list for more information.

Next, dig your bare feet in the sand and savor an included beach barbecue lunch on a private motu, where you can also swim, snorkel or kayak.

Depart Taha’a and sail for Bora Bora. Enjoy dinner on board while regaling fellow passengers with stories of your day’s adventures.

Day 7 – Vaitape, Bora Bora

Today the ship arrives in glorious Bora Bora, where you may choose an optional excursion to tour the island in an open-air truck. Discover relics left behind by the U.S. military during WWII — all while admiring the colors of Bora Bora’s famous lagoon. Or enjoy a day at leisure on board the ship, simply relaxing under the sun. Please see the Optional Excursion list for more information.

Lunch and dinner are served on board.

Day 8 – Bora Bora

Another blissful day in Bora Bora awaits! Choose from a morning at leisure or opt to take a snorkel safari and stingray excursion, which includes a guided tour on a lagoon cruiser. Once past the famous Motu Tapu, you will stop at a shallow sandbank, a favorite spot for stingray sightings. With your guide’s assistance, you will be able to touch these gentle creatures as they swim an effortless ballet around you. Please see the Optional Excursion list for more information.

Catamaran Cruise to Private Motu: This afternoon’s excursion takes you to the private Motu Tapu for a Tahitian-inspired dinner!

Set sail for Huahine later tonight.

Day 9 – Fare, Huahine

Welcome to Huahine! The optional Sacred Sights and Cultural Walk excursion gives you the opportunity to ride on an open‑air truck between the ocean and a woodland of towering mape trees to the settlement of Maeva — the ancient religious center of Huahine‑Nui. Please see the Optional Excursion list for more information.

Savor a delicious lunch on board and spend the afternoon at leisure.

Tonight, join your fellow passengers for a Farewell Reception, followed by a delicious dinner. Raise a glass to your adventure in paradise!

Day 10 – Pape’ete, Tahiti/Return to Home City

Following breakfast, disembark the ship and venture out to discover Tahiti’s wonderful east coast. Visit the former home of American author James Norman Hall, best known for “Mutiny on the Bounty.” See Point Venus, named from the observatory Captain Cook established here in 1769 and witness the huge spray from a blow hole. Continue to the Tahara’a Viewpoint for some final photo opportunities.

Later today, transfer to the Fa’a’ā International Airport for your return flight home.

Arrive in your home city the next day.

Day 11 – Arrive in Home City

Welcome home!

Inclusions:

• Transfer options available with luggage handling abroad for participants whose arrival(s)/departure(s) coincide with the scheduled group transfer(s).
• Experienced, English-speaking local guides for included excursions.
• Gratuities to local guides and drivers on included excursions and transfers.
• Complimentary bottled water in your Suite or Stateroom and on excursions.
• Hospitality desk aboard ship.
• Experienced team of Professional Travel Directors at your service.
• Complimentary use of an audio headset during guided excursions.

In addition to enjoying the lavish amenities of the ship and several included outings, this unique itinerary allows you to choose from a robust list of optional excursions at an additional cost. Among the many options include opportunities to SCUBA, snorkel, and explore emerald green peaks and blue lagoons of the Society Islands. A full list of optional excursions and costs will be provided prior to departure.

Not included:
 Airfare; Taxes; passport fees; visas and fees for obtaining visas; personal expenses such as laundry and telephone calls; accident/sickness, trip cancellation, and baggage insurance; gratuities to ship and hotel personnel; optional sightseeing excursions; excess baggage charges on aircraft; local departure air taxes; airfare and associated local taxes*, airport facility taxes and federal inspection fees not listed int he “included features” section of the program brochure; transfers and baggage handling to/from airport/hotel on day(s) of arrival and/or departure if you are arriving earlier or later and/or departing earlier or later that scheduled group transfer(s); meals and and alcoholic beverages not listed as Included ; and all other services not specifically mentioned in the complete program terms and condition at https://www.gohagantravel.com/terms