If you’ve ever dreamed of piloting your own plane, here’s your chance. After some initial briefing, you’ll hop on-board an American Cessna 172 or Piper PA28 for a full 40 to 75 minutes of aeronautic excitement! Watch aquamarine oceans and tree-topped mountains pass as you stare out your window. With this flight you can live out all your flying fantasies with the comfort of having a trained instructor by your side.

For the real thrill seekers among us, the high-performance, carbon-composite German Extra
200 offers even more action-packed adventure. Rather than staring down as Tahiti’s blue lagoon passes you by, you’ll be performing your very own air show as your instructor teaches you corkscrews and loops! The initiatory aerobatics flight is not for the faint of heart, however; daredevils should feel right at home!

If you love the idea of Tahiti travel via the skies but you’re concerned about safety, rest assured: During your flight, you’ll be accompanied by professional pilots who are approved by the French authorities to train pilots pursuant to the European Jar-FCl standard.  Highly attentive to your comfort, your instructors will adapt themselves to your level of tolerance to ensure a safe, smooth ride.

Whether you’re exploring vacation packages to Tahiti or planning your honeymoon in Bora Bora, be sure to keep your options open.  With Tahiti Nui Travel’s new offerings, you can buckle up for a discovery flight or even sign yourself up for the daring aerobatic experience of your dreams!  Either way, make your vacation to Tahiti memorable by becoming a pilot and getting a 360 degree view of the world around you.

Interested in exploring all Tahiti has to offer? Check out our vacation packages>>

This October, should you be enjoying your honeymoon in Tahiti or simply vacationing on the island of Rangiroa, you’ll have the opportunity to experience Farerei Haga Cultural Days.

Farerei Haga, which translates to “Encounter in Paumotu,” will run from October 1–7. The festival strives to bridge the gap between locals and tourists, showcasing how travelers can experience the various aspects of French Polynesian culture and traditions by participating in this festive, fun-filled event.

One of the event’s most unique elements is that it brings together various representatives of the Polynesian culture—craftsmen, musicians, and athletes—so that tourists can get an authentic feel for the area.  As a tourist, you will have the opportunity to see tattoo artists, basket makers, sculptors, and more featuring their various crafts on the “Public Beach” just a few kilometers from the village of Avatoru.

Visitors can also attend various song and dance contests and listen to local musicians showing off their skills using traditional Polynesian instruments like the ukulele, to’ere, pahu, vivo, and more.  For those who are looking for even greater cultural immersion, the event features demonstrations of local practices and customs, such as traditional medicine (ra’au Tahiti) and much more.

Of course no festival celebrating French Polynesian culture would be complete without the inclusion of ocean-related activities. Fishing, boating, and diving are all popular tourist attractions. During Farerei Haga, you’ll have the opportunity to try your hand at longline fishing, pirogue racing, or take a dip in Rangiroa’s warm and welcoming waters.

Farerei Haga is the perfect way to experience French Polynesian culture, including art, sport, music, and so much more. So participate in the festival and experience it for yourself; you’ll walk away a different person.

Interested in taking a vacation to this amazing island? Check out our Rangiroa vacation packages >>

This is one of our main objectives with our Facebook Page and we’ve been more than appreciative of the likes, shares, and comments our community has provided. Here are ten of the most popular photographs we have featured so far this year.

“The beautifully heart shaped island of Tupai”

“Who said a taxi had to be a yellow cab?”

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“Glass bottom boat or glass bottom bungalow?”

“Island spotlight on… Bora Bora!”

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“Do you wish you were diving with dolphins right now?”

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“The Four Seasons Bora Bora”

“We’d sure like to be hangin’ in this hammock!”

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“Would be watching these rays from the boat or in the water?”

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‘Take a boat ride in a Pacific Paradise”

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‘How about dinner here?”

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We are thoroughly delighted that you have enjoyed our images of Tahiti, Bora Bora, and the islands of French Polynesia. If you have a suggestion or submission you would like us to feature, like our Facebook page, comment, and let us know!

To get to Bora Bora, you first need to fly into Tahiti and then board a smaller inter-island flight to your final destination. Once you arrive, it’s time to check into your hotel, the Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora. The Four Seasons is located in the corner of a lagoon and offers either beachfront or overwater bungalow lodging options. When you’re here, you’re among starlets! Over the years, the Resort has been frequented by many famous Hollywood celebrities: Orlando Bloom, Salma Hayek, Paris Hilton, and the Real Housewives of Orange County, to name a few.

Once you’ve dropped off your belongings, you can begin your adventure! One of the most popular daytime activities on Bora Bora is shark watching. A full-day tour begins with a trip out to the lagoon in an outrigger canoe, where you can meet with friendly sharks and other sea life that inhabits the lagoon. Take your time and soak up your surroundings; it’s not every day you get to exchange pleasantries with amicable underwater creatures. The day culminates in a picnic lunch on the motu, where guests dine with their feet in the lagoon, so come hungry!

If you don’t want to commit your entire day to just one activity, then you can pick from plenty of half-day or hour-long excursions. Circle Island Tours are popular options for on-the-go travelers, as they run just two hours in length, are always available, and take you through the whole island, making special stops at ancient sites along the way. These tours begin on the eastern part of Bora Bora, cross over the isthmus of Taravao to the Western part of the island, and then circle back around. If you’re looking for specifics, try the Shark and Rays Snorkeling Safari. You don’t have to observe these guys from afar; instead, you can swim through turquoise waters and meet them in person! Alternatively, a glass bottom boat tour allows you to get up close, but not personal in your exploration of the reef and sea life.

Diving is another popular activity on Bora Bora, especially for those interested in swimming right alongside these sharks and rays. Guests interested in exploring the vast waters of the Pacific have a few options at their disposal: Top Dive at the Pearl Beach Resort, the InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa, or the MaiKai Marina & Yacht Club.

Of course no island adventure would be complete without sampling the local cuisine of the area you’re visiting. With a thatched roof above your head keeping out the hot sun, Bloody Mary’sis just the place to unwind after a long day on the island of Bora Bora. Bloody Mary’s is a restaurant that caters to just about anyone’s palate; it offers a wide selection of entrees,  such as charred peppered sashimi, Opa Moon, and Parrot fish caught straight out of the Bora Bora Lagoon. The catch of the local fisherman is even displayed in front of you on ice.

Think you’ve had enough for just one day? Before you rest your head at the end of your 24-hour tour of Bora Bora, be sure to soak in your oceanside plunge pool, where you can take in views of the sea and stars. Warm island breezes and ocean waves will calm you and get you ready for sleep. Bora Bora is a magical place packed with adventure, so relax; today was a busy day.

Where Is It?

Say it with us: Teahupo’o. Teahupo’o is a village off the southwest coast of the island of Tahiti. Originally an underground location for body surfers, a trend started in 1986 by bodyboarding pioneers Mike Stewart and Ben Severson, Teahupo’o became widely recognized as one of the most intense wave riding spots in 1998 after the Gotcha Pro Tahiti was held there. Teahupo’o boasts an extremely shallow coral reef, which is responsible for a hollow-breaking wave unpredictable in its course; swells mainly break left, but can also go right, earning the location its reputation as a “must surf” on every serious surfer’s bucket list.

Who’s Going?

Thirty-eight rockstar athletes will be in attendance, all of whom are among the top world ranking surfers. The top five world ranked athletes competing include John John Florence, a Hawaiian native, Adriano De Souza of Brazil, surfing veteran Kelly Slater, also of the USA, who will return defend last year’s title , Gabriel Medina from Brazil, and, finally, Australian Mick Fanning. Though athletes may be of varying ages, experience levels, and favor different waves and maneuvers, they will all bring fierce competition, making for an edge-of-your-seat series of preliminary rounds, quarter finals, semifinals, and finals.

What’s the Surf Looking Like?

To keep updated on the day-out-day surf forecast, you can always take peek at the swell outlook from Surfline. As of today, the swell is predicted to fill in through the afternoon with 5-6’ faces and occasional max sets up to 7-8’; a local, shorter period of head high south windswell may give the surf a jumbled up and stormy feel.  Swells will peak today and peter out slowly throughout the weekend, although, no matter the size of the waves, any spectator will be left in awe as surfers conquer towering walls of water.

Whether you’re a surfing aficionado or brand new to this event, it’s sure to please attendees of all sorts. Throughout these 12 action-packed days, anyone ready to watch surfers take on goliath sized waves above and shallow shorelines below will be craning their neck to see if the competitors made it out safe.

For more information about this year’s event, visit the Billabong Pro Tahiti website.

Photos courtesy of ASP.

James Michener once said of travel, “If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay at home.” While we agree that to get the most out of anywhere you travel to you should fully immerse yourself in all that your destination has to offer, today we’d like to focus on Michener’s first point – food. As Michener also declared Bora Bora to be the most beautiful place on earth, we figured it was perfect place to start off with as we travel through Tahiti, one restaurant review at a time.

La Villa Mahana

Location: Povai Bay
Delectable Dish: Entrecote Steak with Gnocchi
Comment Card Compilation: Located in a replica of a Tuscan villa, La Villa Mahana is known as a quiet and intimate spot. Patrons have often noted that they feel less as though are in a restaurant and more like Head Chef Damien Rinaldi Dovio and his wife have invited them into their home, making them feel like welcome guests. Intricate and complex flavors are accompanied with wine pairings, making La Villa Mahana the perfect fit for them.

Learn more about the island of Bora Bora where La Villa Mahana is located.

Le Lotus Restaurant 

Location: Intercontinental Tahiti Resort
Delectable Dish: Swordfish Mousse on a Potato & Mussel Risotto
Comment Card Compilation: If you enjoy unobtrusive service, breathtaking landscape views of Moorea, and culinary creations from Top Chefs from all over Europe, Le Lotus Restaurant is a perfect fit for those visiting Tahiti. Both a la carte and one to four course prix fixe menus boast mouthwatering meats, crisp, cool veggies and candied confections. The Le Lotus Restaurant is an ideal location as it’s right in the Intercontinental Tahiti Resort, so all diners have to do is walk right downstairs.

Learn more about the island of Tahiti where Le Lotus is located.

La Villa Des Sens

Location: The Legends Resort, across from the Beachcomber
Delectable Dish: Tuna roasted with herbs, China cabbage and consommé with yuzu, cilandro and lemongrass
Comment Card Compilation: Also a hop, skip and a jump from where diners may be staying, La Ville Des Sens is housed right in the Legends Resort Moorea. A VIP Chef’s table is one of the more remarkable features of this restaurant those some have been lucky enough to experience. One thing can certainly be gleaned from all reviews of La Ville Des Sens, is its propensity for delectable seafood, locally caught fish and shellfish, as well as an extensive wine menu. In fact, the dining room showcases a glass wine cellar that features over 120 vintage wines.

Learn more about the island of Moorea where La Villa Des Sens is located.

French Polynesia has a completely different and unique culture and to really immerse yourself in it, try everything the islands have to offer! And everything means everything, right down to the food. So learn about the religion, embrace the customs, but mostly, try the food. We hope these restaurant reviews gave you something to chew on…

For more information on the activities of French Polynesia be sure to check out our travel guide and vacation packages information.

For many years, visitors to French Polynesia only had the opportunity to fly over this romantically shaped island via helicopter. However, these days it’s possible to get up close and personal, as Tahiti Nui Travel now offers flights to and from the island.

So why would you want to visit Tupai? That’s easy. Tahiti Nui Travel calls it the most romantic wedding spot in Tahiti and also names it as the top place to get engaged. With the island chain already a magnet for couples and newlyweds, Tupai is the perfect place for any starry-eyed travelers.

What can you do when you’re there? For starters, you can have some of the most romantic and intimate experiences available in the world. Beginning the day with an island tour by air, and ending it by sipping champagne with your feet in the water as you lounge under the shade of a coconut tree, these are moments that can’t be captured anywhere else.

For those of you about to tie the knot, consider making your wedding memorable by exchanging your vows in the heart of the Polynesian Islands. In Tupai, you will be greeted by warm breezes as you step off the helicopter and onto the red carpet.  As you say your “I do’s,” you will feel the white sand beach under your feet and experience the setting sun and surrounding turquoise lagoon that stretches for miles. Coconut trees will keep you cool and the songs of indigenous island Petrels in the background will serenade you through your private and intimate ceremony, making an exceptional moment even more special.

So why not go to Tupai? We don’t honestly know. It’s a beautiful, tropical paradise locked into a largely untouched corner of the Pacific. Named the most romantic spot in French Polynesia, Tupai is perfect for any love birds looking to take the next big step.

Either way, grab your gear and join us as we kick off the surface to see what lies beneath. For today, we’ll be your tour guide as we dive into the aquamarine depths of the Pacific.

So jump on in and see!

Photo credit: 1,000 Cute Things

If you’re lucky to be diving in Tahiti during turtle hatching season, then you might be able to see one of these little guys making his way out to sea. Every year, mother turtles lay their eggs and bury them to keep them safe. After the eggs hatch, the babies must survive a harrowing journey through sand to get to the ocean, where they will swim freely to complete their growth into adults.

But, for now, down, down, we go!

This first fish just below the surface is called the Humphead Wrasse, but we prefer its more commonly known name: the Napolean Fish. It’s characterized by its bluish-green coloring, large lips, and the hump on its head from which it gets its name.

Swim a little closer to the coral and you’ll see these guys. Their name, much like their appearance, is simply Redfish. They swim in schools and hover around the reefs. While you’re here, snap a picture while you can: Redfish are small and they’ll swim away when they see you coming.

Swim a little deeper and you’ll find the Manta Ray. The maximum depth a ray can live at is 6.8 miles, but don’t worry, you don’t have to go thatdeep to see one. Manta Rays can get a bad rap, as people often confuse their triangular shaped wings and long, flat bodies with those of a Stingray. But Mantas are friendly and sting-proof. Oftentimes you can even get up close and personal and touch them!

If there are any adventurous souls still with us, then let’s continue our downward dive and visit some reef sharks. These guys, mostly found around atolls, tend to stay away from islands and out of lagoons unless trained by instructors. While most fear a Jawstype of incident, unless you classify yourself as a bony fish, you’ll probably be OK. Just give them some space and look on from a distance.

Before you leave our ocean adventure behind and swim back up to the surface, make sure to take a final look at the scenery. There’s so much wildlife beneath the waves that it’s easy to miss the smallest things, including the sea anemone pictured above. Known as the Polypes de Tubastrea, this underwater flower is a delicate adornment to the reef that surrounds and protects the lagoons of French Polynesia.

Now that we’ve reached the end of our journey, sadly, it’s time to return to the surface. We hope you enjoyed this diving adventure beneath the ocean waves, and we encourage you to come back any time in the flesh!

The Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora is a romantic retreat perfect for any wedding, honeymoon, or even proposal. This is why, on Tuesday, June 12, the world watched as the Real Housewives of Orange County’s Eddie Judge popped the question to Tamra Barney beneath a panorama of tropical paradise.

Let’s take a look of the particulars of their vacation-turned-engagement. The couple settled on the Four Seasons to enjoy a quiet, secluded vacation in an overwater bungalow. Such lodgings feature a wave-shaped pool, a spacious living area, and an outer deck perfect for privacy and relaxation.

While in Bora Bora, the couple partook in several island activities. Of the myriad options for guests to choose from—jet skiing, snorkeling, and even ATV tours—the resourceful Eddie determined that staying close to their bungalow and digging for oysters was the way to go.

And as it turns out, he made the perfect choice. The crowning jewel of the trip was Eddie’s clever idea to hide Tamra’s engagement ring inside an oyster. So, as the couple sat beneath a beaming sun with their toes in the rippling waves, Tamra came upon a most special oyster containing not a pearl but a promise for a happy ending.

This fairytale engagement wouldn’t have come to life without all the perfect little details needed to make the proposal a success. Set against a backdrop of pristine waters and blue sky that stretches for miles, Eddie’s choice of the Four Seasons Bora Bora made all the difference in the world. Tamra was so astonished when she opened the oyster and found the ring that she was actually rendered speechless for a moment following the proposal. “Yes!” she exclaimed. “If this isn’t a roadmap to a perfect wedding proposal then I don’t know what is!”

© 2012 Bravo Media LLC.  A Division of NBCUniversal.

The Society Islands offer travelers of all types a treasure trove of once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Whether you’re walking along black sand beaches, exploring ancient sites rich in cultural history, or snapping photos of your underwater snorkeling adventure, you can have all the riches of the world at your fingertips. Captain James Cook already did the hard part by discovering the islands. Now it’s your turn to take the map of the Society Islands and enjoy!

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<a href=”http://www.gotahiti.com/”><img src=”http://www.gotahiti.com/images/2012/06/society-islands-treasure-map.png” alt=”The Society Islands Treasure Map” width=”700″ border=”0″ /></a><br />Via: <a href=”http://www.gotahiti.com/”>GoTahiti.com</a>