Every year, my friend and business partner Jennifer Westfall from Te Mana Travels hosts one of the most special trips in French Polynesia – an annual group trip called The Tahitian Escape. Unlike a typical resort vacation, this intimate journey combines the best of land and sea: a few days exploring one island from a boutique hotel, followed by a few unforgettable nights sailing aboard a luxury catamaran through another island group. It’s designed for travelers who want to slow down, immerse themselves in Polynesian culture, and experience French Polynesia beyond the postcards.

This year’s itinerary took us through the breathtaking Society Islands with 3 nights in Mo’orea followed by 4 nights sailing the lagoons of Raiatea and Taha’a. I’ve visited French Polynesia seven times now, yet somehow this trip still managed to show me a completely different side of these islands.

Why I Love The Tahitian Escape

One of my favorite parts of this trip was the group itself. It’s intentionally kept small, making it easy to connect with other travelers who share the same love for beautiful destinations, meaningful experiences, and slow travel. By the end of the week, strangers felt like friends. Travel always becomes more memorable when you share it with like-minded people.

Land: Three Nights in Mo’orea

Mo’orea is one of the most breathtaking islands in French Polynesia and a destination I never get tired of visiting. Just a short ferry ride from Tahiti, it’s known for its dramatic volcanic peaks, lush green mountains, emerald valleys, and two iconic bays – Cook’s Bay and Opunohu Bay. Surrounded by a crystal-clear lagoon teeming with marine life, Mo’orea offers the perfect balance of adventure and relaxation. Whether you’re hiking to panoramic viewpoints, snorkeling with sharks, rays and sea turtles, exploring pineapple plantations, or simply soaking in the island’s laid-back atmosphere, Mo’orea captures everything people dream of when they imagine French Polynesia. It was the perfect place to begin our Tahitian Escape before setting sail for Raiatea and Taha’a.

Our Stay at Cook’s Bay Hotel & Suites

For the land portion of the trip, we stayed at the beautiful Cook’s Bay Hotel & Suites, tucked into one of Mo’orea’s most iconic bays.

I absolutely loved this boutique property. The rooms were bright, modern, spacious and immaculately clean, with beautiful views over Cook’s Bay. The location couldn’t have been better – close to restaurants, shops and many of the island’s best activities, while still feeling peaceful and relaxed. The on-site restaurant quickly became one of my favorites, serving delicious meals with incredible waterfront views. It was the perfect place to unwind after a day of exploring.

Mo’orea Lagoon Tour

One of the absolute highlights was our lagoon tour with Mo’orea Miti Tours. The lagoon in Mo’orea never disappoints. We spent the day swimming alongside blacktip reef sharks, graceful stingrays and sea turtles before stopping at a secluded motu for lunch.

What made this tour so memorable wasn’t just the scenery, it was the cultural experience. Our captain Willfred shared Polynesian traditions by demonstrating different ways to tie a pareo, teaching us how to prepare fresh poisson cru, and sharing stories about local life. It felt authentic, personal and incredibly welcoming.

Exploring Mo’orea by Land

We also explored the island with Mo’orea VIP Tours. The tour combined Mo’orea’s stunning landscapes with fascinating history and culture. We stopped at the famous Belvedere Lookout for panoramic views over Cook’s Bay and Opunohu Bay before learning about ancient Polynesian history and traditions. Of course, no visit to Mo’orea is complete without a stop at the Rotui Juice Factory, where we sampled locally made juices, jams and fruit liqueurs.

 

Sea: Four Nights Sailing Raiatea & Taha’a

After our time in Mo’orea, we traded land for sea as we boarded our luxury catamaran to explore the breathtaking lagoons of Raiatea and Taha’a. These sister islands share one of the largest and most spectacular lagoons in French Polynesia, yet each has its own distinct character. Raiatea, known as the “Sacred Island,” is considered the cultural and spiritual heart of Polynesia and is home to the UNESCO-listed Taputapuātea Marae, one of the most important archaeological and religious sites in the Pacific. Just across the lagoon lies Taha’a, affectionately known as the “Vanilla Island” for its world-renowned vanilla plantations, fragrant air, and slower, more traditional way of life. Together, these islands offer a beautiful blend of culture, history, lush mountain landscapes, secluded motus, vibrant coral reefs, and some of the most pristine lagoons in French Polynesia, making them an incredible destination to explore by catamaran.

My First Catamaran Charter in French Polynesia

Despite visiting French Polynesia seven times, this was my very first private catamaran charter. It completely changed the way I experience these islands. For four unforgettable nights, we sailed aboard a beautiful 62-foot luxury catamaran around the spectacular lagoons of Raiatea and Taha’a.

Each cabin had its own ensuite bathroom, making the experience surprisingly luxurious while still feeling relaxed and intimate. Our experienced captain handled all the sailing while we simply enjoyed life on the water.

Every morning we woke up somewhere completely new. Traveling by catamaran gave us access to hidden motus, crystal-clear lagoons, quiet anchorages, and secluded corners of Raiatea and Taha’a that simply aren’t accessible on a typical resort vacation. Rather than rushing from one excursion to the next, we explored at nature’s pace, spending our days sailing through the lagoon, stopping whenever we found an incredible snorkeling spot, and soaking in the beauty of our surroundings. As someone who loves being in the water, I genuinely don’t think I’ve ever spent this much time swimming on a single trip. Even after seven visits to French Polynesia, I can honestly say that exploring the islands by catamaran has become one of my favorite ways to experience them. It’s a slower, more intimate style of travel that allows you to truly disconnect, appreciate the incredible scenery, and discover a side of French Polynesia that many visitors never get to see.

Life On Board

I got used to the fab boat life real quick and now I know why Jen kept telling me I need to experience the islands this way. There was something incredibly peaceful about moving with the rhythm of the ocean and letting each day unfold naturally. 

One thing that truly surprised me was how well we were looked after. Our wonderful hostess, Nono, prepared three fresh meals every single day, and every meal felt restaurant-worthy. From delicate tuna carpaccio and fresh local seafood to traditional Polynesian dishes, tropical fruit, homemade desserts and an unforgettable tiramisu, every meal celebrated the incredible flavors of French Polynesia. We were completely spoiled. Sharing long lunches together on deck while surrounded by turquoise water or convening togetehr for dinner after a long eventful day quickly became some of my favorite parts of each day.

Not to mention the stunning sunrises and sunsets we were treated to every day!

Endless Snorkeling

Every day brought two or three different snorkeling stops. We explored vibrant coral gardens, drift snorkeled through crystal-clear channels and jumped into water so impossibly blue it almost didn’t seem real.

One of my favorite parts of boat life was simply being able to jump into the lagoon whenever we wanted. Taha’a truly has some of the most stunning corals I have seen in all of French Polynesia!

Hidden Unspoiled Motus 

One of my favorite parts of sailing around Taha’a and Raiatea was getting to explore the island’s beautiful remote motus – tiny, uninhabited islets fringed with powdery white sand and surrounded by impossibly clear turquoise water.

Many of these secluded spots can only be reached by boat, making them feel wonderfully untouched and far removed from the rest of the world.

Exploring Raiatea

While Raiatea is known as the sacred heart of French Polynesia, experiencing it from the water gave it an entirely different perspective. One of our most meaningful stops was Taputapuātea Marae, the most important sacred marae in Eastern Polynesia and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Walking through this ancient ceremonial complex while learning about its significance to Polynesian navigation and culture added so much depth to the trip.

Discovering Taha’a

We also spent a full day exploring Taha’a with Manava Tours with Hoani. The day combined snorkeling in beautiful coral gardens, visiting one of the island’s famous vanilla plantations, enjoying lunch on a secluded motu and learning more about everyday island life. It was the perfect mix of adventure, culture and local craftsmanship.

During our anchorage around Taha’a we also visited Manao Tahiti Rum Distillery, where we sampled locally crafted rums made using French Polynesian ingredients, followed by a fascinating visit to Champon pearl farm to learn how Tahitian black pearls are cultivated.

Last night on board

On our final night aboard the catamaran, we were treated to a beautiful cultural evening with local musicians coming on board to share traditional songs and live music with us under the stars. The atmosphere felt incredibly special, with the lagoon completely still around us and the boat gently anchored in the dark, creating the most magical setting for the evening. What made it even more memorable was how interactive it became, with all of us joining in, learning a few songs, and taking part in traditional song and dance. It was such a joyful, unexpected way to connect with Polynesian culture and with each other, and honestly the most beautiful way to end an unforgettable week at sea.

Slow Travel at Its Best

This trip reminded me that sometimes it isn’t the destination that changes, but the way you choose to experience it. I’ve visited Raiatea and Taha’a before, but seeing them by catamaran completely transformed them. Waking up somewhere new every morning, anchoring beside untouched motus, exploring hidden lagoons, swimming whenever the mood struck, and simply taking our time made the entire experience feel like discovering these islands for the very first time again. If you’ve already visited French Polynesia, I can’t recommend a catamaran charter enough, and if it’s your first trip, it might just be the most unforgettable way to experience these incredible islands.

Big thanks to our amazing captain Tomas and hostess Nono!

Join Us for the 2027 Tuamotu Adventure

If reading this has you dreaming about French Polynesia, I have some exciting news.

In 2027, Jen and I will be co-hosting our very own Tuamotu Adventure, taking travelers to two of my absolute favorite islands in French Polynesia – Rangiroa and Fakarava.

This intimate journey combines luxury, adventure, world-class snorkeling, incredible marine life, local culture and unforgettable experiences across one of the most spectacular island chains on Earth. If you’ve ever wanted to experience French Polynesia beyond Bora Bora, this is the trip I cannot wait to share with you.

Learn more and reserve your spot HERE. Limited spots available. I truly hope you’ll join us.

Thanks for stopping by xo

Jyo

 

All drone photos by Emmanuelle Larchet.