Society Islands & Tuamotus with Ponant

Begin your trip with some VIP lounge relaxation before your day flight to Los Angeles. On arrival you’ll be met by a private driver and brought to your luxury accommodation in Santa Monica. Relax with the pillow-top mattresses, outdoor pools and views over the city and sea before heading out to explore. While the white-sand beach is tempting, don’t miss out on the glitz and glam of LA. A true creative hotspot, the city is host to world-class dining, cutting-edge art galleries and – from glass-and-steel concert halls to truly palatial mansions – some of America’s most impressive architecture. 

Today, a flight hop – bookended by included transfers – will see you to Papeete and the luxurious Paul Gauguin. You’ll quickly settle in to your butler-served room and an all-inclusive menu of open bars, complimentary in-room drinks and a full range of gourmet restaurants. Alongside wine-paired fine dining there are poolside grills and buffet favourites, all showcasing the best in modern French cuisine designed by Michelin-winning chefs. The ship’s facilities are equally considered, ranging from a superb spa, gym and suite of fitness classes to a casino, library, gorgeous pool deck and a grand theatre that hosts expert lectures and Broadway shows alike.

Stay: Paul Gauguin

Known as ‘The Garden Island’, Huahine welcomes with lush rainforests that cloak fishing villages and some of Polynesia’s finest archaeological sites – including a collection of evocative marae temples. But, it’s also your first opportunity to make use of the complimentary water sports from your ship’s marina. Explore glittering waters by kayak, windsurfing or stand-up paddle boarding along with optional snorkelling and scuba dives. Then, in between vanilla plantations and mountains ripe for ATV rides, there’s plenty of time for some white-sand relaxation.

Stay: Paul Gauguin

Bora Bora – even the name conjures up images of a paradise island. Here, you’ll have two days to take in lush peaks, romantic lagoons and colourful coral reefs on a range of optional excursions, from sunset cruises to helicopter flights. You’ll also enjoy exclusive access to Paul Gauguin’s private beach club. Here, pristine, palm-fringed sands are the idyllic launchpad for the usual spread of complimentary water sports, along with games of volleyball, a full bar service and the chance to snorkel with technicolour fish.

Stay: Paul Gauguin

Part of the Tuamotu Archipelago, Rangiroa gazes out over a scattered collection of 78 coral atolls. It all makes for a delightful sense of seclusion, complete with small villages where traditional island life plays out as lazily as it always has done. And, there’s a chance to learn all about it with a visit to a pearl farm. Rangiroa’s crystal-clear waters are also ideal for snorkelling, scuba dives and glass-bottom boat tours, bringing you out over rainbow corals animated by exotic fish.

Stay: Paul Gauguin

Before modern navigation, Fakarava was part of the region known as the ‘Dangerous Archipelago’ for its narrow passages, coral jags and remote setting. Today, these same characteristics make it a diver’s paradise, its unspoilt land- and marine-scapes having been declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Alongside turtles and manta ray, there are always those pretty Polynesian beaches along with charming villages host to ancient temples and coral churches alike.

Stay: Paul Gauguin

With a day at sea, you’ll have the opportunity to relax and take full advantage of the ship’s luxurious facilities. Catch a dance performance and a biologist talk at the theatre, wander the ship’s mile-long walk or get up early for a Polynesian-inspired Zumba class. But, there’s something to be said for a day spent relaxing by the pool, complimentary drink in hand.

Stay: Paul Gauguin

Today you’ll have Paul Gauguin’s very own private, uninhabited island – Motu Mahan – all to your own. Alongside the programme of complimentary water sports, there are musical performances, traditional crafts demonstrations and chilled drinks at the floating bar. And, what white-sands paradise would be complete without a gourmet barbecue lunch? At next-door Taha’a, there’s also the opportunity to explore pearl villages, jungled mountains and pretty vanilla plantations.

Stay: Paul Gauguin

Moorea is the land that time forgot, where volcanic peaks tower shark-like over pineapple plantations and palm-tree-lined beaches. And, the underwater world is just as exciting, with sharks, tuna and tropical fish all competing for divers’ attentions. Your choice of excursions here spans from off-road tours and visits to handicraft shops to underwater walks and dolphin-watching boat rides accompanied by a marine biologist. There’s even a guided walk among the region’s forests, spotting temples, stone workshops and historic carvings among the dense verdure.

Stay: Paul Gauguin

Your penultimate port of call is Vairao on Tahiti Iti. As the only cruise to make land at ‘Little Tahiti’, you’ll be treated to an island unspoilt, where waterfalls mark rugged cliffs and caves look out over crystal-clear waters. It’s also host to an intriguing human history, explored on visits to Polynesian villages, marae temples and petroglyphs – great carved etchings.

Stay: Paul Gauguin

After a final gourmet breakfast, disembark the ship for your shared transfer to the airport and your overnight flight back to the UK.