Beyond The Beaches of BORA BORA!!!

Welcome

Bora Bora attracts many a holiday maker due to its stunning white sandy beaches, crystal clear waters and tranquil lagoons. The small island is littered with beach resorts popular with honeymoon couples looking for a memorable getaway.However, there is far more to the French Polynesian paradise than meets the eye, and taking an extra step into Bora Bora’s wilderness provides vast opportunities to explore its thriving culture, vitality and adventure.Here are some tips on how to make the most out of your trip to the aqua-centric luxury destination.

Heiva Tahiti Bora Bora

Visiting the island this coming July? Why not attend the hugely popular Heiva Tahiti festival in the French Polynesian’s cultural capital of Papeete. Set on the water-front, the ‘Celebration of Life’ festival showcases Polynesia’s traditional culture with performances from local dancers and musicians including the Ori Tahiti dance. The month-long celebration is a great way to indulge in the ancient culture of the islands on top of their renowned aquamarine attractions.

Lagoon Excursions

What better way to see the islands breath-taking waters than by boat? Operators Reef Discovery and Cheznon Bora offer full-day lagoon excursions with regular stopping points to allow guests to snorkel or dive in rarely accessed locations.Take the opportunity to swim with Bora Bora’s native blacktip stingrays and tropical fish in crystal clear waters. The tours often also include a meal as part of their package, usually a freshly-cooked batch of barbeque fish to snack on whilst relaxing on one of the islands’ beautiful barrier reef islets.

Island Helicopter Tour

They say that the best way to see a place is from the sky, and Bora Bora’s helicopter tours offer the perfect opportunity to view the islands’ breath-taking landscapes.Viator provide visitors with a 360-degree tour of the island, soaring above beautiful blue lagoons and flying amongst wildlife around the famous Mount Otamanu. The fifteen-minute trip also allows guests to take stunning photos of the incredible Society Islands.Kitesurfing/ParasailingAqua-marine activities are vastly popular in Bora Bora. Kitesurfing is one of the islands main sports due to its regularly strong breezes, openness and calm waters. If you’re keen on water sports, try testing your skills at Matira Point on the southern tip of the island.Don’t want to get your hair wet? Parasailing is a great alternative to a helicopter ride to gather memorable views of the islands lagoons. Sailing at 50 to 130 metres depending on your bravery, the flight experience can be take solely or with a loved one.

Trekking

If you’re up for a physically challenging experience, try hiking some of Bora Bora’s most iconic summits. Trekking up Mt Ohue (619m) and Mt Pahia (661m) are cheaper alternatives to helicopter tours yet offers similarly incredible views.The six-hour hike starting in Vaitape is strenuous, with scaling heights and deceitful sections of the route, yet the memorable views are likely to stick with you forever. Make sure you seek advice from your hotel resort to find yourself a dependable guide.

Shark/Stingray Feeding

Push yourself out of your comfort zone with a wildlife experience like no other. As the Polynesian Island is surrounding by a lagoon and barrier reef, blacktip sharks and stingrays are their native inhabitants.Tour operators such as Moana Adventure Tours and Reef Discovery provide a chance to feed some of Bora Bora’s native animals. Although this may sound like a dangerous activity, the stingrays are harmless and your tourist guides will ensure your safety.

Snorkelling

If stingrays and sharks aren’t your kettle of fish, try snorkelling the islands surrounding barrier reefs with less intimidating ocean creatures. Bora Bora is home to hundreds of fascinating tropical fish and its lagoons are a great environment to explore.The island poses some incredible snorkelling spots, including ‘the aquarium’, located near Sofitel Motu. Coral garden is also a popular snorkelling destination on the southern tip of the island and is renowned for its colourful reef features.

Historical Tours

During the Second World War, the United States stationed seven canons at strategical points across Bora Bora for the islands safety following the Pearl Harbour attacks. These artillery weapons still stand tall on the Polynesian paradise, and there are a number of tour operators that offer day trips to the sights. Vavua 4x4 adventures offer a variety of off-road vehicle tours with multi-lingual guides to transport visitors to the islands most isolated locations.Bora Bora Stand Up PaddleA final aqua centric activity that allows you to discover Bora Bora’s incredible scenery is paddle boarding. The island’s various boarding instructors offer lessons in the activity, and can take you to some of the most remote spots.Whether you are a beginner looking for calm waters, or an advanced boarder eager to challenge yourself to downwind paddling, the French Polynesian paradise is a haven for this aesthetic mode of transport.

Thank you!