'Off the grid' French Polynesia trip: Tikehau & Fakarava Island

Itinerary in brief:

• 1 night in Tahiti
• 3 nights on Tikehau
• 4 nights on Fakarava

Day 1: Tahiti

On arrival in Tahiti, you will be met with a flower lei at the airport and be accompanied to your hotel in the capital of French Polynesia. You’ll have a night here to relax after your long flight.

Days 2-4: Tikehau

In the morning you’ll take a short 1 hour flight over to Tikehau, an oval lagoon where a narrow strip of land encircles the turquoise water like a lasso of sandy beaches. You’ll mostly have the island to yourself with plenty of space to enjoy this island’s pristine wilderness - there are only a couple of hotels and a little over 500 living here! Colourful fish outnumber humans here – in fact Tikehau has the highest concentration of tropical fish in French Polynesia, guaranteeing the most incredible snorkelling experience! Spend your days basking in the sun, enjoy the idyllic scenery and watch the vibrant pink and orange sunsets from the deck of your beach bungalow.

Days 5-8: Fakarava

A short flight brings you over to Fakarava. With a noticeable absence of larger, resort-style hotels this island offers pure surroundings and a secluded feel that sets it apart from the most-visited islands in French Polynesia.

Located right on the beach, your pension-style accommodation is set amongst tropical gardens, with two on-site restaurants. Your stay is on a half-board basis, meaning you have both breakfast and dinner included. The bungalows are simple and clean, each with a private bathroom and air conditioning.

Fakarava is one of the world’s best diving destinations. Two main ‘passes’ feed into the lagoon from the ocean, one of which is the Tumakohua Pass. Its home to an underwater valley knowns as Shark’s Hole which is heavily populated with lemon, whitecap and hammerhead sharks and is a popular choice for if you like to dive.

Back on dry land, why not take a leisurely bike ride to the main village of Rotoava, located on the longest continuous ‘motu’ (islet) in French Polynesia and rimmed with extraordinary beaches? For something completely different, head to Tetamanu to the far southern end of the lagoon to find a vintage Catholic church made entirely out of coral.