Since October 2023, I have been organising sailing trips to French Polynesia. What started as an experiment quickly became a core part of my offer, thanks to the exceptional feedback. If you want to get an idea of the adventures that might await you, you can read the travel stories from the first cruise :
When do we leave?
If you want to be part of this adventure, you can join my trips in 2026. The scheduled cruises are as follows:
- Oct. 17-Oct. 23: HUAHINE, RAIATEA, TAHAA, BORA BORA
- Oct. 28-Nov. 3: FAKARAVA and KAUEHI
- Nov. 6-Nov . 12: FAKARAVA and KAUEHI
Catamaran
We will sail on 44- to 50-foot catamarans.
A multihull is undoubtedly the best choice for exploring Polynesian waters: it has plenty of space, is very stable, and allows you to enter shallow-water lagoons.
We will sail on several different boats; the photos below are purely symbolic.
The catamarans I use are all Fountaine Pajot.
Navigation area
The first cruise takes place among the Leeward Islands of the Society Islands. I chose this area because the sailing is easy and the distances between the islands small, but also because it is an area that offers many opportunities for interesting activities both at sea and on land. In the program there are two offshore sailings of 4 hours each, always with the wind at the back so not problematic.
The second and third cruises are “active” cruises, dedicated to those who enjoy outdoor sports. You will have the opportunity to do lots of snorkeling (or scuba diving for those who are certified, Fakarava has spectacular seabeds), freediving, sup, swimming, as well as walking and biking, yoga and wakeboarding.
But let’s look at the two areas in detail.
HUAHINE - TAHAA - RAIATEA - BORA BORA
These are the most visited islands, and of course there is a reason why. The distances between these islands are shorter, navigation is easier, and there is a wide variety of activities available.
I don’t like to define a detailed schedule because I prefer to be flexible and decide day by day according to weather conditions, but we will definitely visit beautiful beaches, snorkel among colorful fish, do some jungle hiking, swim with stingrays and sharks, and much more.
My goal is to show you just that Polynesia that you cannot see from a luxury resort in Bora Bora. A boat is the ideal way to do this, and a Polynesian crew will help me do it to the best of my ability. The experience will be authentic and intense.
FAKARAVA & KAUEHI
These are two atolls in the Tuamotu archipelago. We will visit Fakarava and, if weather permits, also Kauehi (or perhaps Toau), but this will be decided based on the weather forecast. This destination is suitable for water lovers who want to completely disconnect from the world.
This is a rather active vacation, dedicated to water sports (swimming, sup, free or scuba diving, opportunities for wingfoil, wakeboarding and spearfishing…). We will mainly sail inside atolls, so no problem with swell or big waves. If weather permits we will do two short ocean sailings (to and from Kauehi/Toau).
Atolls are the postcard in everyone’s mind when they dream of Polynesia, with white sandy beaches and lagoons of breathtaking colors. They are my favorite place in the world, however, they are not suitable for everyone (see below).
Important: we are off the grid here, so it is not unusual to be without internet and without access to stores for several days. Fakarava is a dream place, but here we cannot expect the comforts we have at home. Below are some pictures, you can also read the Fakarava and Kauehi chapters in my book or have a look on Google Earth to get an idea.
And after the cruise?
Once you disembark, everyone can make their own arrangements, as everyone has different desires and time availability. Here are my recommendations based on how much time you have before your return flight:
- Day 1: Return to Tahiti and visit the market in Papeete to buy souvenirs; if you have time, you can take a tour of the island.
- Days 2-4: Return to Tahiti and visit Moorea (from Tahiti to Moorea is by fast catamaran that takes about half an hour). Moorea is a wonderful island where you can rent electric bikes and explore the island, or just relax on the beach and participate in the obligatory Happy Hour at the Hilton at sunset. There are many options for walking along well-marked trails, and there are also several affordable accommodations. I highly recommend a in-water whale watching tour.
- if you have 5 days or more, I highly recommend visiting an atoll, for example, Fakarava or Rangiroa. If you want to stay in the Society Islands, Maupiti is also very beautiful. For those cruising the atolls, I recommend a couple of days in Moorea to explore the lush of the jungle.
I remain available for further advice. If you wish to visit multiple islands, I recommend purchasing an Air Tahiti Multi-island Pass airline ticket, which allows multiple flights within French Polynesia. You can find them on the Air Tahiti website. To arrange pre- or post-cruise days, you can ask the agency that handles payments for help (see below).
Cost
The cost for seven days of sailing (six nights) in the Society Islands (Huahine to Bora Bora) is €2,600.
The cost for seven days of sailing (six nights) in the Tuamotu (from Fakarava to Kauehi and back) is €2,400. The price of this cruise is slightly less because the catamaran on which we will sail is older.
Price includes catamaran rental, skipper, hostess, all meals, fuel, sports equipment, organization and guide (me).
The only additional cost will be for alcoholic beverages and flights. In some places you might do some excursions (e.g., rent a bike or join an off-road excursion or a polynesian dance show). These costs are not included, nor are any drinks/dinners ashore.
For more detailed info feel free to reach out to me.
Flight
The relevant airport in French Polynesia is Papeete Airport in Tahiti (PPT). Prices from Europe range between €1300 and €2000 per person, with flights departing from Venice/Paris via San Francisco or Los Angeles.
ESTA for the United States must be obtained for travel.
Frequently asked questions
It is not obligatory to come as a couple, but since the cabins are double, you will have to share a cabin with another person or pay a double price minus 20% for single occupancy.
There will be from 6 to 10 guests aboard, mixed nationalities.
No sailing experience is necessary for this cruise. There will be an experienced skipper on board who will take care of all technical matters and a hostess who will prepare meals. However, I would like to emphasize that my cruises are not “charters” where guests are served by the crew, but we are all a team where we help each other. This choice of mine is the result of years of experience: after dozens of cruises I noticed that those on board who were active always had a richer and more rewarding experience in the end. So what I propose is a “family” week where we will all do our part in keeping the boat tidy, washing the dishes, helping the skipper with maneuvers, preparing the aperitif and maintaining a positive atmosphere on board.
First, email me to check if there are still available spaces and to find the cruise that best suits your preferences. A deposit will follow to guarantee your place, after which you can purchase your airfare to Papeete and domestic flight.
Most sailing takes place in lagoons that are protected from the ocean swell. The water in the lagoons is always calm, also because we always look for sheltered anchorages. There are only two short crossings in the open sea, but they are not problematic because we sail with the wind at our back so the swell does not bother us that much. We are talking about two times 4 hours in the whole week. If you suffer from seasickness, however, I recommend bringing some anti-nausea medicine to avoid problems during the two crossings.
As little as possible! Almost all of my guests come to Polynesia with carry-on luggage only. I would recommend checked luggage only if you are bringing bulky sports equipment (fins, gavs, kites, etc.). Before we leave I will send everyone a packing list, so you won’t forget anything. 🙂
Discovering Polynesia by boat is much better than discovering it from a luxury resort, because the view changes every day, several times a day! The catamaran is a very comfortable boat where there is plenty of room for everyone. The important thing to know though is that on boats there is always limited power and water. Energy comes from solar panels so we will charge cell phones during the day, we will not use hair dryers (in the tropics you don’t need them) and we will try to use as little water as possible (for example, to wash we soap up and jump overboard, then use fresh water only for the last rinse). This is calleda “boat shower” 🙂
If you want to be comfortable (big bed, unlimited water, etc.) I would rather recommend you choose a resort style holiday, but believe me, a Polynesian cruise is a unique experience, definitely worth giving up some comfort.
If you have more questions, feel free to write to me via email (info@jasnatuta.com) or whatsapp on 39 351 5304050.