Ratgeber
French Polynesia: combining islands
In French Polynesia, it is best to combine two or three islands with several nights each, so that the journey there and domestic flights do not dominate. The drier season from May to October is popular. Once in a Lifetime is a Swiss travel agency with video consultations and puts together island combinations with you.
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Schritt für Schritt
- Check the travel season between May and October
- Choose two or three islands
- Factor domestic flights and ferries into the plan
- Allow at least two weeks
- Secure accommodation early
- Plan a buffer day before the return flight
Checkliste
- Travel season chosen
- Island order planned
- Domestic flights checked
- Luggage limits on domestic flights clarified
- Accommodation booked
- Insurance confirmed
- Reef-safe sun protection
- FDFA (EDA) and FOPH (BAG) advice checked
French Polynesia consists of more than a hundred islands, and each feels different. Precisely because the journey there is long, many travellers want to link several islands. That works if you plan routes and pace realistically.
A world of islands with long distances
The islands lie widely scattered across the Pacific. Domestic flights and in places ferries run between them, which takes time and planning. A round trip through all the islands therefore makes little sense. Each island group has its own landscape, language and pace, which makes the choice a question of character. An island with a house reef suits snorkellers, while mountainous islands offer hikes and views.
The journey from Zurich involves a change of flight and takes a long time. The time difference is large, and the first days are for recovery. If you visit only one island, you will usually experience it more deeply.
Allow enough time so that the trip does not turn into a timetable exercise. Plan reserve time for delays. Bear in mind that food on small islands depends on the resort or on individual restaurants, and clarify this in advance.
The character of the islands
Tahiti is an island with a capital, markets and mountains. Moorea is green and mountainous, with lagoons and hiking trails. Bora Bora is regarded as the epitome of the South Seas, with a turquoise lagoon.
The Tuamotu atolls such as Rangiroa offer diving and wide open spaces, while the Marquesas feel wild and culturally distinct. Each island is a world of its own. The Marquesas are considered wilder and culturally distinct, and they demand more planning and time. If you want to dive, deliberately include an atoll, because the underwater worlds there are especially impressive.
Choose according to your interest: calm, water, nature or culture. That makes the combination coherent. The atolls also have their own quirks: the land is flat and the water is the main thing.
Two or three islands instead of ten
Less is more. With two or three islands and three to five nights each, there is time to arrive. Every change of island costs half a day. Island hopping in small steps keeps the trip calm. When booking, ask how transfers between the airport and accommodation are organised, as on islands this is done by boat.
A proven combination links a green island with a lagoon and an atoll. You experience contrasts and yet stay relaxed. The change between mountain and lagoon provides variety.
Pay attention to luggage limits on domestic flights. They are often stricter than on long-haul flights.
Travel season and weather
From May to October it is drier and somewhat cooler, which many travellers prefer. Demand is high during this time, so early booking is important. Prices for accommodation and food on remote islands are often higher, but we only give details in the proposal. Plan rest days on which you do not have to do anything, because the effect of the South Seas unfolds in calm.
In the rainy season, showers are more frequent, but it stays warm. If you are flexible, you will find quieter days then.
The weather can affect flights and excursions. Plan a buffer day before the return flight. The season from May to October is also the time when rooms book out early. Bring enough sun protection, as it is expensive on site and not always available in reef-safe form.
An example for two weeks
One possible split begins with two to three nights on Tahiti to arrive, followed by a few days on Moorea or another green island. After that comes a lagoon island or an atoll for water and stillness.
The return leg goes back via Tahiti, where a buffer day before the return flight gives security. That way you stay flexible if a domestic flight is postponed. A waterproof bag protects your camera and phone on boat trips and excursions.
This is only an example. The right combination depends on your travel month, your wishes and availability, and we adapt it together.
Nature conservation and advice
Lagoons and reefs are sensitive. Use reef-safe sun protection and do not touch corals. Respect local rules. Local hosts gladly share their knowledge of cuisine, dance and stories, and openness is rewarded.
Check the current position with the FDFA and the FOPH on entry and health. Travel insurance with cancellation cover makes sense for such a distant trip.
In the [planning call](/m/once-in-a-lifetime/planen) by video call, we discuss islands, travel season and pace. This creates a trip that does justice to your time window.
