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Discover the dramatic and mystical Marquesas - the most remote group of islands on earth!
Day 1 - Hiva Oa Arrive in the dramatic and mystical Marquesas today - about 1500 kilometres north-east of Papeete. This is not only the most northerly archipelago in French Polynesia – but it is also the most remote group of islands on earth! Your destination is Hiva Oa - the largest of the southern Marquesas Islands and the final resting place of Paul Gauguin and the Belgian singer-poet Jacques Brel. We suggest a leisurely day today to enable you to acclimatise to the wild Marquesas Islands! A Mountain View Bungalow at Hanakee Hiva Oa Pearl Lodge is your home for the next 3 nights. (D) Day 2 - Hiva Oa Spend the morning exploring Hiva Oa’s pretty capital, Atuona, where you will visit the Paul Gauguin museum, the replica of Gauguin’s house ‘La Maison du Jouir’, and the cemetery where Gauguin and Brel are both buried. After lunch at the hotel, visit the Taaoa Valley - an old marae -and discover the recently restored archaeological remains. (B,L,D) Day 3 - Hiva Oa A full day 4WD excursion today to the picturesque village of Puamau on the eastern tip of the island. The route hugs the coastline and passes through fertile valleys – the scenery is truly breathtaking. The village itself is ringed by mountains more than 700 metres high, and boasts the most important archaeological remains discovered to date in the Marquesas, including Te Ipona, guarded by the tallest tiki statue in Polynesia – Takaii. Lunch is a unique experience at Chez Marie-Antoinette – a renowned local eating establishment, where you will enjoy real home-made Marquesan cuisine and friendly hospitality. (B,L,D) Day 4 - Hiva Oa / Nuku Hiva Fly to Nuku Hiva - the jewel of the Marquesas -where wild horses roam freely and the scenery is wilder than you could ever imagine! Your adventure begins with an exhilarating 7 minute helicopter flight over the island’s dramatic peaks –and you will enjoy magnificent aerial views of the raging waterfalls and fertile valleys below as you head to the south of the island where you will enjoy a Bay View Bungalow at the Keikahanui Nuku Hiva Pearl Lodge for the next 3 nights. Make time this afternoon to explore the village of Taiohae where you will see the local craftsmen and painters at work – or take a short hike from the lodge for a swim in Colette Bay. (B,D) Day 5 - Nuku Hiva Head to Hatiheu today, on the island’s north coast. Your journey takes you past stunning views of Taiohae Bay and through the Taipivai Valley – the largest coconut grove in Polynesia! The pretty coastal village of Hatiheu has a seafront fringed with coconut palms and adorned with tiki statues – the bay was a favourite with Robert Louis Stevenson – and you will find a charm here which is hard to resist. The focal point is the yellow wooden church, with its twin symmetrical red steeples – and lunch today is at Hatiheu’s unique acclaimed restaurant – Chez Yvonne – a traditional Marquesan wooden home where you will sample local delicacies. (B,L,D) Day 6 - Nuku Hiva For the adventurous, a full day excursion to the magnificent Hakaui Valley awaits today! This is one of the most imposing sights on Nuku Hiva, where vertical walls rise to nearly 800 metres on either side of the river! Take a boat from the lodge to the beach at Hakaui and follow the magnificent hiking trail along the river bed - at times, you will be hiking waist-deep in water! The trail passes through native bush until it eventually reaches the 350 metre high Vaipo waterfalls which flow into a natural plunge pool below – perfect for a cooling swim after the challenging walk! Unbeknown to many – this is the third highest waterfall in the world – and the highest in the South Pacific. Anywhere else – and it would be a major tourist attraction! For the less energetic, a far gentler hike to the impressive archaeological site of Koueva is an alternative option today. (B,L,D) Day 7 - Nuku Hiva Your adventure in Tahiti’s hidden paradise draws to an end today. Enjoy the scenic 2 hour 4WD transfer back to the airport, taking in the views of the valley of Tapueahu (the ‘Marquesan Grand Canyon’) and the Toovii Plateau on the way. Fly back to Papeete, where you can either connect with your onward international flight, or continue on to one of French Polynesia’s other beautiful islands. (B) Important Note The helicopter transfer in Nuku Hiva is not always possible due to weather conditions and may occasionally need to be substituted with a 4WD transfer (in these instances, the price will be adjusted accordingly).
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