Beyond Bora Bora: Discover the Remote Islands of French Polynesia & Pitcairn Where the overwater bungalows end, the real South Pacific begins.
Most people picture French Polynesia the same way: a thatched bungalow over turquoise water, a cocktail with a tiny umbrella, and a honeymoon-brochure sunset. It’s lovely, and it’s also only one chapter of a very big book.
Past the postcard lagoons, the map keeps going. There are coral atolls where fewer than 500 people live, a cathedral built from coral blocks and inlaid with mother-of-pearl, and a volcanic speck called Pitcairn Island. It sits 4,800 kilometres from the nearest continent and is home to fewer than 50 descendants of the HMS Bounty mutineers.
That’s the world of the Pitcairn Island expedition cruise (tour code MCPI). It’s an 18-day journey through the Society, Tuamotu and Gambier Islands, and it’s built for travellers who want to see what lies beyond Bora Bora.
Why a French Polynesia Expedition Cruise Beats a Resort Stay
A resort gives you one view. A French Polynesia expedition cruise gives you a different island nearly every day, and you unpack only once.
French Polynesia is made up of 118 islands and atolls spread across more than 2,000 kilometres of ocean. Most visitors see two or three of them. The remote ones, like Anaa, Amanu, Hikueru, Mangareva and Pitcairn, are hard to reach on your own. There are few flights and no big hotels, and some of them have no airport at all. A ship that carries you, feeds you, and drops you at the shore is the practical way to get there.
If you’ve been looking for remote island cruises that deliver real discovery and not just scenery, this is the kind of route that fits.
Your Floating Home: The MV Aranoa
You’ll spend 11 nights aboard the MV Aranoa, a custom-built expedition vessel from Aranui Cruises, a line with more than 40 years of experience sailing these waters. It’s designed to feel like a small, welcoming Polynesian household and not a floating resort.
93 cabins, and your voyage is booked in Deluxe and Superior Deluxe categories with private balconies
Two restaurants, two bars, a lounge, a spa and fitness room, a boutique, whirlpools and elevators
Polynesian crew who share ukulele, guitar and drum evenings with guests
Diesel-electric propulsion, advanced stabilizers and low-acoustic propellers designed to protect marine life
All meals on board are included, with complimentary wine at lunch and dinner
This special expedition departure runs without freight, so the ship can focus entirely on your itinerary. It’s an all-inclusive way to reach some of the most isolated places in the Pacific.
The Journey: Three Archipelagos, One Unforgettable Island
Start in the Society Islands: Tahiti and Moorea
Your journey begins in Papeete with a full-day circle island tour of Tahiti. You’ll visit the lively Papeete market, Venus Point where Captain Cook observed the transit of Venus in 1769, black sand beaches, waterfalls, and the Vaipahi Spring Garden. You’ll also see Arahurahu Marae, the only fully restored ancient temple in all of French Polynesia.
Then it’s a short ferry ride to Moorea for a 4x4 circle island tour through pineapple fields and up to the Belvedere viewpoint. In the afternoon you’ll join a dolphin research eco-tour with marine biologist Dr. Michael Poole’s team. Dolphins are encountered on 95% of tours, though wildlife sightings can never be guaranteed.
Sail into the Tuamotu Archipelago
The Tuamotus are the largest chain of atolls on Earth: 76 atolls spread over an area roughly the size of Western Europe. Few travellers ever see them.
Anaa: Famous for its luminous jade lagoon, giant fossilized coral blocks called feo, and sandy motus.
Amanu: A traditional children’s dance welcome, a historic coral-stone town hall that doubles as a cyclone shelter, and a buffet lunch beneath a century-old tau tree.
Hikueru: A pearl-diving atoll immortalized by Jack London, with the tallest church in the Tuamotus and a beach barbecue lunch with time to swim and snorkel.
These are places where daily life moves at the speed of the tides. You walk through the village, meet the people who live there, and eat what they eat.
Reach the Gambier Islands
Nearly 1,000 miles southeast of Tahiti, the Gambier Islands are French Polynesia’s most remote archipelago. In Mangareva, you’ll step ashore at Rikitea to a flower welcome and visit St. Michael’s Cathedral. Built from coral blocks in 1848, it’s the largest and oldest religious monument in the Islands of Tahiti, with an altar inlaid with iridescent mother-of-pearl.
You’ll also see the craft of mother-of-pearl engraving at Collège Saint-Raphaël, learn about black pearl farming, and visit the tomb of the kings. If you like, hike to a belvedere for views over what many consider the most spectacular lagoon in Polynesia.
The Main Event: Two Full Days on Pitcairn Island
Here is the heart of this Pitcairn Island expedition cruise. In 1790, Fletcher Christian and the Bounty mutineers burned their ship in Bounty Bay and vanished from the known world. Today their descendants, the Christian, Young and McCoy families, still live in Adamstown, the island’s only settlement.
Pitcairn has no airport and no harbour. Most visiting ships get a few hours ashore at best. This itinerary gives you two full days, and that changes the experience completely. You can:
Climb the famous Hill of Difficulty, where the mutineers hauled provisions up from the bay
Meet islanders at the local market and share a picnic lunch in the village
Visit the Bounty Museum, where relics salvaged from the wreck sit alongside pre-European Polynesian stone tools
Stand beside Bounty’s original anchor in the Public Square
Pay respects at the grave of John Adams, the last surviving mutineer
Walk out to Christian’s Cave, Fletcher Christian’s supposed lookout
Visit the post office and buy the island’s famous stamps
Spot ancient petroglyphs, burial sites and stone gods left by earlier Polynesian settlers
Few places on Earth offer this combination of mutiny history, Polynesian archaeology and living community, all in one tiny island at the edge of the map.
Finish with Bora Bora, the Right Way
After the ship returns to Papeete, you fly to Bora Bora to finish the trip in style. You’ll tour the island by 4x4 past ancient marae, WWII cannons and bunkers, and Matira Beach. The next day, a private covered lagoon cruiser takes you to wade among rays, watch blacktip reef sharks and snorkel a coral garden. Lunch is a Polynesian beach barbecue on a private motu, with drinks included.
Seeing Bora Bora after Pitcairn and the Gambier Islands gives it extra meaning. You’ve earned it, and you know exactly what makes this part of the world special.
Who Is This South Pacific Adventure For?
This is one of the more distinctive South Pacific adventure tours you can book, and it suits a certain kind of traveller:
History lovers drawn to the Bounty story, Captain Cook, and Polynesian heritage
Curious travellers who prefer villages and marae to souvenir shops
Experienced explorers who want something beyond the usual Caribbean or Mediterranean cruise
Couples and friends who want a shared adventure with real stories to tell
Solo travellers who like the idea of travelling in good company
It’s rated Activity Level 2 (Moderate). The pace is leisurely, but you should be steady enough for wet landings and for stepping between the ship and small tenders, and comfortable with tropical heat and humidity. Adventures Abroad has a self-assessment form to help you decide. Many guests exploring senior tours find this level a good fit, as long as they’re comfortable with the points above. Because some locations have limited medical facilities, good travel insurance is strongly recommended.
Why Small Group Travel Makes the Difference
Remote islands don’t work for crowds. Pitcairn’s community of fewer than 50 people can’t host a ship’s worth of visitors at once, and the intimate atoll villages are far better experienced in a small party.
That’s why South Pacific small group tours are the right model here. This expedition is limited to a maximum of 21 guests plus your Tour Leader, and it’s led by senior tour leader Martin Charlton, who designed the itinerary. You also get local guides, on-board lecturers and Polynesian crew who know these islands intimately.
That’s the approach behind experiential small group travel at Adventures Abroad, a Richmond, BC-based operator that has been running small-group journeys since 1987. If you’re comparing the best small group world tours, look for this: fewer people, better access, and guides who are genuinely invested in your experience. Their wider range of international group travel covers cultural, active and custom itineraries across the globe.
What’s Included (and What to Budget For)
Included in the tour price:
18 days with 11 nights aboard the MV Aranoa and the rest in 3-star hotels in Tahiti and Bora Bora (twin share)
Most meals, and all meals aboard the ship, including complimentary wine at lunch and dinner
Internal flights, ferry and ground transport
Sightseeing, excursions and entrance fees listed as “visited”
Gratuities for local guides, drivers, restaurant staff, porters and Aranoa staff
Airport transfers for land and air customers
Not included: International airfare, Tour Leader gratuity, some lunches and drinks, personal items, and optional travel insurance. Adventures Abroad’s in-house air department can book your flights, and booking through them includes airport transfers at your destination.
Pricing and dates: The September 5–22, 2027 departure is priced at $15,960 USD per person (twin share). A non-refundable $3,000 USD deposit holds your space, and the optional single supplement is $6,420 USD, with limited availability. Final payment is due 210 days before departure. Note that this tour has special payment terms, so read the booking conditions carefully.
Always confirm the latest dates, prices and terms on the official tour page, since expedition itineraries can change with weather and sea conditions.
When Is the Best Time to Visit?
French Polynesia’s climate is very consistent. Average temperatures shift only about two degrees from month to month. September is one of the best months to go, with about 30% less rainfall than other months, and seas are generally calmer from September to May than in June through August. This expedition departs in September for exactly those reasons.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pitcairn Island hard to reach?
Very. Pitcairn has no airport, and it’s surrounded by 4,800 km of open ocean. An expedition ship is the practical way to get there, and this itinerary includes two full days ashore.
How many people are on the tour?
A maximum of 21 guests plus your Tour Leader.
Is this cruise suitable for older travellers?
It’s rated Activity Level 2 (Moderate). Guests should be comfortable with wet landings, tender boarding, heat and humidity. Review the self-assessment form and talk to the team if you’re unsure.
Does the itinerary ever change?
Yes. As with all expedition cruising, weather and sea conditions can affect the route, and the ship’s team will keep you informed.
Can I extend my stay in Bora Bora or Tahiti?
Yes. Pre- and post-tour extensions can be booked through Adventures Abroad.
Can I travel solo?
Yes. Solo travellers can choose the optional single supplement or share with a same-gender roommate. Note that on this tour, if a roommate can’t be found, the full single supplement applies.
Ready to Go Beyond Bora Bora?
Anyone can book a bungalow in Bora Bora. Far fewer can say they’ve stood on the Hill of Difficulty, walked into a coral cathedral in the Gambier Islands, or shared a picnic lunch with the descendants of the Bounty.
Spaces on this expedition are limited to 21 guests, and a September 2027 departure is closer than it sounds for a voyage this unusual.
Want to explore more? Browse all Adventures Abroad tours, discover cultural tours and active tours, design something unique with custom guided tours, or see the most popular destinations. Looking to travel on your own? Explore travel groups for solo travelers, a welcoming way to join solo tour groups with like-minded explorers.
Adventures Abroad, the best international tour operator in Richmond, BC, Canada, has been creating small-group international tours and adventure travel since 1987. Call 1-800-665-3998 to speak with a travel specialist.
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