The 9 Best Kayak Trips in French Polynesia

1.Moorea Lagoon Tour by Transparent Kayak

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 354 reviews · from $51Our pick

Explore Moorea’s lagoon from a transparent kayak with a guide such as Hugo or Christel, stopping to snorkel with rays, sharks, and tropical fish. The two-hour tour includes gear, fresh water, and fruit juice, with groups capped at 10 people.

“AhhhMazing excursion. Christel was fantastic. Took excellent care of us newbie snorkelers. Taught us alot about Moorea and the environment He clearly loves what he does. Cake and mangoes were a nice surprise. We STRONGLY recommend Nemoz and have told everyone we run into not to miss it!!!”

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2.Bora Bora Snorkel Cruise by Polynesian Outrigger Canoe with BBQ Island Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 195 reviews · from $296

Spend about six hours circling Bora Bora’s lagoon in a motorized Polynesian outrigger canoe. Guides such as Sam, Jean, Ruma, or Tarepa lead you to coral gardens, sharks, stingrays, manta rays, and eagle rays, followed by a BBQ lunch, music, and island hospitality.

“We had a fantastic time! I highly recommend this excursion. Jean, our guide, was incredibly friendly, spoke perfect English, and was so knowledgeable (about the local culture, the fish, the sharks, and the rays (we saw both sting rays, and eagle rays, and black tipped reef sharks). He was a joy to spend the day with and made sure everyone was having a great time. The BBQ lunch was some of the best food we've had. The homemade ceviche, which was prepared in front of us, and was unbelievably delicious! Highly recommend!!! Thank you!”

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3.Eco guided excursion to the lagoon of Moorea in transparent kayak 1/2 day morning

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 61 reviews · from $91

Meet your guide at Tiahura Beach for a three-and-a-half-hour morning outing in a transparent kayak. Paddle between two motus, look for turtles, rays, sharks, and reef fish, then enjoy a fruit juice and homemade snack on a sandbank. Guides Nicolas and Caro are known for their friendly, flexible approach.

“Guides were awesome; always looking for where the exotic fish were so we could get to see them up close and personal. We were even able to touch a very friendly manta ray and swim close to black tip sharks. The tidbits of information about the area just added to the experience. Highly recommend!”

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4.The Vanilla tour of Taha’a in a comfortable outrigger canoe

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 58 reviews · from $156

Spend 7 to 8 hours aboard Blue Lagoon, a comfortable outrigger canoe limited to 12 people. Jimmy, Hiti, Lorenzo, or Fab may guide you around Taha’a, with stops at a pearl farm, Coral Garden, rum shop, vanilla plantation, and a motu lunch.

“Jimmy is a great Guide. Super tourguide. Jimmy arranged the stops so that you had the feeling that you were almost alone on the island.”

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5.Hauru Lagoon 3-hour Guided Kayak Tour with Snack

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 50 reviews · 3 hours · from $94

Meet Luca or Omelia at Tiahura Public Beach for a calm three-hour paddle through Hauru Lagoon. Your clear-bottom kayak may reveal turtles, eagle rays, sharks, and colorful fish, followed by snorkeling, Polynesian stories, and fresh fruit or juice.

“Merci pour cette visite pleines de découvertes et de savoirs ! Tortues et raies léopard étaient au rdv, majestueuses et féeriques 😍”

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6.Apetahi day trip around Raiatea on a modern outrigger canoe

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 30 reviews · from $156

Spend 7 to 8 hours aboard Blue Lagoon with guide Jimmy or another experienced local guide. Circle Raiatea, watch for dolphins, snorkel at Nao Nao, visit UNESCO-listed Taputapuatea Marae, enjoy lunch by the water, and enter Faaroa River when weather allows.

“Nice boat, friendly staff, excellent excursion. Mostly English speaking. The lunch was great. Relaxed pace”

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7.Activity/Excursion Lagoon Tour to Moorea by Canoe 6 hours

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 25 reviews · from $139

Join a six-hour Moorea lagoon tour by canoe, limited to 12 people per canoe, with Cook and Opunohu bays, rays, blacktip sharks, turtles, coral, an underwater tiki, and a motu lunch. Guides including Tavia, Stéphane, and Mamaïa are associated with the experience.

“Fabuleux !! Bonne ambiance avec Stéphane et mamaïa Bon duo,une journée extraordinaire, raies, dauphins,et requins au rendez-vous”

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8.Eco guided excursion to the lagoon of Moorea in a transparent kayak Afternoon 2h

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 23 reviews · from $60

Join Moorea Blue Paddle at Tiahura Beach for a two-hour afternoon lagoon trip in a transparent kayak. Guides such as Caro, Nicolas, and Lucas lead you to turtles, rays, fish, and a snorkeling site, then serve fresh fruit juice on a sandy motu.

“Merci Caro pour cette excellente après-midi passée en ta compagnie. Superbe idée ce kayak transparent pour profiter des tortues et poissons du lagon. Malgré la pluie, nous garderons un très bon souvenir de cette sortie. Mauruuru. Phuni, Yann, Didier”

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9.Tahaa Excursion in Electric Paddle Snorkeling Coral Garden

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 18 reviews · from $128

Join guides Anaïs and Greg for a three-hour electric paddle and snorkel trip from Taha’a. You’ll visit the Coral Garden, explore nearby lagoon areas, use supplied gear and water shoes, and pause for a snack with your feet in the water. GoPro photos and video are included.

“We had a wonderful trip over to the Coral Garden drift spot. Not everyone in our group was able to use a SUP so we asked for a boat trip there and back instead. The owner was so friendly and helpful - he took us over and returned to collect us a couple of hours later. Had a great trip and the drift snorkel site is incredible. Highly recommend!”

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