The 15 Best Sailing Trips in French Polynesia

1.Half Day Tour : Moorea Snorkeling & Sailing on a Catamaran named Taboo

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 529 reviews · from $157Our pick

Spend about four hours aboard the small Taboo catamaran exploring Moorea’s lagoon. With guides such as Leo, Max, Mai, and Louis, you can snorkel with reef sharks, stingrays, tropical fish, and perhaps turtles, then enjoy fresh fruit, juice, and mai tais. Pickup is offered, and groups are capped at eight.

“Great experience on Leo’s catamaran. There were only six of us so it felt more like a private tour. Stopped at 3 locations to see rays and tame reef sharks, then coral garden and tiki garden. Snorkeling was easy in these waters Saw other loaded boats with people crammmed in like sardines while we had plenty of space, sipping refreshments and enjoying the tour. A wonderful choice.”

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2.Sunset Cruise : Moorea Sailing on a Catamaran named Taboo

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 245 reviews · from $156

Join Captain Leo or Neil aboard Taboo, a compact catamaran, for a 2-hour-20-minute sunset sail from Mareto Public Beach. Cruise through Cook’s Bay, Ōpūnohu Bay, and the reef, with island stories, fruit juice, and cocktails, including well-liked Mai Tais.

“Excellent and top notch. Captain Leo was informative, funny, quite knowledgeable, and professional. His boat is clean and comfortable and he pours nice maitais. The 2 1/2 cruise was perfect. The sunset was spectacular. It was exactly what I hoped it would be. Thank you!”

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3.LUXURY Catamaran Bora Bora : Sailing, Snorkeling & Floating Bar

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 157 reviews · from $327

Sail Bora Bora’s lagoon aboard the 40-foot Vitamin Sea, a former racing catamaran limited to small groups. You’ll see Mount Otemanu, snorkel at a private coral garden, relax on deck, and stop at a floating bar for drinks. Hotel transfers and a professional crew are included.

“This was an amazing experience for me and my new wife. We had done a catamaran ride in another location but this tops it! The couple who operates this is nothing short of amazing. The group size is small enough to enjoy but not quite private. The locations where we went were amazing and the floating bar was awesome. Can’t recommend this enough!”

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4.Tetiaroa Island Tour by Sailing Catamaran

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 156 reviews · 11 hours · from $227

Leave Papeete at 6:00 AM for Tetiaroa aboard a large catamaran, with breakfast, a guided walk to Bird’s Island, local lunch, reef snorkeling, and punch on the return. English and French support is available, but the trip can take longer if a smaller boat is used.

“Great catamaran, beautiful location, food was excellent. French speaking so missed a bit of the explanation by the guide on the island. The boat crew tried to explain to us separately which worked ok.”

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5.Introduction to sailing and discovering the lagoon

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 144 reviews · from $126

Join Vaapiti for a four-hour introduction to traditional Polynesian sailing aboard DE Vaapiti, a handmade double canoe for up to eight people. You can help raise the sail and steer, snorkel among fish, rays, sharks, and turtles, and hear local stories from guides including Jr, Nainoa, Raphaël, and Jean Roland.

“We had an amazing day sailing around the lagoon, snorkeling inside and outside the reef, and swimming with sharks and a very friendly ray. The two brothers were very entertaining hosts, teaching us about Moorea and Polynesian sailing and Read more”

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6.LUXURY Catamaran Bora Bora : The Sunset Escape

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 129 reviews · from $267

Sail around Bora Bora on the 46-foot Vitamin Sea catamaran for about two hours. Captain Thelma, Alex, Camille, or another crew member may handle the boat and service. Expect lounge music, snacks, chilled drinks, hotel dock pickup, and sunset views of Mount Otemanu.

“Crew was very friendly, snacks and rum punch were delicious! We had a great time and now my husband has new retirement goals!”

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7.PRIVATE Half Day Tour : Moorea Snorkeling & Sailing on a Catamaran named Taboo

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 105 reviews

Spend three to four hours aboard Taboo, a private catamaran with a dedicated captain and guide. You’ll visit Moorea’s coral gardens, swim near blacktip reef sharks, stingrays, turtles, tropical fish, and an underwater tiki site. Pickup, snorkeling gear, fruit, juice, water, and selected drinks are included.

“We had an amazing time on the Taboo! The crew was great, super knowledgeable and interesting. Leo was an amazing sailor, the snorkeling was terrific and the fruit snacks and drinks were an added bonus. Oh, and did I mention the amazing views from the boat? Just WOW. I highly recommend this tour!!”

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8.Sunset sailing

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 56 reviews · from $115Best value

Meet Vaapiti at 3 pm for a roughly three-hour sunset sail from Hauru. Your small group rides a traditional canoe, hears Polynesian navigation stories, stops to snorkel with rays, sharks, turtles, and colorful fish, then watches the sun set with fruit, juice, local treats, and a cocktail.

“If you’ve ever wanted an interactive and educational sailing adventure this is it! Small group with amazing crew was the perfect adventure. We got to hoist the sail and drive the boat! The snorkeling spots were gorgeous with so much color and sea life. Thank you so much for this very memorable trip!”

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9.Moorea Discovery Half-day Sailing

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 53 reviews · from $115

Spend about three hours aboard Polynesian Spirit with captain Hervé, sailing Moorea’s lagoon in a group of no more than five. Snorkel near Motu Tiahura, look for sharks and rays, visit a motu, and enjoy fruit, drinks, and round-trip hotel transfers.

“Great way to see the island from the sea. Stopped at multiple snorkel spots including swimming and feed Stringrays. Would highly recommend.”

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10.Excursion to Tetiaroa by Catamaran Visit Lunch Snorkeling

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 52 reviews · from $235

Leave Papeete at 6 a.m. aboard a fast maxi catamaran limited to 25 people. A qualified guide and hostess lead you through Tetiaroa’s island setting, with breakfast, a lagoon walk, Polynesian lunch, reef snorkeling, and a punch before the return to Papeete.

“Magical and exciting time spent on a catamaran travelling to Tetiaroa, great lunch in a buffet form, perfect views and helpful staff”

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11.PRIVATE Sunset Cruise : Moorea Sailing on a Catamaran named Taboo

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 42 reviews

Sail privately aboard Taboo with Captain Leo and the Voila Moorea team for 2 hours and 20 minutes. Cruise from Cook’s Bay past the outer reef toward open water, then return through Ōpūnohu Bay as the sun sets. Pickup, drinks, and island stories are included.

“My wife and I did the private sunset cruise on our honeymoon trip to Moorea. We had a fantastic time. The boat was beautiful, the sunset was absolutely gorgeous, and the flowers, snacks, and drinks provided were the perfect touch (we lRead more”

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12.LUXURY PRIVATE Catamaran Bora Bora : Half-Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 33 reviews

Spend four hours on Vitamin Sea, a private former racing catamaran with a captain and host devoted to your group. You’ll sail Bora Bora’s lagoon, stop to snorkel among tropical fish, then relax at Paradise Bay’s floating bar with drinks, snacks, music, and hotel pickup included.

“Exceptional! This was one of our most favorite activities on our trip to Bora Bora. Captain Thelma and First mate Oceana were outstanding. The Vitamin Sea Too is an incredible boat with everything you need for a relaxing day on the water. ThRead more”

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13.PRIVATE Full Day Tour : Moorea Snorkeling & Sailing on a Catamaran named Taboo

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 30 reviews

Spend about 6.5 hours on Moorea’s private catamaran Taboo with Captain Léo, Liza, or Kevin. Choose your snorkeling stops, sail beyond the reef, look for turtles, rays, coral gardens, and underwater tikis, then pause at a quiet beach with your own picnic food.

“The best boat day with the most amazing captain! He provided the most amazing experience by taking us to the best areas, teaching us about the history of the places we went too, and preparing a lovely snack and drinks & providing a peRead more”

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14.Private sailing adventure

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 24 reviews

Spend about 4.5 hours aboard Vaapiti, a traditional Polynesian sailing canoe, with JR, Nainoa, Raphael, or their crew. Hoist the sails, steer the va'a, swim with rays and blacktip sharks, look for turtles, and enjoy local fruit and drinks. The private outing suits up to two guests at the listed price.

“We booked this private morning trip after seeing it recommended on a few websites. We were keen to have something less touristy and more local - this was beyond perfect!!”

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15.LUXURY PRIVATE Catamaran Bora Bora : Full-Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 20 reviews

Spend six hours aboard Vitamin Sea II, a private catamaran for up to nine people. Your captain sails past Mount Otemanu, reef edges, and quiet bays, while the hostess helps with photos and local insight. Swim, snorkel, spot rays, enjoy snacks and drinks, or simply stretch out on the nets.

“We were on Vitamin Sea II as a family of 8 (grandparents, parents and kids). We had a wonderful day sailing around Bora Bora, snorkeling and relaxing. Thelma, our Captain, was amazing. We all enjoyed ourselves and would recommend this experience!”

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