Leeward Islands: Lagoons, peaks and cultural heritage

The different islands of the Leeward Islands each have their own highlights: Huahine is characterized by a turquoise lagoon and coral gardens, while Raiatea offers hiking trails to peaks, river excursions, and an important marae. On Maupiti, visitors can hike to the summit of Mount Teurafaatui and enjoy the view. On Bora Bora, beaches are accompanied by traces of World War II. When planning your trip, the first important consideration is which natural and cultural themes interest you most.

Lagoon and river experiences from different perspectives

Huahine is surrounded by a turquoise lagoon with multicolored coral gardens. Visitors can dive or snorkel in the lagoon and explore the coral gardens. Those especially interested in lagoons and underwater experiences will find a clear focus here. On Raiatea, excursions by kayak, paddleboard, or outrigger canoe are possible on the island’s navigable river. These offer two different ways to enjoy the water: exploring the coral gardens in Huahine’s lagoon and taking excursions on Raiatea’s river.

Hiking destinations with distinct highlights

On Raiatea, a hiking trail leads to the summit of Mount Temehani, the only habitat of a distinctive flowering shrub. The summit is therefore not just a hiking destination, but is also associated with a unique plant habitat. On Maupiti, visitors can hike to the summit of Mount Teurafaatui and enjoy the view. If you are choosing between these two hiking ideas, Mount Temehani combines the summit with a botanical feature, while Mount Teurafaatui offers views from the summit. This makes their respective highlights easy to distinguish, without specifying a particular duration or difficulty for either hike.

Historical sites on Raiatea and Bora Bora

The Marae of Taputapuatea on Raiatea was once a center of religious and political power throughout Polynesia. Visitors can take a guided tour of the archaeological site. On Bora Bora, a hiking trail leads to remnants of the American military presence from World War II, which was codenamed Operation Bobcat. These sites highlight different aspects of history: on Raiatea, the marae’s former role; on Bora Bora, traces of the American military presence.

On Bora Bora, visitors can also relax on the beaches. This offers a different focus from the historical hiking trail: beach time and a visit to the remnants of Operation Bobcat appeal to different interests. If you are considering which island best suits your travel preferences, these two experiences on Bora Bora may help you decide.

Choose an island focus for your accommodation search

These experiences are spread across different islands, each with its own highlights. So, base your hotel search on the island whose landscapes or history interest you most. This way, you can make your accommodation choice according to the themes you want to shape your trip.

Discover more destinations: Windward Islands, Austral Islands, The Tuamotu and Gambier Islands, Tuamotu Islands, Leeward Islands, Windward Islands.

Return to the main travel overview: French Polynesia.