Coral Restoration in French Polynesia

After landing in Tahiti today, you'll have a few hours to relax at a luxury hotel before catching your domestic flight to Bora Bora. Enjoy a spa treatment or nap by the pool under the Polynesian sun before heading back to the airport for your quick flight to Bora Bora. Once you land in Bora Bora, a driver will be waiting to privately transfer you to your lagoon-front resort. After checking in to your overwater bungalow, adjust to island time by having a leisurely afternoon around the resort, exploring the beach or snorkelling in the warm gin-clear waters beneath your room.

Today, you'll embark on a tour to delve into the wonders of coral conservation. After a briefing led by the resident marine biologist, you'll head out to collect coral samples from the aquatic garden on site. This is your special opportunity to contribute to the preservation of coral in Polynesia and make a meaningful difference. Precise GPS coordinates will be documented for the cuttings you make, and, upon completion, you'll receive a coral certificate along with a photo album showcasing your tiny corals. After you go home, the local team will continue to track your coral's growth, sending you periodic follow-ups so you can watch their growth.

You have the next two days to explore the sapphire lagoons and emerald jungles of Bora Bora at your leisure.

Today, you'll be collected from your resort and privately transferred back to the airport to catch your domestic flight to Tikehau, via Tahiti (Papeete). Once you land on Tikehau, you'll be collected from the airport and taken to the marina for a short 15-minute boat ride to your next luxurious accommodation. Built in traditional Polynesian style, your overwater bungalow exudes charm with its thatch roof and walls and know you'll be lulled to sleep each night by the gentle lapping of water underneath. After checking into your bungalow, head to the on-site dive shop to collect your snorkel gear and discuss your options for the next few days.

This morning, you'll have the opportunity to explore the pristine reefs inside what Jacque-Yvez Cousteau declared to be 'the richest atoll on the face of the earth.' The abundance of marine life seen from the surface will astound you as manta rays, barracudas, grey sharks, dolphins and all manner of reef fish are common residents. So grab a snorkel and start exploring…

Known for the red-footed boobies and blue-grey noddies, 'bird island' is aptly named and makes for a wonderful wildlife excursion visiting the many bird colonies that call this atoll home. You'll head off by motorboat, cutting across the turquoise water, to the nearby island where your expert guide will point out a plethora of fascinating species. This is a shorter activity, lasting approximately two hours in total, so you'll have plenty of time to dip back in the sea (should you wish) for more underwater encounters this afternoon.

The last few days of your French Polynesian dive holiday are yours to fill. We can arrange dives for you to get a little deeper on the vibrant reefs, or you can luxuriate with spa treatments and paddle board trips around the lagoon. No matter how you spend your final days, soak in the last bits of this sumptuous destination, ready to return home refreshed and rejuvenated (and dreaming of when you can move away to an island paradise).

Today begins your long journey back to reality as you're picked up from your lovely bungalow after breakfast and driven, by motorboat, back to the Tikehau Airport. After a quick hop to Tahiti (Papeete), you'll have several hours to enjoy the last bits of your tropical holiday before catching your international flight home tonight, again via Los Angeles. Your flight home will take approximately 24 hours in total, so make sure the iPad is charged, movies are downloaded and your wine glass is full, as you settle into the long journey home.