Experience Cook Island and the Society Island Cruise with this tour which combines private services with premium accommodations & a unique cruise. On this South Pacific Odyssey, you'll discover the isle of Huahine, renowned for its spectacular rain forests. Then experience the unique majesty of the Cook Islands. Arid Aitutaki is virtually flat- so much so that you can spot the ocean from nearly any point on the island, sitting in sharp contrast to sister island Rarotonga's jagged peaks and deep valleys. Rarotonga's fertile slopes of red earth and sparkling aquamarine lagoon call to mind the classic Victorian ideal of paradise, which the island was called by its first European explorers. Return to the Society Islands for days in alluring Bora Bora, Taha'a, Moorea, and Papeete.

Available Cruise Departure Dates:
2012: Mar 3, May 12, Jun 30

Papeete ("water from a basket") is the capital of French Polynesia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. The commune (municipality) of Papeete is located on the island of Tahiti. Traveling tourists arrive and depart Papeete via cruise ship at Papeete Harbor or domestic airline at Faa'a International Airport, which was completed and opened in 1962. The downtown features some fine churches and a market, though Tahiti is most known for its secluded ocean beaches.

Enjoy a private airport transfer.

Opened in March 2009, the Manava Suite Resort Tahiti promises to be the premier Papeete resort for business and leisure travelers alike, offering 121 guest rooms ranging from rooms to multi-bedroom duplex suites and Manava Suites. With state-of-the-art technology and in-suite kitchen quarters, each room will offer a luxurious, well-appointed home base for travelers of all kinds, from business travelers staying for a week, to leisure travelers en route to the outer islands.

Overnight at Manava Suite Resort (4*).

Take a 4x4 to the very heart of the island of Tahiti. Admire the valley of Papenoo which is famous for its rivers and enjoy the incredible waterfall and tropical plant views. This is a relaxing place where you can really get back to nature. Your guide will be present throughout the journey and will answer any questions you may have about local flora and fauna and geology.

Overnight at Manava Suite Resort (4*).

Cruise the tropical waters of the South Pacific Ocean aboard a luxury cruiseliner, making your way between the remote Cook and Society Islands. Your onboard experience will be complimented by calls to port for exploration of these beautiful islands and their accompanying native cultures.

Meet your driver for a port transfer with private vehicle and driver.

Welcome aboard!
Embark the m/s Paul Gauguin in the afternoon and have time to settle into your cabin before dinner onboard later in the evening. Your ship will set sail later tonight.

One of the most luxurious ships in the world, The M/S Paul Gauguin offers an amazing 1 to 1.5 crew to guest ratio, all oceanview accommodations (70% of those having balconies). With a capacity of only 332 guests this ship has one of the highest space to guest ratio’s around. It has two elegant restaurants and a pool side grill with open seating. Each room has its own mini-bar with soft drinks, beer and bottled water replenished daily. Complimentary fine wines and premium spirits, in room dining, 24 hours room service, in room movies and all onboard gratuities included, makes this truly a luxury experience.

Overnight at M/S Paul Gauguin (11N).

Huahine is actually two islands, Huahine Iti and Huahine Nui, and the ship anchors between the two in Maroe Bay. This strikingly beautiful pair of islands boasts a crystalline lagoon, colorful villages, and a wealth of Polynesian archeological sites. Rising 2,200 feet above the sea, Mount Turi is the islands' high point and provides a dramatic backdrop. While you're here, you can cruise the lagoon, explore the island's culture, or picnic on the beach.

Overnight at M/S Paul Gauguin (11N).

Take a day to enjoy shipboard life: relax poolside, watch the South Pacific pass by, play some table tennis, or read up on our next port at the Reading Gallery.

Overnight at M/S Paul Gauguin (11N).

Aitutaki's coral reefs enclose a particularly large and beautiful lagoon. Uninhabited, palm-clad islets (motus) dot the reef, and even the main island is only eight square miles in area. Bask in the sun and enjoy breath-taking views of the shimmering lagoon. Arutanga village is the island's town, home to the oldest church in the Cooks, which dates from 1829.

Overnight at M/S Paul Gauguin (11N).

Call today at Rarotonga, capital of the Cook Islands and the most mountainous of the group. Although this is one of the most beautiful places in the world to do nothing, you have a plethora of options for getting as active as you want.

Overnight at M/S Paul Gauguin (11N).

Spend another day experiencing Paul Gauguin's Polynesian ambience: casual, leisurely, and graceful. Take in a lecture on local wildlife or history, and relax this evening over classic French cuisine.

Overnight at M/S Paul Gauguin (11N).

Immediately recognizable by the basalt tombstone of Mount Otemanu rising from the ocean, the half-atoll, half-mountain of Bora Bora is surrounded by a spectacular lagoon and a series of smaller islands. Ancient Polynesians called it Parapora, or “firstborn,” because they thought it was the first island created after Raiatea.

Overnight at M/S Paul Gauguin (11N).

Bora Bora's lagoon is constantly replenished with ocean water from the swells that crash between sandy motus and over the lagoon's fringing reef. Perhaps today you will discover its charms.

Overnight at M/S Paul Gauguin (11N).

Motu Mahana, an islet adjacent to Taha'a, is your very own South Seas paradise featuring white sand beaches with swaying palms, crystal-clear waters and gentle breezes. Enjoy a delicious barbecue lunch and Polynesian entertainment featuring strolling musicians and singers.

Overnight at M/S Paul Gauguin (11N).

Covered in an abundance of fresh fruits and flowers, spectacular mountain peaks, peaceful multihued lagoons and palm-fringed beaches, Moorea's awesome beauty is unsurpassed. White sand beaches lapped by the translucent shimmering lagoon water and shaded by palm, coconut, and ironwood groves stretch for miles.

Overnight at M/S Paul Gauguin (11N).

Today you'll have until the afternoon to explore more of the peaceful oasis that is Moorea..

At the end of the afternoon, you'll cruise back to Papeete, docking for the night.

Overnight at M/S Paul Gauguin (11N).

Cap off your epic journey where it all began. You won't be the same as when you first set sail – these exotic isles are said to touch people in magical ways. This morning you'll disembark at the port of Papeete and bid farewell to your fellow cruisemates, as your cruise adventure has come to conclusion.

Take a 4x4 to the very heart of the island of Tahiti. Admire the valley of Papenoo which is famous for its rivers and enjoy the incredible waterfall and tropical plant views. This is a relaxing place where you can really get back to nature. Your guide will be present throughout the journey and will answer any questions you may have about local flora and fauna and geology.

Overnight at Manava Suite Resort (4*).

Enjoy a private airport transfer.

Depart from International Airport. End of itinerary.

Overnight at Depart (Int`l Airport).