The Best Things to Do on Bora Bora, French Polynesia

Ease into Bora Bora lagoon and watch the aquarium-blue waters bristle with life. Protected by a halo-like coral reef, the shallow waters are home to an abundance of fish including stingrays, blacktip sharks and lemon sharks. Swim among them on a guided snorkelling tour or watch from the comfort of a boat.

Limber up, stretch those muscles and brace yourself for a scramble. See that rocky outcrop crowning the mountain at the centre of the island? That’s where you’re headed. It’s a tough six-hour hike up Mount Pahia – the highest peak rises 658m (2,158ft). And with some treacherous sections, basalt cliffs and thick jungle to traverse, it’s good to take a guide with you or a four-wheeler tour some of the way. Reach the top and you’ll be rewarded with fantastic views.

Book a yacht trip with Culture Trip to sail the turquoise lagoon waters and explore the island’s coves and cliffs and the coral gardens on the ocean floor. Humpback whales visit these shores from August to October. Watch fins rise slowly above the waterline, as clouds ring the top of the mountain behind.

Brimming with images of the South Pacific, this gallery at the St Regis is the place to come for a lasting souvenir of your Bora Bora holiday. Photographer John Kincaid’s work captures everything from star constellations above the ocean to the sunrise over the mountains and aerial views of the lagoon, fringe reef and halo islands of Bora Bora. Browse the collection and walk away with a print or two.

Started in 2000, when a guest brought an injured turtle to the hotel for care, the Bora Bora Turtle Center at Le Méridien now works in collaboration with the Environmental Department of the French Polynesian Government to protect and rehabilitate endangered turtles – and help preserve the rich corals. Visits are free to hotel guests and include turtle feeding and a meet with the resident biologists. A full-day tour means you’ll have time to follow the staff as they care for the animals, followed by a two-course lunch.

A natural aquarium on a small islet in the lagoon, the Lagoonarium allows you to swim alongside a diverse array of sea creatures in their tropical habitat. There’s also the option to paddle through the waters on a canoe to see sharks, rays and turtles. Guided tours last for half or full days – or book an overnight trip, with a stay at the aquarium’s private islet in a bungalow or dormitory accommodation.

Bora Bora’s other mountain peak, Otemanu, is the second and taller of the two peaks on the extinct volcano that dominates the centre of the island. While it’s not possible to summit Otemanu, you can hike to the top of nearby Pahia for views of the craggy rock face. Alternatively, join a sightseeing boat tour of the island or even take a helicopter trip around the peak.

Watch a rainbow of fish swim beneath your feet as you walk upon the glass floors at this stilted restaurant, which sits over a lagoon. The outside deck – with views to the island’s peak – is the perfect spot for sundowners. Making use of freshly caught fish, Jean-Georges’ menu fuses French and Asian influences and is known as one of the best restaurants on Bora Bora. Order the crusted ahi tuna with citrus and sriracha emulsion.

The best and most significant public beach on Bora Bora – many of the other fine strips of sand are claimed by hotels and other private properties – Matira is something of a rarity. A mile of luminous white sand at the southern tip of the island, it has shallow, warm waters that make a glorious natural swimming pool. When you’re done, seek out freshly grilled fish from one of the good-value beach bars.

Indulge in the ultimate luxury with a dinner date on a private island. Guests of the Conrad Bora Bora Nui have exclusive use of the tiny but picturesque triangle of wooded sand known as Motu Tapu island. After a five-minute boat ride across the lagoon, you’ll have the island to yourself for a picnic or champagne date on the beach. Take it up a notch with a private chef and butler.