Bora Bora, French Polynesia by Dream Yacht Charter

Your Pacific island adventure begins on Raiatea – the second-largest of the Society Islands – where you’ll board your luxury yacht in Uturoa at midday, just in time for lunch. As you get to know your fellow passengers, your skipper will steer you between the barrier reefs of Raiatea and around the south shore of Taha’a to the tiny isle of Motu Tautau. Here, you’ll get your first sight of the amazing marine environment while snorkelling in a coral garden.

It’s not often reality turns out to be better than the dream, but Bora Bora is a notable exception. Plonked in a blue lagoon that requires sunglasses just to look at, the main island is formed by the remnants of an extinct volcano now covered in lush green forest. This will be your backdrop for the afternoon, as you snorkel in the barrier reef and stroll along white spits of sand. Come nightfall, you’ll anchor in the east of Bora Bora.

You’ll be in no hurry to leave this place, so today is all about exploring your dazzling environment. After breakfast, there’ll be time for more beachcombing, kayaking and paddleboarding – and the option to take a guided tour of the coral garden onboard a traditional Polynesian canoe. In the afternoon, you’ll edge closer to the lagoon – a sanctuary to thousands of colourful coral fish, barracudas, rays and harmless blacktip reef sharks. Dinner and anchorage for the night will be at Matira Point on the southern tip of the main island.

Wave goodbye to Bora Bora and navigate back to Raiatea on a four-hour cruise. Anchor in time for lunch before a leisurely afternoon of more swimming, snorkelling and watersports. There’ll also be the option to visit a black pearl farm where you’ll learn about the history of black pearl farming and get to snorkel the pearl beds and coral garden where oysters create the pearls. Then it’s back to anchor for another dinner under the stars.

Time to stretch your legs on dry land with a day exploring Raiatea. You’ll spend the morning in Uturoa, the main village, where you can shop at the local market before an optional island tour that includes a visit to Marae Taputapuatea. According to legend, this sacred and Unesco-listed temple complex was built by descendents of Polynesian gods. Back on the boat, there’ll be a short excursion to Motu Céran for more time in the water before dinner on board or, if you prefer, at an on-shore restaurant where a local Tahitian band will provide the soundtrack.

It’s an early start as you set sail for Huahine, which is part of the Society Island archipelago but less crowded than Raiatea and Bora Bora. Arriving at Bourayne Bay around midday, you’ll have the afternoon to lounge on the sugar-white beach of Ana Iti, cooling off in the see-through water as often as you like, whether snorkelling, kayaking or paddling. Later, you’ll anchor at Avea Bay – a wide lagoon with more palm-lined beaches to explore.

After another fresh breakfast, you’ll be whisked to Fare – the main village on the island, although you wouldn’t have guessed it. You can explore here or head down to Fare Beach for snorkelling, before joining an optional tour to a variety of archeological sites – some are thought to date as far back as 850CE – and see fish traps, a vanilla plantation, and come face to face with sacred blue-eyed eels. After lunch, it’s back onto the boat for the return journey to Raiatea, where you’ll dock in time for sunset.

Having spent the night in the lagoon, you’ll disembark at 8am at the main pier in downtown Uturoa, where you can say your goodbyes before heading to the airport.