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Epic Round The World Trip Adventures! Stunning Photos & Articles – This page is all about Bora Bora, French Polynesia on our around the world trip.

Stop 5 - French Polynesia

Bora Bora Island - French Polynesia
Round The World Trip Journal

Text By Jo & Photos By Mike

(12th – 20th June) French Polynesia - Bora Bora
The 45 minute flight from Mo’orea to Bora Bora was no less thrilling than the previous flight into Mo’orea. We flew directly over the islands of Ra’itea and Taha’a – twin islands with no beaches but lots of motu (islands). Lots of inland waterways too. And then came the view of Bora Bora we had been waiting for – it is everything we expected – almost completely surrounded by sandy motu and the lagoon sparkling turquoise. The photo above was really taken from the airplane - you can see the black surround of the window! The airport is actually on a motu – short runway! We had to get a shuttle boat across to the main island to our hotel. Bora Bora is very different to the other two islands we had visited – it is much more about the hotel you stay at and there are some luxurious complexes here. Most of the best hotels are on the motu, looking back at the main island – and ALL the resorts have overwater bungalows here. It is a very popular honeymoon destination and mostly seems geared around people staying within their hotels and on the hotel beaches. The one public beach on the main island was just down the road from our hotel and we spent a few afternoons there, but mostly we would gatecrash other hotel resorts to use their beaches! We stayed at the Hotel Maitai Polynesia which had a tiny beach right next to the road so we didn’t spend much time on it. Our 8 night stay here was very interesting because Jo had spectacularly messed up the booking – she thought she’d booked a room with a kitchen but somehow it didn’t have one when we got there – apparently none of their rooms have kitchens! OK not a problem you think – just eat out. Unfortunately this has to be the most expensive island – we simply couldn’t afford to eat out! Ever resourceful, we bought a blue washing up bowl, some spoons and a couple of bowls. Only having a kettle in the room, we lived off anything we could cook using boiling water in our blue washing up bowl - see photo of Mike eating from it! Basically, noodles and instant mashed potato with tuna (for 8 days!). They did the same type of excursions here as we had already done on Mo’orea but at twice the price so we had to pass on most of those too, but we did have a great week here – honest! The view from our room was to die for – we were set up away from the road and had a clear view across the lagoon to several motu with the islands of Ra’itea and Taha’a behind them – apparently these are the only hillside rooms on the island. Every morning we sat eating French bread and cheese on our terrace watching the boats and canoes buzzing about. We caught a taxi boat out to a motu and spent a day sunbathing in the middle of nowhere. Mike was disappointed by the snorkeling all over the island – hardly any coral and a lot of it was damaged - not a patch on Mo’orea. He did see some stingrays and huge moray eels though. We hired a Bugxter – an open fun car with roll bars - to drive around for a day which was hilarious. Although the mountains and gorges are not as dramatic here, the views from the main island out to the motu are so much better. We climbed up to the top of one of the mountains (not recommended in this heat!) and discovered picturesque views right across both sides of the island. If Tahiti and Mo’orea are all about the lush greens of the vegetation then Bora Bora is all about the varying blues of the sea – and you need to be up high to truly appreciate them. We took out a canoe a couple of times and paddled across to the coral fields so Mike could snorkel (this was the best condition coral he saw but it was out quite deep here). Jo was entertained by the skipper of a neighbouring boat playing the ukele. We also paddled around the motu and appreciated the views back towards our hotel. But it has to be said that we spent most of our time here doing what most other people seem to do – nothing but lounging around on the beach. Mike was in his element because he could rock in a hammock with the perfect paradise view! Why do all good things have to end though? We finally had to fly back to Tahiti and then out to LA before picking up a flight to Maui. All the way, trying to console ourselves that at least we could finally have some vegetables – too much white bread and noodles have taken their toll on our digestive systems!

Gap year travel journal from our round the world trip

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Bora Bora, French Polynesia - Round The World Trip Photos

MAP - Bora Bora, French Polynesia - Round The World Trip Photos

Highlights of our round the world trip: