3-Week French Polynesia Itinerary: Society & Tuamotu Islands
At MyLittlePolynesia, a travel blog specializing in French Polynesia, we explore the archipelagos to uncover hidden gems: authentic or charming accommodations, memorable excursions, tips for optimizing flights and itineraries. Living in Moorea, we share our advice on which islands to visit, just as we do for our loved ones when they come to visit us.
To make the most of your stay, it’s not just about checking islands off a map, but about building a coherent itinerary adapted to your time, budget, and preferences: relaxation, culture, diving, or adventure.
In this article, we propose a complete 3-week French Polynesia itinerary combining two archipelagos: Society and Tuamotu, to discover all facets of Polynesia: Tahiti, Moorea, Raiatea/Taha’a, Rangiroa, and Fakarava.
Let’s dive into our practical and inspiring guide to visit the mountainous islands and atolls, and enjoy a perfect loop between culture, nature, and lagoons!
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3-Week Polynesia Itinerary: Tuamotu / Society Islands Combined
The real magic of a trip to Polynesia is moving from volcanic mountains to flat atolls in a 1-hour flight, with each type of island offering a unique experience. Mountainous islands like Tahiti, Moorea, and Raiatea captivate with their spectacular landscapes, lush valleys, and vibrant culture.
Opt for a cruise with Aranui: the cargo cruise that tours the Polynesian islands. Find our complete article on discovering Polynesia differently with Aranui.
They allow you to hike, explore waterfalls, discover local markets, and dive into Polynesian history through marae and traditions that are still alive today. In contrast, the Tuamotu atolls like Rangiroa and Fakarava offer a more peaceful experience centered on the lagoon for diving and snorkeling enthusiasts.
👉 We created a practical itinerary in the form of a lived experience. Indeed, 3 couples of friends came to visit us in May 2025 in Polynesia, at our home in Moorea but also on several islands in the Society and Tuamotu. If you’re looking for information to properly organize a group trip for 3 weeks and not forget anything, check out our article: Trip with Friends to Polynesia, Our Advice as Residents.
The Mountainous Society Islands: Nature, Culture, and Panoramas
The mountainous islands of Polynesia offer a striking contrast with the flat atolls. In Tahiti, the mother island, green mountains plunge into the ocean while valleys hide waterfalls and rivers. You can feel the authentic rhythm of Polynesian life: colorful markets, local crafts, black sand beaches, and quiet villages. Hikes reveal dizzying panoramas of bays and ocean, and ancestral culture remains alive in marae and local traditions. It’s recommended to spend 4 days in Tahiti to discover its must-sees, enjoy its varied landscapes, and soak up the local atmosphere before continuing your journey.
👉 To learn all about the must-sees, accommodations, and activities in Tahiti, check out our complete Tahiti guide.
Just 40 minutes by ferry, Moorea seems like something straight out of a postcard. Its volcanic peaks reflect in the turquoise lagoon and its deep bays invite exploration. It’s the ideal island to combine hiking, kayaking, and moments of relaxation on white sand. Moorea’s gentle atmosphere allows you to immerse yourself in island life and observe marine wildlife from the shore. Planning 4 days in Moorea allows you to explore the different bays, climb to viewpoints, and fully enjoy the lagoon.
👉 Discover all our tips to fully enjoy Moorea, its viewpoints and its lagoon in our dedicated Moorea article.
Further north, Raiatea, the sacred island, blends mountains, lagoons and Polynesian culture. The historical cradle of Polynesian civilization, it houses the famous marae Taputapuatea and a lagoon shared with Taha’a, the vanilla island. Raiatea offers a balance between pristine nature, peaceful navigation, and cultural immersion. Four days for Raiatea and Taha’a allow you to visit cultural sites, sail the lagoon, and discover vanilla and neighboring motu. These mountainous islands offer spectacular panoramas, lush vegetation, and complete cultural immersion before turning to the atolls.
👉 To explore the culture and wonders of the lagoon, check out our detailed guide to Raiatea and Taha’a.
The Tuamotu Atolls: Incredible Motu and Scuba Diving
After the mountainous islands, the Tuamotu atolls offer a completely different atmosphere. In Rangiroa, the largest atoll in the Pacific, the ocean seems to stretch to infinity. Turquoise lagoons are split by legendary passes, like Tiputa, where you can swim with dolphins, rays, and sharks in a spectacular setting. The isolated motu invite kayak or walking escapades, far from any agitation, for an absolute feeling of freedom. It’s recommended to spend 4 days in Rangiroa to enjoy diving in the passes, explore several motu, and fully relax in this paradise setting.
👉 Dive into the largest atoll of the Pacific with our complete article on Rangiroa.
Further south, Fakarava surprises with its exceptional preservation and wild atmosphere. Classified as a UNESCO biosphere reserve, this atoll is a haven for diving and snorkeling. The coral tracks allow you to move around by bike and discover quiet villages where time seems suspended. Each sunset over the lagoon offers a unique tableau, with light that sets the water and sky ablaze. Planning 4 days in Fakarava allows you to explore its different dive sites, enjoy isolated beaches, and fully absorb the peaceful atmosphere of the atoll.
👉 Discover the best diving spots and activities in Fakarava in our dedicated Fakarava guide.
These flat atolls constitute the perfect counterpoint to the mountainous islands: no imposing relief, but infinite expanses of water, abundant coral reefs, and a feeling of total disconnection. By combining mountains and atolls, you get a complete trip to Polynesia, between land adventure, cultural immersion, and diving in crystalline waters.
Fakarava and Rangiroa have limited accommodation, so it’s important to book in advance, especially during peak tourist season.
Check out our article on the Paul Gauguin cruise, the ideal blend of onboard luxury and authentic Polynesian experiences.
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How to Organize the Loop: Planes and Ferries
For this 3-week trip to Polynesia, the ideal is to combine inter-island flights and local ferries to create a practical and comfortable loop.
The starting point is Tahiti, where you take time to discover the mother island before joining Moorea. The Tahiti-Moorea ferry (40 minutes) is quick and offers magnificent views of the lagoon and Moorea’s mountains from departure. It’s the most practical and pleasant way for this short journey.
To reach Raiatea/Taha’a from Moorea, you must first return to Tahiti by ferry, then take an Air Tahiti flight (about 50 minutes). Inter-island flights are frequent and save a lot of time, especially when you want to continue to the Tuamotu (Rangiroa and Fakarava). Air Tahiti serves all these islands, and for more comfort or local experience, Air Moana also offers panoramic flights with superb views of the lagoons.
👉 To know all the details on how to travel between islands in Polynesia (ferries, Air Tahiti and Air Moana flights, travel times, tips to optimize your itinerary), check out our complete guide How to Travel Between Islands.
On Raiatea, it’s possible to take a small boat between Raiatea and Taha’a to explore the lagoon and vanilla plantations. This ferry or collective boat is quick (about 20–30 minutes) and allows you to fully enjoy the proximity between these two islands.
Once the mountainous part is finished, a flight from Raiatea to Rangiroa marks the beginning of the atolls. After a few days in Rangiroa, a short flight to Fakarava allows you to continue discovering the Tuamotu without losing time. Finally, the Fakarava-Tahiti flight closes the loop and brings you back to the starting point.
👉 Polynesia is a world apart: each island has its personality, and there’s always a new one to discover. Find our complete article on travel budget for honey moon in Polynesia.
Alternative: Bora Bora and Maupiti or Huahine
If you prefer to discover the more iconic Society Islands, you can replace the Tuamotu with Bora Bora and Maupiti or Huahine. These islands offer spectacular mountainous landscapes and crystalline lagoons, but with a different atmosphere from the flat atolls.
Bora Bora, famous worldwide, is a must for its turquoise lagoon surrounded by motu and its famous Mount Otemanu. 4 days are enough to combine lounging on beaches, snorkeling or diving, and small island excursions.
👉 Discover all our tips to organize an itinerary adapted for divers in Polynesia.
Maupiti is smaller and more preserved, ideal for those seeking authenticity and tranquility. Its isolated beaches and intense blue lagoon make it a perfect place to disconnect. 4 days allow you to fully enjoy the island’s intimate atmosphere.
👉 To fully enjoy the isolated beaches, lagoon and tranquility of Maupiti, check out our dedicated Maupiti article.
Huahine, less touristy, offers a mix of mountains, vanilla plantations, and lagoons. It’s an ideal island to discover Polynesian culture through traditional villages and marae. 4 days are enough to explore cultural sites and the island’s verdant landscapes.
👉 To discover the cultural sites, villages, and verdant landscapes of Huahine, check out our complete Huahine guide.
This alternative allows you to combine volcanic relief and spectacular lagoons while staying in the Society Islands, which makes logistics easier: inter-island flights are shorter and ferries or boats between islands are more frequent.
👉 You can find our complete article: organize your trip to Polynesia yourself or through a local travel agency.
👉 If you have around 20 nights to spare, a fantastic option is to split your trip between land and sea. Spend 10 days on the islands of the Leeward group (Society Islands) — Tahiti, Moorea, and Bora Bora — combining stays on land with a luxury catamaran cruise, as these islands are close enough to easily reach by boat.
For those with even more time, consider adding a Tuamotu atoll such as Rangiroa, perfect for a first diving experience in its vast lagoon, or Fakarava, which will delight nature lovers seeking pristine marine life.
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👉 Here, we share our best travel experiences, insider tips, favorite spots, and authentic advice to explore French Polynesia with passion 💙 (Tahiti, Moorea, Bora Bora, Huahine, the Marquesas, Tuamotu…)
