Top 12 French Polynesia Sailing Trips

1.Moorea Snorkeling & Sailing on a Catamaran named Taboo

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 529 reviews · from $157Our pick

Spend four hours aboard the Taboo catamaran in Moorea’s lagoon, with up to eight people, several snorkel stops, and views of rays, blacktip sharks, coral, fish, and underwater tikis. Guides such as Leo, Max, Mai, Lou, and Louis lead the trip in French and English, with fruit, juice, and mai tais served on board.

“My wife and I had a great time on this catamaran tour. Our guide gave us clear instructions but also interesting information”

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2.Moorea Sailing on a Catamaran named Taboo

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 245 reviews · from $156

Join Captain Leo or Neil aboard Taboo, a compact catamaran, for a 2-hour-20-minute cruise from Mareto Public Beach. You’ll sail inside and outside the reef, pass Cook and Opunohu bays, hear island stories, and watch the sunset with cocktails and fruit juice.

“This was a fun ride on Taboo! We laid on the nets and the cushions and it was a great view. Also were served delicious Mai tais! Only downfall was that it rained a decent amount of our trip so maybe would have tried to reschedule.”

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3.Sailing, Snorkeling & Floating Bar

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 157 reviews · from $327

Spend four hours aboard Vitamin Sea, a former racing catamaran, with a small group of up to eight people. Sail past Mount Otemanu, snorkel a private coral garden, then relax at a shallow-water floating bar with drinks and a friendly crew.

“Great Day!!! Im still smiling. The crew was excellent. Alex and Dylan were the best. Thanks for the memories.”

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4.Tetiaroa Island Tour by Sailing Catamaran

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 156 reviews · 11 hours · from $227

Leave Papeete at 6:00 AM for Tetiaroa aboard a large catamaran. Enjoy breakfast, a guided walk to Bird’s Island, free beach time, Tahitian lunch, reef snorkeling, and punch on the return. English and French guidance is available, though some commentary may be mainly in French.

“Fantastic day trip to one of the most beautiful islands in French Polynesia. The food provided was simple and very delicious.”

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5.Introduction to sailing and discovering the lagoon

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 144 reviews · from $126Best value

Join Vaapiti for a four-hour small-group sail aboard a handmade double canoe with room for eight. Guides including Jr, Nainoa, Raphaël, and Jean Roland teach traditional sailing, lagoon history, and Polynesian navigation, with snorkeling stops, tropical fruit, cold drinks, and local snacks included.

“Superbe expérience. Nous avons passé une matinée extraordinaire sur le lagon : tortues, raies, requin, statuts. Nous avons pu hisser la voile et naviguer nous-même la pirogue. Les prestataires, 2 frères passionnés et surtout nés à Moorea (et ça fait toute la différence) vous ferons découvrir les moindres recoins du lagon, l'histoire de Moorea à travers des annecdoctes. N'hésitez pas à reserverser cette sortie magique”

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6.The Sunset Escape

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 129 reviews · from $267

Sail around Bora Bora aboard the 46-foot Vitamin Sea catamaran with hotel-dock pickup, lounge music, snacks, and chilled drinks. Captain Thelma, Alex, Camille, and other crew members have earned praise for warm service and local insight. Expect nets instead of standard seats, a possible speedboat transfer, and a weather-dependent sunset.

“Pros: BEAUTIFUL boat and super friendly crew. Cons: Did not match the description when booking. No sparkling wine was served. 13 people were booked when it advertised a max of 8. This made the front seating space feel a bit crowded. The cruise itself was lack luster. Felt like we didn’t travel very far and then just sat floating in circles. Headed back promptly at sunset with little to no communication from the captain. Very expensive for what you got. Much better excursions available. Would not recommend for the price.”

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7.Moorea Snorkeling & Sailing on a Catamaran named Taboo

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 105 reviews

Spend three to four hours aboard the private catamaran Taboo, sailing Moorea’s coast and lagoon with a captain and guide such as Léo, Flo, Max, or Jade. Snorkel at coral gardens, swim near rays and black-tip reef sharks, visit an underwater tiki site, and enjoy fruit, juice, water, and selected drinks.

“I'm going to butcher the captain's name (sorry), but captain Tiboux and snorkeling guide Hannah were excellent! The boat and experience were both incredible. We snorkeled with black tip reef sharks, stingrays, camouflaged flounders, and a wide array of tropical fish in the coral garden. Guide Hannah was incredibly knowledgeable on the various species, and her instruction really enhanced the experience. The captain claimed his English wasn't very good, but he was actually really funny and both of them were very proficient English speakers...much better than my French, for sure. Overall, this is a can't miss excursion.”

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8.LUXURY PRIVATE Catamaran Bora Bora : Half-Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 33 reviews

Spend four private hours aboard Vitamin Sea, a 40-foot former racing catamaran, with a captain and host such as Thelma, Jane, Kiki, or Tony. Sail Bora Bora’s lagoon, stop to snorkel among reef fish, then relax at Paradise Bay’s floating bar with drinks, snacks, and music.

“Exceptional! This was one of our most favorite activities on our trip to Bora Bora. Captain Thelma and First mate Oceana were outstanding. The Vitamin Sea Too is an incredible boat with everything you need for a relaxing day on the water. ThRead more”

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9.LUXURY PRIVATE Catamaran Bora Bora : Full-Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 20 reviews

Spend six hours on a private catamaran with a captain and hostess, sailing Bora Bora’s lagoon under wind power, stopping to swim and snorkel near rays, and taking in Mount Otemanu. Hotel pickup, snacks, drinks, alcohol, and onboard photos are included. Lunch at a restaurant is not.

“Great captain and crew! We had an amazing day sailing around Bora Bora, taking in the sites, snorkeling, and soaking up the sun. A truly first-class private experience that we will remember for a lifetime!”

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10.Sunset Catamaran Cruise with Snacks and Drinks

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 14 reviews · 2 hours · from $255

Join a small English-language sailing with up to eight participants for two hours around Bora Bora. Your crew serves champagne, light snacks, and drinks while sharing local history, culture, and nature. Hotel dock pickup by speedboat, towels, and photo help are included.

“We had a fantastic time on our trip, especially since the catamaran is docked at the St. Regis which made it really convenient. We loved that each couple got their own section of the catamaran and that there are pads and towels available. The two crew members are also more than happy to snap as many photos as you want and are sure to catch the sunset in the background. Thank you for the fantastic service and great time!”

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11.LUXURY PRIVATE Catamaran Bora Bora : The Sunset Escape

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 12 reviews

Sail Bora Bora’s lagoon on a private catamaran for about two hours, with hotel pickup, drinks, snacks, music, sun beds, and sunset views of Mount Otemanu. Crew members including Nick, Candice, Thelma, and Alex have helped make past trips personal, from sailing lessons to proposal photos.

“WOW!! Our group of eight (family and friends) had the perfect adventure. Even though the water was a little rough, our crew made it an unforgettable experience. Our captain, Thelma, was awesome as well as her First Mate Alex, who kept oRead more”

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12.Full-Day Sail & Polynesian Motu Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 9 reviews

You’ll spend about six hours on a private catamaran with a captain and hostess, sailing Bora Bora’s lagoon, snorkeling near reefs, swimming in a scenic bay, and enjoying a Polynesian lunch on a private motu. Hotel pickup, drinks, gear, and photos are included.

“Attention to every detail. The captain and staff insure a memorable way to experience Bora Bora! Paradise in paradise!”

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