Papeete (Tahiti) to Papeete (Tahiti)

Explore the breathtaking beauty of Tahiti with its vast mountains, white sandy beaches, turquoise ocean and glittering coral reefs.

Bora Bora appears to be of another world, with pretty sand-edged motu (islets) and rainforest-covered ridges, while its fabulous coral reef is a joy to explore.

The largest of the Leeward Islands, Raiatea is totally surrounded by a reef but has several navigable passes and the only navigable river in French Polynesia. Raiatea shares a protected lagoon with the island of Taha'a; legends tell how the two islands were cut apart by a mythical eel. Although it has no beaches, there are picture-postcard motus (flat reef islets) with nice beaches in the lagoon. One of the nicest things about Raiatea is that it remains "undiscovered" by most visitors to French Polynesia. Before European encroachment, Raiatea was the religious, cultural and political center of Tahiti-Polynesia. It was also Captain Cook's favorite island. The last resistance to the French takeover on the island lasted until 1897, when French troops and warships used arms to conquer the island. The native leader of the resistance, Teraupoo, was deported to New Caledonia. Raiatea is an archaeologist's delight. Scientists have unearthed artifacts linking the island with Hawaii. Local tradition says Raiatea was the great jumping-off point for ancient Polynesian mariners. There are a significant number of marae (Tahitian temples), including Taputapuatea. Considered the most important temple in the Society Islands, it is a national monument. In Uturoa, the main port, the colorful market is most crowded on Wednesday and Friday mornings when the Tahaa people arrive by motorized canoe to sell their products. Behind Uturoa, you can climb Tapioi Hill, one of the easiest and best climbs in Tahiti-Polynesia, and get a great view of four islands. Near the village of Pufau, Mount Temehani is the highest point on the island and the only home in the world of the Tiare Apetahi flower.

A day at sea aboard Silver Whisper is a chance to embrace both indulgence and discovery, where time unfolds at your own pace against the ever-changing backdrop of the ocean. Mornings might begin with breakfast served in your suite by your butler, featuring freshly brewed coffee, buttery pastries, and tropical fruits, all enjoyed on your veranda as the horizon glows with the first light of day. Others may prefer to start more energetically, perhaps with a yoga class, a workout in the Fitness Centre, or a brisk walk on deck as the sea air fills your lungs. As the morning continues, the ship offers plenty of ways to unwind or explore. The Observation Library invites quiet reflection with its panoramic windows and well-stocked shelves, while the Boutique tempts with carefully chosen collections of jewellery, fashion and fragrances. Guests who enjoy a more social atmosphere might join a friendly game in the Card Room, while enrichment lectures in The Show Lounge provide fascinating insights into the destinations yet to come. When lunchtime arrives, the choice of dining venues ensures there’s something to suit every mood. You may opt for the elegant service of The Restaurant, where regional specialities highlight the flavours of your itinerary, or take a seat at La Terrazza to enjoy authentic Italian dishes prepared with the freshest ingredients. Those who prefer a casual setting can enjoy light fare poolside at The Grill, where the relaxed atmosphere is paired with panoramic sea views. Afternoons are perfect for relaxation. Many guests head to the Pool Deck, where you can recline in the sun with a chilled drink or take a refreshing dip. Others indulge in the tranquillity of the Zagara Beauty Spa, where massages, facials and body treatments are designed to renew both body and mind. The Beauty Salon offers pampering touches, ensuring you feel perfectly prepared for the evening ahead. As twilight descends, the ship takes on a new rhythm. Perhaps you’ll begin the evening with a cocktail in The Bar, where live music sets the tone. Dinner might mean French haute cuisine at La Dame, interactive Hot Rocks dining at The Grill, or authentic Italian flavours at La Terrazza, each offering its own distinct atmosphere and culinary style. The night is yours to enjoy as you wish. You may be drawn to The Show Lounge for a production performance or cultural lecture, or find yourself at the Casino, where roulette wheels spin late into the night. For a quieter closer, Connoisseur’s Corner offers fine cognac and cigars in a refined setting, while the Panorama Lounge provides live music and dancing beneath the stars.

Fakarava is oblong shaped and has an almost continuous string of reef and motu stretching for 40 km (25 mi) on its eastern edge. It's the second largest of the Tuamotu atolls, located 450 km (280 mi) northeast of Tahiti, and 120 km (75 mi) southeast of Rangiroa. It's renowned for the drift diving in its two passes—Garuae (also spelled Ngarue) in the north near the main town of Rotoava (and the airport) and Tamakohua Pass, 48 km (30 mi) across the lagoon in the south. The tiny village of Tetamanu, situated by the southern pass, was once the capital of the Tuamotus and houses the first church built in the archipelago in 1874. In 2006 the entire atoll was deemed an UNESCO biosphere reserve; to preserve the lagoon no overwater bungalows have been built in it. Fakarava was "discovered" by Russian explorer Fabian Gottlieb Von Bellingshausen in 1820; some 20 years later missionaries arrived, in the guise of fanatical Catholic priest Honore Laval, and began building churches.

A day at sea aboard Silver Whisper is a chance to embrace both indulgence and discovery, where time unfolds at your own pace against the ever-changing backdrop of the ocean. Mornings might begin with breakfast served in your suite by your butler, featuring freshly brewed coffee, buttery pastries, and tropical fruits, all enjoyed on your veranda as the horizon glows with the first light of day. Others may prefer to start more energetically, perhaps with a yoga class, a workout in the Fitness Centre, or a brisk walk on deck as the sea air fills your lungs. As the morning continues, the ship offers plenty of ways to unwind or explore. The Observation Library invites quiet reflection with its panoramic windows and well-stocked shelves, while the Boutique tempts with carefully chosen collections of jewellery, fashion and fragrances. Guests who enjoy a more social atmosphere might join a friendly game in the Card Room, while enrichment lectures in The Show Lounge provide fascinating insights into the destinations yet to come. When lunchtime arrives, the choice of dining venues ensures there’s something to suit every mood. You may opt for the elegant service of The Restaurant, where regional specialities highlight the flavours of your itinerary, or take a seat at La Terrazza to enjoy authentic Italian dishes prepared with the freshest ingredients. Those who prefer a casual setting can enjoy light fare poolside at The Grill, where the relaxed atmosphere is paired with panoramic sea views. Afternoons are perfect for relaxation. Many guests head to the Pool Deck, where you can recline in the sun with a chilled drink or take a refreshing dip. Others indulge in the tranquillity of the Zagara Beauty Spa, where massages, facials and body treatments are designed to renew both body and mind. The Beauty Salon offers pampering touches, ensuring you feel perfectly prepared for the evening ahead. As twilight descends, the ship takes on a new rhythm. Perhaps you’ll begin the evening with a cocktail in The Bar, where live music sets the tone. Dinner might mean French haute cuisine at La Dame, interactive Hot Rocks dining at The Grill, or authentic Italian flavours at La Terrazza, each offering its own distinct atmosphere and culinary style. The night is yours to enjoy as you wish. You may be drawn to The Show Lounge for a production performance or cultural lecture, or find yourself at the Casino, where roulette wheels spin late into the night. For a quieter closer, Connoisseur’s Corner offers fine cognac and cigars in a refined setting, while the Panorama Lounge provides live music and dancing beneath the stars.

Think of French Polynesia and you are automatically transported to the white sands of Tahiti, the blue seas of Bora Bora or, at the very least, the iconic statues of Easter Island. Now, imagine a place that is home to that majestic trinity, but has no crowds and is full of island authenticity that is rare in these global times. You have just imagined Nuku Hiva. The island is the second largest after Tahiti in the archipelago, but is yet to be discovered by tourism.

Fatu Hiva is the southernmost and most remote island in the Marquesas Group. First seen by Europeans in 1595 when Mendaña went to colonize the Solomon Islands, the island again gained some fame through the visit of Thor Heyerdahl in the mid-1930s. Steep cliffs, sharp mountain peaks and many narrow valleys form an impressive obstacle when exploring this volcanic island. The two villages of Omoa and Hana Vave have combined some 650 inhabitants and are both located on the more protected western side of the island. They are connected by a 17 kilometer long road that climbs up to the central plateau. Omoa has a protected little harbor for local boats, but Hana Vave has the Bay of Virgins, one of the most photographed bays in the Marquesas Islands, if not French Polynesia. Islanders are known for their tapa (bark cloth) paintings and wood carvings –which are highly sought after in Tahiti.

The largest of the southern islands, Hiva Oa, the master pillar or finial post of the ‘Great House’ - which represents the Marquesan archipelago in the local mythology - has always been the rival of Nuku Hiva. The island is shaped like a seahorse and has a mountain range running southwest to northeast whose main peaks, Mt. Temetiu and Mt. Feani form a real wall around Atuona. Atuona, a peaceful little port at the head of the Taaoa Bay, also known as Traitors Bay, has emerged from obscurity due to having had the privilege of being the last resting place of Paul Gauguin and of the singer Jacques Brel. The tombs of these famous personalities are on the side of the Calvary cemetery looking out across the bay and are places of great pilgrimage. In the village, the Gauguin Museum displays items related to the painter's stay there at the beginning of the century and has copies of his works.

A day at sea aboard Silver Whisper is a chance to embrace both indulgence and discovery, where time unfolds at your own pace against the ever-changing backdrop of the ocean. Mornings might begin with breakfast served in your suite by your butler, featuring freshly brewed coffee, buttery pastries, and tropical fruits, all enjoyed on your veranda as the horizon glows with the first light of day. Others may prefer to start more energetically, perhaps with a yoga class, a workout in the Fitness Centre, or a brisk walk on deck as the sea air fills your lungs. As the morning continues, the ship offers plenty of ways to unwind or explore. The Observation Library invites quiet reflection with its panoramic windows and well-stocked shelves, while the Boutique tempts with carefully chosen collections of jewellery, fashion and fragrances. Guests who enjoy a more social atmosphere might join a friendly game in the Card Room, while enrichment lectures in The Show Lounge provide fascinating insights into the destinations yet to come. When lunchtime arrives, the choice of dining venues ensures there’s something to suit every mood. You may opt for the elegant service of The Restaurant, where regional specialities highlight the flavours of your itinerary, or take a seat at La Terrazza to enjoy authentic Italian dishes prepared with the freshest ingredients. Those who prefer a casual setting can enjoy light fare poolside at The Grill, where the relaxed atmosphere is paired with panoramic sea views. Afternoons are perfect for relaxation. Many guests head to the Pool Deck, where you can recline in the sun with a chilled drink or take a refreshing dip. Others indulge in the tranquillity of the Zagara Beauty Spa, where massages, facials and body treatments are designed to renew both body and mind. The Beauty Salon offers pampering touches, ensuring you feel perfectly prepared for the evening ahead. As twilight descends, the ship takes on a new rhythm. Perhaps you’ll begin the evening with a cocktail in The Bar, where live music sets the tone. Dinner might mean French haute cuisine at La Dame, interactive Hot Rocks dining at The Grill, or authentic Italian flavours at La Terrazza, each offering its own distinct atmosphere and culinary style. The night is yours to enjoy as you wish. You may be drawn to The Show Lounge for a production performance or cultural lecture, or find yourself at the Casino, where roulette wheels spin late into the night. For a quieter closer, Connoisseur’s Corner offers fine cognac and cigars in a refined setting, while the Panorama Lounge provides live music and dancing beneath the stars.

Rangiroa, meaning ‘Vast Sky’ in Puamotu, is the largest atoll in the Tuamotu Archipelago and one of the largest in the world. Surrounded by two legendary bodies of water, Moana-tea (Peaceful Ocean) and Moana-uri (Wild Ocean), the atoll consists of about 250 islets and sandbars, with approximately 100 narrow passages in the fringing reef. The lagoon covers 618 square miles (1,600 square km), large enough that it has its own horizon.

Tahiti's heart-shaped sister island Moorea is located only nine miles across the Sea of the Moon from Tahiti. While Bora Bora and Tahiti are the destinations most prominently advertised, it is Moorea, the Magical Island that is the best-kept secret of the trio of famous French Polynesian islands. In fact, Moorea has often been likened to James Michener's mythological island of Bali Hai - and it is easy to see why. Picture perfect lagoons and gleaming white beaches are surrounded by jagged mountains and volcanic spires. Its six mountains include Mount Rotui. From its summit there are spectacular views of Opunohu Bay and the island. Captain Samuel Wallis was the European discoverer of the Windward Island in 1767. After leaving Tahiti, he passed along the north coast of Moorea without landing. The first European visitors to the island include botanist Joseph Banks and some sailors sent ashore by Captain Cook in 1769. Captain Cook himself anchored in Opunohu Bay for one week in 1777, but never visited the bay that now bears his name.

Explore the breathtaking beauty of Tahiti with its vast mountains, white sandy beaches, turquoise ocean and glittering coral reefs.