One of them is Moorea, an adventure-filled volcanic island just a 30-minute ferryboat trip from Papeete, Tahiti’s largest city. And if you’re keen on making your tropical travel dreams a truth by scheduling an overwater cottage, look no even more than the Sofitel Kia Ora Moorea Beach Resort.
Sitting on the edge of a protected marine location off Temae Beach (the longest on the island), the resort boasts a beachfront infinity pool, two open-air dining locations, an on-site Tahitian pearl store, and its bread and butter, 38 overwater bungalows with easy access to a crystal-clear lagoon. There are also a lot of onshore lodgings scattered throughout the residential or commercial property, from bungalows inside peaceful gardens or straight on the beach to a luxury rental property suitable for families and huge groups.
Experiencing the next-level opulence of an overwater cottage has always been high on my travel desire list. There’s something truly unique about this type of ultra-private lodging: The sound of lapping waves lulls you to sleep, while you get up sensation revitalized only a few actions from the water. Floor-to-ceiling windows turn the area into your own personal solarium, where the stunning view from your bed looks like a postcard you ‘d discover at a hotel present shop. And if you want an even closer look, you can go with the comfy lounge chair on the outdoor deck. Usage in-room snorkeling gear to explore the lagoon straight from your cottage’s personal platform, or peer into the indoor glass floor panel to catch a glimpse of the seabed and growing marine life listed below.
Le Jardin Spa & Beauty is tucked away in a main yet unassuming area on the resort grounds. Large wood double doors available to a peaceful tropical garden, where guests can enjoy massages, facials, or holistic treatments using natural oils sourced from local producers.
“Boasting French design infused with Tahitian hospitality, the hotel’s two acclaimed dining establishments provide an intimate and romantic setting with extraordinary breathtaking views and live home entertainment,” says Sabine Lamberts, the resort’s general manager. The weekend nights end with a bang here when guests are dealt with to a conventional Polynesian dance efficiency with live music, followed by a mind-boggling screen of Samoan fire knife dancing on the beach.
The environment over at K, a beach restaurant that serves a specifically curated tasting menu on Thursday and Friday evenings, is more personal and moody. Sit under the cathedral ceilings made with Kahaia wood from the Tuamotu atolls, while torches illuminate the surrounding space. Kick off your shoes, dip your toes in the sand, and toast to your tropical getaway with specialist wine pairings thoroughly chosen by chef Frédéric Gigou.
An undisturbed day spent lounging on my personal deck (with a rum-based mixed drink in hand) sufficed to please my sense of wanderlust, but I quickly discovered the resort offers far more. Striking the best balance in between experience and relaxation, we invested some days away from the resort exploring Moorea by land and water. There’s a single main roadway that follows the 37-mile border of the island, making it easily accessible and hard to get lost. Thanks to our dependable regional tour guide, Yvette, the owner of Moorea VIP Tours, we were able to venture off the primary roadway and explore the island’s lesser-known spots.
Growing up on the island of Tahiti, Yvette displayed a remarkable wealth of understanding about the area’s culture and history, from sharing ancient Polynesian legends to teaching us how to make a traditional Tahitian flower crown. It was putting rain when we visited Yvette’s private garden up in the mountains, which ended up being the base of our assisted hike to Moorea’s Āfareaitu Waterfall.
Our first marine experience was a jet-skiing tour throughout the island’s 2 balanced bays– Cook’s Bay and ‘Ōpūnohu Bay– with stops along the method to admire Moorea’s tallest and most incredible mountain peaks. The next day, we got on a personal boat trip of the island, where we snorkeled with stingrays and nurse sharks, and even encountered a few sea turtles, as our guides taught us about Moorea’s biodiversity and how to properly communicate with sea life.
If the water isn’t your thing, however you’re still looking for an experience, an ATV tour might be the most exciting method to explore Moorea. After about an hour and a half of driving over dirt courses through the French Polynesian jungle, you’ll end up at the base of a high but brief walking course that leads to the top of Magic Mountain– probably the best perspective on the whole island.
There’s no doubt French Polynesia is a remote destination, but direct flights on Air Tahiti Nui from significant cities such as Los Angeles and Seattle make it fairly simple to reach from the U.S. Plus, it’s only a two-hour time distinction from America’s Pacific Standard Time zone, suggesting those originating from the West Coast will not have to handle bothersome jet lag upon arrival.
Moorea’s pristine beauty and flourishing culture, integrated with Sofitel’s first-class service and hospitality, made this resort an ideal location to meet my long-lasting dream of remaining in an overwater bungalow. Discover more about the Sofitel Kia Ora Moorea Beach Resort and all of its unbelievable offerings here.