Make your way to the uninhabited desert island of Motu Piscine and a natural swimming pool by crossing the lagoon of Raivavae in Virtual Reality!

Email us at AspenTravelAdvisors@gmail.com if you would like us to help create your custom trip to Tahiti and French Polynesia with VIP amenities and upgrades and include a stay on Raivavae.

Raivavae is often called "Bora Bora of the Austral Islands" due to it's similar high volcanic center island surrounded by a large turquoise lagoon and many small moths on a fringing reef.

It is largely undeveloped with no resorts of any kind, only small guest houses large enough for a handful of visitors. This is a rare opportunity to experience French Polynesia in a pristine original state.

Raivavae features a large lagoon circled by a coral reef consisting of 28 motu. Located closer to the Tropic of Capricorn, Raivave’s cool climate allows for agriculture. The inhabitants, living in four different villages, grow taro and coffee but also mango and banana trees.

“Raivavae” or “the open sky” is a great place to listen to the sounds of sea bird songs, the swell of the ocean and the gentle wind. Often considered the most beautiful island of the Pacific, the magnificent scenery of Raivavae lives up to its reputation as the Garden of Eden. Floating over an emerald lagoon, the island shelters amazing remnants from the past such as a laughing tiki. Numerous items are kept in private collections at Western museums from an era that witnessed intense pre-European religious and cultural practices.

Locals have chosen to keep their island untouched and have developed an ecotourism concept welcoming travelers in a warm and simple manner. Aside from handicrafts, Raivavae is the only island where sewn outriggers are still made, ensuring the visitor a step back in time feeling while on the island.

Discovered by Europeans in the 18th Century, the Austral Islands are located 373 miles (600 km) south of Tahiti’s capital city Papeete. The archipelago is made of seven islands, five of which are inhabited and four of which are accessible by air. An untouched and mysterious land where white sand beaches clash with the intense blue of the lagoons, the Australs Islands are off the beaten track, offering a memorable and unique experience in The Islands of Tahiti.

A visit to the islands reveals breathtaking landscapes. From sheer mountains to valleys and high plains featuring the Austral Islands famous farming activities. Quite a few archeological remnants hide on each island, bearing witness to a well organized pre-European community of rich cultural and religious practices.

The cliffs and caves of the Austral Islands are places of legends in French Polynesia. These areas used to be old burial grounds but are now a place to watch humpback whales frolic in the waters just offshore. The whales come to the Austral Islands from August to October each year to give birth.

These contrasting sceneries blend well with the friendliness of the inhabitants. Visit colorful, picturesque villages to discover the handiwork of islanders who mainly live off their artwork. Also enjoy watching fishermen, farmers and basket weavers at work. You’re not likely to leave without a hat or woven basket to remind you of your magical time in the Austral Islands.

The Austral Islands offer a rare opportunity to discover The Islands of Tahiti in a different light.

tahititourisme.com/en-us/island/austral-islands/