Cruise Aranui 5

The departure is scheduled at 10:00 am, heading for the Tuamotu Islands.

Fakarava, the second largest atoll in the Tuamotu, is located 500km from Tahiti. The ARANUI enters the lagoon of Fakarava. Passengers go to the beach. The lagoon with its crystal clear waters, multicolored fish and coral reefs invites you to dive or explore with a snorkel ... Possibility of diving only for those who are certified.

8:00 am Disembarkation at the Rotoava wharf. Crafts on the quay, optional paid activities such as bicycle rental, E-bike, internet quad, certified diving.
12h00 Return on board for lunch

Recommendations: As solar radiation is particularly intense on the Tuamotu Islands, we recommend that you protect yourself with sunscreen (minimum index 40), sunglasses, a hat and light clothing. Bath sandals are recommended.

THE Marquesas Islands

“Earth, earth! »- NUKU HIVA is the first Marquesas island of our cruise. When we arrive in the Marquesas waters, our watches will have to be brought forward by half an hour. Remember that you are aboard a mixed cargo ship during our tour of the Marquesas Islands. The captain may be required to change the schedule of the program depending on the tides, the weather, or unusual times of disembarkation or embarkation of cargo.

ARANUI is in Taiohae Bay.

8h00 Disembarkation of passengers at the Taiohae quay. Walk along the beach to the village where there are a bank, post office, internet cafe, crafts, various shops.
9:00 am Meet in the center of the village to take the 4 x 4 (opposite the craft center).
Visit of Taihoae Cathedral.
11:00 am Depart for Hatiheu to visit the Mea’e Kamuihei site, with its giant banyans and petroglyphs. On the way, stop for panoramic photos and for the bird's eye view of the Taipivai valley.
12h00 Lunch at Yvonne's (Hatiheu): The traditional clay oven ("Umu") is opened at the restaurant "Chez Yvonne". Local music accompanies the meal.

In the village, possibility of visiting the small museum which brings together copies of petroglyphs still present in unexplored valleys.
Return to Taiohae: Several possibilities are available to you in the village:
You descend in a 4x4 to the village of Taihoae with a visit to the cathedral,
Take advantage of visiting the craft center and local products with its market.
Bank, shops, internet. Possibility of returning on foot from the village to the boat.

7:00 p.m. Polynesian evening: Buffet dinner around the swimming pool, Marquesan show.

Recommendations: Taipivai is the valley in which Herman Melville lived in 1842 as a prisoner and which he describes in his novel "Taipi".

8:00 AM ARANUI docks at Hakahau wharf. You can walk to a point of view (no shade, irregular path). There is a post office, shops and a church (beautiful carved wooden pulpit) in the village.
A walk to the cross at the height of the village is proposed. (Difficulty 6/10)
Visit of the town hall where antiques and old dance costumes used for the Arts Festivals are gathered.
Local crafts and agricultural products at the Center artisanal et Culturel, next to the town hall.
10:30 am Tasting of local products at the Artisanal and Cultural Center followed by a show of Marquesan dances and songs.
12:00 PM A Marquesan meal will be served at “Chez Tata Rosalie”. Return on board after lunch or free time in the village until 4:00 p.m.
4:00 p.m. Return on board. Departure for Hiva Oa Island

Recommendations: Remember to wear waterproof and non-slip shoes. Always carry enough to protect yourself from the sun and rain and sufficient mineral water.

7h00. Arrival at the Atuona wharf.
8:00 am Start of landings for the village of Atuona
Transport for the visit of the communal cemetery where the tomb of Jacques BREL and that of Paul GAUGUIN are. Few meters separate their graves in the cemetery.
Possibility of visiting the Gauguin museum and Jacques BREL center (optional and paying, respectively 600 CFP and 500 CFP).
Optional paid activities on Hiva Oa or Thuata: diving or first dive
11:30 am Return on board and lunch
1:15 p.m. Aranui sets sail for KOKUU beach
2:30 p.m. Barges for koku'u beach with swimming, mask and tube
4:45 p.m. Last barge to Aranui.

Possibility of visiting the Gauguin museum and Jacques BREL center (optional and paying, respectively 600 CFP and 500 CFP).
For the centenary of Paul Gauguin's death in 2003, the town has created a museum. You can see reproductions of his works in the “Maison de jouir”. The museum dedicated to Jacques Brel also contains an important exhibition. In Atuona there are many shops, a bank and a post office.

Impressive description of their quest to "return to nature" on this island at the end of the world by Thor Heyerdahl and his wife in his book "Fatu Hiva".
For those who feel the urge and the strength, a 17 km walking tour of the island allows the discovery (for regular hikers, even experienced hikers).

8:30 am The canoes bring you ashore in Omoa Bay. This place remains the only one in the Marquesas where the inhabitants still make the traditional "tapa", made from bark. You will see the making of the "tapa" and the fragrant bouquet of "Umu Hei" flowers at a large craft market. Artisans sell painted tapas, woodcarvings and colorful sarongs. Near the market is the Grellet family museum, dedicated to Marquesan art objects and handcrafted utensils.
Visiting the museum is optional and costs 300 xpf.
Another optional and chargeable excursion: crossing the village of Omoa in Hanavave in a 4x4.
10h00 The hikers take the direction of Hanavave. The others have free time in the village.
11:00 Return on board and late lunch. A picnic is provided for hikers along the way.
After unloading and loading the cargo, ARANUI continues on its way to Hanavave.
2:00 pm Disembarkation in canoes and free time in the village. A craft market awaits you in Hanavave with wood carvings. The women of the village will offer you homemade cakes. In the company of hikers who will have joined us, we will attend dances. The women of the village will show us the making of traditional Marquesas oil, the "monoi" with musical entertainment and the opportunity to learn how to make your flower crowns.
4:00 p.m. Return on board.
5:30 p.m. Happy Hour at sunset in the beautiful Baie des Vierges.
7:00 p.m. Plancha evening at the swimming pool followed by a dance evening

Recommendations: The 17 km tour of the island on foot takes about 4 hours (two hours up, two hours down). The path is hardly shaded. Consider bringing water-resistant sun protection, a raincoat, a spare T-shirt, mineral water and hiking boots. (Difficulty 9/10)

DAY 8 - SATURDAY - HIVA OA (Puamau) - TAHUATA (Vaitahu)
The ARANUI is anchored in the bay of Puamau.
7h00. First descent by barge to the Puamau site where the largest tiki in the Marquesas is located, I’ipona.
11:00. Return to the boat for lunch
2:00 p.m. Landing on the island of Tahuata, visit of the village of Vaitahu, artisan sale (bone carving ..), visit of the Vatican church.
4:00 p.m. Back on board

The ARANUI is anchored in the bay of Puamau.

7h00. First descent by barge to the Puamau site where the largest tiki of the Marquesas Islands, I'ipona, is located.

11h00. Return to the boat for lunch

14h00. Disembarkation on the island of Tahuata, visit of the village of Vaitahu, craft sale (bone carving...), visit of the Vatican church. 

16h00. Return on board   

Early in the morning the ARANUI moored to a rock in Vaipaee Bay. The freighter pivots on itself in the narrow bay: a maneuver that you absolutely must attend.
We visit the three inhabited valleys of Ua Huka.
8:30 am Disembarkation in canoes at Vaipaee. Stop at the arboretum to admire the unique variety of species and the large citrus grove. Visit to the Ua Huka municipal museum and its unique collection of Marquesan art and crafts, located on the site
TE TUMU, where the Marquesas Festival took place. We continue the road to Hane and Hokatu, to the well-stocked craft markets, whose specialty is carved wood.
12h00 Lunch at the restaurant "Chez Fournier" in Hane.
2:00 pm After lunch, return to Vaipaee where the Aranui awaits us for its next destination, Rangiroa Island, Tuamotu.

Day of navigation to the Tuamotu Islands.

Swimming on the beach and visit of the pearl farm.
Optional paying activities: glass bottom boat, diving.
Back on board. Departure for Bora Bora

WIND ISLANDS

The Aranui will anchor on the mythical lagoon of Bora Bora near Vaitape.
Passengers go down to the private beach of Motu Tapu to bathe and for the picnic.
Extra excursions, not included in the price of the cruise, are available: tour of the lagoon island by motorized canoe, swimming with rays and sharks, tour of the island by truck, diving.
4:00 p.m. Return on board

Arrival around 9:00 am in the morning.

Indicative program, subject to modification without notice