Island hopping in French Polynesia means stringing together short domestic flights, a handful of ferry routes and boat transfers on arrival. The islands look close on a map, but the archipelagos are far apart and services run on fixed days, so the order of islands matters more than the number of them.
How you actually get between islands
According to Tahiti Tourisme’s inter-island page, flying is the main way to move around. Air Tahiti serves 47 islands and atolls; Air Moana flies to Moorea, Raiatea, Bora Bora, Huahine, Rangiroa, Fakarava, Nuku Hiva and Hiva Oa. Checked baggage on both is listed at 50 lb (about 23 kg), with extra allowance for divers carrying gear, which is often lower than an international allowance.
| Link | Main option | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Tahiti to Moorea | Ferry, about 30 minutes | Several departures a day from Papeete; flights also run |
| Tahiti to Huahine, Raiatea, Taha’a, Bora Bora | Flight; ferry two or three times a week | The sea route to Bora Bora takes several hours |
| Bora Bora, Raiatea, Taha’a, Maupiti | Flight; local inter-island boat | Boat schedules depend on season and sea state |
| Tuamotu atolls | Flight | Inter-atoll flights link Rangiroa, Tikehau and Fakarava on set days |
| Marquesas, Australs, Gambier | Flight; passenger-cargo ships | Ships sail every few weeks; flying is the practical choice for most |
Taha’a has no airport. Visitors fly to Raiatea, which shares the same lagoon, and continue by boat, usually arranged by the hotel or pension.
Routes that work
The Society Islands loop
The classic sequence runs Tahiti, Moorea, Huahine, Raiatea and Taha’a, Bora Bora, and optionally Maupiti, before flying back to Tahiti. Each hop is short, and Huahine and Raiatea add marae, villages and quieter lagoons to the more famous islands. Our Moorea guide and Huahine guide help decide how long each deserves.
Society Islands plus the atolls
Pairing a high island with a Tuamotu atoll gives you mountains and lagoon on one side and drift snorkeling or diving in the passes on the other. Rangiroa and Tikehau are the usual first atolls; Fakarava suits divers. Plan the atolls as one block, since you finish one archipelago before moving to the next.
Adding the Marquesas
Nuku Hiva and Hiva Oa are a separate trip in feel: rugged valleys, tiki sites and few beaches. Flights are longer and less frequent, so give them at least four or five nights.
Using an Air Tahiti pass
Air Tahiti replaced its pass range for travel from 1 April 2026, and the older Discovery, Bora Bora and Lagoons pass names were retired (see old versus new pass names). The current passes include the Maeva and Monoï passes for the Society Islands, the Maupiti Pass, the Tuamotu Pass, the Reva and Fenua passes that combine the Society Islands with the atolls, and the Marquesas and Austral passes.
Key rules, as set out on Air Tahiti Pass: validity is up to 28 days (40 with a Marquesas, Austral or Rarotonga extension); the circuit starts and ends on Tahiti; Moorea must be at the very beginning or end; each island is visited once; and you cannot stop back on Tahiti mid-circuit. Every flight must be confirmed at ticketing, and an issued pass cannot be changed or refunded.
How many nights per island
Three nights is a sensible minimum on most islands, because arrival and departure days are partly spent travelling. Four or more lets you hold a lagoon tour or dive until the weather is right.
Sample sequences by trip length
These outlines assume an international arrival and departure night on Tahiti, which most schedules require.
Seven nights
Tahiti (1 night), Moorea (3), Bora Bora or Taha’a (3), with the last flight timed to meet the international departure. Moorea by ferry keeps costs down; the second island is the only flight.
Ten to twelve nights
Tahiti (1), Moorea (3), Huahine (3), Bora Bora (3 or 4), then back to Tahiti. Huahine breaks the trip with a slower village pace before the bigger resort island.
Fourteen nights or more
Tahiti (1), Moorea (3), Huahine or Raiatea (3), Bora Bora (3), then Rangiroa or Tikehau (3) before returning to Tahiti. Moving from the Society Islands to the atolls depends on the day a direct flight operates, so this is the version where the flight schedule should be checked before any rooms are booked.
Whatever the length, put the island with the most weather-dependent plans, such as diving or a lagoon picnic, in the middle of the trip, not at the end.
Make the visit respectful
Pack light enough to handle your own bags on small aircraft and boats, and keep fragile items in hand luggage. On ferries and inter-island boats, residents commute and move goods, so let them board first if they are carrying freight. Staying longer on fewer islands also means more of your spending stays with local guides, pensions and shops rather than going on transport.
Common planning mistakes
Assuming a boat links every pair of nearby islands; booking the last domestic flight of the day to meet an international departure; and forgetting that a resort boat transfer can take as long as the flight.
Accessibility and individual needs
Families and travellers with mobility needs should count every step, boat transfer and luggage handoff, not just the number of islands. Small aircraft are boarded by stairs, and some resort and airport docks have no ramp, so ask in advance about assistance.
After booking
Reconfirm each domestic flight or ferry a day ahead, and check whether the flight is direct or makes a stop on the way, which changes the arrival time.
On the day
Have a plan for a missed connection, such as an extra night on Tahiti or a later flight, worked out before the trip starts.