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Motor Yacht Obsidian
Obsidian
French Polynesia
Cruising Itinerary  ·  Season 2026
Thirty days across the coral atolls and emerald peaks of the world's most remote paradise.
6 July  —  4 August 2026
Tuamotu Atoll Aerial
The Tuamotu Archipelago French Polynesia  ·  South Pacific
Obsidian French Polynesia 2026
The Voyage
An Odyssey Through
the Islands of Light
French Polynesia exists at the edge of possibility. Scattered across an ocean the size of North America, its 118 islands and atolls rise from waters of impossible blue — their coral gardens teeming with life, their mountains draped in verdant green. To arrive by private yacht is to arrive as the explorers once did: on the sea's own terms, with the horizon as your only guide.
Your thirty-day passage through the Tuamotu Archipelago and the Society Islands is not merely a cruise. It is a choreographed encounter with two of the Pacific's most distinct worlds: the low-slung coral atolls of the Tuamotus, where the land never exceeds a metre above the sea and the lagoons stretch beyond sight; and the volcanic Society Islands, where mountains pierce the clouds and waterfalls cascade into turquoise bays.
Beginning in the Tuamotus — home to legendary kiting conditions, world-class drift snorkels, and pristine passes alive with marine life — the voyage unfolds through Fakarava, Tahanea, Apataki and Rangiroa. It then sweeps west to the Society Islands: Bora Bora, Tahaa, Raiatea, Huahine, Tahiti's wild south coast, and finally Moorea. Each island, a distinct chapter in Polynesia's living story.
This itinerary is crafted to balance adventure and restoration, exploration and stillness. It should be read as a living document — the sea, and the Polynesian spirit of mana, will always have the final word.
Introduction 01
The Atolls at Golden Hour French Polynesia
Map RANGIROA Days 09–11 · Tiputa Pass TIKEHAU Day trip via Vanta APATAKI Day 08 · Kite & explore FAKARAVA NORTH Days 01 & 04 · Garuae Pass FAKARAVA SOUTH Days 02–03 · UNESCO Pass TAHANEA Days 05–07 CRUISING PLAN · CHART ONE Planned route Vanta excursion
Cruising Plan — Chart One · Tuamotu Archipelago Days 01–11  ·  6–16 July 2026
Map MAUPITI Day trip · Vanta BORA BORA Days 12–16 · Four Seasons TAHAA Days 17–20 RAIATEA Days 21–22 · Sacred Isle HUAHINE Days 23–24 MOOREA Days 27–30 PAPEETE Disembark · 4 Aug 2026 VAIRAO Teahupoo · Days 25–26 CRUISING PLAN · CHART TWO Planned route Vanta excursion
Cruising Plan — Chart Two · Society Islands Days 12–30  ·  17 July – 4 August 2026
Chapter One
The Tuamotu
Archipelago
Days 01 — 11  ·  6–16 July 2026
01
Chapter One
The Tuamotu
Archipelago
The Tuamotus are the world's largest chain of coral atolls — 78 low-lying rings of reef enclosing lagoons of extraordinary beauty. Here, the ocean is the landscape: sky, water, and the coral below merge into an experience unlike anywhere on earth.
For Obsidian, the Tuamotus represent the voyage's most remote and adventurous chapter. World-class diving in UNESCO-protected passes, some of the Pacific's finest kite conditions, and an authenticity of place that even the Society Islands cannot quite replicate.
11
Nights at Anchor
4
Atolls Visited
1
UNESCO Reserve
Fakarava  ·  Tahanea  ·  Apataki  ·  Rangiroa
Obsidian Chapter One — Tuamotu Archipelago
Arrival in Paradise
Getting There
The journey to the Tuamotus begins at Papeete's Faa'a International Airport — gateway to all of French Polynesia. From here, a air charter carries the family north to the atoll of Fakarava, an hour-and-twenty-minute flight that offers a breathtaking aerial introduction to the archipelago's geography: ring upon ring of coral, impossibly blue water, and the quiet sense of arriving at the very edge of the world.
International Arrival
Papeete · PPT
Faa'a International
Air Charter
Papeete → Fakarava
~1hr 10min flight
Vessel Boarding
Fakarava North
Evening
First Night
Aboard Obsidian
Fakarava Lagoon
International Arrival
Papeete
Faa'a International
IATA: PPT  ·  Tahiti, French Polynesia
G650 flight via USA
The family will be greeted upon arrival and helped to the charter aircraft
Air Charter
Papeete to
Fakarava (FAC)
Duration: approx. 1 hour 10 minutes
Aircraft: Twin-engine turboprop charter
Fakarava Airstrip · tarmac · all weather
Vanta transfer from airstrip to Obsidian
Arrival & Logistics 04
The Tuamotu Lagoon Kiteboarding · French Polynesia
Obsidian Chapter One — Tuamotu Archipelago
Days 01 — 05
6 July — 10 July 2026
01
Day
6 July 2026
Fakarava North — Arrival
Air CharterVessel BoardingEvening Reposition
International arrival at Papeete; air charter north to Fakarava. Obsidian awaits at the northern anchorage as the sun descends over the lagoon. A brief time to settle in before Obsidian repositions south through the lagoon under cover of darkness.
Evening reposition · ~32NM · Fakarava South Pass (Tetamanu)
02
Day
7 July 2026
Fakarava South — The Pass
Drift SnorkelScuba DivingKiteboarding
Obsidian repositions overnight to the UNESCO-listed Fakarava South Pass. Arriving before first light, the family descend into the pass at dawn — an encounter with countless marine species — reef sharks, rays, and schools of tropical fish riding the current. Kiteboarding in the afternoon trades.
03
Day
8 July 2026
Fakarava South
Scuba DivingKiteboardingExplorationDrift Snorkel
A full exploration day at Fakarava South. Multiple dive profiles through the pass — each tide reveals a different spectacle. World-class kite conditions develop through the afternoon, with the flat lagoon providing a perfect downwind run.
04
Day
9 July 2026
Fakarava South → North
KiteboardingDrift SnorkelLagoon Passage
Morning kiting at the South Pass before Obsidian navigates Fakarava's magnificent 60km lagoon back to the north anchorage — a spectacular in-lagoon passage through an atoll the size of a small country, the water shifting between deep navy and impossible turquoise.
Lagoon transit · ~32NM · Fakarava South to North
05
Day
10 July 2026
Tahanea
Beach DayKiteboardingMotu Exploration
A morning passage to Tahanea — one of the Tuamotus' most pristine and rarely-visited atolls. A spectacular beach day on the eastern motu fringes with kite conditions among the finest in the archipelago. Complete and absolute solitude.
Morning passage · ~28NM · Fakarava North to Tahanea
Itinerary — Days 01–05 05
Obsidian Chapter One — Tuamotu Archipelago
Days 06 — 11
11 July — 16 July 2026
06
Day
11 July 2026
Tahanea
KiteboardingSnorkellingLagoon Exploration
A second full day at Tahanea. Snorkelling in the crystal-clear shallow lagoon reveals gardens of staghorn coral and abundant fish life. The trade winds again deliver exceptional kite conditions through the afternoon.
07
Day
12 July 2026
Tahanea → Apataki
Continued ActivitiesOvernight PassageStargazing
A final Tahanea morning before Obsidian departs for Apataki. The overnight passage offers extraordinary stargazing — the Tuamotus possess some of the world's darkest skies, and the Milky Way rises in full glory above the Pacific.
Overnight passage · ~85NM · Est. 9–10 hours
08
Day
13 July 2026
Apataki
KiteboardingPossible SurfBeachPass SnorkelDownwind Kite Run
Apataki delivers one of the trip's signature kite days — a downwind run along the atoll's outer edge is a highlight of the Tuamotus chapter. Pass snorkelling reveals a healthy, dense reef. Remote beach lunch on the outer motu.
09
Day
14 July 2026
Rangiroa — Tiputa Pass
Dolphin DiveKiteboardingPass Exploration
Arrival at Rangiroa, one of the world's largest atolls and a mecca for serious divers. Spinner dolphins frolic in the Tiputa Pass current alongside grey reef sharks and eagle rays. Kiteboarding in the afternoon delivers reliable exhilaration.
Morning passage · ~90NM · Apataki to Rangiroa
10
Day
15 July 2026
Rangiroa — Blue Lagoon
Blue Lagoon ExcursionSnorkellingBeach Bonfire
Vanta carries the family to Rangiroa's legendary Blue Lagoon — a turquoise lake enclosed within the outer reef. Snorkelling along the southern fringe, and as evening falls, a beach bonfire on the outer motu under an ink-black sky of stars.
11
Day
16 July 2026
Rangiroa → Tikehau (Day Excursion)
Vanta ExcursionTikehau SnorkelPink Sand Beach
Vanta makes the short crossing to Tikehau — an almost perfectly circular atoll famed for its pink-sand beaches and remarkable fish density. Obsidian holds at Rangiroa as the family spend the day exploring one of Polynesia's most beautiful small atolls.
Itinerary — Days 06–11 06
Into the Trade Wind Tuamotu Archipelago · Sunset
Chapter Two
Bora Bora
Days 12 — 16  ·  17–21 July 2026
02
Chapter Two
Bora Bora
Bora Bora needs no introduction — and yet arriving by sea or air, with Mount Otemanu rising from the lagoon like a cathedral of ancient basalt, always delivers. The island is one of the Pacific's great spectacles, and Obsidian's anchorage in its protected lagoon offers a perspective no land-bound visitor will ever know.
This chapter has a distinctive rhythm: a five-day encounter with the finest that Bora Bora offers, including a three-night interlude at the Four Seasons Resort — a deliberate contrast of resort luxury and life aboard — before reunion on Obsidian and a day expedition to the barely-touched island of Maupiti.
5
Nights Total
2
Venues
727m
Mt Otemanu
1
Maupiti Day Trip
Bora Bora  ·  Four Seasons Resort  ·  Maupiti
Obsidian Chapter Two — Bora Bora
Days 12 — 16
17 July — 21 July 2026
12
Day
17 July 2026
Rangiroa → Bora Bora · The Soft Hop
Charter FlightVessel TransitFour Seasons Check-In
The family flies from Rangiroa to Bora Bora — Vanta runs ahead to the Four Seasons to assist with arrival, water toys, and logistics. Kiting conditions in the Bora Bora lagoon are excellent when the trades are up — Vanta positions riders across the lagoon. Obsidian simultaneously begins her overnight passage west across open ocean to the Society Islands.
Vessel passage · ~200NM · Est. 22 hours · Rangiroa to Bora Bora
13
Day
18 July 2026
Four Seasons Bora Bora
Resort ActivitiesLagoon ToursSnorkellingSpa
The Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora, with its iconic over-water villas and world-class spa, is at your disposal. The resort's marine biologists lead guided snorkel tours; private lagoon picnics can be arranged through the concierge.
Resort Interlude  ·  Four Seasons Bora Bora
14
Day
19 July 2026
Four Seasons Bora Bora
WellnessWater SportsPrivate LagoonFine Dining
A second full day at the Four Seasons. The resort's lagoon is private and exceptionally clear — ideal for paddleboarding and kayaking. Heiva Festival activities may be available if timing aligns. Obsidian is en route and arrives tomorrow morning.
Resort Interlude  ·  Four Seasons Bora Bora
15
Day
20 July 2026
Reunion Day — Obsidian Arrives
Vessel ReunionBora Bora LagoonOn-Deck Lunch
Obsidian arrives at her Bora Bora anchorage in the early morning, positioned with Mount Otemanu as a backdrop. After a final Four Seasons breakfast, the family transfer back aboard as the crew prepares for the Society Islands' next chapter. The best is still ahead.
16
Day
21 July 2026
Bora Bora — Maupiti Day Expedition
Vanta ExcursionMaupitiPink Sand BeachSnorkel
Vanta makes the 30nm crossing to Maupiti — a remote and largely untouched island accessible only through a narrow pass closed to larger vessels. Pink beaches, Tahitian black pearls, and a village that exists largely beyond the reach of tourism.
Itinerary — Days 12–16 07
Chapter Three
The Society
Islands
Days 17 — 30  ·  22 July – 4 August 2026
03
Chapter Three
The Society
Islands
The Society Islands are Polynesia at its most theatrical: mountains of volcanic basalt clothed in green, lagoons of crystalline blue, and a culture of warmth and ceremony that has shaped Pacific civilisation for a thousand years.
From Tahaa — the Vanilla Island, its perfume carried on the trade wind — to Raiatea, the sacred cradle of all Pacific navigation; from the surf breaks of Huahine to the legendary Teahupoo on Tahiti's wild south coast. And finally Moorea — by many accounts, the most beautiful island in the world.
14
Nights
5
Islands
Teahupoo
Iconic Wave
Kite
Throughout
Tahaa  ·  Raiatea  ·  Huahine  ·  Vairao  ·  Moorea
Obsidian Chapter Three — Society Islands
Days 17 — 22
22 July — 27 July 2026
17
Day
22 July 2026
Tahaa — West Anchorage
KiteboardingCoral GardenSnorkellingVanilla Island
Obsidian moves to Tahaa's west coast anchorage. The afternoon: the celebrated Coral Garden — a thriving formation of hard and soft coral alive with extraordinary colour, accessible by short tender ride. The scent of vanilla drifts across the water from the island's plantations.
Short passage · ~20NM · Bora Bora to Tahaa
18
Day
23 July 2026
Tahaa — West Anchorage
Pearl Farm VisitBlack PearlsR&R
A morning visit to one of Tahaa's Tahitian black pearl farms — a rare opportunity to witness the cultivation of the Pacific's most celebrated jewel. Afternoon aboard: swimming from Obsidian in the calm, warm lagoon.
19
Day
24 July 2026
Tahaa — North Anchorage
KiteboardingSurfingWellnessExploration
Obsidian repositions to Tahaa's north anchorage, where consistent trade wind conditions make for outstanding kite sessions across the flat water between Tahaa and Raiatea. Surfing on nearby breaks and time to explore the island at leisure.
20
Day
25 July 2026
Tahaa — North Anchorage
KiteboardingSurfingLagoon Swim
A second full kite day at Tahaa's north anchorage. The shared lagoon between Tahaa and Raiatea offers a perfect flat-water kite run, with Bora Bora's silhouette on the western horizon. Surfing on nearby breaks as the trade winds allow.
21
Day
26 July 2026
Raiatea — East Anchorage
KiteboardingFaaroa RiverWaterfall HikeSacred Island
Raiatea — the sacred island, believed birthplace of all Pacific navigation. The expansive sand banks along Raiatea's east coast deliver a superb kiting run in the morning trades. Later, the Faaroa River expedition: the only navigable river in French Polynesia leads through dense jungle to the foot of a spectacular cascade.
Short passage · ~5NM · Tahaa to Raiatea
22
Day
27 July 2026
Raiatea — East Anchorage
Mangrove PaddleKiteboardingBotanical Gardens
A dawn paddleboard expedition through the Faaroa River mangroves, followed by a horse riding tour through Raiatea's interior valleys — one of the most intimate ways to experience the island's landscapes. A visit to the botanical gardens rounds out the day.
Itinerary — Days 17–22 08
Faaroa Cascades Raiatea · Society Islands
Obsidian Chapter Three — Society Islands
Days 23 — 27
28 July — 1 August 2026
23
Day
28 July 2026
Huahine
KiteboardingSurfingSnorkellingAncient Marae
Huahine — perhaps the most authentically Polynesian of the Society Islands. Kiteboarding on the south-eastern corner of the island when conditions allow. Outer reef surf on a perfect day when conditions line up for it. Excellent snorkelling on the inner coral garden.
Morning passage · ~30NM · Raiatea to Huahine
24
Day
29 July 2026
Huahine
Island BikingPaddleboardLocal Market
A final Huahine day by bicycle — circumnavigating the island's twin isles for an intimate portrait of Polynesian life. Stand-up paddleboarding in the calm inner lagoon. A stop at the local market for tropical fruits, fresh coconut and woven crafts.
25
Day
30 July 2026
Vairao — Teahupoo
Surf TeahupooOuter ReefSpectating
Obsidian rounds Tahiti's dramatic south coast to anchor off Vairao — gateway to Teahupoo. One of the world's most celebrated and feared surf breaks delivers its spectacle in full view of the boat.
Passage · ~80NM · Huahine to Vairao via south Tahiti
26
Day
31 July 2026
Vairao — South Tahiti
Whale WatchingLava Tube HikeWild Coast
Humpback whales migrate through these waters June through October, and Tahiti's south coast is prime viewing territory. A morning on the water in search of these extraordinary mammals, followed by an afternoon hike through ancient lava tubes — geological corridors carved when Tahiti was young.
27
Day
1 August 2026
Moorea — Arrival
Stingray SwimOpunohu BayFire Dance Show
Arrival at Moorea — by many accounts the most beautiful island in the Pacific. An afternoon swimming with stingrays in the calm shallows of Opunohu Bay. As evening falls, a traditional Polynesian fire dance performance beneath Moorea's volcanic peaks.
Short passage · ~35NM · Vairao to Moorea
Itinerary — Days 23–27 09
The Spirit of Polynesia
Traditional Dance  ·  Moorea  ·  Day 27
Te Fare Tauhiti Nui Traditional Navigation · Moorea
Swimming with Humpbacks South Tahiti · July – August
Obsidian Chapter Three — Society Islands · Finale
Days 28 — 30
2 August — 4 August 2026
28
Day
2 August 2026
Moorea
KiteboardingSurf HaapitiATV Island Tour
A kite session in the morning as the trade winds build across Moorea's lagoon. Haapiti on the west coast delivers a consistent left-hander for those who want surf. In the afternoon, an ATV tour through the island's volcanic interior — pineapple plantations, ancient temples, and sweeping ridge-top views.
29
Day
3 August 2026
Moorea
KiteboardingSnorkellingIsland Exploration
A final full kite session across Moorea's extraordinary lagoon before the passage to Papeete. Snorkelling, a morning swim, and a slow exploration of the island at your own pace.
30
Day
4 August 2026
Moorea → Papeete
Final PaddleOutriggerIsland Circuit
A final morning aboard — paddles, a last swim, perhaps an outrigger session with local paddlers in the Polynesian tradition. After lunch, Obsidian makes the short crossing to Papeete for farewells and disembarkation. Thirty days draws to a close.
Final passage · ~12NM · Moorea to Papeete
Day 30 — Disembarkation
Departure from Papeete
Obsidian berths at Papeete Port or Pointe Venus Anchorage for final disembarkation. Transfer to Faa'a International Airport (PPT): approximately 15 minutes.

Papeete Port / Pointe Venus  ·  Faa'a International Airport (PPT)  ·  4 August 2026
Itinerary — Days 28–30 & Departure 10
Huahine beach
Obsidian
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