Chile, French Polynesia & New Zealand
Hot Spots of Polynesian Culture
This whirlwind 15-day luxury Polynesia tour follows the Path of the Polynesians throughout the Pacific. Discover the hot spots of this storied culture as you travel to Easter Island, the Marquesas Islands, and New Zealand’s North Island. Selected by National Geographic Traveler as one of the 50 Tours of a Lifetime, this multi-country journey promises a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.
Itinerary at-a-glance:
- Day 1: Santiago, Chile
- Day 2 - 4: Easter Island, Chile
- Day 5: Papeete, Tahiti
- Day 6 - 7: Hiva Oa, Marquesas Islands
- Day 8 - 9: Nuku Hiva, Marquesas Islands
- Day 10: Papeete, Tahiti
- Day 11 - 12: Bay of Islands, New Zealand
- Day 13 - 15: Rotorua, New Zealand
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Begin your Path of the Polynesians journey on one of the most isolated inhabited islands in the world, Easter Island. Perhaps most famous for its massive stone statues called moai, Easter Island holds a wealth of archaeological and anthropological wonders. Spend three days at Explora Rapa Nui. Indeed, it serves as the perfect base from which to discover the culture and history of this mystifying Polynesian location. Enjoy activities such as surfing and diving as well as in-depth tours about early and contemporary life on the island.
Then continue your luxury Polynesia tour across the Pacific in picturesque French Polynesia. Spend an evening on Tahiti before heading to the volcanic Marquesas Islands, the birthplace of the Polynesian heritage. Indeed, the Marquesas are home to several ancient religious sites that date as far back as 300 AD. Start on Hiva Oa at a hillside retreat where your private terrace overlooks the stunning surrounds. Over two days, visit the island’s relaxed villages, and have lunch in a local home. Additionally, visit the cultural center named for Post-Impressionist painter Paul Gaugin who lived out his life on the island.
Next travel to Nuku Hiva, the largest of the Marquesas Islands. Nestled in a tropical garden and overlooking the village of Taiohae, your lodge is just 50 stair steps away from the black sand beaches of the bay. Here adventurous divers can share the waters with hammerhead sharks and manta rays. Over two days, embark on a boat tour and hike to a majestic waterfall for a picnic lunch. It will no doubt prove a perfect way to see the verdant and diverse terrain of the island.
Begin the last leg of your luxury Polynesia tour in New Zealand. New Zealand is the home to the Māori, a culture that has meshed with the history of European influence. En route to your accommodations at Kauri Cliffs on the Bay of Islands, visit the place where more than 500 Māori chiefs and representatives of Queen Victoria signed the Treaty of Waitangi. This was the original founding document of New Zealand. You will also explore the region by helicopter. Along the way, visit many beautiful and significant locations while learning more about the Māori lifestyle.
Finaly, end the trip in New Zealand’s geothermal hot spot, Rotorua. From here you will explore the culinary history of the Māori. You will also visit the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute in Te Whakarewarewa Thermal Valley, a locale rich in impressive flora and fauna. Your local guide will step back in time with you in the village of Ōhinemutu, the region’s original tribal village amidst the steam and geysers of the area.
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