Beyond Bora Bora: The Best Alternative Islands for a French Polynesian Escape

It’s mid-morning, and I’m lying under a leafy breadfruit tree on the French Polynesian island of Raiatea. The sounds of a gushing river and the slow beat of a pahu drum lull me into a trance. “You’re here today on this sacred island,” says local healer Naiki Lutz during our guided meditation at wellness retreat Niu Shack. “As you breathe in, this land offers you all the energy—the mana—you need.”

Our group oxygenates in sync—two sharp inhales and one slow exhale—as Lutz sings the tonal harmonies of a chant about taking flight. In Tahitian culture, birds are considered messengers of the gods. And on Raiatea, they’re especially sacred. When I open my eyes, my body still tingling from the breathwork, I feel a new appreciation for the u’upa (grey-green fruit doves) flying above and a sense of peace that can only come from visiting such a tranquil place.

Overall, the Islands of Tahiti are relatively crowd-free. And thanks to a new five-year plan to cap the number of tourists at 280,000 annually—about one visitor per inhabitant—they’ll likely stay that way. Still, most travelers flock to the idyllic overwater bungalows of Bora Bora, the lush valleys on the main island of Tahiti, and the marine life-rich waters of Moorea. While these scenic Society Islands are popular for a reason, other lesser-visited destinations within the South Pacific archipelago are equally beautiful and accessible. And with a spate of new soul-nourishing experiences and eco-friendly private island resorts that encourage travelers to slow down, there’s never been a better time to look beyond the hot spots when planning your getaway.

Here, find Vogue’s pick of three less-explored islands to visit on your next trip to French Polynesia. 

Raiatea, the Sacred Island

The divine energy of Raiatea (which translates to “faraway heaven”) envelops you as soon as you touch down at its tiny airport, just a 45-minute flight from Tahiti. Recognized as the first Polynesian island to be populated and the final resting place for the ancestors’ spirits, Raiatea protects numerous archaeological treasures and sacred spaces, including the Taputapuatea marae, a religious site used for ceremonies, meetings, and celebrations during ancient times. Today, communities from Hawaii, New Zealand, and the Cook Islands still gather at this pilgrimage venue, which they consider to be the cradle of Polynesian culture.

For travelers, the island offers a wealth of experiences in nature—from climbing Mount Temehani to seeing the endemic tiare apetahi flower, found nowhere else in the world, to canoeing down the only navigable river in French Polynesia, once a departure point for Polynesian migrations.

Travelers looking to connect with the island’s rich culture, meanwhile, can visit Niu Shack, a plant-forward bed-and-breakfast helmed by vegan chef Vicky Tihopu and her daughter Teuarangi Bourgeois. Nestled in a valley known as Tepuhapa (meaning “the refuge”), the family’s home provides an idyllic respite for meditations, bodywork treatments, yoga classes, riverside dips, and homemade feasts even carnivores will appreciate. Guests can spend the night or join a daytime retreat with partners like Naiki Lutz of Aroha Expérience, who shares ancestral knowledge through her tailor-made wellness treatments.

Charming pensions dot the island but for a dose of a spectacular getaway on a private motu (reef islet), head to Motu Nao Nao, a 75-acre private island within the Raiatea lagoon. With just three villas handcrafted by local designer Alain Fleurot, the property is ideal for groups seeking an eco-chic escape with white sand beaches. Days include snorkeling, kitesurfing, or learning to paddle a va’a sailing canoe with tour operator Paddle Sports, and evenings might feature stargazing or a fireside dance performance. The real treat here is private chef Wilfrid Kobylt’s masterpiece meals made with sustainably and ethically sourced ingredients, including several edible flowers and botanicals from the island’s garden.

Amenities: Private beach, family activites, private villas, fitness classes, room service, spa, water activities

Address: Tumaraa 98735, French Polynesia

Taha’a, the Vanilla Island

Artisanal adventures abound on Taha’a, a 30-minute water taxi ride from Raiatea’s airport. Nearly 80 percent of all Tahitian vanilla grows on this tiny 35-square-mile island, and plantations welcome visitors to learn about the fragrant beans long prized among chefs.

Beyond vanilla, the island is also famous for its pearl farms, rum distilleries, and pristine beaches connected by a circular paved road. A mini road trip around the islands wouldn’t be complete without a stop at one of the pearl farms, where guided tours showcase Tahiti’s famous colored cultured pearls. Expert technicians operate like surgeons in oceanside thatched huts, extracting and grading pearls according to their shape and luster. Before leaving, stop at Domaine Pari Pari, which specializes in rum, virgin oils for skin and hair, and spices—all produced with a low carbon footprint.

​​Travelers looking for an overwater bungalow experience on a private motu will find it at Le Taha’a by Pearl Resorts, the first member of Relais & Chateaux in the islands of Tahiti. The property’s 60 suites and villas feature traditional Polynesian details like thatched pandanus roofs and Marquesan tapa cloths, while its sustainable ethos extends to protecting its coral nurseries and supporting local artists.

Amenities: Spa, tennis courts, diving lessons, horseback riding, cultural visits, outdoor pool, fitness center

Address: Taha’a, French Polynesia

Tetiaroa, Marlon Brando’s Island

The awe-inspiring beauty of Tetiaroa, which fittingly means “stands apart” in Tahitian, first takes your breath away when you see it from the skies. The ring of 12 motus, surrounded by a massive coral reef and inviting milky blue waters, looks like an AI-generated utopia from above. And when you land (presumably after a quick 20-minute flight from Tahiti), you quickly understand why Marlon Brando fell in love with the place in the 1960s. Before that, the atoll was a summer spa retreat for Tahitian royals, and a sacred gathering place for Polynesian tribes—a history that lives on in stories and archaeological sites.

The Hollywood actor’s vision for a sustainable oasis was realized through The Brando, an eco-luxury resort built with respect for the natural surroundings. The property has long been a pioneer in energy efficiency, water management, and environmental conservation. And today, the Tetiaroa Society continues to innovate, with recent triumphs including eradicating rats and mosquitos, which has helped the island’s impressive seabird population thrive.

With just 35 villas on white-sand beaches, guests are treated to unspoiled nature—sea turtle hatchings and manta ray sightings included. Kayaking, snorkeling, and boat trips reveal natural wonders like the turquoise waters of the “queen’s bath.” Meanwhile, a new culinary program developed by French celebrity chef Jean Imbert draws inspiration from Brando’s travel diaries and local ingredients like breadfruit, lagoon fish, and vanilla.

If you can tear yourself away from your villa, do like the Tahitian royals and head to the spa. The fare manu (“house of the bird”) nest offers a treetop hideaway for massages using Polynesian techniques—and a familiar soundtrack of swaying palms, singing birds, and the steady beat of the pahu drum. You’ll likely never want to leave, but at least the flight home will reward you with another bird’s eye view of paradise.

Amenities: All-inclusive meals, outdoor pool, private beach, wellness center, high-speed WiFi

Address: Tetiaroa, Arue 98702, French Polynesia