Lonely Planet Tahiti & French Polynesia , livre ebook

Lonely Planet - Celeste Brash

Découvre YouScribe en t'inscrivant gratuitement

Je m'inscris

Obtenez un accès à la bibliothèque pour le consulter en ligne
En savoir plus

287 pages

English

Vous pourrez modifier la taille du texte de cet ouvrage

Obtenez un accès à la bibliothèque pour le consulter en ligne
En savoir plus

A propos
Informations
Extrait

Description

#1 best-selling guide to Tahiti & French Polynesia* Lonely Planet Tahiti & French Polynesia is your passport to the most relevant, up-to-date advice on what to see and skip, and what hidden discoveries await you. Swim in the sparklingly clear waters, hike to waterfalls, dive into coral wonderlands, then sips cocktail by the beach -all with your trusted travel companion. Get to the heart of Tahiti & French Polynesia and begin your journey now! Inside Lonely Planet's Tahiti & French Polynesia Travel Guide: Colour maps and images throughout Highlights and itineraries help you tailor your trip to your personal needs and interests Insider tips to save time and money and get around like a local, avoiding crowds and trouble spots Essential info at your fingertips - hours of operation, phone numbers, websites, transit tips, prices Honest reviews for all budgets - eating, sleeping, sight-seeing, going out, shopping, hidden gems that most guidebooks miss Cultural insights give you a richer, more rewarding travel experience - history, environment, islander life, arts, religion, sports, etiquette, popular culture, literature, cinema, food, drinks, dining out. Over 30 maps Covers Tahiti, Mo'orea, Huahine, Ra'iatea & Taha'a, Bora Bora, Maupiti, The Tuamotus, The Marquesas, The Australs & the Gambier Archipelago and more The Perfect Choice: Lonely Planet Tahiti & French Polynesia, our most comprehensive guide to Tahiti & French Polynesia, is perfect for both exploring top sights and taking roads less travelled. Looking for more extensive coverage? Check out Lonely Planet's South Pacific guide for a comprehensive look at all the region has to offer. Authors: Written and researched by Lonely Planet, Celeste Brash, Jean-Bernard Carillet About Lonely Planet: Since 1973, Lonely Planet has become the world's leading travel media company with guidebooks to every destination, an award-winning website, mobile and digital travel products, and a dedicated traveller community. Lonely Planet covers must-see spots but also enables curious travellers to get off beaten paths to understand more of the culture of the places in which they find themselves. *Best-selling guide to Tahiti. Source: Nielsen BookScan. Australia, UK and USA

Sujets

Tahití

French Polynesia

Tahiti

Informations

Publié par	Lonely Planet
Date de parution	01 novembre 2016
Nombre de lectures	13
EAN13	9781786573971
Langue	English
Poids de l'ouvrage	33 Mo

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0850€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

Extrait

Tahiti & French Polynesia

Contents

Plan Your Trip

Welcome to Tahiti & French Polynesia
Tahiti & French Polynesias Top 15
Need to Know
If You Like...
Month By Month
Itineraries
Which Island?
Diving
Travel with Children
Regions at a Glance

On The Road

Tahiti
Tahiti Highlights
Papeete
Around Tahiti Nui
West Coast
East Coast
Taravao & Tahiti Iti
Moorea
Sights
Activities
Tours
Sleeping
Eating
Drinking & Nightlife
Shopping
Huahine
Sights
Activities
Tours
Sleeping
Eating & Drinking
Raiatea & Tahaa
Raiatea & Tahaa Highlights
Raiatea
Sights
Activities
Sleeping
Eating & Drinking
Shopping
Tahaa
Sights
Activities
Tours
Sleeping
Eating & Drinking
Shopping
Bora Bora
Sights
Activities
Tours
Festivals & Events
Sleeping
Eating
Drinking & Nightlife
Entertainment
Shopping
Maupiti
Sights
Activities
Sleeping
Eating
The Tuamotus
The Tuamotus Highlights
Rangiroa
Tikehau
Mataiva
Fakarava
Ahe
The Marquesas
The Marquesas Highlights
Nuku Hiva
Taiohae
Hakaui Valley
Toovii Plateau
Taipivai
Hatiheu
Ua Huka
Ua Pou
Hakahau
Hakahetau
Hakamaii
Hohoi
Hiva Oa
Atuona & Around
Taaoa
Puamau
Hanapaaoa
Hanaiapa
Tahuata
Fatu Hiva
The Australs & the Gambier Archipelago
The Australs & The Gambier Highlights
The Australs
Rurutu
Tubuai
Raivavae
The Gambier Archipelago
Mangareva

Understand

Understand Tahiti & French Polynesia
Tahiti & French Polynesia Today
History
Environment
Islander Life
French Polynesia in Popular Culture
Food & Drink

Survive

Directory AZ
Accommodation
Climate
Customs Regulations
Electricity
Embassies & Consulates
Food
Gay & Lesbian Travellers
Insurance
Internet Access
Legal Matters
Money
Opening Hours
Post
Public Holidays
Safe Travel
Telephone
Time
Tourist Information
Travellers with Disabilities
Visas
Women Travellers
Work
Transport
Getting There & Away
Getting Around
Health
Availability & Cost of Health Care
Infectious Diseases
Environmental Hazards
Diving Safety
Other Conditions
Behind the Scenes
Our Writers

Table of Contents

Language
Welcome to Tahiti & French Polynesia

Sculpted by sky-piercing, moss-green peaks and lined with vivid turquoise lagoons, sultry French Polynesia is a place to take it slow and experience warm, laid-back island culture.

The Dream
Tahiti: just the word conjures up centuries’ worth of images: hibiscus flowers; bronzed dancers in grass skirts; a humid breeze over turquoise sea. The islands of French Polynesia became legends the minute the first European explorers reached their home shores with tales of a heaven on earth where the soil was fertile, life was simple and lust was guilt-free. While the lingering hype is outdated, French Polynesia is still about as dreamy as reality gets. The lagoons are just as blue but there are freeways, more conservative values and nine-to-five jobs. It’s not the untainted paradise of explorer lore, but at least there’s an internet connection.

Polynesian Culture
Slowly, and particularly since the 1980s, islanders are bringing their culture back. Once forbidden, Reo Maohi (the Tahitian language) is now taught to university level; traditional tattoos are all the rage; and Tahitian dancing is the highlight of any party or festival. You'll see national pride swell during the Hawaiki Nui outrigger canoe race in November, the Miss Tahiti pageant in June and the highlight of the year, the Heiva festivals in July. So tuck a tiare (gardenia flower) behind your ear, smile and say maururu (thank you) for this time of revival.

Lagoon Spectacular
The slim stretches of white-, pink- and black-sand beaches in French Polynesia are really just pretty springboards into the real draw: the lagoons. Most high islands are surrounded by fringing reef that creates a protected swimming pool of the most intense aqua imaginable. Coral atolls have this same calibre of lagoon minus the big island in the middle. Fish, dolphins, rays, sharks, turtles and more inhabit these clear-water coral gardens that are as excellent for snorkelling as they are for diving and swimming. Surfers ride glassy wave faces at reef passes while kitesurfers fly across the water with the trade winds.

To Luxe or Not to Luxe
Over-the-top indulgence has become French Polynesia’s – or more specifically Bora Bora’s – signature, and often overshadows what the rest of the country has to offer. Resorts on the ‘Pearl of the Pacific’ are a honeymooner’s dream, with private overwater bungalows and spectacular views of the island’s iconic, square-topped peak. But if this isn’t your cup of coconut water, or not in your budget, don’t let that dissuade you from visiting French Polynesia. Small, family-run lodgings offer a closer-to-the-culture experience for considerably less financial output.

Polynesian children wearing hei (floral necklaces) | CARINI JOE/GETTY IMAGES ©

Why I love Tahiti & French Polynesia
By Celeste Brash, Lonely Planet Writer
It's not just because it's the most beautiful place on Earth. No, really. I love French Polynesia for the sound of rain on a tin roof, the smell of tiare taina gardenias in November, the floral taste of a perfect mango, the silky warmth of the ocean, a sea turtle swimming peacefully below me, the gift of a flower hei (flower necklace) from a friend, the tapping of a toere (hollowed-out piece of wood) drum in the distance and simply, the way islands slow the pulse and make the world feel like a softer, better place.
Tahiti & French Polynesia’s Top 15

Bora Bora's Lagoon
As the plane begins to descend, a magical scene comes into view: a perfect Morse-code ring of motu (small islets), mop-topped with palms, separating the indigo of the ocean from the crisp palette of lagoon blues. Bora Bora is a hot favourite for honeymooners – but we feel certain you didn’t come all this way just to crack open a bottle of champagne. Get in that water via mask, fin and snorkel, on a SUP, with a scuba tank or even just splashing around on a beach.

Bora Bora lagoon, with view of Mt Otemanu | TRIGGERPHOTO/GETTY IMAGES ©

Top Experiences
Heiva i Tahiti
During the annual Heiva festival in July, the whole country goes full tilt: the best dancers compete in decadent competitions wearing little more than palm fronds while they wiggle their hips at warp speed; outrigger-canoe racing ignites the lagoons; and traditional sports such as coconut husking go pro. This is the best time to experience the gentle, unpretentiously sophisticated Polynesian culture at its fieriest. The festival takes place on other islands including Bora Bora. If you arrive in June, you'll find dancers practising in nearly every village.

NIK WHEELER/GETTY IMAGES ©

Top Experiences
Mo’orea
Mo’orea is a tropical-island cliché brought to life. If you’ve been dreaming of a holiday-brochure turquoise lagoon, coral beaches, vertical peaks and lush landscapes, you’d be hard-pressed to find better than this gem of an island. Mo’orea has something for everyone. A startling variety of adventure options await: there are mountains to climb, coral gardens to snorkel, scenic areas to quad bike, waves to surf and sloping reefs to dive. But if all you want to do is unwind, a couple of lovely expanses of coral sand beckon.

SHALAMOV/GETTY IMAGES ©

Top Experiences
Rangiroa's Tiputa Pass
French Polynesia's warm, tropical waters hold some of the greatest varieties of sea life in the South Pacific and you can find most of them in one spot at Tiputa Pass in Rangiroa. Mingle with grey reef sharks, manta rays, dolphins and sharks alongside loads of reef species including stingrays, jacks and clouds of butterfly fish. The lagoon also caters to snorkellers, with some of the clearest waters in the world and healthy coral gardens.

SEAPHOTOART/SHUTTERSTOCK ©

Top Experiences
Huahine
Boasting some of the best beaches in the country and a snoozy Polynesian charm, Huahine is the perfect spot to recharge the batteries. If you’ve got energy to burn, there’s a slew of activities available, from hiking in the lush interior to snorkelling fabulous coral gardens. Culture buffs will also love Maeva, one of the most extensive complexes of pre-European marae (traditional temples) in French Polynesia. Huahine is refreshingly void of bling and large-scale development. It’s all about ecotravel, and this is why it’s gaining in popularity.

FRILET PATRICK/HEMIS.FR/GETTY IMAGES ©

Top Experiences
Tahiti’s Waterfall Valleys
Take an island with high mountains and 90-degree cliffs, douse it with tropical rainfall and give it a few million years to erode into magnificent forms – and what do you get? Waterfalls. Lots of them. You could walk up any river in Tahiti and find myriad cascades, but you’re best sticking with known trails or going with a guide. Try the trodden (though near-empty) paths to Papenoo , Fautaua or take a boat ride to Tahiti Iti's Fenua Aihere for falls right on the coast.

Waterfall, Tahiti | MATTEO COLOMBO/GETTY IMAGES ©

Top Experiences
The Aranui
Snaggle-toothed volcanic peaks, deep ravines, waterfalls, secret bays and forests that could hold their own in a BBC documentary all await on this iconic boat voyage through the six inhabited islands of the Marquesas Archipelago. Part cargo ship, part cruise liner, the Aranui is a huge event at each island and you get to be there for the unloading of the supplies. The festive voyage also involves plenty of dance performances, local meals and a guide to explain the extraordinary culture and archaeological remains.

LOOK DIE BILDAGENTUR DER FOTOGRAFEN GMBH/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO ©

Top Experiences
Surfing Teahupoo
The fearsome wave at Teahupoo may be beyond many surfers’ level, but watching the pros tackle it during the Billabong Pro is one of the greatest l