Destination Overview
Captivating Tahiti and her 118 attendant islands and atolls, all
radiating with iridescent green and turquoise, make up the country
of French Polynesia, a French overseas territory that is spread
across an area of the South Pacific that is as big as western
Europe.The earliest explorers thought they had found paradise on earth
when they came across these picture-perfect islands, and today's
travellers are no less entranced by the volcanic mountain peaks
clothed in lush tropical vegetation and exotic flowering plants,
the coral reefs, warm waters, white sand beaches and stunning
turquoise lagoons. Add to this the warm hospitality offered by the
friendly locals, a collection of world-class resorts, spas, fine
restaurants, nightclubs, vibrant markets and enticing boutiques and
one would imagine the islands would be over-run with exuberant
vacationers. It is surprising then, to discover that there are more
hotel rooms in a typical Las Vegas hotel than on all the islands of
French Polynesia, and that Hawaii receives more visitors in 10 days
than Tahiti does in a year. This means it is possible to tuck a
tiare (Tahiti's national fragrant white flower) behind your ear,
pack your pareu (sarong) and swimsuit, and head off to find your
own idyllic piece of Polynesian paradise, which will doubtless have
a melodic ancient name meaning something like 'island of the long
sky' or 'place of the double rainbow'.
