French Polynesia to Easter Island Expedition

Arrive early this morning in lively Papeete, abuzz with its cafes and markets. Guests arriving early transfer to the InterContinental Resort Tahiti or Hilton Hotel Tahiti for access to a day room before lunch and a scenic tour of the island. Visit the James Norman Hall Home, a memorial museum replica of the famed writer’s home, as well as Point Venus, the landing spot of the European explorers who discovered these islands. Next, drive up to Tahara’a “One Tree Hill” for impressive views over Matavai Bay. This afternoon, board your luxury expedition ship and home for the next 13 nights.

Located about 230 nautical miles east of Tahiti, the extensive Tuamotuan chain stretches for 600 miles and represents the oldest, and arguably dreamiest, islands of French Polynesia. Today, explore Fakarava, its second-largest atoll with a population of approximately 700 inhabitants. After a leisurely breakfast and relaxing morning on your ship, join your Expedition Team on excursions to shore via Zodiacs (sturdy inflatable boats), where you are treated to a welcome ceremony at Rotoava. Enjoy exploring the village with its quaint streets, churches, local shops, town hall and school. Time permitting, set off on a scenic Zodiac excursion with your Expedition Team to discover Fakarava’s blue lagoon and picturesque landscape. Conditions permitting, you may also enjoy a landing and beach time.

A vast contrast from Fakarava, tiny Marokau is home to just over 90 inhabitants and was once a primary destination for collecting pearls in the Tuamotus’ lagoons. Soak in its breathtaking scenery during a relaxing morning on your luxury ship before setting off on Zodiacs for an afternoon of exploration. Choose to join your Expedition Team for activities ranging from birding walks to snorkeling as well as beach combing and swimming. Return to your ship late this afternoon, with time to relax and participate in fascinating lectures led by your experts. After dinner, cocktails out on deck under starry French Polynesian skies are in order.

Cruise through the southern Tuamotu Archipelago as your Expedition Team offers presentations on the sights that surround you and prepare you for your next stop in the Gambier Islands.

North of the Tropic of Capricorn and some 1,025 miles southeast of Tahiti, find the largest of the Gambier Islands. Dubbed the “Floating Mountain” by Polynesian inhabitants, Mangareva boasts a singular village, a distinctive cathedral and exciting terrain. This morning, discover the beauty of the island with a local guide and your Expedition Team, beginning with an excursion to the Cathedral of St. Michael. Completed in 1848 and featuring twin towers, this historic church can accommodate 1,200 people — more than the population of the island today. Alternatively, you may visit a pearl shell-carving school, enjoy a hike to Mt. Duff with an elevation gain of 1,200 feet or set out on a guided walk in search of birds and wildlife. Conditions permitting, snorkeling may be offered to complete today’s adventures.

Enjoy a relaxing day at sea as well as continued lectures and conversations with your Expedition Team. You may also take advantage of the ship facilities, including its panoramic decks and full-service spa.

After the infamous mutiny on the HMS ‘Bounty’ in the South Pacific Ocean on April 28, 1789, acting Lieutenant Fletcher Christian and his fellow mutineers sought refuge on Pitcairn Island on January 15, 1790. Today, this namesake island of the Pitcairn Island Group is home to roughly 56 inhabitants — all descendants of the mutineers and the Polynesians who accompanied them — making Pitcairn the least populous national jurisdiction in the world. Today, set foot on the island and back in time to discover its fascinating history. Join local guides in small groups and explore Pitcairn on a variety of walks, including an uphill trek to Adamstown or explore the shoreline by Zodiac or from the deck of your ship. Bring your passport for the rare opportunity to have it stamped “From the Middle of Nowhere” at the museum and post office, one of the most remote in the world. Later, return to your luxury ship for recaps led by your experts and great conversations over dinner.

Part of the Pitcairn Island Group and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Henderson measures just over 14 square miles yet boasts remarkable diversity. Today’s expedition stop offers you the opportunity to explore this uninhabited island with your Expedition Team. Set your sights on gloriously desolate beaches. Join guided walks in search of the island’s rare flora and fauna, which include 10 endemic flowering plants and four endemic species of land birds, such as the Henderson crake and Henderson lorikeet. Sheer limestone cliffs surround this elevated coralline island — one of the last two in the world unaffected by human contact. Conditions permitting, enjoy another chance to snorkel, this time amid Henderson’s brilliant waters.

Also in the Pitcairn Group, Ducie is home to tens of thousands of seabirds, including masked boobies, various petrels and frigate birds. The island is also remote and rarely visited, making today’s expedition stop a unique opportunity for discovery. Set off on Zodiacs with your Expedition Team to experience birding colonies in the thousands, a walk on rarely touched sand and the opportunity to snorkel along Ducie’s outer reef.

As your ship sails east toward Easter Island, enjoy the next two days at sea to recharge from recent days of adventure. Engaging lectures are ongoing and shed compelling insights on the mythical speck of land you will soon have the privilege to explore.

Known as Rapa Nui to native Polynesians, Easter Island is set over 2,300 miles from mainland Chile and considered the most remote inhabited island on the planet. The greatest concentration of its culture spans UNESCO-designated Rapa Nui National Park, a vast protected wildlife area and open-air museum showcasing the island’s iconic moai statues. Explore it as part of a multi-day immersive experience that begins with a lively welcome ceremony. Visit the ruins of the sacred city of Orongo with its low, sod-covered buildings and explore an internal lagoon. In the late afternoon, conditions permitting witness a wonderful sunset with a cocktail in hand overlooking the beautiful coastline. Conditions permitting, choose to rise early today to witness the sun rising over Easter Island. Later, travel to Rano Raraku Volcano, one of the most impressive sites on Easter Island. Continue to Anakena Beach to enjoy a BBQ lunch followed by time at leisure to soak in this beautiful beach peppered with palm trees and moais. You might also enjoy meetings with local Rapa Nui who teach the traditional art of body painting and ancient stone carving. Return every evening to the comforts of your luxury expedition ship and stateroom, taking in the island’s endlessly compelling views from your own private balcony.

Bid farewell to your Expedition Team before disembarking your ship. Visit the Sebastian Englert Anthropological Museum, which houses 20,000 artifacts from the island. Later, transfer to the airport for your flight home or continue on A&K’s post-tour extension.