Cook Islands & Tahiti: Rarotonga, Aitutaki & Moorea

Today you circle Rarotonga on a guided island tour that reveals its lush beauty and warm culture. Following the single coastal road, you stop at scenic lookouts, ancient marae ceremonial sites and tiny village churches, learning the legends of the Polynesian voyagers who settled here. You visit a local plantation or cultural centre to taste tropical fruits, and browse the colourful Punanga Nui Market for black pearls and handicrafts. Everywhere you are met with genuine friendliness, and by day's end you have a real feel for the rhythm, history and hospitality of Rarotonga. An afternoon swim in the warm lagoon rounds off a happy day of discovery on this green and gentle island, a wonderful introduction to Polynesian culture before you head out to the incomparable Aitutaki lagoon tomorrow.

A free day to enjoy Rarotonga at your own pace. You might snorkel the calm marine reserve at Muri or Titikaveka, hike the cross-island trek to the towering Needle and Wigmore's Waterfall, cycle to hidden beaches, or simply relax by the sea. Rarotonga is small, safe and easy-going, and its mix of culture, greenery and gentle beaches makes a lovely start to your island-hopping journey. On Sundays, a village church service reveals the Cook Islanders' extraordinary harmony singing. As the sun sets, enjoy a fresh seafood dinner at a beachside restaurant and rest ahead of tomorrow's flight to Aitutaki, home to one of the most beautiful lagoons on earth and the first great highlight of your South Pacific adventure.

This morning you transfer for the short, scenic flight to Aitutaki, and as the plane banks low over the lagoon, its breathtaking palette of turquoise and jade unfurls beneath you, scattered with palm-topped motu. On arrival you are garlanded and transferred to your beachfront retreat opening onto the water. The rest of the day is yours to sink into paradise, swimming in the bath-warm shallows, snorkelling the coral off your beach, or lazing in a hammock as the reef murmurs beyond. Aitutaki is tiny, sleepy and utterly unspoiled, and the sense of having arrived somewhere truly special settles over you as the sun slips into the Pacific in a blaze of colour. You settle in for three barefoot nights on the most beautiful lagoon in the Cook Islands before flying on to the dramatic peaks of Tahiti.

Today brings the experience that draws travellers across the globe, a full-day cruise on the Aitutaki lagoon. Aboard a local boat you glide across water in a hundred shades of blue, stopping to snorkel over coral gardens alive with giant clams, rays and clouds of tropical fish, and to wade the impossibly clear shallows between deserted motu. The crew share island legends, strum ukuleles and crack open fresh coconuts as you drift from one dreamlike spot to the next. The highlight is One Foot Island, a tiny palm-fringed islet with a perfect beach, where you can have your passport stamped at the world's smallest post office, swim in dazzling water and feast on a barbecue of freshly grilled fish. Utterly relaxed and impossibly beautiful, it is the kind of day that recalibrates your idea of paradise, and a highlight of the whole journey through the South Pacific.

A full day to savour Aitutaki at the gentlest of paces before flying to Tahiti. You might take a kayak or paddleboard out across the lagoon, snorkel the coral straight off your beach, join an optional bonefishing trip or scenic flight over the lagoon, or cycle the sleepy island past taro fields and churches. Equally, you might do nothing more than move from hammock to sun lounger and back, cocktail in hand, watching the endless colours of the water. The warmth of the people and the beauty of the surroundings make it hard to imagine anywhere more relaxing. As the sun sets over the lagoon, enjoy a leisurely dinner of fresh fish by the water and reflect on the barefoot Cook Islands idyll, before the dramatic grandeur of Moorea in Tahiti awaits you tomorrow.

Today you fly from the Cook Islands to French Polynesia, transferring to the spectacular island of Moorea, Tahiti's dramatic sister. As you approach, jagged emerald peaks rise sheer above a sapphire lagoon, a landscape of almost theatrical beauty. On arrival you are welcomed with a tiare flower and transferred to your lagoon-side or overwater bungalow, opening onto the crystal-clear water beneath the soaring skyline. The rest of the day is yours to settle into this iconic Polynesian paradise, swimming in the lagoon, snorkelling the coral, or simply admiring the view of the peaks from your private deck as the sun sets in a blaze of colour. The contrast with the intimate Cook Islands is striking and thrilling, and you look forward to exploring Moorea's dramatic scenery and abundant marine life over the coming days.

A magical day exploring Moorea's spectacular lagoon. A boat trip carries you across the brilliant-blue water to snorkel over vibrant coral gardens alive with tropical fish and turtles, and to the shallows where you can swim among gentle stingrays that glide up to be touched, their velvety wings brushing past, while harmless blacktip reef sharks circle nearby, a safe, exhilarating and unforgettable encounter. Between swims, you take in the jaw-dropping views of Moorea's jagged green peaks rising above the lagoon, and perhaps land on a motu for a picnic. The warm, clear water and abundant marine life make the lagoon a magical playground, and floating among the rays and fish with the island's soaring skyline as a backdrop is the stuff of dreams. It is a highlight of French Polynesia and a perfect complement to the barefoot lagoon days of the Cook Islands, showcasing the very best of the South Pacific's marine world.

A final full day to enjoy the dramatic beauty of Moorea. You might hike to the Belvedere lookout for breathtaking views over Cook's and Opunohu bays and the soaring peaks, tour a pineapple plantation or vanilla farm, take a 4x4 safari into the lush interior, or simply relax on your overwater deck and snorkel the lagoon. A Polynesian dance show and feast are a wonderful way to experience Tahitian culture, with its sensual ori Tahiti dance and rhythmic drums. Equally, you might do nothing more than laze by the lagoon, taking in the view of the peaks and the endless blues of the water. As your South Pacific journey draws to a close, a farewell dinner celebrates the beauty of two island nations, and you watch one last spectacular sunset set the peaks and lagoon ablaze.

After a final morning by the lagoon on Moorea, perhaps a last swim beneath the soaring peaks, you transfer to Tahiti for your onward international departure. You leave having experienced the very best of the South Pacific, the intimate, unspoiled charm of the Cook Islands and the iconic grandeur of Tahiti, two distinct but equally enchanting Polynesian worlds. With the warmth of the welcome, the beauty of the lagoons and the drama of Moorea's peaks etched in memory, you depart already dreaming of a return to these islands of turquoise water, soaring mountains and genuine hospitality, among the most beautiful places on earth.