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4 new excursionss to discover | Focus on The “Va’a”, the Polynesian Canoe | New pictures to download of the Conrad Bora Bora Nui

05/04/2017 View this email in your browser

New! 4 Excursions to discover

Explore Moorea and Bora Bora in other ways

On Moorea

Lagoon side, set off for a half-day Sailing Cruise on the Taboo, a red Polynesian-style Wharram catamaran that already offers sunset cruises. On the program: two snorkeling stops and an encounter with rays and sharks, with just 6 persons on board. Guaranteed welcoming and relaxing atmosphere! Another way to explore this thriving habitat under the sea is to set off with Pierrick aboard his semi-rigid boat for a half day Private Polynesian Wildlife Expedition. You will have a fascinating time meeting spinner dolphins, leopard rays and stingrays, grey and blacktip sharks, and even whales in season… Your experimented guide will also amaze you with a demonstration of free diving and spear-gun fishing at a depth of 25m. Mountain side, back on dry land, jump on your bike for a ride to the Belvédère viewpoint. This is no ordinary bike, but an electrically assisted one - the hot trend of the moment! Fun, easy, eco-friendly, fast and accessible to ages 8 and up, admire the unique view of Cook and Opunohu bays, stop at sacred sites, cross the pineapple plantations and sample the delicious jams at the Opunohu Agricultural School. Enjoy a wonderful freewheeling outing with family and friends on the Belvédère Guided E-Bike Tour.

On Bora Bora Sail on the pristine lagoon of Bora Bora aboard a pretty traditional sailing outrigger canoe named “Lorita”. Accompanied by your guide, who will be directing the canoe, sail on this magical lagoon and discover Bora Bora under a different angle and pace… And why not try your hand at steering this little canoe yourself? Available for private trips of 1.5 or 3 hours, with an outing on the reef, or 4 hours including a lunch feet in the water, treat yourself to a cruise aboard the Private "Lorita" Traditional Sailing Outrigger Canoe.

Focus on

The “Va’a”, the Polynesian Canoe

From ancestral tradition to national sport

This craft with a slender hull equipped with an outrigger is highly symbolic in Polynesia. The traditional double-hull sailing canoe appears in the center of the French Polynesian flag and evokes the journey and migration of the first Polynesians. The single outrigger canoe was mainly used for miscellaneous travels and fishing, then made regular appearances at the parades for the French National Day on 14 July, and in races held during these festivities.

In 1976, a Hawaiian association started building a replica of a traditional 19m double-hull canoe named Hōkūleʻa. It undertook an expedition from the island of Hawaii to Tahiti using only Polynesian navigation methods based on observing the stars. The primary purpose of this was to confirm the theory of the common Asian origin of the people living in these archipelagos, and thereby revive the bond of brotherhood that unites Hawaii to Tahiti, forming the Polynesian Triangle with New Zealand and Easter Island. The resounding success of this initial expedition led to other trips, awakening the Polynesians’ interest and pride for their canoe.

The creation in 1992 of the Hawaiki Nui Va’a race by team between Huahine – Raiatea – Tahaa and Bora Bora highlighted this enthusiasm for the va’a, which has become the Polynesians’ favorite sport activity. This annual race, today internationally famous, is now completed by other single or team (6 to 12 paddlers) competitions scheduled throughout the year. Yet preparations are under way for another important event: the Va’a World Championships which will take place in the municipality of Pirae on Tahiti, in June 2017 for the Distance Championships, and in June 2018 for the Sprint Championships.. The local organizers’ aim is to add a cultural dimension to this international sports event by including foreign participants in the Tahitian teams during the Heiva races taking place during the same period. A great way to promote interclub and intercultural exchanges. As it can be seen today in all the excursions on outrigger canoes, be they equipped with a motor or with the more traditional sail, in the architecture of some hotels inspired by ancient canoes (lobby at Le Tahaa Island Resort, some bungalows at Maitai La Pita Huahine), or in the various expeditions on double-hull canoes such as Faafaite, the va'a is deeply rooted in the culture and the heart of the Polynesians. The canoe has gone through the ages and will continue to sail for generations to come...

Huahie has many nicknames: the Authentic island, the Wild island, or the Garden of Eden...It unquestionably seduces travelers with the kindness of its population, the wealth of its cultural sites, and the unspoiled beauty of its landscapes. The explorer Captain James Cook also dubbed it "Hermosa," or "beautiful" in Spanish – when he discovered it in 1769.

Today, Huahine is still a protected island, with its little village of Fare, where you'll find a supermarket, several “roulottes” (food trucks) for quick and tasty meals, and vendors of seasonal fruits and fresh seafood set up along the roadside...Don't forget to stop at the distillery and taste its brandies, liqueurs, and vinegars made from fruits grown exclusively at the "Tupuna Garden", where you can find fruit trees and tropical plants (open to the public, with an admission fee).

Top Shots of the Moment

Hotel Conrad Bora Bora Nui Resort

Additional photos of the resort which has officially reopened on the 1st of April are available:

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Bonnes Ventes! Happy Sales! ¡Buenas Ventas! Buone vendite! Mareva DEHANSY - Operations Manager

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French Polynesia

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