Discover the Marquesas aboard the Aranui
A voyage unlike any other in the South Pacific
This is a voyage quite unlike any other in the South Pacific. The Aranui 5 is a genuine passenger-freighter, the lifeline that has supplied the remote Marquesas Islands for forty years, and to sail her is to travel as few visitors ever do, watching cargo swung ashore at each island before setting off to explore. Over thirteen days round-trip from Papeete you reach islands with no airports and few outsiders, the land of Gauguin and Brel, of monumental stone tiki, soaring volcanic spires and living Polynesian culture, by way of the coral atolls of the Tuamotus and the famous lagoon of Bora Bora. It is part expedition, part cultural immersion, and wholly authentic.
Itinerary highlights
Sail the legendary Aranui 5, the passenger-freighter that has supplied the Marquesas for 40 years.
Reach the remote Marquesas Islands, Nuku Hiva, Ua Pou, Hiva Oa, Tahuata, Fatu Hiva and Ua Huka, most with no airport.
Follow in the footsteps of Paul Gauguin and Jacques Brel, both buried on Hiva Oa.
Stand before the great stone tiki of the Iipona site, the largest in French Polynesia.
Snorkel the UNESCO-listed Fakarava atoll and the vast lagoon of Rangiroa in the Tuamotus.
Witness the working life of the ship as the crew unloads supplies and loads copra at each call.
Finish among the opalescent lagoons of Bora Bora beneath Mont Otemanu.
Immerse yourself in Polynesian music, dance, cuisine and cultural lectures throughout.
A voyage unlike any other in the South Pacific
This is a voyage quite unlike any other in the South Pacific. The Aranui 5 is a genuine passenger-freighter, the lifeline that has supplied the remote Marquesas Islands for forty years, and to sail her is to travel as few visitors ever do, watching cargo swung ashore at each island before setting off to explore. Over thirteen days round-trip from Papeete you reach islands with no airports and few outsiders, the land of Gauguin and Brel, of monumental stone tiki, soaring volcanic spires and living Polynesian culture, by way of the coral atolls of the Tuamotus and the famous lagoon of Bora Bora. It is part expedition, part cultural immersion, and wholly authentic.
Itinerary highlights
Sail the legendary Aranui 5, the passenger-freighter that has supplied the Marquesas for 40 years.
Reach the remote Marquesas Islands, Nuku Hiva, Ua Pou, Hiva Oa, Tahuata, Fatu Hiva and Ua Huka, most with no airport.
Follow in the footsteps of Paul Gauguin and Jacques Brel, both buried on Hiva Oa.
Stand before the great stone tiki of the Iipona site, the largest in French Polynesia.
Snorkel the UNESCO-listed Fakarava atoll and the vast lagoon of Rangiroa in the Tuamotus.
Witness the working life of the ship as the crew unloads supplies and loads copra at each call.
Finish among the opalescent lagoons of Bora Bora beneath Mont Otemanu.
Immerse yourself in Polynesian music, dance, cuisine and cultural lectures throughout.
What's Included
- 12 nights aboard the Aranui 5 (class C dormitory berth at this lead-in fare; cabins available at higher fares)
- Full board: all meals throughout the voyage
- Wine served with lunch and dinner
- Guided island excursions by 4x4 and on foot at each Marquesas call
- Lectures on Marquesan history and culture, plus onboard Polynesian entertainment
- Port and cargo-call access at each island
- Not included: international flights to and from Papeete, optional excursions (scuba, lagoon tours, glass-bottom boat), gratuities, travel insurance
What's Included
- 12 nights aboard the Aranui 5 (class C dormitory berth at this lead-in fare; cabins available at higher fares)
- Full board: all meals throughout the voyage
- Wine served with lunch and dinner
- Guided island excursions by 4x4 and on foot at each Marquesas call
- Lectures on Marquesan history and culture, plus onboard Polynesian entertainment
- Port and cargo-call access at each island
- Not included: international flights to and from Papeete, optional excursions (scuba, lagoon tours, glass-bottom boat), gratuities, travel insurance
Thank you
Curate your exclusive expedition
Let’s get started. Share your details below and your personal Expedition Expert will be in touch to design your dream adventure.
Speak to one of our team
Every journey I plan starts with a conversation. Tell me what excites you, what you've always dreamed of experiencing, and I'll craft something extraordinary. The best expeditions begin with a single question: What would make this unforgettable for you?
Ashley | Expedition Planner
FAQs
Both. She is a purpose-built passenger-freighter that carries cargo to the remote Marquesas Islands while also carrying guests in comfort. Watching the crew unload supplies and load copra at each island is part of the experience, and it is exactly what makes these calls possible on islands with no other regular access.
It is a 13-day round-trip from Papeete in Tahiti, sailing to the Marquesas Islands (Nuku Hiva, Ua Pou, Hiva Oa, Tahuata, Fatu Hiva and Ua Huka) by way of the Tuamotu atolls of Fakarava and Rangiroa, and finishing with a day at Bora Bora before returning to Tahiti.
The lead-in fare covers your berth, full board with wine at lunch and dinner, the guided island excursions and lectures, and onboard entertainment. Note the headline price is a class C dormitory berth; private cabins are available at higher fares. International flights to Papeete and optional excursions such as scuba diving are extra.
The Marquesas are the land of Gauguin and Jacques Brel, both buried on Hiva Oa, and of monumental stone tiki, including the largest in French Polynesia at the Iipona site. Each island brings traditional dance, cuisine, carving and craft, with the great basalt spires of Ua Pou and the Bay of Virgins on Fatu Hiva among the scenic highlights.