Bora Bora Holidays

In Bora Bora, shark and ray snorkelling takes place in the lagoon with experienced local guides. Tours head into clear water where blacktip reef sharks and rays can be observed at close range, usually alongside coral gardens and schools of brightly coloured tropical fish.

Jet skiing around Bora Bora turns the lagoon into a fast-moving sightseeing route. Guided rides leave from areas such as Matira and circle stretches of the island, combining open-water speed with stops at quieter bays, motus and sometimes coconut or snorkelling demonstrations.

The calmer corners of Bora Bora’s lagoon are well suited to stand-up paddleboarding. Resorts and activity operators provide boards, and the pace is entirely different from a jet ski: quieter, slower and close enough to the water to watch fish moving below.

Kayaking in Bora Bora is an easy way to explore the lagoon without joining a larger excursion. Many resorts provide kayaks, letting guests paddle between calm shallows and nearby motus, stop for a swim, or simply drift with uninterrupted views back towards Mount Otemanu.

Quad biking on Bora Bora heads inland, with routes such as Mount Popoti trading smooth resort roads for mud, bumps and tropical vegetation. The climb pays off at higher viewpoints, where broad panoramas can stretch beyond the lagoon towards neighbouring Leeward Islands.

Scuba diving around Bora Bora opens up a deeper side of the lagoon and reef. Local dive sites are associated with manta rays, reef sharks, lemon sharks and coral ecosystems, with options available for beginners as well as travellers who already hold diving certification.

A helicopter flight over Bora Bora shows the shape of the island in a way the ground never can. From above, Mount Otemanu, the barrier reef, overwater villas and shifting bands of blue line up at once, with some flights continuing towards heart-shaped Tupai.

Fishing trips from Bora Bora head beyond the lagoon with local skippers who know the surrounding waters. Mahi-mahi, tuna and wahoo are among the species commonly sought, and the experience works for both experienced anglers and first-timers wanting a quieter day offshore.

A 4WD tour explores Bora Bora’s main island beyond the beaches, using rougher inland roads to reach viewpoints, village areas and historical stops. Local guides often weave in island legends, Polynesian culture and Second World War sites, including surviving American cannons and bunkers.

Bora Bora’s marae belong to a much older island story. These stone sacred sites were part of Polynesian religious and community life long before hotels arrived. Some can still be visited on the main island, usually with a local guide who knows their history.

The Second World War brought thousands of American servicemen to Bora Bora under Operation Bobcat. The island became a military supply base, and parts of that period remain visible today. It is a side of Bora Bora that many visitors simply do not expect.

Old American guns still sit in the hills, with bunkers and other military remains scattered through the island’s interior. They are often reached on 4×4 tours, where narrow tracks and thick vegetation make the journey feel quite removed from the coast.

The lagoon carries some wartime history too. Ammunition left from the Second World War remained underwater for decades, and old munitions were still being removed as recently as 2018. Few visitors would guess that from looking across the water.

During January, Protestant churches in Anau, Faa’nui and Nunue host nights of traditional himene singing and orero storytelling. Taurua Varua has deep roots in Bora Bora and remains one of the island’s more unusual cultural gatherings.

From late June through July, Bora Bora comes alive for Heiva. Traditional dancing, singing and local competitions fill the programme, with performances taking place beneath Mount Otemanu and Pahia and drawing plenty of island families into the celebrations.

American forces arrived in Bora Bora on 17 February 1942 as part of Operation Bobcat, establishing a strategic military base during the Second World War. It is an important chapter in the island’s history that also left behind guns, bunkers and other military remains.

Usually held in late October or early November, Hawaiki Nui Va’a brings elite outrigger canoe crews racing between Huahine, Raiatea, Taha’a and Bora Bora. The final arrival at Matira Beach is one of the liveliest sporting moments on the island.

In early December, Vaitape hosts a waterfront Christmas fair filled with locally made jewellery, clothing, pottery, plants and other crafts. Ukulele and guitar music keep the atmosphere distinctly Polynesian, even with Christmas decorations going up around town.

Traditional dance in Bora Bora is lively, rhythmic and closely tied to wider Polynesian culture. Resort performances often combine ’ori Tahiti, drumming, singing and fire dancing, while the costumes and movement give visitors an easy first glimpse of traditions that remain important across the islands.

If you visit in July, Heiva i Bora Bora brings local culture into full view. Dancers, singers and musicians from across the island gather in Vaitape for weeks of performances, turning Tuvavau Square into one of the liveliest places to experience ancestral Ma’ohi traditions.

Making a Hei Upo’o, the traditional Polynesian flower crown, is a simple but memorable way to spend time with island customs. Some resorts run hands-on classes where fresh tropical flowers are woven together, leaving you with something far more personal than a shop-bought souvenir.

Vaitape is the easiest place to browse Bora Bora’s local crafts, from hand-painted pareos and carved tikis to monoi oil and black pearls. Markets and small shops offer a relaxed introduction to Polynesian design, with plenty of work made or sold by local artisans.

Food offers another route into island culture. Poisson cru, made with raw fish, lime and coconut milk, is the classic starting point, while motu feasts may add grilled fish, tropical fruit, breadfruit, coconut bread and other dishes served in an informal island setting.

Few experiences feel more closely tied to Bora Bora than sleeping above its lagoon. Overwater bungalows place the water right outside your room, often with decks, ladders for swimming and glass floor panels that reveal tropical fish moving beneath the villa.

Breakfast arrives with a little theatre in Bora Bora, where some resorts deliver it directly to overwater villas by decorated outrigger canoe. Tropical fruit, pastries, coffee and local touches are laid out on the deck, usually with the lagoon and Mount Otemanu as the backdrop.

For couples, a private dinner on the beach is one of Bora Bora’s classic evening experiences. Resorts can arrange secluded tables close to the lagoon, turning a meal into something more intimate, with soft sand, open water and the island’s night sky around you.

Late afternoon is a lovely time to get back onto the lagoon. Sunset cruises use sailboats, canoes or catamarans, with Mount Otemanu darkening against changing skies; some trips add drinks and light bites, making the journey feel unhurried rather than overly staged.

Bora Bora’s resort spas lean heavily into the setting, with some treatment rooms built over the water. Traditional taurumi massage, monoi oil, coconut treatments and volcanic stone therapies appear on many menus, giving a slower counterpoint to days spent swimming, diving or exploring.

A motu picnic turns lunch into part of the scenery. Boat tours stop on small coral islets where meals may include grilled fish, tropical fruit and coconut bread, usually served close to clear water with uninterrupted views back towards Bora Bora’s mountains.

Beyond resort restaurants, Bora Bora has casual and polished places to eat around the main island. Vaitape and the Matira area are useful starting points, with everything from local-style food and roulottes to lagoon-side dinners designed for a slower evening out.