Cook Islands and Society Islands 2019-20 - Explor Cruises · 2018-10-05 · Day 4 – Aitutaki,...

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COOK & SOCIETY ISLANDS This 11-night odyssey showcases the region’s incredible diversity of scenery, from Aitutaki’s low-lying islands to the jagged peaks and deep valleys of fertile Rarotonga, which was simply called “Paradise” by the first European explorers. Continue to the Society Islands to delight in the South Pacific’s crown jewels—Bora Bora, Taha’a, Huahine, and Moorea. DATES: 2019 – March 9; June 15; August 3; November 2 2020 – January 18; March 7; July 18; October 3 DURATION: 12 DAYS/11 NIGHTS EMBARK: PAPEETE, TAHITI DISEMBARK: PAPEETE, TAHITI SHIP: Paul Gauguin FROM: $6,395 (Includes air from LAX)

Transcript of Cook Islands and Society Islands 2019-20 - Explor Cruises · 2018-10-05 · Day 4 – Aitutaki,...

Page 1: Cook Islands and Society Islands 2019-20 - Explor Cruises · 2018-10-05 · Day 4 – Aitutaki, Cook Islands While the island of Aitutaki may be small, it’s big on beauty, thanks

COOK&SOCIETYISLANDS

This11-nightodysseyshowcasestheregion’sincrediblediversityofscenery,fromAitutaki’slow-lyingislandstothejaggedpeaksanddeepvalleysoffertileRarotonga,whichwassimplycalled“Paradise”bythefirstEuropeanexplorers.ContinuetotheSocietyIslandstodelightintheSouthPacific’scrownjewels—BoraBora,Taha’a,Huahine,andMoorea.

DATES:2019–March9;June15;August3;

November22020–January18;March7;July18;

October3

DURATION:12DAYS/11NIGHTS

EMBARK:PAPEETE,TAHITIDISEMBARK:PAPEETE,TAHITI

SHIP:PaulGauguin

FROM:$6,395

(IncludesairfromLAX)

Page 2: Cook Islands and Society Islands 2019-20 - Explor Cruises · 2018-10-05 · Day 4 – Aitutaki, Cook Islands While the island of Aitutaki may be small, it’s big on beauty, thanks

HIGHLIGHTS–

• WhileintheCookIslands,calluponAitutaki,atinyislandthat’shometooneoftheworld’smostspectacularlagoons.

• SpendarelaxingdayonMotuMahana,ourveryownprivateislet,completewithwhite-sandbeaches,swayingpalmtrees,abarbecuelunch,drinksservedincoconuts,andafloatinglagoonbar.

• ThewatersaroundMooreaarehometoanamazingarrayofseacreatures.TakeanoptionalSCUBAexcursiontoswimamongtheseaturtlesandvibrantschoolsoffish.

• InBoraBora,spendtimeatourexclusivewhite-sandbeachonamotuenjoyingsnorkeling,kayaking,paddleboarding,volleyball,andstunningviewsofMountOtemanu.

ITINERARY–Day1–Embarkthem/sPaulGauguininPapeete,Tahiti,SocietyIslandsTheislandsofPolynesiaareagorgeouscollectionofvolcanicatollsstrewnacrossthegrandPacificOcean,andtheislandofTahitiisthelargestofall118.Explorethedynamicdining,nightlife,andshoppinginthecapitalcityofPapeetebeforeembarkingonTheGauguin.Day2–Huahine,SocietyIslandsKnownas“TheGardenIsland,”Huahine’slushrainforestsanddramaticterrainsurroundsacredsitesandlegendarylandmarksthatareamongthebest-preservedarcheologicalsitesinFrenchPolynesia.IfHuahine’sexpansivelagooniscallingyourname,enjoyaSCUBAdivingexcursionorpicniconthebeach.Day3–AtSeaSpendthedayenjoyingTheGauguin’sPolynesianambiance:casual,leisurely,andgraceful.Perhapsyou’lltakeinalecturebyoneofourspecialguests,andthenreflectonyourdayoverclassicFrenchcuisineatL’Etoile.

Day4–Aitutaki,CookIslandsWhiletheislandofAitutakimaybesmall,it’sbigonbeauty,thankstoitscoralreef-enclosedlagoon.Witnessitssplendorup-closewithaleisurelybeachvisit.Don’tforgettosavetimetoventureintothevillageofArutanga,whereyou’llfindtheoldestchurchintheCooks,whichdatesfrom1829.

Day5–Rarotonga,CookIslandsRuggedRarotongaisthemostmountainousofalltheCookIslands,andtimehereisbestspentexploringitsnaturalbeauty.SnorkelinMuriLagoon,wanderthelushTakitumiConservationArea,ortakeahikeintotheisland’sdenseinterior

withPa,alocalnaturalist.Day6–AtSeaThetimeyouspendonboardTheGauguinoffersendlessopportunitiesforrelaxationandenjoyment,whetherthatmeanssamplinggourmetcuisine,indulginginaspatreatment,watchingthesunsetfromachaiseloungeonthesundeck,orsimplymakingthemostofyourin-roomamenities.

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Day7&8–BoraBora,SocietyIslandsAbucketlistdestinationformany,stunningBoraBorawelcomesyoufortwofulldaysofexploringlushpeaks,white-sandbeaches,colorfulcoralreefs,andromanticlagoons.Experiencethenaturalexcursion,sunsetjetboatride,orahelicoptertourthatfliesyouoverBoraBora’siconicMountOtemanu.Youcanalsospendtimeatourprivatebeachwhichoffersvolleyball,snorkeling,kayakingandpaddleboarding.Day9–Taha’a(MotuMahana),SocietyIslandsEmbarkonyourchoiceofexcitingshoreexcursionstoday,orspendyourwholedayrelaxingonMotuMahana,ourveryownprivateislet.Enjoyswimming,snorkeling,andkayaking,orsimplyloungeonthebeachwithachilledbeveragefromourfloatingbar.LesGauguineswillalsobeonhandtoprovidemusicalentertainmentanddemonstratetraditionalPolynesiancrafts.Adeliciousbarbecuelunchisprovided.

Day10–Moorea,SocietyIslandsVibrantcolorsaboundonMoorea,ineverythingfromfreshfruitsandflowerstomulti-huedlagoons,andfromspectacularmountainpeakstomulti-huedlagoons,andfromspectacularmountainpeakstopalm-fringedbeaches.Shopforlocalhandicrafts,embarkonanoptionaldolphin-watchingexpeditionwithamarinebiologist,andsamplethelocalpineapples,saidtobethemostdeliciousinallofFrenchPolynesia.

Day11–Moorea,SocietyIslands/Papeete,Tahiti,SocietyIslandsMoorea,oftenlikenedtoJamesMichener'smythicalislandofBaliHai,isworthavisitjusttoexperienceitsspectacularvistas.Volcanicpeaks,reflectedinthewatersofCook'sBayandOpunohuBay,riselikeashark'sjawabovepalmtree-linedbeaches.Theunderwaterworldisjustasenchanting,withsharks,tuna,dolphins,andtropicalfish—nowonderit’sapopulardestinationfordivers.

Day12–DisembarkinPapeete,Tahiti,SocietyIslandsTahiti’scapitalcityofPapeetewelcomesyoubackwithemeraldhillsides,sapphirewaters,andwarmbreezes.Ifyou’renotreadyforyourSouthPacificvacationtoend,spendafewdayshereexperiencingresorts,spas,restaurants,nightlife,andshopping.

Page 4: Cook Islands and Society Islands 2019-20 - Explor Cruises · 2018-10-05 · Day 4 – Aitutaki, Cook Islands While the island of Aitutaki may be small, it’s big on beauty, thanks

PAULGAUGUINGUESTS:332FROM:$6,145(IncludesairfromLAX)WanttostaylongerandExplorthearea?PreandorPoststaysareavailableinFrenchPolynesia,CookIslands,Australia,NewZealandorFiji!