Jewels of French Polynesia

Your journey begins in Papeete, the vibrant capital of French Polynesia. Settle into your 5-star hotel and take in the energy of this colourful city, where French colonial architecture meets Polynesian warmth. Explore the waterfront market, sample local cuisine, and soak up the atmosphere as you prepare for the adventure ahead.

This morning is yours to enjoy Papeete at your own pace before making your way to the pier to embark Silver Whisper. Be welcomed aboard with the warm, personalised service that defines the Silversea experience. Settle into your spacious suite and raise a glass as the ship sets sail into the golden evening light. Departs 10:00 PM.

Just a short sail from Tahiti, Moorea is one of the most breathtaking islands in the Pacific. Dramatic volcanic peaks rise above turquoise lagoons, and the island’s lush interior is laced with pineapple plantations and jungle trails. Whether you explore by 4WD, paddleboard across the lagoon, or simply relax on a white-sand beach, Moorea never fails to enchant. Arrives 8:00 AM, departs 7:00 PM.

The day begins with a visit to Motu Taha’a, a tiny coral islet fringed by impossibly clear water and surrounded by the sweet scent of vanilla plantations on the nearby island of Taha’a. In the afternoon, the ship makes its way to Raiatea, the sacred heart of ancient Polynesia and home to the revered Taputapuatea marae, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Motu Taha’a 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Raiatea arrives 6:00 PM.

Spend a full day exploring Raiatea, an island steeped in history and natural beauty. Kayak up the Faaroa River, the only navigable river in French Polynesia, hike into the lush interior, or join a guided tour of the ancient marae temples that speak to the island’s role as the spiritual centre of the Polynesian world. Departs 6:00 PM.

A restful day at sea as Silver Whisper heads east toward the remote Tuamotu Archipelago. Take time to indulge in the ship’s world-class spa, join an enrichment lecture, or simply find a quiet corner of the deck and watch the vast Pacific stretch out around you.

One of French Polynesia’s most pristine atolls, Fakarava is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and a paradise for divers and nature lovers alike. Its vast, shallow lagoon shimmers in every shade of blue and green, while its pass is renowned as one of the world’s great dive sites, teeming with sharks, rays and colourful reef fish. Arrives 7:00 AM, departs 6:00 PM.

Another peaceful day at sea as the ship makes its way north toward the wild and majestic Marquesas Islands. Enjoy the onboard restaurants, relax by the pool, or take part in a cooking demonstration as anticipation builds for the remarkable islands ahead.

The largest of the Marquesas Islands, Nuku Hiva is a place of raw, rugged beauty that feels worlds apart from the gentle lagoons of the Society Islands. Towering sea cliffs, dramatic waterfalls and ancient stone tikis speak to a rich and powerful culture. This is the island that inspired Herman Melville and Robert Louis Stevenson, and it is easy to see why. Arrives 9:00 AM, departs 9:30 PM.

Small, remote and rarely visited, Tahuata is one of the true hidden gems of French Polynesia. Its sheltered bays offer some of the clearest water in the archipelago, and its villages are home to master craftspeople renowned for their intricate wood carvings and tapa cloth. A genuine off-the-beaten-path experience that few travellers are lucky enough to have. Arrives 7:00 AM, departs 5:00 PM.

A well-earned day of relaxation as Silver Whisper turns southwest and begins the journey back toward the Society Islands. Enjoy the finest cuisine at sea, lose yourself in a good book, or watch for dolphins and flying fish from the comfort of your private veranda.

One of the largest atolls in the world, Rangiroa is a diver’s and snorkeller’s dream. Its two famous passes, Tiputa and Avatoru, funnel nutrient-rich currents that attract an extraordinary abundance of marine life, from spinner dolphins and manta rays to hammerhead sharks. Even from the surface, the electric blue of the lagoon is a sight to behold. Arrives 9:00 AM, departs 4:30 PM.

Often called the Wild Island, Huahine has retained a traditional charm that sets it apart from its better-known neighbours. Ancient marae temples line the shores of its twin lagoons, vanilla and melon grow in abundance, and the pace of life is delightfully unhurried. It is the kind of place that makes you want to stay just a little longer. Arrives 7:00 AM, departs 5:30 PM.

Bora Bora arrives and the reality exceeds every photograph taken of it, which is a claim that can be made about very few places on earth. Mount Otemanu’s basalt core rises 727 metres above a lagoon of layered turquoise and emerald, the barrier reef creating a moat of extraordinary clarity around an island of black volcanic rock, white sand and dense tropical vegetation. The overwater bungalows of the resort hotels are visible from Silver Whisper’s deck as the ship anchors in the outer lagoon. The day’s options are the full range of what makes Bora Bora the destination it is: snorkelling with lemon sharks and manta rays in the passes, outrigger canoe tours around the motu, the four-wheel drive circuit around the island passing WWII American gun emplacements still in place on the headlands, or simply the beach at one of the resort motus with the lagoon in every direction.

A second morning in Bora Bora and Silver Whisper repositions to Motu Tapu, the small coral islet just off the main island’s coast made famous by its appearances in films and travel photography. The powdery white sand, the swaying palms and the legendary turquoise lagoon with Mount Otemanu visible above the tree line behind it deliver exactly what the name Bora Bora promises. This is the final full port day of the voyage and the lagoon snorkelling, the hammock between the palms and the Polynesian afternoon light are all reasons to stay in the water until Silver Whisper’s departure signal calls everyone back aboard.

All too soon, Silver Whisper returns to Papeete in the early morning hours, bringing this extraordinary voyage to a close. As you disembark and bid farewell to the islands, you carry with you memories of turquoise lagoons, ancient cultures, volcanic peaks and the effortless elegance of life aboard one of the world’s finest small ships. Arrives 5:00 AM.