What would you do with 12 hours in Bora Bora? Our guests share wanderlust-inducing photos of all the ways they while away a day in paradise.
Bora Bora is one of the most photogenic locales on the planet – an island of 12 square miles (31 square kilometres), rising from the turquoise Pacific just northwest of Tahiti – and Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora fits right in. Set on its own private motu (island) a mere 15 minutes by boat from the airport, with an archipelago of overwater bungalows lofted above the glass-clear lagoon, the Resort is a prime jumping-off point for a day of exploring the volcanic atoll and its surrounding seascape. Here, a photographic rundown of your #dreamday at Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora – as shared by our guests and narrated by Four Seasons experts.
MORNING
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Breakfast Bounty
The best way to kick-start a holiday on Bora Bora is with a tropical breakfast. Yogurt topped with fresh fruit and a dusting of crunchy granola is practically de rigueur because it’s protein-rich yet light enough to keep you feeling swimsuit-ready. Place your order at the breakfast buffet, choose à la carte or stay in the coddling comfort of your suite and ask for the Canoe Breakfast. Who wouldn’t want a morning meal delivered by ceremonial Polynesian canoe?
With fresh exotic fruits, pastries, omelettes and, of course, yogurt on offer, Executive Chef Eric Desbordes says proudly, “Our extensive options really do make this the most important meal of the day.” And if you do opt for delivery by canoe, be sure to take advantage of the complimentary whirl around the pontoons as your dining area is being prepared.
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Stretch Yourself
“Yoga is even better for the body and soul when it’s done over the water,” spa director Stephanie Cherbakow says, referencing the additive calming effects of the sea. Within the lagoon-side Spa, the yoga deck is lofted over the sea, serving as a site for private yoga classes.
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AFTERNOON
Take a Snorkel Safari
The calm waters of the Resort’sRuahatu (God of the Ocean) Lagoon Sanctuary are home to more than 100 species, including sea urchins, peacock damselfish and anemones. Join Louis Sabadel, a marine biologist at the Resort, for a snorkeling session as educational as it is awe-inspiring. Curious about the larger marine ecosystem in Bora Bora? Set sail with Sabadel on a chartered boat tour for even more opportunities to learn about the region’s sea life.
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Rinse and Repeat
You haven’t experienced a proper outdoor shower until you’ve bathed in your very own, set on a wooden platform above a crystalline lagoon. “All 108 of our Overwater Bungalow suites offer an outdoor shower on a private deck,” Resort Manager Diego Stembert says. Or, after a soak in your bungalow’s oversized tub, step straight from the bathroom onto your private wooden deck to take in the fresh sea air – an invigorating interlude during a day of adventure.
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EVENING
Sunset Supper
Twilight seems to last longer at this longitude . . . all the better for tucking into a leisurely multi-course dinner on your private deck. “Even with all of our amazing restaurants, most of our guests will enjoy at least one private dinner in their suite during their stay,” says Desbordes. “There’s nothing like a table for two over the water and under the stars.” Among the choices on the in-room (or on-deck) menu: locally caught sautéed mahi mahi with virgin coconut sauce, with Taha’s vanilla crème brûlée for dessert.
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An Illuminating Display
Bora Bora culture is always on the agenda here, and every Monday night the Resort presents a Polynesian Dinner Show with traditional local music and fire dancing. “Our Polynesian Dinner show is a great opportunity for guests to mingle,” says Chef Concierge Etienne Baldeschi, “and the performances are truly captivating.” Not to be overshadowed is the menu: Offerings include coconut salad, crab cakes and Tahitian Firi Firi doughnuts.
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Aim for the Stars
There may be no better way to cap off a perfect day in Bora Bora than taking in a light show: the stars. The low level of artificial light here means they’re as glittery as can be, especially on a private evening boat charter.
“The night skies here are stunning, and you can enjoy the stars from anywhere, but from the water is the ultimate,” says Baldeschi. You and your guests depart at dusk, sailing as the sky morphs from azure blue to marmalade orange, and stop at a private motu to watch, with bubbly in hand, as the stars appear.
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Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora
YOUR JOURNEY BEGINS HERE
Picture yourself in paradise.