Soft Trekking in the Marquesas Islands

Nuku Hiva & Hiva Oa - 6 Days / 5 Nights Program

Package includes:

* 2 Nights at Hotel Nuku Hiva Keikahanui Pearl Lodge, in Bayview Bungalow with Half Board.
* 3 Nights at Hotel Hiva Oa Hanakee Pearl Lodge, in Ocean View Bungalow with Half Board.

+ All excursions by 4-wheel drive vehicule as per program
+ Atuona Museum & Puamau entrance fees
+ All transfers by 4-wheel drive vehicule

Detailed itinerary:

Day 01: Papeete / Nuku Hiva
Arrival in Nuku Hiva at the Nuku Ataha airport. Transfer to Hotel Keikahanui Nuku Hiva Pearl Lodge by 4-wheel drive vehicle (transfer duration: about 1h30). You will have the chance to enjoy the view on the valley of Tapueahu (the “Marquesan Grand Canyon”) and then on Toovi plateau.

Lunch on your own (not included).

Afternoon : Visit of the village of Taiohae including :
• Tohua Temehea: ceremonial site hosting recent stone carvings, inspired by local legends…

• Notre Dame Cathedral, built in 1973, on the site of an ancient “tohua” (ceremonial platform). The church shelters numerous religious wooden works by local artists.

• A gentle hike towards and around the archaeological site of Koueva. Restored for the 2000 Marquesan Art Festival, this site is a testimony of the Marquesan nature & culture.

Dinner at the hotel.

Day 02: Nuku Hiva

Breakfast at the hotel.
Full day excursion (including lunch) by boat to the magnificent valley of Hakaui.
From the beach, start on a marvellous hike (level of difficulty : moderate) along the river, through native bush, until the waterfall. Enjoy and relax in the natural pool at the base of the waterfall.
(one way hike duration: beach/waterfall: around 02hr00. Return the same way)

Picnic lunch can be enjoyed at the waterfall or at the neighbouring valley of Hakatea.

Afternoon at leisure for swimming.

Dinner at the hotel.

Day 03: Nuku Hiva / Hiva Oa
Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning : at leisure. 
Transfer to the airport by 4-wheel drive vehicle (duration: about 01h30)
Flight Nuku Hiva/Hiva Oa (duration: around 35 minutes).

Arrival in Hiva Oa, transfer by 4-wheel drive vehicle to Hotel Hanakee Hiva Oa Pearl Lodge (transfer duration: around 20 minutes).

Lunch on your own (not included).

Afternoon : visit the pleasant village of Atuona, made famous by the artists Paul Gauguin and Jacques Brel, including :

• The “Espace Culturel”, with painter Paul Gauguin’s museum (showing copies of his art), “la Maison du Jouir” (replicate of his previous house), his well, Marquesan handicraft.

• The Stele and the “Espace Jacques Brel”, the famous Belgian singer, presenting his plane & different photographs of his life.

• The cemetery where Gauguin’s and Jacques Brel’s are buried almost next to each other.
Please note that your guide will not walk you in the museums.

Dinner at the hotel.

Day 04: Hiva Oa

Breakfast at the hotel.

Full day excursion by 4-wheel drive vehicle to Puamau, on the north-eastern tip of the island.
Breathtaking drive along the winding coastline, through several valleys, until reaching the picturesque village of Puamau.
Visit Te Iipona, an archeological site which became famous thanks to “Takai”, the tallest stone Tiki in Polynesia (2,43 m); and the very exceptional “Makaii Taua Pepe”,  unique tiki represented horizontally.
Lunch will be enjoyed at Marie-Antoinette’s home: you will have the opportunity to taste home-made Marquesan dishes: marvellous indeed !!

Afternoon at leisure to relax, and return to Atuona.

Dinner at the hotel.

Day 05: Hiva Oa

Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning : enjoy an excursion by 4-wheel drive (about 01h30) towards the unique smiling tiki hidden deep in the tropical forest down the hotel…. It is a very surprising piece of art.
Then your guide will take you to the Tehueto Petroglyphs. It is the unique place in French Polynesia where engraved “fishmen” can be seen.

Lunch on your own (not included).

Afternoon : at leisure.
Dinner at the hotel.

Day 06:  Hiva Oa / Papeete
Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning : OPTIONAL hike towards the very cute Punaei Bay (non guided excursion).

Morning transfer by 4-wheel drive vehicle to airport for your return flight to Papeete.
(If the departure flight is scheduled in the afternoon, lunch will be on your own).

Remarks:

1) Rates are valid from January 01st until December 31st, 2011. Rates are subject to change without prior notice.

2) Handling fee to be added as per contract.

3) Cancellation Policy :

If cancellation occurs:
- 45 days or less prior to the beginning of the package: 80 Euro fee per booking
- within 15 days prior to the beginning of the package: 50% of the total amount of the package
- within 7 prior to the beginning of the package:  100% of the total amount of the package

4) Transfers & Excursions are in seat-in-car. For packages including private car transfers and tours, please contact our services for quotation.

5) The hotels have accepted to operate this program based on a MINIMUM of 2 pax travelling together. However, a special net rate for single pax when travelling alone is available. Please contact us for quotation.
The hotels reserve the right to have other clients joining the party on the excursions.

The excursions require healthy conditions. Follow your guide instructions. They are not recommended for children under 2.

The excursions & hikes duration may vary depending on external factors & the level of hikers. Vehicles used have been built for this type of excursions; however, comfort depends on the roads used.

6) A local Communal Tax is to be paid directly by the client at the hotel Keikahanui Pearl Lodge : 100cfp per person and per night (Fixed exchange rate : 1€ = 119.332 cfp Pacific Franc).

7) Opening hours of the Gauguin & Brel museums:
 - Monday to Thursday : 08h00am - 11h00am & 02h00pm - 05h00pm
 - Friday : 07h30am - 02h30pm
 - Saturday : 08h00am - 11h00am
 - Sunday : Closed

The hotel will do its best to organize the visit of these museums according with the flight schedules of your clients.
Should it not be possible, the hotel will arrange another excursion instead.

8) Additional nights. If additional nights are requested, the regular rates are applicable for those additional nights.

9) During Christmas and New Year Season, Special Conditions and Compulsory Meals may apply. Rates and Conditions to be advised.

10) This itinerary may be altered without previous notice, depending on airline schedule, weather conditions or ground transportation availabilities. Rates would be amended accordingly.