Some trips are beautiful. Others are unforgettable. This one? It was both.
Twelve days sailing through French Polynesia aboard Bundalong, weaving between the islands of the Society archipelago — Huahine, Raiatea, Taha’a, and Bora Bor
Day one got off to an unexpected start with medical emergency and the challenges of small island health care. Guests arrived in the afternoon and the show must go on! Several cocktails later guests settled in and briefed on our cruise highlights of Fakarava and what was on offer for coming days. Fair to say excitement levels were at an all time high.
The Tuamotu Archipelago, part of French Polynesia, is a vast chain of around 77 low-lying coral atolls scattered across the South Pacific, stretching over 1,500 kilometers. Formed from ancient volcanic islands that subsided, leaving only fringing reefs and lagoons, the Tuamotus are renowned for their pristine waters, rich marine biodiversity, and pearl farming. Historically, they were settled by Polynesians over a thousand years ago, with communities developing expert navigation skills and sustaining themselves through fishing and coconut cultivation. European contact began in the early 17th century, leading to missionary influence, trade, and eventual integration into French Polynesia. Today, the Tuamotus remain sparsely populated, with roughly 16,000 residents living mostly in small villages on larger atolls such as Rangiroa, Fakarava, and Hao. The geography’s remoteness shapes daily life, with inter-island transport relying on boats and small aircraft, and the economy centered on copra production, tourism, and black pearl cultivation.