Air Tahiti and Air Moana connect Bora Bora with Tahiti, and Air Tahiti flies to neighbouring islands such as Raiatea and Huahine. Taha'a has no airport: fly to Raiatea and cross by boat. The Apetahi Express ferry also links the Leeward Islands with Tahiti. Many honeymooners combine Bora Bora with a few nights on a quieter neighbouring island.
Last verified: October 2026
Motu & island tours
Speedboat circuits, motu picnics and island excursions.
Activity
Lagoon Tour & Snorkel Safari
Circle the lagoon by boat, snorkel with rays and reef sharks, and stop at vibrant coral gardens.
From ~$120 per person (half day)
Activity
Motu Picnic & BBQ Island Excursion
Boat out to a private motu for snorkeling, a beachside barbecue lunch, and relaxed island time.
$140–190/person
Activity
Jet Ski Safari Tour
A guided jet ski convoy around the lagoon with stops for photos at motu and reef viewpoints.
$280–330 per jet ski (2 riders, about 2 hours)
Activity
Private Outrigger Canoe (Va'a) Excursion
Paddle a traditional Polynesian outrigger canoe with a local guide while learning Tahitian navigation history.
Varies by guide and group size
Activity
Glass Bottom Boat Tour
View coral and marine life through a boat's glass floor without getting wet — ideal for all ages.
$55–80/person
Activity
Helicopter Scenic Flight
See Bora Bora's iconic heart-shaped reef and Mount Otemanu from a helicopter high above the lagoon.
Varies by route and season (ask your resort)Reaching other islands
Inter-island flights & transfers
How to move between islands and to your resort.
Flight route
Papeete to Bora Bora Island Hop
A short, scenic hop on Air Tahiti or Air Moana connects Tahiti to Bora Bora's island airport.
50 minutes
Flight route
Bora Bora Airport (BOB): Arrivals & Transfers
The airport sits on its own motu: resorts send boats, and the airline's free shuttle boat runs to Vaitape.
10-40 minutes depending on resort and transfer type
Flight route
International to Papeete (Tahiti)
All journeys to Bora Bora route through Faa'a International Airport in Papeete, Tahiti.
8h from LAX; ~22h from EuropeIsland hopping from Bora Bora: the nearest islands
Bora Bora is one of the Leeward Islands, and its neighbors are only a short hop away. Flight times below are scheduled times from Bora Bora. Check the current timetable, because some routes run only a few times a week.
| Island | Getting there from Bora Bora | Why go |
|---|---|---|
| Raiatea | About 20 min by air (Air Tahiti and Air Moana) | Marae Taputapuatea, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2017 |
| Taha'a | No airport: fly to Raiatea, then take the public shuttle boat or a water taxi across the shared lagoon | Known as the "vanilla island," with vanilla plantations, pearl-farm visits and a slower pace |
| Huahine | About 25 min by air | Maeva's marae and small museum, the sacred blue-eyed eels of Faie, and quiet villages |
| Maupiti | About 20 min by air, with only a few direct flights; the Apetahi Express also sails there | No resorts or overwater bungalows, only family guesthouses (pensions); known for manta rays |
| Moorea | Few direct flights (about 45 min); most trips go via Tahiti, then a 15-minute flight or a 30–45 minute ferry | Jagged peaks, bays and the easiest add-on at the start or end of a trip |
Air Tahiti island passes (what happened to the Bora Bora Pass?)
You may still see the "Bora Bora Pass" in older guides and forums. Air Tahiti renamed its passes on 1 October 2025. Bora Bora is now included in five of them:
- Maeva: from Tahiti to 2, 3 or 4 of Huahine, Raiatea, Bora Bora and Moorea (no Maupiti). From about €416 (2 islands), €463 (3) or €510 (4) per person in low season.
- Monoï: the same idea, starting from Moorea. From about €384.
- Maupiti: adds Maupiti to the Leeward Islands. From about €552.
- Reva and Fenua: combine the Society Islands with Tuamotu atolls such as Rangiroa, Tikehau and Fakarava. From about €509.
The rules matter. Each pass is a closed loop that usually starts and ends in Tahiti, you can visit each island only once, and you cannot return to Tahiti partway through. Moorea must come first or last. The whole trip must fit within 28 days, and all flights are fixed when the ticket is issued. Once issued, a pass cannot be changed or refunded. Prices are as listed on Air Tahiti's site in October 2026.
Island hopping by ferry: the Apetahi Express
The Apetahi Express catamaran links Papeete, Huahine, Raiatea, Taha'a, Bora Bora and Maupiti a few times a week. The legs between the Leeward Islands are short, about an hour each, and calmer than the open-ocean crossing from Tahiti. One-way tickets cost about 7,000 XPF. The Tuatea Pass, at 24,000 XPF, gives 30 days of unlimited travel on the operator's routes, though you still have to reserve each crossing. Each ticket includes a 23 kg checked bag and a 15 kg cabin bag, which is a much bigger cabin allowance than the 5 kg allowed on the planes.
Sample Bora Bora island-hopping combos
- Bora Bora + Taha'a (7–9 nights): fly to Raiatea, cross to Taha'a for 3 nights of quiet motu life, then finish with 4–5 nights on Bora Bora.
- Huahine + Raiatea + Bora Bora (10 nights): one Maeva 3-island pass from Tahiti. Spend 3 nights each on Huahine and Raiatea, and save the splurge for 4 nights on Bora Bora at the end.
- Moorea + Bora Bora (7–8 nights): start on Moorea, which is easy to reach from Papeete, then fly on to Bora Bora. Compare the two on our Bora Bora vs Moorea page.
- Bora Bora + Maupiti: add 2–3 nights in a Maupiti guesthouse for a simpler, low-key contrast.
Check our Papeete to Bora Bora page for baggage limits on the small planes, and price your combination with the trip calculator.
Frequently asked questions
A motu is a small sandy islet on the outer reef ringing the main island. Many resorts sit on motus, and tours often include a barbecue picnic on a private one.
Yes. Flights link Bora Bora with Tahiti and neighbouring islands such as Raiatea and Huahine, and the Apetahi Express ferry also connects the Leeward Islands. Taha'a has no airport: fly to Raiatea and cross by boat.
Mostly by air: Air Tahiti's domestic network (and Air Moana on some routes) connects the islands on short flights, typically 20–50 minutes. Ferries link Tahiti and Moorea many times a day, and the Apetahi Express sails between Tahiti and the Leeward Islands, including Bora Bora.
Yes. Pairing a few nights in Bora Bora with a quieter, more affordable neighbouring island like Huahine or Taha'a is a popular way to add variety and reduce costs. Taha'a has no airport, so fly to Raiatea and cross by boat.
Still planning your Bora Bora trip?
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