Day 2: Huahine
Enjoy a cultural tour of the island of Huahine, with a visit to the Maeva temples. Attend a welcome reception this evening. Formed of two islands - Huahine-nui and Huahine-iti - separated by a deep blue bay and ringed by a coral atoll, this untouched paradise has soaring peaks, lush rain forests, dazzling white beaches and ancient shrines. The idyllic port of Fare lies nestled between the sea and a woodland of towering mape (chestnut) trees draped with sweet-scented vanilla vines. In the nearby settlement of Maeva, the ancient religious center of Huahine-nui, stand 10 imposing marae, built in the 16th century of locally quarried stone and dedicated to Tane, Oro and other Polynesian deities. (B, L, D)

Day 3: Huahine/Raiatea/Taha'a
Half-day tour of Raiatea, featuring a visit to the famous Marae Taputapuatea. Optional Excursion: Cruise on the Faaroa River through a tropical forest aboard an outrigger canoe. Exclusive Enrichment: Lecture by resident biologist Frank Murphy on the course of evolution on small islands. According to local legend, Raiatea was once the "sacred island" of Havai'i, the birthplace of Oro, the god of war and fertility, and the center for the colonization of Hawaii, the Marquesas and New Zealand. In the precolonial era, it served as the political and spiritual center of the Society Islands and was beloved by Captain Cook, who called here on each of his three voyages of discovery. Raiatea's placid Faaroa River, the only navigable stream in Polynesia, threads its way through a world of wild hibiscus, bamboo and Tahitian chestnut. The rare and beautiful tiare apetahi, a delicate white flower, is found nowhere else on Earth. Along the eastern shore is Marac Taputapuatea, constructued of coral and black volcanic rock, and one of the best-preserved temple complexes in Polynesia. Once a sacrificial site to Oro, it was restored in 1995. (B, L, D)

Day 4: Tahaa/Bora Bora
Optional Excursion: Taha'a island tour in the open-air transport known as "Le Truck," with visits to a vanilla plantation and a black pearl farm. Idyllically set across a blue lagoon to the north of Raiatea, Taha'a is dominated by the profile of Mount Ohiri, named for the Polynesian god of thieves. Two exotic enterprises provide the islanders' livelihoods - the production of vanilla and the farming of lustrous black pearls. Along Taha'a's northeastern shore lies a string of motu, pristine islets of white, powdery sand beaches shaded by graceful palm trees. (B, L, D)

Day 5: Bora Bora
Island circle tour of Bora Bora, the "Pearl of the Pacific," aboard "Le Truck." With its soaring, black basalt peak, lush cloak of tropical forest, turquoise lagoon, coral reef teeming with multi-colored fish and outlying fringe of motu, Bora Bora - "the first born" in Tahitian - is the proverbial vision of a South Seas paradise. It was settled by adventurous Polynesian mariners in the 10th century A.D., and Captain Cook called at Bora Bora on his first voyage in 1769 and again on his third and final voyage in 1777. Islanders have preserved the ways of their forebears and still wear the traditional pareo, a sarong-like garment dyed in brilliant colors or adorned with floral patterns. in Bora Bora's forested interior, villagers cultivate breadfruit, cocnuts and taro, and stone marae preserve the legacy of ancestral Polynesian deities. Exclusive Enrichment: Demonstration of the dyeing and wearing of pareo, the traditional garment of South Pacific Islanders. Enrichment lecture lead by local naturalist Frank Murphy on the effects of global warming on life in Polynesia. (B, L, D)

Day 6: Moorea
Motorcoach circle tour of Moorea, including a visit to the unique octagonal church in Papetoai. Rivaling Bora Bora in scenic splendor is the heart-shaped island of Moorea, the remnant of a long-extinct volcano. Once a sanctuary for vanquished warriors from Tahiti, it was visited by Captain Cook in 1777, and by the American novelist Herman Melville in 1842. it also inspired James Michener to write his unforgettable Tales from the South Pacific. A drive around Moorea's perimeter reveals stunning vistas of forest-clad mountains, lush valleys and foaming waves breaking against scalloped shorelines. Moorea offers a distinctive blend of traditional and Western culture; its abandoned temples evoke its Polynesian heritage, while its churches underscore its role as the center for 19th-century missionary activity in the Society Islands - Papetoai's unique Octagonal Church is the oldest European structure in the South Seas. The azure waters surrounding the island abound with marine life, including whales and dolphins. Exclusive Enrichment: Meet local residents during a specially arranged Village Forum. (B, L, D)

Day 7: Moorea/Papeete, Tahiti
Optional Excursions: Tour of Moorea's scenic interior in a four-wheel-drive vehicle. Dolphin-watching expedition with Dr. Michael Pole, a noted marine biologist. Exclusive Enrichment: Lecture by cultural historical and and ecologist Frank Murphy on the emergence of a distinctively Polynesian culture. (B, L, D)

Day 8: Papeete/Disembark S.Y. Star Flyer
Arrive in Papeete, Tahiti and disembark the S.Y. Star Flyer. Enjoy day rooms in the Sofitel Tahiti Resort. Transfer to the airport and board your return flight to Los Angeles. (B, In-flight meals)

Day 9: Arrive in U.S.
In-flight meals.

Note: Itinerary schedule may change due to local conditions.  Many excursions in this programinvolve an element of walking as some of the finest attractions are located in areas not closely accessible by motorcoach.