These Overwater Bungalows in Tahiti Are Just Paradise
The word Tahiti conjures vivid daydreams of densely forested and mountainous islands with picturesque thatched-roof bungalows at their shores, hovering over the clear lapping waters. Its pristine islands made it onto the international tourist map when the first-ever overwater bungalows were built over the cerulean lagoons of Raiatea and Moorea in 1967. The overwater style has since become a byword for tropical luxury and you’ll find them in the Maldives, Hamilton Island, the Seychelles – any island worth its sand. Tahiti’s original humble structures on stilts above the coral have evolved, too. Iconic luxury hotels have created their own versions of the overwater bungalow boasting private decks, infinity pools, hammocks suspended over the water and glass-floored bedrooms. Now, there are more than 900 such overwater accommodations spread over the 118 islands that make up Tahiti. These are some of our favourites.
Bora Bora Pearl Beach Resort & Spa
1/10Yes, it really is this idyllic. The overwater bungalows at this luxurious resort located on Motu Tevairoa, a coral islet, offer direct access to the lagoon. Plunge into the tropical waters before breakfast, laze on the gazebo sundeck after lunch and listen to the water lap from the bathtub (with a cocktail) before dinner. See hotel
Conrad Bora Bora Nui
2/10On a private cove on Motu To’opua, with the jagged green peaks of Mount Otemanu looming behind it, is this secluded beachfront resort. Its Overwater Villas hover above the lagoon and offer appointments deemed too grand for the word “bungalow”. The Presidential Overwater Villa is two storeys tall with its own deck, pool, whirlpool and a “wellbeing room” complete with sauna. See hotel
Four Seasons Bora Bora
3/10Thatched roofs, lots of teak, natural fibres and generous greenery make the elegant bungalows at the Four Seasons Bora Bora oases of calm. Plunge pools, private decks, dramatic views of Mount Otemanu and ladder access to the lagoon complete the picture. See hotel
InterContinental Bora Bora & Thalasso Spa
4/10Is this the pool you’ve been searching for? Pool Overwater Villas at the InterContinental Bora Bora & Thalasso Spa have their own glorious infinity pools, decks and shaded terraces as well as direct access to the lagoon. Each of the resort’s 80 bungalows has a glass-bottomed coffee table – a kind of Tahitian TV that provides endless entertainment for viewers of the fishy activity below. See hotel
Le Taha’a Island Resort & Spa
5/10Off the island of Taha’a on the secluded Motu Tautau cove is Le Taha’a Island Resort & Spa. Known as Vanilla Island because of its fragrant Tahitian vanilla crop, Taha’a has views of the silhouette of Bora Bora, visible from the bungalows suspended over the sparkling lagoon. See hotel
Royal Huahine
6/10Just eleven overwater bungalows are available at the Royal Huahine, located on Huahine, known as the Island of Gardens. Feel the warm embrace of the lagoon as you step off the spacious private sundeck into the water or retreat from the sun to the comfort of the bungalow’s traditional Polynesian-inspired interiors. See hotel
Sofitel Bora Bora Marara Beach Resort
7/10With terraces, sun lounges, outdoor showers and king-sized beds, the bungalows at Sofitel Bora Bora Marara Beach Resort are hard to leave. In the Luxury Bungalow, guests can watch the underwater goings-on from the glass viewing platform at the foot of the bed or if one can bear to leave, step off the deck and into the lagoon. See hotel
St Regis Bora Bora Resort
8/10On a private island in the “lagoonarium” at St. Regis Bora Bora is the Miri Miri Spa where trained therapists from Clarins will work your face and body to state of extreme relaxation. As if the private whirlpool, dining gazebo and butler service that are part and parcel of the luxurious overwater bungalows didn’t make things quite relaxing enough. See hotel
Tikehau Pearl Beach Resort
9/10The only thing marring the perfect blue expanse of the lagoon at Tikehau Pearl Beach Resort is the occasional clump of seaweed or the dark shape of a sea turtle ambling by. The Tikehau atoll is made up of a curve of coral islets that form a stunning 26-kilometre lagoon and the view from the secluded bungalows is one of seemingly endless blue. See hotel