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Across the Islands of French Polynesia, Privacy Is the Real Luxury

An island-hopping journey through Raiatea, Taha’a and Tetiaroa trades crowded ports for private resorts, sacred sites and quiet lagoons.

It’s a Wednesday morning in Tahiti, and despite the rain, I’m feeling decidedly serene: I’m at Marae Taputapuatea on Raiatea, one of the most sacred spots on one of the most sacred islands in all of Tahiti, and I dip my hand in the lagoon as our guide, Naiki Lutz, recites traditional Tahitian ritual chants in the background.

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Despite this being a UNESCO World Heritage site, there are hardly any folks around. There are no crowds to fight through; no screaming tourists nearby. The inclement conditions were undoubtedly a factor, but I realized that even in one of Tahiti’s most popular locations, you still feel a sense of privacy and solitude.

Perhaps it’s because French Polynesia is made up of 116 islands and atolls, so there’s room for everyone. It’s not random, though; there’s serious intention behind the lack of crowds: French Polynesia has introduced a plan to cap the number of tourists at around 280,000 per year, which is about one visitor per local.

Increasingly, travelers share the same sentiments when it comes to planning a summer trip—they just want to “get away from it all,” relax for the season and escape the crowds. And yet! Every year, you see the same crowds island-hopping between Mykonos and Santorini in Greece; sailing the same old beaten path along the Amalfi Coast; frequenting the buzziest beach clubs in Saint-Tropez.

In today’s travel landscape, privacy, peace and seclusion have become some of the most in-demand elements of luxury hospitality. So, for those who truly value an off-grid, private escape, why not try a different kind of island hopping in French Polynesia?

First things first:........

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