Bora Bora lagoon tour: money well spent

Bora Bora lagoon tour: money well spent

If you do one thing, take the Bora Bora lagoon tour - you won't regret it

When we landed in Bora Bora we were worried. Really worried.

It was the worst weather we had seen in the Pacific. And I'm not talking about the tropical storm with torrential downpours and billowing breakers, a type of bad weather that is miserable but at least dramatic.

I'm talking miserable, damp towel, gray sky and soggy ground, i.e. bad weather. The kind of bad weather that means winter (and autumn and spring and often summer) in London – the kind of boredom we were trying to escape.

“I’m sure it’s going to burn down,” I said confidently to Kia, not entirely convinced by my own optimism.

Luckily for us, it burned down…after three days!

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We still had three days left and decided to take action. As mentioned in Bora Bora on a Budget, we always have one eye on the wallet (sometimes both eyes), especially in an expensive destination.

Our host, Gerard, was aware of our limited resources and had done as much as possible to soften Bora's costly blows for us. One thing he pushed us to do was the lagoon tour.

“If you do one thing, do the Bora Bora lagoon tour,” he urged.

So we put our hands in our fairly shallow pockets and headed out for a lagoon tour around the island. Again Gerard came to our rescue and organized it at a reduced price. One advantage of not staying at a luxury resort meant we didn't have to pay luxury resort commissions!

The tour picked us up from the mainland before picking up the other clients from their luxury resorts. The advantage was that we initially had the boat to ourselves and also got a tour of the island.

Our first stop was snorkeling in a deep coral garden. The water was crystal clear and visibility was excellent, with lots of marine life on display below. Next we stopped to swim with giant manta rays.

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At first we wondered if they would be comfortable with people around them, but they were so friendly and playful that they immediately put us at ease. Eventually we stopped to swim with lemon sharks and blacktip reef sharks, among others. It was a classic I-hate-myself-for-ruining-my-GoPro moment.

For lunch we stopped at Teva Motu for a Polynesian picnic literally in the shallow waters right off the beach. We spent the afternoon wandering around the tranquil motu in the sunshine while diving in and out of the water (did I mention how clear it was?).

Finally, the boat took us on a circuit around the island to ensure we had the opportunity to view the enchanting panorama from every angle.

The price was a bit steep for us, but it was absolutely worth it. Gerard was right: If you can pay for an extravaganza in Bora Bora, pay for it.

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• alt=“Haie auf der Bora Bora Lagunentour“>
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Bora Bora Lagoon Tour: The Essentials

Tour: Full-Day Bora Bora Lagoon Tour Operator: Lagoon Service Bora Bora Price: 8,500 XPF (£57.50 / $90) per person

Included in the price: soft drinks, beer, lunch, snorkeling equipment, towels, swimming with manta rays, shark feeding

Top tip: Book directly with the tour operator to avoid hefty resort commissions.

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Lonely Planet Tahiti & French Polynesia covers the Bora Bora lagoon tour and is ideal for those who want to both explore the main attractions and take the road less traveled.

Mission statement: Atlas & Boots

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