Raiatea and Tahaa: Raiatea is revered by Tahitians as the origin of their religion and ancient culture, the royal heart of Polynesia.Visitors can climb the sacred slopes of Mount Temehani to glimpse the rare Tiare Apetahi, a flower found nowhere else on earth. This island is the administrative and trading center of the  Leeward Islands. Several cruising companies use this sleepy port as a base, and with the large protective lagoon, this is a great place for diving. Raiatea is the perfect venue for nature lovers and hikers.

Tahaa is the sister island of Raiatea - they share a lagoon. It is also known as the Vanilla Island because of its numerous plantations of this fragrant plant, whose sweet aroma lingers in the air, and because it produces 80% of the Vanilla in French Polynesia. Life is simple and untouched by modernization.