Bora Bora — Birthplace of the Overwater Bungalow 🐚
The ultimate South Pacific icon: a jagged volcanic peak rising from a lagoon of impossible turquoise, ringed by the overwater bungalows this island invented back in 1971. Hand-picked stays and a must-see icon — every link takes you straight to Trip.com to check live prices and book.
🏨 Where to Stay
- Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ — family-friendly — overwater bungalow suites and beachfront villas on a private beach with unbroken views of Mount Otemanu, many featuring their own plunge pools, plus a guided lagoon snorkelling tour and kids stay free under 12.
- The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort — smart pick, largest villas — Bora Bora's #1-rated hotel, with the largest overwater villas in the South Pacific starting at 1,550 square feet, signature 24-hour Butler Service, and a private Lagoonarium home to over 120 species of fish, turtles and rays.
- Conrad Bora Bora Nui — hidden gem, romantic — a secluded cove of white sand and black lava rock on its own motu, with a hilltop spa boasting the best views of Mount Otemanu, six restaurants and two-storey Presidential overwater villas favoured by A-listers.
- InterContinental Bora Bora le Moana Resort — mid-range pick — on the main island near Matira Beach, genuinely well-priced for an overwater-bungalow stay, with a private beach and easy access to Vaitape.
- Hotel Maitai Polynesia Bora Bora — attainable pick — genuinely the most accessible way to sleep in an overwater bungalow on Bora Bora, a minute's drive from Matira Beach, with four restaurants and a warm, unpretentious feel.
✈️ Flights
- Flights to Bora Bora (BOB) — no direct route from Manchester; fly via Paris or Los Angeles to Papeete, Tahiti, then a short Air Tahiti domestic flight (around 50 minutes) on to Bora Bora — roughly 29-36 hours door to door.
🎟️ Experiences
- Mount Otemanu — the dramatic, jagged remnant of an extinct volcano rising 727 metres from the centre of the island, forming the iconic backdrop to every lagoon view and best appreciated from a boat tour or the deck of an overwater bungalow at sunset.
🚗 Car Hire & Transfers