Known as the sacred island, Raiatea was the center of royalty, religion, culture and history and this tour allows you to explore Raiatea's marvelous interior from the more intimate perspective of an 8-seater jeep.
Boarding your jeep at the pier, you and your fellow guests will head off to the island's interior for a close-up look at this tropical paradise that features verdant mountains and lush foliage. As you navigate the inland roads, you'll find yourself traveling amongst lush vegetation that includes bamboo forests, chestnut trees, mango trees and guava trees.
Along with tourism, the island relies on cottage industries and you will have the chance to visit one of them with a brief stop at a small vanilla field. From there, it's on to Raiatea's most famous landmark, Marae Taputapuatea. It was from this sacred site that the ancient Polynesians set-off to discover the other islands which now form the famous Polynesian Triangle: Hawaii, New Zealand and Easter Island. Following your stop here, you will drive back to the pier.
Please note: Walking on this tour is mainly at the guests' discretion during the stops; however, a high step is required to board the jeep. As this tour involves some bumpy off-road driving, guests with limited mobility, back and/or neck problems, pregnant women or those who suffer from motion sickness are discouraged from participating. The tour is not available to wheelchair guests and those with mobility concerns are cautioned to carefully evaluate their personal level of stamina and ability. Light-weight clothing; sun cap; sunglasses; sunscreen; insect repellant; a bottle of water from the ship; and flat, comfortable walking shoes are recommended. The itinerary and order of the stops may change and the duration of the stops can vary based upon group size and interest. As the jeeps carry only 8 guests maximum, large families or couples may be split dependent on tour numbers.