About this hotel
General information
Le Taha'a sits on Motu Tautau, a coral islet in the lagoon off Taha'a, looking back at the island's green slopes on one side and out to the outline of Bora Bora on the other. It was the first property in French Polynesia to join Relais & Châteaux and belongs to the Polynesian collection of Pearl Resorts of Tahiti. There are 59 suites and villas: stilted suites over the lagoon, pool villas on the beach and two royal villas.
The resort's identity is drawn from the first Polynesian voyagers. A double-hulled canoe is its emblem, the reception is modelled on a traditional boathouse with a va'a at the entrance, and each of the three restaurants takes the name of a canoe type. Raw local stone and tropical timbers are left open to the trade winds, the gardens are planted with endemic species, and Taha'a's celebrated vanilla vines climb around the beach villas. Paintings and sculpture by Polynesian artists, some commissioned for the hotel, run throughout.
Location
The resort lies on Motu Tautau off the island of Taha'a in the Society Islands; Taha'a shares a single lagoon with Raiatea. Taha'a has no airport, so guests fly about 45 minutes from Faa'a International Airport on Tahiti to Raiatea with Air Tahiti or Air Moana, are met by the hotel team and cross by private shuttle boat in 35 minutes. Taha'a can also be reached by helicopter from Tahiti or Bora Bora, and the resort has its own helipad.
Spa
Tāvai Spa is set in an exotic garden above the resort's inner lagoon, where water lilies and lotus flowers float. Its menu is built on Polynesian massage, long part of island medicine and seen as a way of keeping body and mind in balance, with traditional techniques paired with modern treatments using Laboratoire de Cosmétologie du Pacifique Sud and Sothys Paris products. Facilities comprise a head-spa cabin, two double treatment rooms, an open-air double cabin, a sauna and two relaxation areas with armchairs and outdoor loungers.
Sports & leisure
- Snorkelling in the coral garden beside the motu, where the incoming tide carries swimmers from the reef edge into the heart of the garden; guests can borrow snorkelling gear and water shoes
- Kayaks and stand-up paddle boards for exploring the lagoon
- A tennis court and an air-conditioned gym overlooking the inner lagoon
- A Polynesian village of traditional fare, where local artisans hold a daily afternoon session in wood carving, weaving, pareo tying, dance, ukulele and the to'ere drum
- A weekly Tuesday evening show of traditional music and dance on the stone-paved paepae, ending with a fire dance
- A tiki trail of basalt carvings lit up after dark, garden game huts with table football and chess, and a sunset hut by the helipad facing Bora Bora
- Through the concierge: vanilla plantations, pearl farms and the two rum distilleries of Taha'a, hiking trails and e-bikes, waterfalls and Mount Temehani on Raiatea, a UNESCO World Heritage site, wreck diving and boat hire
- For couples: lunch on the heart-shaped motu reached by outrigger canoe, breakfast delivered by canoe to an overwater suite, beach weddings and Polynesian blessings
For children
The hotel's site mentions no kids' club. Overwater suites and beach villas take two adults with a child under 13 (plus a baby), and the royal villas four adults with a child; a baby cot or extra bed can be requested from the hotel. Families have the garden game huts with table football and chess, and the daily craft sessions in the Polynesian village suit children too.
Restaurants & bars
The three restaurants are named after Polynesian canoes, and the cooking pairs island produce – fish, fruit, flowers and Taha'a vanilla – with French technique.
- Hawaiki Nui – the main restaurant, breakfast and dinner in a treetop setting above the gardens and lagoon, with a race-winning V6 outrigger hung from the ceiling
- Titiraina – lunch on the beach, Tahitian flavours with international touches, and a weekly catch-of-the-day display where guests choose fish for the grill
- Tipairua – the gastronomic restaurant, candlelit dinners with five-course tasting menus fusing Polynesian produce and French cuisine, wine pairings and a dress code
- Manuia Bar – beach and pool bar with a swim-up counter, Polynesian and Champagne cocktails with island fruit, light snacks by day
- Tiki Bar – the evening bar, cocktails on local rum, the resort's widest spirits list and bites from sashimi to caviar
- Ice Cream Parlour – house-made ice cream led by Taha'a vanilla, seasonal flavours and fresh waffles
Private dinners can be served on a suite terrace, on a quiet stretch of the motu or beneath a traditional fare; vegetarian and gluten-free dishes are available.
Swimming
Swimming is in the lagoon: overwater suites have steps straight from the deck into the water, and the beach villas open onto the resort's white-sand beach. The shallow, warm coral garden next to the motu is made for snorkelling. There is also a pool with a swim-up bar, and every villa has its own plunge pool.
Rooms
59 suites and villas: stilted suites with glass floor panels over the lagoon, pool villas in the tropical gardens by the beach and two royal villas. Each holds original work by Polynesian artists, with paintings on the theme of Polynesian navigation commissioned for the royal villas.
Air conditioning and a ceiling fan, free Wi-Fi, satellite TV, phone, Nespresso machine and tea set, minibar, safe, hairdryer, make-up mirror, iron and board, bathrobes and slippers, and turndown service.
Overwater Suite
A stilted suite over the lagoon with a king-size bed plus a single bed, a glass floor panel, a canoe-shaped bathtub facing the lagoon, a walk-in shower and a shaded deck with loungers, an outdoor shower and steps into the water; up to three adults or two adults and a child under 13. Bookable in five positions: Taha'a Overwater Suite (view of Taha'a), Taha'a Premium Overwater Suite (more open views of Taha'a and greater seclusion), Sunset Overwater Suite (facing west over the reef and ocean), Bora Bora Overwater Suite (towards Bora Bora and the coral garden) and End of Pontoon Overwater Suite (the most private, with a 180° view of Taha'a or the horizon).
Pool Beach Villa
A villa in the tropical gardens with direct access to the white-sand beach and views of the lagoon and Taha'a: separate bedroom (king-size plus single bed) and living room, a walled garden with deck, shaded gazebo and private plunge pool, an indoor walk-in shower and an outdoor bath or shower; up to three adults or two adults and a child under 13. Also bookable as the Premium Pool Beach Villa, set in a more secluded beachfront spot with fully open lagoon views.
Royal Beach Villa with Pool
One of two royal villas, hidden in a private tropical garden with beach access: two king-bedded rooms with en-suite bathrooms (one with an outdoor bath, the other with its own pool), a large central living room opening onto a wide terrace with a pool, and a private wellness area for workouts and massages on request. Sleeps up to five adults or four adults and a child under 13.
Photos are for illustrative purposes only. Actual room layout, furnishings, décor, views and amenities may differ from those shown and may vary between rooms of the same category. Hotel and room descriptions are based on information provided by the property and are believed to be accurate at the time of publication, but are not guaranteed. The hotel may renovate or change its rooms, facilities, restaurants and services at any time without notice. The final details of your stay are confirmed at the time of booking. See our Terms of Use.