About
The Leeward Islands are a northwestern island group in the Society Islands of French Polynesia, in the Pacific Ocean of Oceania. The group includes Bora Bora, Raiatea and Tahaa, and it is known for its lagoons and for its luxury resorts.
What a visit is like
Most visitors come for the water. The lagoons of these islands are the setting for the stay: calm, clear and framed by low-lying land and reef. Many travellers spend their days on or in the lagoon, and the resorts are built with that in mind. The islands suit a slow, unhurried holiday more than a busy sightseeing schedule.
Getting oriented
- Bora Bora is the best-known island of the group and the one most people picture first.
- Raiatea and Tahaa are close neighbours in the same group, offering a quieter pace around the same lagoon waters.
- Island-hopping between them is a natural way to see more than one place within a single visit.
Planning your trip
The group is part of French Polynesia, so the wider region shapes how you travel: distances across the Pacific are long, and getting between the islands is part of the journey. Resorts are the main places to stay, which means your choice of accommodation largely decides how you spend your time. If you want lagoons, calm water and a restful stay, the Leeward Islands are a strong fit. If you want dense towns and a wide range of city sights, this is not the place for that.
