7-day Itinerary Bora Bora

Day 1 — Arrival + Matira sunset (main island)

• Arrive, settle in, and do a gentle first swim/walk at Matira Beach (iconic white sand + calm lagoon feel).​

• Sunset: keep it simple—Matira sunset or a short “golden hour” drive stop for lagoon views.​

Day 2 — Guided lagoon tour (reef + coral gardens)

• Book a guided lagoon tour to visit coral gardens and key snorkeling areas; Tahiti Tourisme emphasizes lagoon tours as a top priority activity.​

• Ask for a route that includes ray/shark spotting where appropriate and safe (common on Bora Bora lagoon circuits).​

Day 3 — Island culture + WWII history (main island)

• Do a 4x4/cultural island tour focusing on viewpoints, WWII cannons, and a marae (ancient temple) stop—this style of tour is a well-known Bora Bora offering.​

• Afternoon: souvenir and pearl browsing around Vaitape before you move to a motu.​

Day 4 — Move to motu + lagoon reset day

• Transfer to your motu resort and plan a low-structure day: lagoon floating, snorkel right off the bungalow (if available), and spa time.​

• Evening: book a canoe breakfast or a Polynesian BBQ-style resort night if offered (classic resort experiences promoted for Bora Bora).​

Day 5 — Snorkeling safari (rays/sharks/mantas) or scuba

• Choose a “snorkeling safari” style outing; Tahiti Tourisme specifically calls out snorkeling with blacktip reef sharks, rays, turtles, coral gardens, and recommends scuba for deeper marine life encounters.​

• Build in rest after: Bora Bora sun + saltwater days are more fun with downtime.

Day 6 — Motu picnic + sunset cruise

• Daytime: do a picnic on a motu (often paired with a traditional Polynesian BBQ lunch), which Tahiti Tourisme lists as a signature Bora Bora day.​

• Evening: sunset cruise (sail, canoe, or paddle)—another Tahiti Tourisme “bonus” must-do.​

Day 7 — Mountains OR shopping + farewell dinner

• Option A (active): a guided hike outing connected to Mount Otemanu (note: conditions and access can be challenging; go guided).​

• Option B (easy): final lagoon swim + last shopping run for pearls, pareos, and locally made items.​

Top 10 activities (Bora Bora)

Bora Bora rewards travelers who treat the lagoon like a living map: follow the light over shallow coral gardens in the morning, chase deeper blues by midday, then end with the island’s silhouettes—Mt. Otemanu included—cutting into a peach-and-lavender sky. Start by browsing what’s available for your dates, then choose one “signature” day on the water and one contrasting experience (jet ski, 4WD, or a sunset cruise) to balance the trip.

Start with the lagoon (snorkeling)

If you do only one thing in Bora Bora, make it a guided snorkel cruise—local captains know where the visibility holds, where the fish gather, and when the lagoon feels glassy rather than breezy. A strong half-day option is the Half-Day Small-Group Cruise in Bora Bora with Snorkelling, which focuses on coral gardens and guided stops rather than leaving you to guess where the life is.​

For travelers who want the classic “sharks and stingrays” story, the Full-Day Bora Bora Lagoon Cruise, Including Snorkeling with Sharks and Stingrays gives you time to settle into the rhythm of the lagoon and enjoy multiple swim windows.​

Add a lunch-on-a-motu day

Bora Bora’s most memorable lunches don’t happen at a table—they happen barefoot, with salt still drying on your skin, while the lagoon turns every shade of turquoise behind you. The Bora Bora Lagoon Small-Group Snorkel Cruise with BBQ Island Lunch is built around that simple magic: snorkel first, then linger over a Polynesian-style meal.​

If your schedule is tighter (or you want a shorter, easier pace), the Half day Snorkeling Shared Boat Tour in Bora Bora is a clean, time-efficient way to get on the water without committing your whole day.​

Turn up the speed (jet ski)

Jet skiing in Bora Bora isn’t only about adrenaline—it’s one of the fastest ways to understand the island’s scale, tracing the reef line and watching the lagoon’s colors change with depth. For a guided ride, Bora Bora Moana Jet Ski is a popular pick, and it pairs well with a snorkel day because it gives you a different “above-water” perspective.​

If you prefer more independence at the handlebars, Maitai Tours Self-Drive Bora Bora Jet Ski Tour is designed for travelers who want to pilot their own machine while still following a route and structure.​

Mix in land and landmarks

The lagoon may be the headline, but Bora Bora’s interior adds texture—lookouts, WWII history, and views that make the water feel even more unreal from above. Bora Bora: Lagoon Cruise & 4WD Tour With Snorkeling is a smart “two worlds in one day” option if you want both the open-air island loop and time in the water.​

For a shorter land-focused window, Bora Bora: Half Day Island 4WD Guided Tour hits key viewpoints efficiently, including classic lookouts near East Matira.​

Top 10 shopping (Bora Bora)

There are popular souvenirs available on Bora Bora: pareos, pearls/jewelry, hats/baskets, and monoi—these are the core Bora Bora buys as well.​ One officially listed boutique example on Bora Bora is Mahana Bora Bora, described by Tahiti Tourisme as a concept store for Pacific designers.​

Official links (starter set)

Tahiti Tourisme: Bora Bora destination page. 

• https://www.tahititourisme.com/islands/bora-bora/

Tahiti Tourisme: “What to do in Bora Bora.” 

• https://www.tahititourisme.com/islands/bora-bora/what-to-do-in-bora-bora/

Tahiti Tourisme: Shopping (Islands of Tahiti). 

• https://www.tahititourisme.com/activities/shopping/

Bora Bora (commune) “BORA BORA OFFICIAL” portal. 

• https://www.borabora.pf/index.php/en/bora-bora-official