Day 1 (Arrive + Hakahau + arts & culture)

Morning / Midday

• Fly into Ua Pou (airport code UAP); Air Tahiti notes the airport is some distance from Hakahau and there is no shuttle, so arrange your transfer with your hosts in advance.​

• Check in and keep the first afternoon low-effort (Marquesas travel days are long).​

Afternoon

• Explore Hakahau, the main village; Air Tahiti notes it has a museum, several churches, and most of the island’s population.​

• Visit the island’s cultural/agricultural/craft center highlighted in Tahiti Tourisme’s “Escape to Ua Pou” page (craft center + co-op + small museum + library).​

Evening

• Early dinner and stargazing (Ua Pou is best when days start early for hikes).​

Day 2 (Basalt pillars + “cathedral views” by 4x4)

Morning

• Book a 4x4 excursion or guided day into the island’s interior; Tahiti Tourisme frames Ua Pou as ideal for 4x4 sightseeing with guaranteed breathtaking views.​

Midday

• Prioritize the basalt pillars (“natural cathedral”) that Tahiti Tourisme highlights as a major signature landscape.​

Afternoon

• Add the “bay of sharks” viewpoint experience described by Tahiti Tourisme (clear water where you can observe sharks without entering the water).

Evening

• Return to Hakahau for a calm dinner and prep for your hike day.​

Day 3 (Choose: traversière hike or easy coastal beach walk)

Option A: The classic traversière (full hike day)

• Tahiti Tourisme calls the traversière the best-known trail, crossing the island from Hakahau to Hakahetau and taking about five hours.​

• Start early, bring plenty of water, and consider a guide (Tahiti Tourisme notes guides are often needed for Ua Pou trails).​

Option B: Easy coastal path to Anahoa (half-day)

• If you want something gentler, Tahiti Tourisme notes a coastal path from Hakahau to the white sandy beach at Anahoa takes about 30 minutes.​

• Use the rest of the day for craft shopping and a final viewpoint stop.​

Split-stay strategy (Hakahau base + optional Hakahetau night)

Ua Pou’s small size means you can base in Hakahau, but a split stay can reduce backtracking if you want to end the traversière and sleep near its endpoint.​

• Night 1–2 (Hakahau): easiest for services, craft center, and village exploration.

• Night 3 (optional Hakahetau side): useful if you hike Hakahau → Hakahetau and prefer not to return immediately.​

Top 10 activities (Ua Pou)

• Guided 4x4 excursion for interior viewpoints.​

• Basalt pillars (“natural cathedral”) photo day.​

• “Bay of sharks” lookout experience.

• Traversière hike (Hakahau ↔ Hakahetau).​

• Coastal walk to Anahoa white-sand beach.​

• Visit the craft/agriculture cultural center (craft + co-op + museum + library).​

• Meet “flower stone” sculptors and browse creations (Hakahau craft workshop referenced by Tahiti Tourisme PF).​

• Visit archaeological sites with a local guide (Tahiti Tourisme mentions tohua Manuia and other sites).​

• Rent a scooter/car for coastal sightseeing (suggested options include car/scooter/taxis/ferries).​

• Build your trip around official flight days and connections (important for small-aircraft schedules).

Top 10 attractions (must-see places)

• Hakahau village (main base).​

• Ua Pou basalt pillars.​

• “Bay of sharks” viewpoint area.​

• Anahoa white-sand beach (short coastal walk).​

• Traversière trail route (Hakahau–Hakahetau).​

• Craft workshop / flower-stone creations at Hohoi beach craft workshop (noted by Tahiti Tourisme PF).​

• Tohua Manuia archaeological site (example cited by Tahiti Tourisme).​

Top 10 restaurants 

Ua Pou dining is typically pensions and small local spots, many without standalone domains, so a strict “official websites only” restaurant list is naturally limited.​

Top 10 shopping (what to buy on Ua Pou)

Tahiti Tourisme highlights Ua Pou’s craftsmanship—especially flower stone with natural floral patterns—and notes you can buy creations at the craft workshop in Hakahau.
Plan shopping on Day 1 or Day 3 (avoid carrying fragile items on the long hike day).​

Travel tips (Ua Pou)

• Airport transfers: Air Tahiti states there is no shuttle and you must go by car from the airport to Hakahau; coordinate with your accommodation.​

• Flight frequency: Tahiti Tourisme PF notes Air Tahiti operates 5–6 flights per week from Nuku Hiva (plus extra during school vacations), so plan connections carefully.​

• Hiking safety: Tahiti Tourisme notes you often need to be accompanied by a guide on Ua Pou trails; treat the traversière as a real hike.​

Top 40 official websites 

Here are strong official anchors you can publish now; completing all 40 typically means adding many individual operator/accommodation pages from the official Ua Pou directory.​

Ua Pou overview (Tahiti Tourisme): 

• https://www.tahititourisme.com/islands/ua-pou/

Ua Pou overview (Tahiti Tourisme PF): 

• https://tahititourisme.pf/en-pf/islands-and-archipelagos/marquesas-islands/ua-pou/

What to do in Ua Pou (Tahiti Tourisme PF): 

• https://tahititourisme.pf/en-pf/islands-and-archipelagos/marquesas-islands/ua-pou/what-to-do-in-ua-pou/

Activities directory (Ua Pou) (Tahiti Tourisme PF): 

• https://tahititourisme.pf/en-pf/islands-and-archipelagos/marquesas-islands/ua-pou/activities-in-ua-pou/

Escape to Ua Pou (itinerary ideas) (Tahiti Tourisme PF): 

• https://tahititourisme.pf/en-pf/islands-and-archipelagos/marquesas-islands/ua-pou/escape-to-ua-pou/

Air Tahiti – Flights to Ua Pou (official): 

• https://www.airtahiti.com/en/ua-pou

Getting to Ua Pou (Tahiti Tourisme PF): 

• https://tahititourisme.pf/en-pf/islands-and-archipelagos/marquesas-islands/ua-pou/getting-to-ua-pou/

Air Tahiti – Marquesas flights (official): 

• https://www.airtahiti.com/en/archipel-des-marquises