13 Amazing Things to Do in Tikehau Island, French Polynesia’s Hidden Gem
Dreaming of a quiet island in French Polynesia with powdery white sand, swaying palm trees, and beaches you don’t have to share with anyone? If you’re torn between iconic islands like Bora Bora and somewhere a little more untouched, Tikehau might be exactly what you’re looking for.
On our second trip back to French Polynesia, we were craving something more remote: less polished resort scene, more barefoot-paradise vibes. So we booked a flight and spent three days in Tikehau, and it quickly became one of our favorite islands in all of French Polynesia.
Often skipped for bigger names like Bora Bora, Moorea, or Huahine, Tikehau is perfect for travelers who want clear turquoise water, incredible snorkeling, quiet motus, and that true “middle-of-the-Pacific” feeling. From relaxing on pink-tinged sand beaches to exploring the lagoon and spotting reef sharks, there’s more to do here than you might expect.
If you’re planning a trip, don’t miss these 13 incredible things to do in Tikehau.
Where is Tikehau island?
Tikehau is a small, circular atoll neighboring Rangiroa in the Tuamotu Archipelago. The lagoon resembles a natural swimming pool, as it’s only 16 miles across and 100 feet deep. Tikehau has a higher concentration of fish than any other lagoon in French Polynesia. The main reason people visit Tikehau island is for the amazing underwater life. Whether you like scuba diving or snorkeling or just being on a boat, you’ll see some amazing fish, sharks, and manta rays in Tikehau.
Things to do in Tikehau
1. Snorkel with the Manta Rays at the Pearl Farm
The old pearl farm is located on a small motu in the middle of the lagoon, and is a main attraction of Tikehau. This is where you’ll find the manta rays who come to take advantage of the “cleaning station”, where the fish help them get rid of parasites. You can organize a boat trip to get here.
2. Visit the pink sand beach
Tikehau is one of the best places to see pink sand beach in French Polynesia. Many of the motus of Tikehau are known for their pink sandy beaches.
3. Get fresh bread from the bakery
In true French fashion, you can get fresh bread from the bakery everyday. Luckily a local told us this when we first arrived. You must go to the boulangerie, which is located near the main village, and order how many loafs of bread you want. You’ll come back in the afternoon between 3-5pm. Each loaf was only .70 cents! We survived on fresh bread the whole trip!
4. Tikehau Pearl Beach
This is one of 2 resorts on Tikehau, one of the luxurious Pearl Resorts. If you love to stay at luxurious resorts, this is the place for you on Tikehau. Located off the main island, you’ll feel like you’re on your own private island, with the pink sand beach right at your feet.
5. Visit Bird island or L’Île Aux Oiseaux
Motu Puarua, known as Bird Island, is a sanctuary for several species of birds. Some of the birds you’ll see include Brown noddies, red-footed boobies, white terns, crested terns and frigate birds.
6. Bike around the island
Tikehau island is so small it’s so easy to bike around the island. You can easily explore and find some great views all the way around. This was such a fun way for us to explore the island and meet some locals.
7. Tikehau lagoon tour
We knew we had to get out on the water to see some of the amazing marine life. So we booked an excursion with Hititemanava Tikehau Excursion which took us to swim with the manta rays, to snorkel in the Tuheiava Pass, to visit bird island, and lunch at a local Fishermans village. This is the best way to explore all the best things to do in Tikehau.
8. Explore the Tuherahera Village
The Tuherahera Village is the main village on Tikehau atoll. This is where most of the islanders live. This is close to the airport. Here you’ll find some local (small) restaurants and markets.
9. Stay in an overwater bungalow
If you’ve been dying to stay in an overwater bungalow, Le Tikehau is the only resort with overwater bungalows in Tikehau. Le Tikehau is a beautiful resort, right on the pink sand beach. You’ll feel like you’re in a completely different universe.
10. Visit Hina Bell Beach (Plage La Cloche de Hina)
Plage La Cloche de Hina is the beach on the ocean side, so opposite of the lagoon. This beach is full of jagged black lava rocks and dead coral. If you continue walking north on the beach, you’ll find Hina Bell, a natural pool formed by blocks of coral several feet high. This is named after Hina, the princess of Tikehau. Hina Bell is one of Tuamotu’s most beautiful sites to visit.
11. Go snorkeling or scuba diving in the Tuheiava Pass
Tikehau island is known for having more fish than any other island in the Tahiti islands, which means this is one of the best spots for snorkeling and scuba diving. Because the lagoon is so shallow, you’ll want to go outside the lagoon for the best snorkeling and scuba diving. Hiring a boat and go to the Tuheiava Pass where you can find all sorts of marine life. You’ll find barracudas, tuna sharks, and moray eels in the pass.
12. Watch the manta rays at the harbor
A local told us this and we made sure to visit every night we were there. In the main village, there’s a small dock that has some lights shining in the water. That light attracts the manta rays, so if you go at night you can a bunch (we saw up to 10 one night) swimming around right by the dock. It is truly incredible!
13. Go fishing
Tikehau is known for its fishing, so chances are high that you’ll catch some fish. There are plenty of fishing tours that go out everyday.
Tikehau hotels
Because Tikehau is a small atoll, there are not a lot of resorts on Tikehau. Most of the resorts are located on small little islands away from the main village.
There are only 2 resorts on Tikehau:
- Le Tikehau, known for the only overwater bungalows on Tikehau, and also has beach bungalows
- Ninamu Resort is a private island resort, with only 7 bungalows
There are lots of great pensions and guesthouses on Tikehau, which we actually prefer over the big resorts. Here are some highly recommended in Tikehau:
- Tikehau cozy lodge – this where we stayed and loved it!
- Chez Christiane
- Hakamanu lodge
- Heimoana Lodge
- Tikehau Paradise
Getting to and around Tikehau
Tikehau is only a one hour flight from Tahiti. There aren’t many flights going in and out, so you’ll want to plan your flight schedule ahead of time, on the Air Tahiti website. Once arriving at the airport, which is close to the main village of Tuherahera, your hosts will arrange to pick you up from the airport.
The island is very small and there is no public transportation. If you are staying on the main island, you can walk or bike around the island. It’s possible to rent a motor bike if you’d like. If you plan to do a water activity, your hosts can organize your boat transportation.
How long to stay on Tikehau?
Depending on what you are looking for, we recommend staying 3-4 days in Tikehau. This gives you ample time to explore Tikehau island, but also to relax and enjoy the beautiful island. We spent 4 days in Tikehau and we really didn’t want to leave. Tikehau atoll is one of the most beautiful places we’ve ever visited!
If you’re planning a visit to French Polynesia, read these:
Hi, Thanks so much for the inside scoop on Tikehau! How did you book with Hititemanava Tikehau Excursion? I contacted them and they asked me to wire them the total in order to reserve the date we’re interested in. Just want to check if that’s how you reserved your excursion.
Sorry, we hope this is not too late! We just contacted them when we were in Tikehau and paid them directly. Im not sure about the wiring- Sorry!