How to plan flights to Tahiti from the UK
You probably already know that Tahiti is an island of French Polynesia, it’s in the South Pacific Ocean and its pretty much paradise; but if you’re considering visiting, do you know how plan flights to Tahiti?
Since you'll need to fly pretty much all the way around the world to get to Tahiti from the UK, there are plenty of interesting stopovers you can include along the way. So whether you’re planning a Tahiti stopover as part of round the world trip or you’re thinking about a tailor-made Tahiti holiday, we can plan the ideal route for you to reach the magical islands of French Polynesia.
How to include flights to Tahiti on your round the world trip
Rising out of the vast Pacific Ocean, French Polynesia can be reached in a number of ways. If you’re flying, you’ll arrive into the capital Papeete, the only international airport, which is on the island of Tahiti.
Some example flight itineraries
These are a few examples of multi-stop itineraries that include Tahiti and you can see more multi-stop flights with French Polynesia, or ask us for a more direct route.
Fly via North America or New Zealand
The most common way to include French Polynesia in a round the world ticket is as a Pacific stopover between North America or Australasia (in either direction).
From the USA you can fly direct from Los Angeles, or from New Zealand you can fly direct from Auckland. Why not break the journey half way and spend some time enjoying the bright lights of LA, Hollywood Boulevard, the many theme parks or California’s sun-kissed beaches? Or fly via Auckland and spend some time in New Zealand discovering the endlessly beautiful landscapes, Maori culture, glaciers and spectacular wildlife?
In contrast to other Pacific islands, French Polynesia has no direct flights from Australia, so you’ll need to connect through New Zealand to get there from Australia.
Stopover and trip ideas for LA and Auckland
Fly via Asia
If you’re travelling via Asia and don’t want to visit Australia or New Zealand on the way to Tahiti, you have the option to fly direct from Japan, twice per week. The dazzling skyscrapers and buzzing city life of Tokyo will make a fascinating contrast to laid back island life in the Pacific!
Stopover and trip ideas for Tokyo
Fly via other South Pacific islands
If you'd like to spend even more time exploring the South Pacific, it’s worth knowing that you can also fly to French Polynesia from other palm-fringed paradise Pacific islands! Direct flights to and from Rarotonga (Cook Islands), Noumea (New Caledonia) and Honolulu (Hawaii) are available once per week (in both directions). We can help you plan your time to make the most of these flights.
Trip ideas for Hawaii, the Cook Islands & New Caledonia
Fly via South America or Easter Island
You could also take advantage of the weekly, direct flight from Papeete to Easter Island (in both directions) and spend some time discovering the mysterious Moai heads scattered across the island’s rugged and isolated landscape. Easter Island connects French Polynesia to Chile’s capital city, Santiago – the gateway to South America. From here you could easily move across the continent to Mendoza’s winelands in Argentina, the Inca ruins of Machu Picchu in Peru or Rio de Janeiro’s samba filled streets in Brazil.
Stopover ideas for Easter Island
Include French Polynesia in a tailor-made holiday
If you have less time on your hands and want to fly to Tahiti for a shorter holiday, there are plenty of appealing options to help you discover paradise - like our amazing value Authentic French Polynesia: 4 island hop holiday which gives you 2 weeks to explore paradise. Have a look at our top 10 things to do in French Polynesia for some more ideas.
Whether you dream of Bora Bora or are intrigued by the lesser known islands; if you want to stay in budget friendly “pensions” or luxury overwater bungalows, there’s something for everyone.
Interested in exploring Tahiti and French Polynesia?
If you want advice on how to get to Tahiti, or want to plan a French Polynesia holiday, I can help. You don’t have to worry about routes and times, we can talk you through flight itineraries, accommodation and trip ideas – whatever your style or budget. If you're thinking of flying via Tahiti on your round the world ticket - have a look at our trip ideas which ar exclusive of flights.
To start planning your trip, just contact Stefanie.
About the author Stefanie Bulau
Senior Travel Consultant
Stefanie grew up in Germany and her travel passion was sparked by a school trip to Japan. After finishing college she headed to Australia to take up her Working Holiday visa and has since lived and worked in Spain, Ireland, Canada and New Zealand. She began her work in travel by creating tailor-made tours for German customers before moving to the UK and joining Travel Nation’s German team as a round the world specialists in 2016. When she’s not at work you can find her renting a car and discovering new places around the UK, her new home.
