Tikehau Atoll - 10 things to do on the atoll

Among the islands I remember most fondly, Tikehau Atoll is definitely high on the list. This Polynesian atoll lies about 340 km north of Tahiti, in the Tuamotu archipelago. There are plenty of things to do and see on Tikehau Island in a weekend. The atoll is known for being relatively quiet and much less visited than its neighbors Rangiroa and Fakarava, two world-famous diving spots where you can discover rich marine life: turtles, sharks, rays, tropical fish, and coral reefs. If you don’t have the time or budget to make it to the Tuamotus, you can still discover the superb Tetiaroa atoll. A few hours by catamaran from Papeete will let you set foot in some of the clearest water I have ever seen. By the way, if you book a catamaran day trip with Poe Charter, you can use the coupon code “les2pieds” to get a 10% discount.

I recommend it to anyone looking for peace and quiet, an authentic island atmosphere, a real immersion in Polynesian culture, and a place that still feels relatively undeveloped. It is a beautiful little corner of paradise, whether you are planning a vacation or a honeymoon!

Tikehau is a beautiful atoll, but it is far from the only one. We have also written a guide to the Tuamotus, which is a great way to start exploring these islands!

When you arrive on the main motu, where the airport is located, you immediately realize that you are in a relatively small place! The motu is 9 km long and 300 to 500 m wide.

Wherever you are staying, take the time to wander through the charming main village. Not much really happens here, apart from locals taking a nap or watching you pass by. Life follows the rhythm of the atoll. You can even enjoy a quick swim at the tip of the village, on the lagoon side, with its clear Polynesian water and beautiful white sand beach! It is a real natural swimming pool surrounded by coconut and palm trees, and a perfect place to swim with blacktip reef sharks…

Among the things to do and see on Tikehau Island, a walk on the ocean side is one that really stays with you. I think I even enjoyed this side more than the lagoon side, which, as beautiful as it is, still feels a little more “classic” in the end. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not tired of turquoise lagoons and white sand beaches, but the ocean-side beach had something extra for me. It felt truly impressive.

You will see huge blocks of dead reef scattered across the white sand, and with a little imagination, they can take on all kinds of shapes. In front of you, the ocean crashes with full force against the island’s reef. It makes you feel very small.

At the end of the beach, with a bit of imagination, you will find the famous “La Cloche de Hina” beach. It is not easy to find, but basically, you walk along the white sand beach on the ocean side and keep going until you reach the tip of the island.

In any case, when you visit the atoll, don’t miss the chance to spend a few hours walking along the ocean side to admire the cliffs and waves.

So, even though this is one of the main things to see on Tikehau Island, I actually had to Google it to check whether we had really been there or not. After thinking it over, I don’t think we did.

In the end, I don’t think it mattered much. The island’s famous pink sand beach is actually on a motu along the reef. We had stopped in the natural area, but I don’t remember seeing this paradise-like white sand beach, or I would definitely have remembered it. Instead, we spent a few hours on a superb motu at lunchtime. We enjoyed it just as much as we would have enjoyed Pink Sand Island.

Still, if you head out onto the turquoise lagoon during your trip to the atoll, you may want to ask your guide or guesthouse to stop there. It must be worth seeing!

On the other hand, I remember very clearly spending time on Bird Island during our lagoon day trip. According to just about every guide you can find, this walk is one of the things to do on Tikehau Island!

What makes this Polynesian islet special, in addition to the birds, of course, is that it sits more or less in the middle of the turquoise lagoon. In most atolls, the motu, which are sandy islets, including the one with the main village, are located on the reef barrier. Sometimes, as here, a few small islets still remain inside the lagoon.

Bird Island is exactly that kind of place. As you may have guessed, what makes this islet unique is that it shelters thousands of birds from different species, which come here to nest or simply thrive.

A small path lets you cross the island from one side to the other. It is a lovely short walk, and from the edge of the islet, you can see the many reef sharks swimming around!

Walking around the island, or cycling if you feel a little lazier, is a free activity and a very pleasant one too! Take the time to walk to the village, then head over to the ocean side to admire the beautiful coral cliffs mentioned above.

Then come back along the lagoon side and enjoy a swim in the calm, beautiful turquoise water! Who knows, you might even come across a shark on the way back.

I hesitated before including this in the list of things to do and see in Tikehau, French Polynesia. Why? Because this island is quite well known online. If you do a quick search, you will find references to a Chinese guru who, to put it that way, runs the island. The whole thing does have something of a cult-like feel…

Today, a few families live on the Isle of Eden in complete autonomy. That is definitely the most interesting part of the visit. They show you how they manage to grow vegetables, make compost, and live on coral soil, where, in principle, not much grows at all.

It is not an essential visit, but it is often included in a day trip, as it was in our case.

Whether you go scuba diving or simply snorkeling with a mask and snorkel, you will easily have the chance to swim with sharks on Tikehau. They are everywhere: at the tip of the village, on the beach in 60 cm of crystal-clear water, along the edges of the motu, and around Bird Island.

With a little luck, and without being too afraid of these marine animals, you can see them from very close up. At the tip of the village, you can even have fun following them between the sandbanks!

Unfortunately, I didn’t have the time or the opportunity to dive or snorkel on the island, but everyone speaks highly of both the dive center (Tikehau plongée) and the underwater world around the island in general, with its coral and barrier reef. Passionate divers will, of course, have the chance to see all the classic marine life of tropical waters: moray eels, barracudas, whitetip reef sharks, various tropical fish, dolphins, and plenty of coral.

There are several diving operators on the island, including Raie Manta Diving Tikehau, Coco Dive at Pension Hotu, and Tikehau Diving. Book in advance during busier travel periods, as dive centers on small atolls can fill up quickly.

As a rough guide, expect to pay around 14,000 XPF for a first dive and around 10,000 to 12,000 XPF for a standard exploration dive, depending on the dive center and the type of outing. Prices and packages change regularly, so check directly with the dive center before booking.

The atoll is particularly well known thanks to Commander Cousteau, who, according to a 1987 study, described it as “the most fish-filled atoll in the Low Islands of French Polynesia”.

So try it for yourself if you enjoy diving!

After swimming with sharks, one of the things you really shouldn’t miss on Tikehau Island is, of course, swimming with manta rays. As on Maupiti, the rays are more or less present all year round.

You therefore have a very good chance of seeing them during your lagoon day trip. Swimming next to these sea giants is an incredible experience! Enjoy it as much as you can!

Finally, to round off this list of things to do on Tikehau Island, I think you should book a lagoon day trip. On the program: a complete change of scenery, beautiful views, and a white sand beach. Sounds pretty good, doesn’t it? I hope I have given you a good overview of the activities in Tikehau.

In addition to the places already mentioned above, such as swimming with manta rays, visiting Bird Island, and seeing the pink sand beach, you will also enjoy simply exploring the island’s lagoon.

If the weather is good, this is still a wonderful day trip if you are staying on Tikehau Island.

Most guesthouses offer this service, so don’t hesitate to book a day out. Full-day lagoon tours are often easier to organize through your guesthouse, especially if you don’t have your own transport. Alternatively, you can go with local operators such as Hititemanava Tikehau Excursion or Tikehau Ocean Tour.

So there you have it: my top 10 things to do on Tikehau Atoll!

• If you are arriving from outside French Polynesia, just like when going to Tahaa Island or the Gambier archipelago, you will first need to land in Tahiti. I invite you to read our article on how to get to Tahiti cheaply! For travelers from the United States, one practical option is to fly from San Francisco to Papeete with United Airlines or French bee, depending on current schedules.

• Once in Tahiti, you can fly to Tikehau from Tahiti (Papeete) with the local airline Air Tahiti. The flight takes about 55 minutes to 1 hour, and prices vary depending on the season, fare class, and availability, so check the current fares before booking. Air Moana has also announced flights to Tikehau starting in April 2027, so check both Air Tahiti and Air Moana before booking, especially from April 2027 onward.

There are regular flights to Tikehau from Tahiti, although schedules change during the year. You can find the updated schedule here. You can also include the island in one of the company’s multi-island passes.

For travelers who have time and are looking for a cheaper way to move around the area, cargo ships have sometimes called at the atoll as part of their route. Check my inter-island travel page for details. These options are limited, can change often, and should be checked before planning your trip around them.

For those staying in guesthouses, remember to book your stay through “Séjour dans les îles”, which offers flight + accommodation packages with half board for locals, or if you book while already in French Polynesia. In any case, it is usually cheaper than booking everything separately (I checked). You will need to be on Tahiti Island to do so.

Tikehau Island has many guesthouses. I personally stayed at Aito Motel Colette. The location is beautiful, no question about that. However, we were surprised when we were told about additional fees that had to be paid, including taxes and credit card fees that had not been included in the original price. So be sure to clarify everything with the guesthouse beforehand. Apart from that, we had an excellent stay there.

There are also several excellent places to stay on the atoll if you want to treat yourself and have a much larger budget, in a bit of a “Bora Bora” spirit, but without the mass tourism. I have heard only good things from friends, although I have not tried them myself (I wish I had!).

There are many other places to stay in Tikehau. In general, you can choose between half-board and full-board accommodation. Here are some of the places we recommend:

• Tikehau Glamping & Camping: The only official campsite on the island, in a dream setting!
• Tikehau Cosy Lodge: A studio on the main motu with the feel of a small vacation home, equipped for 3 people, with a private terrace, full kitchen, large bathroom, free internet connection, free airport transfers, and bike rental included,
• Pension Hotu: direct access to the lagoon, six fully equipped bungalows for 2 to 6 people, free activities including diving, games, quality meals, and the possibility of organized excursions,
• Hiti Tikehau: an ideal vacation home for families, close to Hina Bell, offering 50 m2 of accommodation with 2 double beds, a sofa bed, bicycles, a terrace, air conditioning, a fully equipped kitchen, and a bathroom, at an attractive price and appreciated for its sunsets,
• Relais Royal Tikehau: bungalows on the lagoon for 2 to 6 people, with half board available, included activities, and positive feedback despite the need for a little refresh!

As often when traveling in the Polynesian islands, we opted for half board for our meals. It was good, and we had no issues. At lunchtime, you can eat at one of the small snacks on the motu, if they are open. Otherwise, you will need to go to one of the local stores to buy food!

The main motu is very small, which means getting around is easy. Everything can be done on foot here, or by bike if you don’t feel like walking. Guesthouses generally offer bike rental. If you are still unsure which Pacific islands to visit in French Polynesia, I strongly recommend reading our article on the Gambier Islands, the most beautiful islands I have had the chance to discover since living here.

So, I hope you now have a good idea of the things to do on Tikehau Island. With all this, you should have a very nice stay on Tikehau Atoll.

Feel free to leave me a comment or share this French Polynesia article with others if you enjoyed it!

See you soon,

Sylvain

Written by Sylvain PONS

From 2015 to 2021, French Polynesia was our home, with Mélanie and our children. I'm happy to share my experience and advice to help you organize an unforgettable stay in French Polynesia, based on my in-depth knowledge of the territory.

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