Shore Excursions
Shore Excursions
Please note that not all shore excursions are available on all sailings. Descriptions and pricing may vary. Shore excursions will not be available for pre-booking until approximately 60 days prior to sailing (except for the Romantic Escapades excursions). Seven days or less prior to embarkation, shore excursions can only be booked onboard. New tours, not previously listed for online sales, may be available onboard without prior notice. If you have questions or would like to pre-book your shore excursions, please contact our Reservation Department at 1 (800) 848-6172 for assistance.
Once onboard, please refer to the tour descriptions for full details or consult with the Travel Concierge Team for further information.
Circle island tour
Aitutaki, Cook Islands
Duration: 2h30
Price range: More
$$: the excursion price is between $50 and $100.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
The official currency on board Paul Gauguin is the US dollar.
From the pier, your around-the-island drive will take you past several of the island's villages. You will visit a marae (sacred Polynesian temple grounds) site. Pass through plantations of various crops grown here on Aitutaki. Learn about the island's myths and legends while taking in its beautiful scenery.
Aitutaki has a unique geographical make-up – the island is a volcanic atoll with the typical volcanic peaks in the center of the island with the encircling coral reef ringed by the offshore islands (motus) and the lagoon in the center. The Circle Island Tour is a great way to see the island and meet the locals.
Visit the inland villages of Tautu Vaipae and Vaipeka, drive along the coast and see the remnants of the Copra Production Facility, and see how the people of this tiny idyllic island live. There will be plenty of opportunities to meet the locals and take photographs along the way.
Finally, you will get back to the pier.
Excursion Code: CKAIT51
Lagoon cruise with beach break
Aitutaki, Cook Islands
Duration: 5h00
Price range: More
$$$$: the excursion price is more than $150.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
The official currency on board Paul Gauguin is the US dollar.
Aitutaki's deep blue lagoon is considered to be one of the most beautiful lagoons in the world. Part volcanic and part atoll, the island's geographical structure makes this lagoon unique.
This tour will give you the opportunity to experience the best Aitutaki has to offer in the short time available during your visit.
You will board your boat (types and sizes vary) and cruise through the lagoon, visiting offshore motus. At One Foot Island, you will stop for a lunch of barbecued fish, salads, and fresh fruit.
After lunch, enjoy approximately 2 hours to relax or snorkel.
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We recommend you wear your swimsuit under a cover up and reef shoes, protect yourself from the sun, and bring snorkeling equipment and a towel from the ship. This boat tour involves a wet landing. There is a cash bar on the island for those who wish to purchase beverages. Guests wishing to obtain a One Foot Island stamp should bring their passports with them. There is a fee of USD $2 for the stamp.
Excursion Code: CKAIT52
Snorkeling tour
Aitutaki, Cook Islands
Duration: 2h00
Price range: More
$$: the excursion price is between $50 and $100.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
The official currency on board Paul Gauguin is the US dollar.
You will board small boats each seating 10 guests and travel to Motu Maina where you can snorkel and those that wish would have the option of visiting the motu. It takes approximately 15 minutes to travel each way, as the boats are very fast.
This area has beautiful giant clams and is a marine reserve and is a nesting area of the red-tailed tropic birds.
You will return to your ship at the end of the visit.
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We recommend you wear your swimsuit under a cover up, sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses and bring fins, snorkels, and towels from the ship. You should also wear reef shoes for swimming. This tour involves a wet landing. There are no rest room stops on this tour.
Excursion Code: CKAIT53
Rarotonga circle island tour
Rarotonga, Cook Islands
Duration: 3h30
Price range: More
$$$: the excursion price is between $100 and $150.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
The official currency on board Paul Gauguin is the US dollar.
Depart the pier for an orientation ride around the island, an excellent way to see the island. Along the way, you will visit such sites as Ngatangiia Harbor, the departure point of the Polynesian Migration to New Zealand in 1350 AD, and a historical back road built in 1050 AD called the Road of Toi, or Ara Metua.
Visit Muri Lagoon, where you will enjoy light refreshments and a cultural show, then continue on past ceremonial sites that include Arai Te Tonga, several historical buildings, the library, the museum, and fruit and vegetable plantations.
This tour provides guests with an excellent orientation to the island of Rarotonga and is recommended for all visitors who want an appreciation of the island and its culture and history.
Following your tour, you will be returned to the pier.
Excursion Code: CKRAR50
Takitumu conservation tour
Rarotonga, Cook Islands
Duration: 3h00
Price range: More
$$$: the excursion price is between $100 and $150.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
The official currency on board Paul Gauguin is the US dollar.
Nature and bird lovers especially will relish this unique opportunity to explore Rarotonga's exotic bird and plant species during a memorable island conservation tour.
Depart the pier for the transfer to the Conservation Centre. Upon arrival, you will begin your guided walking tour. Along the way, you will learn about conservation efforts involving the flycatcher, or kakerori, an indigenous bird found only on Rarotonga.
Over the years, the bird's numbers have dwindled as a result of an increase in natural predators. Your visit, along with the visits of many hundreds of others, will provide the landowners with the funds needed to conduct research into various means of preserving and promoting this rare species of bird.
The conservation area is also a tropical rain forest featuring many types of medicinal plants, and you will hear about the many local uses for such herbal remedies.
Following your walking tour, you will be returned to the ship.
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This tour involves 2 hours of walking over uneven terrain and is recommended for guests in good physical condition. Transfer to and from the conservation site will be in air-cooled buses. The tour will start from the gate, and there will be places to rest along the way. There are no rest room stops on this tour. All proceeds from this tour will go toward the Conservation Centre.
Please note: This tour involves 2 hours of walking over uneven terrain and is recommended for guests in good physical condition. Transfer to and from the conservation site will be in air-cooled buses. The tour will start from the gate, and there will be places to rest along the way. There are no restroom stops on this tour. All proceeds from this tour will go toward the Conservation Center.
Excursion Code: CKRAR51
Raro safari by 4WD
Rarotonga, Cook Islands
Duration: 3h00
Price range: More
$$$: the excursion price is between $100 and $150.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
The official currency on board Paul Gauguin is the US dollar.
Explore Rarotonga’s pristine natural beauty in an exciting way during this off-road tour of the island’s stunning lagoons, valleys, and inland villages.
Depart the pier in an off-road, open-top safari truck for a drive to Rarotonga’s back roads and valleys. Along the way, you will be privy to sights and sounds regular visitors to the island would not typically have an opportunity to experience.
You will learn how traditional Cook Islanders live, and your guide will provide you with an informative commentary on the various traditional uses of local flora and fauna.
Following your tour, you will be returned to the pier.
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As this tour involves travel over bumpy surfaces, guests with back and/or neck problems and guests with limited mobility are discouraged from participating. Seating on the trucks is very basic. Sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses are recommended.
Please note: As this tour involves travel over bumpy surfaces, guests with back and/or neck problems and guests with limited mobility are discouraged from participating. Seating on the trucks is very basic. Sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses are recommended.
Excursion Code: CKRAR52
Muri lagoon cruise
Rarotonga, Cook Islands
Duration: 3h30
Price range: More
$$$: the excursion price is between $100 and $150.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
The official currency on board Paul Gauguin is the US dollar.
Rarotonga’s spectacular tropical beauty and marine life are yours to discover during this scenic and memorable cruise on the Muri Lagoon.
Depart the pier for the transfer to the Muri, Rarotonga’s inner lagoon. Upon arrival, you will embark a glass-bottom boat and begin your cruise. Along the way, you will observe a myriad of colorful coral and fish. More adventurous guests will have an opportunity to go snorkeling among the schools of tropical fish. The fish are extremely tame and used to swimmers, and will take food from your hand.
Following your cruise, you will be transferred back to the ship.
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Wear your swimsuit under a cover-up, and bring sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, and a towel from the ship. The boat is covered and features a water-access ladder. There are no rest room facilities on the boat. Snorkeling equipment will be provided.
Please note: Wear your swimsuit under a cover-up, and bring sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, and a towel from the ship. The boat is covered and features a water-access ladder. There are no restroom facilities on the boat. Snorkeling equipment will be provided.
Excursion Code: CKRAR54
Atuona to Taaoa
Atuona, Hiva Oa, Society Islands
Duration: 3h30
Price range: More
$$$: the excursion price is between $100 and $150.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
The official currency on board Paul Gauguin is the US dollar.

Discover the ancient tribes of the Taaoa Valley during this memorable journey to their archaeological ruins.
Depart the pier for the ride to Taaoa, located approximately 7 miles southwest of Atuona on the coastal road. The Tiu, ancestors of most of the Hivaoan tribes, and several other tribes once lived in the Taaoa Valley. Their archaeological ruins can be reached by off-road vehicle or on foot. During your ride, you will visit the Upeke Ceremonial Centre, which comprises house platforms, a tohua (tribal ceremonial centre), public and sacred marae (archaeological ruins), and storage pits of breadfruit paste for feasts. The tohua was restored for the Third Festival of the Marquesas in 1991. The remaining area is in the same state in which archaeologist Ralph Linton found it in 1920. Among the objects you might see is a tiki measuring 4 feet by 5 feet, with the eyes, part of the right arm, and the right ear carved in bas relief. According to Linton, this stone was an altar stone on which sacrificed victims were placed after being killed at the tohua and carried up to the marae. Directly below the platform is an irregular round head carved from a porous black volcanic stone (which may have been moved from its original position). On another platform in the tohua section, you can see a row of worked ke’etu stone slabs. One of them has some carved lines; the design is very difficult to see in sunlight. Locals say it is a whale or canoe, but it is actually a tiki face carved in bas relief.
Following your visit, you will re-board your off-road vehicle for the return ride to the pier.
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This tour involves driving over rough roads. Access to the site involves a path over slippery stones and negotiation of high stone steps up to the tiki. This tour is not recommended for guests with back or neck problems. Each vehicle will accommodate four guests. Families and friends are advised to contact the Travel Concierge desk in order to be assigned to the same vehicle. Although the drivers used are the best available, they are not guides, and their command of English is poor. Your patience and understanding are greatly appreciated.
Excursion Code: PFAUQ50
Aquabike Adventure*
Bora Bora, Society Islands
Duration: 2h00
Price range: More
$$$$: the excursion price is more than $150.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
The official currency on board Paul Gauguin is the US dollar.
Explore the underwater wonders of Bora Bora’s picturesque lagoon during a 30-minute ride on the Aquabike underwater scooter.
Depart the pier in Bora Bora via motorboat for the brief transfer to the hydraulic scooter platform. Upon arrival, you will meet your dive instructor/guide, who will brief you on the scooter, equipment, and safety procedures. Operating the scooter is very simple; riders need only to step onto the scooter and steer it using a small wheel. The Aquabike underwater scooter is equipped with dive tanks, providing a continuous airflow, so your head stays completely dry. After descending to a shallow depth of 10 feet (3 meters) maximum, your 30-minute underwater exploration will begin. Your dive instructor will guide you in the water and throughout the tour to help ensure a smooth and easy underwater ride.
- Please note: *This tour is priced per-scooter. Each scooter will accommodate two average-sized adults; when requesting this tour, please request only one ticket. Wear a swimsuit under a cover-up, and bring sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, and a towel from the ship. This tour is recommended for guests in good physical condition. Pregnant women and guests with neck or back problems, asthma, heart or respiratory conditions, claustrophobia, or limited mobility, and guests who utilize a wheelchair will not be permitted on this tour. Participants must be at least eight years old and four feet tall to participate on this tour. The minimum age to drive a scooter is 16 years old. Guests will be required to sign a liability waiver to participate in this excursion. Guests who wish to use a wetsuit will be outfitted during the transfer to the hydraulic platform on board the motorboat.
Excursion Code: PFBOB51
Lagoon cruise & Polynesian feast
Bora Bora, Society Islands
Duration: 5h00
Price range: More
$$$$: the excursion price is more than $150.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
The official currency on board Paul Gauguin is the US dollar.
Lagoon tour of Bora Bora in a traditional outrigger canoe (motorized), with ukulele animation and narration on culture, history and nature of Bora Bora.
The lagoon tour includes three stops. The first one is for snorkeling in a coral garden, where visitors can discover many different colorful fish, corals, and many other inhabitants of a wonderful natural ecosystem. The guide accompanies the visitors in the water. The second stop is the visit of the stingrays in shallow water. These rays are tamed since more than 20 years. The approach is gentle and respectful, keeping in mind preservation of nature. The last stop is on the ocean side, for the observation of black tip reef sharks.
After the morning of snorkeling, Polynesian feast is served on a private island (motu). Lunch is cooked in a traditional earth oven made with volcanic rocks, and covered by banana leaves. The guests watch the opening of the oven, and listen to the explanations of the guide. The table is set in the lagoon, with an umbrella to protect guests from the sun. On the menu: suckling pig, chicken with local spinach, manioc, plantain bananas, bread fruit, raw fish salad with coconut milk, and finally a traditional dessert made with bananas and vanilla, as well as fresh tropical fruits. Alternatively the Polynesian lunch can be replaced by a BBQ: fish, chicken, spiny lobster (subject to availability), Polynesian vegetables, raw fish salad with coconut milk, tropical fruits. The lunch comes with a good bottle of Moët and Chandon champagne, or red/white wine depending on the guests' preference.
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For great memories, the underwater camera is recommended. Please wear a swimsuit under a cover-up with reef shoes, sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses and bring a towel and your snorkel equipment from the ship.
Excursion Code: PFBOB52
Lagoon excursion with Maohi Nui
Bora Bora, Society Islands
Duration: 3h00
Price range: More
$$$: the excursion price is between $100 and $150.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
The official currency on board Paul Gauguin is the US dollar.
Lagoon tour of Bora Bora in a traditional outrigger canoe (motorized), with ukulele animation and narration on culture, history and nature of Bora Bora. Leaves and flowers decorate the canoe and protect the visitors from the sun. In case of rain, raincoats are also at one's disposal. To enhance comfort, cushions cover the wooden seats. The guides have a long and rich experience as boat captains, guides and musicians.
The lagoon tour includes three stops. The first one is for snorkeling in a coral garden, where visitors can discover many different colorful fish, corals, and many other inhabitants of a wonderful natural ecosystem. The guide accompanies the visitors in the water. The second stop is the visit of the stingrays in shallow water. These rays are tamed since more than 20 years. The approach is gentle and respectful, keeping in mind preservation of nature. The last stop is on the ocean side, for the observation of black tip reef sharks.
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For great memories, the underwater camera is recommended. Please wear a swimsuit under a cover-up with reef shoes, sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses and bring a towel and your snorkel equipment from the ship.
Excursion Code: PFBOB53