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Voykit pocket guide · French Polynesia
Tikehau
Go for 3–4 nights if you dive or want a quiet atoll with pink sand and a bird sanctuary; skip if you need nightlife or land activities.
Tikehau is a coral atoll in the Tuamotu Islands with one village, one luxury resort and a handful of pensions. The main draw is the lagoon: snorkelling and diving with sharks, rays and fish, plus a day trip to Bird Island. There are no roads beyond the village, no shops and no nightlife. Most visitors stay 3–4 nights and fly in from Tahiti.
- Country
- French Polynesia
- Best months
- All year; May–Oct for drier weather
- Avoid
- Dec–Mar (wetter, but still possible)
- Stay
- 3–4 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- XPF
- Money
- Currency is the CFP franc (XPF), also used in New Caledonia and Wallis and Futuna, pegged to the euro (€1 = 119.33 XPF); euros are sometimes taken at poor rates.
- Daily spend
- Budget XPF 8,000–15,000 excl. bed · Mid XPF 15,000–30,000 excl. bed · High XPF 30,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Vini (OPT) is the main network, with Vodafone (Onati) as the other; tourist SIMs at Faa'a airport and Vini shops need a passport.
- Emergency
- Police 17 · Medical (SAMU) 15 · Fire 18 · From mobiles 112
- Plugs
- Types C, E · 220 V · 60 Hz · French two-pin sockets; some resorts also have 110 V US sockets. Bring a universal adapter.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: Not expected; service is included.; Tours and dives: Optional; XPF 1,000–2,000 for a great guide.; Taxis: Not expected.; Resort staff: Optional; some resorts have a shared staff fund.
- Water
- Tap water in Papeete and many Tahiti and Moorea communes is treated; on atolls it is rainwater. Ask, or drink bottled.
- Toilets
- Western toilets; few public ones — use cafés, malls and the ferry terminal.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Baguette or basic meal at a pension | XPF 800–1,500 |
| Bottle of beer (imported) | XPF 500–800 |
| Boat transfer airport → village | XPF 1,000–2,000 per person |
| Half-day snorkelling trip | XPF 4,000–6,000 per person |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- TIH · Tikehau Airport
- Daily flights from Tahiti (PPT), 55 min; also connects to other Tuamotu atolls
Typical fares
- Tahiti (PPT) → Tikehau (TIH), one way
- about XPF 20,000–30,000 (check)
- Boat transfer airport → pension
- XPF 1,000–2,000 per person
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
No roads outside the village. All transport by boat: arrange with your accommodation or hire a local skipper. The airport is on the southern tip; most pensions meet you with a boat.
See and do
Known for
- Pink sand beaches
- Snorkelling and diving in the lagoon
- Bird Island sanctuary
- Tikehau Pearl Beach Resort
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Bird Island | Boat from Tuherahera, about 30–45 min | Half-day trip |
| Rangiroa | Air Tahiti, about 20 min flight | About 1 h including check-in |
Sleep
- Tuherahera village
- The only village; pensions and guesthouses, basic but comfortable.
- Tikehau Pearl Beach Resort
- The only luxury option, with overwater bungalows; on its own motu, boat transfer from the airport.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Ia ora naee-ah oh-rah nah |
| Thank you | Māuruurumah-oo-roo-roo |
| Yes / No | E / Aita |
| How much? | E hia? |
| Goodbye | Nānānah-nah |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Bonjour or ia ora na; a kiss on the cheek among acquaintances; avoid: Starting a request without a greeting
- Flowers: Accept the flower garland (hei) on arrival; flower behind the right ear means single, left means taken; avoid: Throwing a hei away in front of the giver
- Homes: Shoes off at the door; avoid: Entering yards without asking
- Church: Neat clothes, quiet photos only when allowed; avoid: Beachwear
- Pace: Patience; 'aita pe'ape'a' (no worries); avoid: Pushing for speed
Scams and watch-outs
- No ATMs on the atoll: bring enough cash (XPF) from Tahiti.
- Mosquitoes at dawn and dusk; bring repellent.
- The lagoon can be windy; check conditions before a boat trip to Bird Island.
- Flights can be delayed or cancelled due to weather; build a buffer day.
Tikehau is very safe; the main risks are sunburn, dehydration and boat accidents. Always wear a life jacket on boat trips.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Tikehau yet. Suggested stay: 3–4 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Pink sand beaches
- Snorkelling and diving in the lagoon
- Bird Island sanctuary
- Tikehau Pearl Beach Resort
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Tahiti Tourisme — Tuamotu Islands: www.tahititourisme.com/islands/tuamotu-islands/
- Wikivoyage: Tikehau, revision 3510054 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=3510054
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/tikehau). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.