We spent an incredible week in Bora Bora with our kids at the Conrad Bora Bora Nui (read our review here). While relaxing on the beach and lounging by the pool are some of the most popular things to do in Bora Bora, there are so many exciting Bora Bora tours beyond the resorts that allow you to fully experience the beauty of the lagoon and islands. We highly recommend taking at least one or two Bora Bora tours to get the most out of your Bora Bora trip. Our shark and stingray snorkeling tour was the highlight of our Bora Bora vacation.
We’ve rounded up the best Bora Bora tours that will make your vacation unforgettable. Although many tours can be booked directly from the resorts, we recommend booking through Viator to get the best rates. Most of their tours are fully refundable if cancelled at least 24 hours in advance, so don’t hesitate to book your Bora Bora tours now for an awe-inspiring vacation.
Which are the best Bora Bora tours?
Bora Bora Snorkeling Tour with Sharks and Stingrays
The shark and stingray snorkeling tour is an absolute must-do tour in Bora Bora and the most popular of all the tours in Bora Bora. Although swimming with stingrays and sharks may sound scary, it was safe and exhilarating. Our kids loved touching the stingrays, which have had their barbs trimmed so they cannot harm anyone. These gentle creatures were friendly and affectionate, allowing us to feel their smooth slippery skin and give them kisses. The kids were so excited to tell all their friends at home about swimming with stingrays. Here’s a video from our tour snorkeling with stingrays in Bora Bora.
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Swimming with black-tipped reef sharks and lemon sharks sounded scary at first, but they are not aggressive species and were actually more scared of us than we were of them. Seeing them swim in the open water was beautiful and peaceful. We were proud of ourselves for overcoming our nerves and swimming with sharks. Our 5-year old son opted out once he heard that he couldn’t ride the sharks or touch them. Hahaha! Our 7-year old daughter bravely entered the water and swam with sharks, a bucket list experience!
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The final stop of this Bora Bora snorkeling tour is a beautiful coral garden. We saw colorful fish, a moray eel, vibrant clams, and even a reef shark there too. The water is so vivid blue so make sure to bring your camera for dazzling photos. Don’t forget your GoPro camera to get underwater photos and videos to remember your snorkeling tour in Bora Bora.
Bora Bora Snorkeling Tour
Another highlight of the shark and stingray tour is riding around in the boat to different parts of the lagoon. The views of Mt. Otemanu cannot be beat from the boat. Plus you get to see the other luxury Bora Bora hotels as you pick up and drop off guests, which is fun.
You can book a half day tour which is 3 hours or a full day tour which includes lunch and lasts 6 hours. The half-day tour was the perfect amount of time for our kids, but I would love to do a full-day tour in the future to have even more time to enjoy one of the most spectacular Bora Bora activities.
Book here a half-day shark and stingray snorkeling tour or a full-day tour here.
Bora Bora Scuba Diving Tour
If you want to go deeper into the South Pacific than snorkeling offers, take a scuba diving tour of Bora Bora. There are options for beginners as well as experienced scuba divers. Scuba tours in Bora Bora offer opportunities to see giant manta rays, eagle rays, nurse sharks, black-tipped reef sharks, lemon sharks, and all different kinds of fish in different areas of the lagoon. Since the water is crystal clear, you’ll have great visibility scuba diving in Bora Bora.
Book an introductory dive here or a 2 tank dive for experienced divers here.
Bora Bora Whale Watching Tour
If you happen to be visiting Bora Bora during whale season, then you’ll want to book a whale watching tour. Humpback whales come to the warm clear waters of Bora Bora to birth their young between August and October. This 3 1/2 hour tour will take you on the search for humpback whales in the Pacific Ocean with naturalist guides. They have an underwater hydrophone to listen to the songs of the migrating humpbacks.
If you spot whales and the conditions are favorable, you’ll even get to swim with them. People have described swimming with whales in Bora Bora as magical, surreal, and sometimes life-changing. Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime experience in Bora Bora.
Book a whale watching tour here.
Bora Bora Jet Ski Tour
Taking a jet ski tour around the lagoon is one of the most adventurous things to do in Bora Bora. We talked to people who took this tour and they absolutely loved it. In fact, they enjoyed it so much that they did it twice during their Bora Bora trip.
The Bora Bora jet ski tour is 2 hours and includes pick-up from your hotel. Guests follow a professional guide around the lagoon on a jet ski either solo or with one other person. This tour includes a stop to swim and to learn how to husk a coconut. Thrill seekers should sign up for this Bora Bora tour.
Book a jet ski tour of Bora Bora here.
Zip along the Bora Bora lagoon on a jet ski tour
Bora Bora 4WD Tour
The 4WD Tour is another one of Bora Bora’s best tours. This popular tour led by a local guide is 3 hours long and includes several scenic stops including East Matira, Faanui Cannon, and Amanahune Bay. Anyone who is interested in history will enjoy seeing the cannons left behind by the United States military after WWII at Faanui Cannon lookout.
Those interested in French Polynesian culture will enjoy learning about local traditions by their guide. The tour also includes a stop at a plantation to taste fruit and a demonstration by local artists who make tie-dye sarongs and coconut oil. Photographers will enjoy the many photo ops while circling the entire main island.
Book a 4WD Tour of Bora Bora here.
Bora Bora Sunset Cruise with Dinner
If you’re on a romantic getaway, then consider the sunset cruise with dinner at St. James restaurant. The lagoon sunset cruise includes sparkling wine and snacks and then drops you off at one the best restaurants in Bora Bora overlooking the lagoon. Sunsets in Bora Bora are some of the best we’ve seen, so watching the sun sink below the horizon while on a traditional outrigger canoe sounds spectacular.
Book the sunset cruise with dinner here for a romantic evening.
Bora Bora Helicopter Tour
If you want to go all out, splurge for a Bora Bora helicopter tour. There’s no better view of the magnificent lagoon than by helicopter. The Shades of Blue helicopter tour lasts about 20 minutes and will give you priceless aerial views of Bora Bora. You can book either a shared tour or a private helicopter tour, which would be perfect for a Bora Bora honeymoon or for popping the question in the most romantic setting imaginable. Private tours accommodate up to 5 people for one price so this option is ideal for families or small groups of friends.
Book a shared helicopter tour here or a private helicopter tour here.
Enjoy scenic views of Bora Bora lagoon on a Bora Bora helicopter tour
Combination Bora Bora Tours
If you are interested in several different Bora Bora tours, then consider a combination tour to save money and time. One of the best combination tours includes a morning jet ski tour, lunch at Bloody Mary’s restaurant, and an afternoon of snorkeling with sharks and stingrays. We heard so many rave reviews about this tour and the restaurant, which is one of the most popular restaurants in Bora Bora. Book this combo tour here.
Another option if you’re hesitant to snorkel is to do the morning jet ski tour, lunch at Bloody Mary’s, and then an afternoon 4WD tour. Book that tour here.
Or if you’re not into jet skiing you can book a combo tour with a lagoon snorkeling cruise and 4WD tour here.
Private transfer from airport to your Bora Bora resort
Last but not least, you’ll need boat transportation from the Bora Bora airport to your resort. While this is not actually a Bora Bora tour, it is a necessary part of your trip. Hotels can arrange transportation for a fee, but we recommend a private transfer which is cheaper and more luxurious than what the resorts offer. We saved $200 on roundtrip transportation for our family of four. Also, it is a private transfer with just your group instead of a boat ride with everyone else staying at your resort on the same flight.
Our boat captain helped us with our luggage and offered cold bottled water and cold hand towels upon boarding. The speed boat had plush leather seats and was extremely clean and luxurious. The captain even stopped for us to take photos along the way, which I doubt the hotel shuttles would do. So if you want a VIP Bora Bora transfer to your resort that actually costs less, then book this private transfer to and from your resort. You can see the speed boat to the right of us in the photo below.
Lady Pearl Bora Bora Private Transfer to Resort
Which Bora Bora excursions will you take?
So those are the top tours in Bora Bora that you should consider for your dream vacation. We are planning a return trip to Bora Bora in a few years and plan to do more tours and discover even more of this paradise. When you’ve come this far, don’t skimp on excursions because this is arguably the most beautiful place on Earth. So which Bora Bora tours do you plan to take? Please let us know in the comments about your experiences with these Bora Bora activities.
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