— how to read this page
Six categories. The questions were actually asked. Click any question to expand the answer.
Before you book.
How does pricing actually work?
Every voyage is a private full-boat charter — the boat is yours regardless of how many cabins you book. Pricing scales with the number of cabins occupied and the length of the trip. The entry point is 5 days with one cabin (two guests). The flagship is the full boat with three cabins over 10 days. Everything in between is available.
Use the calendar on the Tuamotus Expedition page to see exact pricing for your dates and party size.
What’s the cancellation policy?
Full refund if you cancel 30 or more days before the charter. 50% refund for cancellations between 30 and 14 days out. Inside 14 days, we can’t offer a refund — but if we’re able to resell your dates, we’ll refund you in full.
We also strongly recommend adding Trip Cancellation Protection at the time of booking. It’s available through our booking platform (FareHarbor) as an add-on, and it covers you for the reasons a standard refund policy doesn’t — illness, family emergencies, missed connecting flights. For an international trip this remote, it’s the kind of small insurance that quietly earns its keep.
Can we choose which atolls we visit?
Yes — together with the captain. Adri builds the itinerary around what you want to see and do, then adjusts based on the length of your voyage plus weather and swell forecasts. The Tuamotus reward flexibility: what you get is a voyage designed for you, sailed by someone who knows when to hold the plan and when to change it.
Do you offer honeymoon or anniversary packages?
Honeymooners and anniversary couples are welcome — being on the boat is already exceptional, and Adri and Dani take pride in making the trip feel like yours. Rather than pre-packaged add-ons, we handle every special occasion individually. Get in touch when you book and we’ll talk through what would make the trip feel like the moment you’re marking.
Are there discounts for repeat guests?
Yes. Guests who sail with us again receive a 5% discount on their next voyage. Word of mouth is how we grow, and the guests who come back are a big part of the reason we’re able to keep doing this.
Are pets allowed on board?
If you’d like to bring a pet along, please get in touch before booking — we’ll work through it case by case. Not every voyage or destination is a good fit for animals, but we’re open to the conversation.
Getting there.
How do we get to the boat from home?
Fly into Papeete (PPT), Tahiti — the international airport for French Polynesia. From Papeete, Air Tahiti or Air Moana fly to the Tuamotus (usually Fakarava).
Most international guests spend a night in Papeete on either side of the trip to break up the travel — happy to make hotel suggestions when you book.
What should we pack?
Less than you think. Aboard Holoholo, most days are barefoot and swimsuit-based. Bring light quick-dry clothing, swimwear, a good hat, polarized sunglasses, reef-safe sunscreen, a light windbreaker for evening sails, and something a little dressier for the occasional dinner ashore. Skip heavy shoes and anything formal — you won’t wear it.
One practical note: space on the boat is more limiting than any airline. Cabin storage is designed for a comfortable week’s worth of clothing, not for hard-sided suitcases full of options. Soft-sided luggage that can be folded and stowed once unpacked is the way to go. If you’re planning to bring your own kite or board gear, tell us at booking so we can plan for it.
What currency should we bring for shore visits?
The local currency is the CFP franc (XPF). Most restaurants and supermarkets in Papeete accept credit cards, but smaller shops, street vendors, and vendors at the atolls do not. We recommend bringing some XPF cash for those situations — you can withdraw or exchange in Papeete before your transfer to Fakarava.
Life on board.
Is there Wi-Fi and mobile signal?
Yes — Holoholo carries Starlink, which delivers real broadband internet even at anchor in remote atolls. You can send email, video call, or stream if you want to. Mobile signal outside the villages is variable; the Starlink connection is what you’ll actually use.
Many guests appreciate the reassurance of being connected. Many others turn their phones off for the week. Either works.
Is there laundry on board?
There’s a small laundry machine on board for essentials. That said, life aboard Holoholo doesn’t require much clothing — most days are barefoot and swimsuit-based. Pack light and you’ll wear less than you think.
Can we bring kids?
Absolutely. Holoholo is family-friendly, and families are one of the groups the boat is genuinely well set up for — private charter, professional crew, safe and calm anchorages, plenty of gear for kids to try in the water (snorkeling, paddleboards, e-foils under supervision), and Dani’s meals designed for the whole table.
There’s no minimum age, but we’ll ask about your kids’ ages when you book so we can shape the itinerary around what will actually work for them. If your family includes strong swimmers who love the water, this trip will be a memory they carry for the rest of their lives. If you have very young children, we’ll talk through what a comfortable week looks like — sometimes shorter passages, more time at anchor in the calmest lagoons.
— 04 · food and drink
Food and drink.
Can Dani accommodate dietary restrictions?
Yes — vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and allergen-conscious menus are all prepared as beautifully as anything else on the plate. Because provisioning happens weeks before the voyage, dietary requirements are important to share as soon as you book.
The more Dani knows before she goes to market in Papeete, the more the menu can reflect exactly what you’d love and skip exactly what you wouldn’t. Learn more on the On the Plate page.
What about alcohol — is it stocked?
We ask guests to bring their own. Aboard Holoholo, alcohol is BYO — wine, beer, spirits, whatever you’d like on the boat for the week. Dani will handle everything else: mixers, ice, glassware, and whatever cocktail preparation you’d like, from sunset cocktails to dinner wine service.
The best moment to provision is your day in Papeete before the transfer to the boat — Tahiti has excellent selections at prices that beat what you’d find at a resort. If you’d like recommendations for bottle shops or a suggested provisioning list for a group of your size, just ask when you book.
Activities and experience.
Do we need experience to book?
None at all. You’re along for the ride.
Sailing is Adri’s job; if you’re curious he’ll happily teach you to steer, trim, or navigate, and if you’d rather nap that also works. For diving, Dani is a certified instructor — beginners can try their first breaths underwater in a lagoon so calm it barely qualifies as a challenge, and certified divers will find world-class reef and drift diving in every direction.
Kite and wing riders should be at least intermediate level to take full advantage of the quiver, but the crew can also help with setup, launches, and coaching for a first foil session. In short: no experience required for most of what happens on board.
What about seasickness?
Most days at anchor in a Tuamotus lagoon are as still as a swimming pool — the atolls’ outer reefs break the ocean swell before it reaches you. The passages between atolls, usually a half-day sail, can see some motion in trade wind conditions.
If you’re prone to seasickness, over-the-counter medication (Bonine, Dramamine, or the Scopolamine patch prescribed by your doctor) taken preventively before a passage handles it for almost everyone. If you’re seriously seasick-prone, the good news is: 90% of your time on board is spent at anchor, not underway.
Safety and medical.
Is there a first-aid kit on board?
Yes. A well-stocked medical and first-aid kit is on board, and Adri and Dani are both trained in Emergency First Response. For anything beyond first-aid, see the emergency medical protocol below.
Do we need travel insurance?
Yes — travel insurance is required for every guest, and the policy must include emergency medical evacuation. This isn’t a formality. The Tuamotus are remote, and evacuation from an atoll costs many thousands of dollars without coverage.
Two providers guests have used recently: Faye and AXA. Choose whichever offers the coverage that matches your circumstances — the important thing is having it before you fly.
What’s the emergency medical protocol at a remote atoll?
We take medical preparedness seriously. Here is the full protocol.
A basic medical and first-aid kit is on board, and Adri and Dani are trained in Emergency First Response to provide immediate assistance while assessing the situation.
When we are in Fakarava, there is a basic medical facility on the island. In the event of a serious emergency requiring more advanced medical care, an evacuation by air (Evasan) to Papeete can be arranged from Fakarava.
Depending on where we are anchored, the village and medical facility can be between approximately 5 and 12 hours away by boat. The crew will coordinate the appropriate response and, if necessary, contact the relevant emergency and medical services to organize an evacuation.
Travel insurance covering emergency evacuation is required for every guest — see the previous question.
— still asking?
The question this page didn’t answer.
The FAQ is a starting point, not a full picture. If your question isn’t here, we’d rather answer it directly than have you guessing.