The most famous of French Polynesia's Leeward Islands, Bora Bora is the quintessential tropical paradise. Volcanic in origin, it is surrounded by sand-fringed motus (small islets) on an outer coral reef that encloses a turquoise lagoon.

With only one navigable pass, the crystal-clear lagoon is calm, warm and relatively shallow. At 727 metres (2,385 feet), Mount Otemanu towers over the main island. Next to it, the more rounded Mount Pahia stands at 658 metres (2,159 feet).