Independent review for the two Sofitel Resorts on Bora Bora Island in French Polynesia

sofitel bora beach resort tahiti islands picture

Sofitel Bora Beach Resort is located on a lovely beach on the southern side of the main island of Bora. The small but well appointed beachfront bungalows sit right on the beach whilst garden bungalows hide amongst palm groves. There's lots of water activities on offer from jet boat rides to catamaran sailing. This is one of the most affordable of the upmarket resorts on Bora Bora making it a good choice for money-conscious holiday-makers.

Sofitel Bora Resort Information & Facts

  • Hotel Location:    Beachfront off coastal highway on south coast of Bora Bora main island
  • Getting There:    50 mins flight from Tahiti International Airport, PLUS 30 mins boat / road
  • Unique Qualities:    Full service beach resort on the main island
  • Ideal for:    Couples, Families
  • Hotel Features:    94 Bungalows, Swimming Pool
  • Dining:    2 restaurants & bar - some independent restaurants close by
  • Children Policy:    All ages welcome
  • Local Attractions / Tours:    Water activities, 4WD tours, Hiking, Lagoonarium
  • The Beach:    Good - narrow fine white sand extending along resort front
  • The Ocean:    Excellent - sandy bottom with protected lagoon - good for swimming
  • Snorkelling:    Good - abundant reef fish and some corals off from beach
  • Other Activities:    Kayaks, Windsurfing, Catamarans, Jet Skis, Glass Bottom Boat

Hotel Amenities

All bungalows have similar interiors being rather cramped with a queen size bed, settee and small en-suite bathroom. The 32 Garden Bungalows are set in a pleasant coconut grove but are all close together in three lines with the first two lines of bungalows classified as Lagoon View and the last line being adjoining the main coastal road classified as garden Bungalows.

The nine overwater bungalows offer fine interior design but each one overlooks its neighbour reducing the privacy. The entrance to the overwater bungalows is rather uninviting, facing a brackish lagoon, several dishevelled tin huts lived in by locals and the coastal road.

On a private island in the lagoon are the "island bungalows" located on a private island within the lagoon and accessible by a three minute boat ride from the resort beachfront. The small motu island has an impressive central restaurant serving exquisite food with each table overlooking the lagoon and the mountains of Bora. There's a picturesque but small sandy point for beach lovers and the island has steep hills with walking tracks are built high up on stilts in a wooded hillside offering great views overlooking the ocean or on the lagoon (note cobbled stone pathways and steep hills may be impractical for some guests).

There are two types of bungalows on this island: The island lodges are built high up on stilts in a wooded hillside offering great views overlooking the ocean or on the lagoon (note cobbled stone pathways and steep hills may be impractical for some guests): whilst twenty overwater bungalows have unobstructed ocean views looking back to the magnificent mountain landscape of Bora Bora.