Day on a private island in Bora Bora – alone in the world

A private island day in Bora Bora is interesting on its own, but this one adds a simple twist: your group has the motu all to yourselves, so you can actually slow down. You start in the morning, get picked up, and then spend about 7 hours in a lagoon setting made for quiet moments, beach time, and snorkeling.

What I like most is how personal the welcome feels, with ukuleles in the air and local entertainment built into the flow. And the meal, cooked by Ken, is a real highlight, especially the raw fish with coconut milk freshly squeezed in front of you.

One possible drawback is the cost. At $1,587.58 per group (up to 5), it can feel steep unless you’re splitting it with the right crew and you’re sure you want a private, full-day experience rather than a cheaper shared tour.

Key highlights to know before you go

• Private motu for just your group, no sharing the island space with strangers
• Ukulele welcome plus local entertainment, including Coco Show and Pareo Show
• Lunch cooked by Ken with the famous raw fish and coconut milk freshly squeezed
• Interactive Polynesian touches, like pareo crafting and weaving coconut-leaf hats
• Real downtime built in, including hammock rest and barefoot beach time
• Optional romance add-ons, like a professional photo shoot or a traditional Polynesian wedding

Entering the Motu Only You bubble in Bora Bora

If you’ve been to Bora Bora before, you know the lagoon is the star. If you have not, trust me, you will still get it fast. This is the kind of day where you stop thinking in checklists and start thinking in pace. You are on Motu Only You, and for the day, you and your group are the only ones on that private island.

That matters more than it sounds. Shared boat trips and crowded beaches can wear you down. Here, the premise is freedom. You can choose to be social for a bit, then disappear into the quiet. You can take your time on the sand. You can sit in a hammock. You can snorkel when you feel like it, not when a schedule tells you.

The tour is designed around a smooth start. It begins at 9:00 am, with pickup offered. After the ride from your hotel, you arrive and get welcomed right away with a cocktail and Polynesian ukulele music. That first hour sets the tone. It is not just transportation plus an island, it is a hosted experience that gets you into island mode quickly.

Pickup to ukuleles, and how the day gets underway

Your morning starts with pickup, so you are not trying to figure out docks and timing. That’s a small thing that pays off. Bora Bora days can be tight, and losing time to logistics is not a great trade when you’re paying for privacy.

Once you’re on the private motu, the welcome is not quiet and formal. It’s local, rhythmic, and geared to make you feel like you belong there for the day. You get a welcome cocktail and you hear ukuleles right away. Then comes the entertainment that keeps things lively without turning it into a theme park.

Here are the specifics I’d note because they shape the experience:

• Coco Show and Pareo Show are part of the program
• You’ll also do weaving hats with coconut leaves, which is hands-on rather than just watching

If you like cultural moments that feel practical and participatory, this is a strong match. If you prefer pure beach relaxation with minimal interaction, you can still keep it light, but you’ll want at least some curiosity about Polynesian crafts and traditions.

The Coco Show, Pareo Show, and coconut-leaf hat making

This part of the day is where the experience becomes more than scenery. The day includes structured entertainment, but it is also interactive. The coconut-leaf weaving is the best example. It gives you something to do with your hands while you’re already surrounded by palms and lagoon air.

The Coco Show and Pareo Show add variety. You’re not sitting through the same style of performance the whole time. You’re moving between music and visual performance, then switching gears into making something you can remember.

I like this structure because it’s flexible. It’s easy to feel engaged without needing to be a super outgoing person. It also gives you a break from “just resting,” which can be good if you’re the type who gets antsy after an hour on a beach.

One practical consideration: hat weaving and similar activities can be a little slower if you have limited mobility or hand sensitivity. The tour does say most travelers can participate, but it does not list specific accommodations. If you have questions about comfort for hands-on crafting, it’s smart to ask before you book.

Lunch in the water: Ken’s Polynesian buffet and the coconut milk moment

If there’s a single centerpiece to this day, it’s the meal. You get a typical Polynesian buffet, and it is served with your feet in the water. That detail changes the vibe from dining to experience.

What’s especially memorable here is the way the food is described and prepared: Ken, born in Bora Bora, cooks the buffet, and the famous raw fish with coconut milk is featured, with the coconut milk freshly squeezed in front of you.

That last part matters for two reasons:

1. You get a sense of the craft and freshness, not just a dish on a plate.
2. It turns lunch into a moment you watch and participate in, even if you’re not cooking.

Drinks are included to match the laid-back setting: champagne, red or white wine, plus sodas or fresh water. This is not a light snack stop, it’s positioned as a full meal with drinks, which is part of why the day can feel like value when you compare it to paying separately for transport, lunch, and drinks on a standard tour.

One word of caution: the meal centers on raw fish. If raw fish is not your thing, plan accordingly. The day still has a lot of non-food value, but lunch is clearly a main attraction.

Hammocks, barefoot sand, pareo painting, and snorkeling time

After the entertainment and lunch, you get the best part of a private-island day: freedom. You can unwind in a hammock under the palms. You can go barefoot on warm sand. You can take things at a slow island pace.

There’s also time for snorkeling among tropical fish. The description frames it as part of the day’s fun, not a separate tour with paperwork and waiting. That is ideal if you like mixing active time with downtime instead of treating snorkeling like a separate trip.

Two more island-style activities are mentioned in the experience concept:

• Painting your own pareo
• Cracking open a fresh coconut

Those sound small, but they are exactly the kind of details that turn a “nice day” into a day you remember. A pareo painting moment gives you something personal to take away. A coconut moment gives you an easy sensory memory: cold coconut, salt air, and that slow lagoon rhythm.

Practical tip if you’re planning to snorkel: wear swimwear that dries fast and bring sunscreen. The day is outdoors from morning onward, and you’ll likely want to stay comfortable while you’re in and out of the water.

Optional photo shoots and a Polynesian wedding add-on

If you want the day to feel extra special for romance or celebration, the experience concept includes options. You can add a professional photo shoot, or you can celebrate love with a traditional Polynesian wedding, set to the sound of ukuleles and with the scent of tiare flowers.

Even though these options aren’t part of the main flow described moment-by-moment, they matter because they help you decide what kind of day you want:

• If you’re planning a proposal, anniversary, or honeymoon highlight, a photo shoot can make the day feel like an event you documented, not just lived.
• If you want a ritual moment that fits the setting, the wedding option ties the celebration to the music and flower details mentioned.

If you’re traveling with family, it’s also worth considering whether a ceremony vibe fits your group’s comfort level. The core of the day is privacy and relaxation, so adding a formal moment is a choice, not a requirement.

Price and value: what $1,587.58 really buys you

Let’s talk money plainly. The price is $1,587.58 per group, for up to 5 people. If you split it fully, that’s roughly $318 per person.

That sounds like a lot until you compare it to how Bora Bora pricing usually works. Shared tours often charge per person and still give you limited privacy. This experience is built around a single group getting a private island day, plus entertainment, plus a full Polynesian buffet, plus champagne, wine, sodas, and fresh water.

Here’s the value math that matters for most people:

• You’re paying for privacy first
• Then you get meals and drinks included
• You also get local cultural entertainment, plus hands-on craft time

So the experience makes most sense for couples, small families, or small friend groups who want to feel like they rented the best part of Bora Bora for the day.

If you’re traveling solo, this price still functions as a private experience, but the value depends on whether you’d rather spend more for yourself alone or share a boat and pay less. With up to 5 people, this tour is designed to be split.

Also note: admission tickets are shown as free. That suggests you’re not paying extra entry fees once you arrive, which is good, because those add-ons can sneak up on you in tropical destinations.

Logistics that affect your day more than you think

Even with a private island, small logistics can shape the day’s stress level. This one lists pickup offered and a mobile ticket, which both help.

• Pickup means less time figuring out transport timing.
• A mobile ticket means you’re less likely to run into paper-ticket problems or last-minute confusion.

The start time is 9:00 am, and the duration is about 7 hours. For a vacation day, that’s a meaningful chunk. I’d treat it as the main event of the day, not something to stack around with another big activity.

Also, this is a private tour/activity, so only your group participates. That’s the whole point here. If you hate crowds, this is one of the clearest ways to reduce them, because you are not sharing the motu experience.

Who should book Motu Only You, and who should pause

This experience fits best if you want a day that feels like a private escape with real cultural flavor. You’ll likely love it if:

• You want privacy in Bora Bora and plan to spend your time relaxing instead of sightseeing every minute
• You enjoy Polynesian crafts and performances, especially pareo and coconut-based activities
• You like a meal that’s part of the event, not just something to eat quickly

You might want to think twice if:

• You are very price sensitive and would rather spend less on shared tours
• Raw fish is a hard no for your group, since the meal centers on it
• You prefer a completely hands-off day with no entertainment or activities

The upside is that most travelers can participate, and the day is built for comfort and ease: you get a hosted welcome, included lunch and drinks, and then space to choose your pace.

Should you book Motu Only You – Bora Bora?

If you want a Bora Bora day that feels truly yours, this is the kind of experience that delivers. You’re paying for privacy, a hosted welcome, local entertainment, and a full Polynesian buffet with coconut milk prepared in front of you, plus drinks. That combination is why people rate it highly.

Book it if you’re traveling as a couple or small group and you can split the group price. It becomes much easier to justify when you look at what’s included, not just the headline cost.

Skip or wait if you’re happy with shared tours, you do not want the meal built around raw fish, or you’d rather spend your budget on multiple different activities instead of one standout private day.

FAQ

What time does this Bora Bora private island day start?

The experience starts at 9:00 am.

How long is the Motu Only You experience?

It runs for about 7 hours.

How many people are in a group for this private island tour?

The price is per group for up to 5 people.

Is pickup from my hotel included?

Pickup is offered.

What kind of meal is served on the island?

You’ll have a Polynesian buffet, with food cooked by Ken, including raw fish with coconut milk freshly squeezed in front of you. Champagne, red or white wine, sodas, and fresh water are included with the meal.

Is there entertainment when we arrive?

Yes. You’ll hear Polynesian ukuleles and enjoy local entertainment like the Coco Show, Pareo Show, and weaving hats with coconut leaves.

Is this a private tour or shared with other groups?

It’s a private tour/activity, so only your group participates.

Can I cancel and get a full refund?

Yes. Free cancellation is available if you cancel up to 24 hours before the experience starts for a full refund.