In this episode, we talk about practical travel tips for Aranui 5 shore excursions with Lehi, including what’s included at each port, what optional experiences you can add, and how to make remote-island days feel smooth rather than stressful. Far and Away Adventures.com and https://farandawayadventures.com are the best resources if you want help choosing the right sailing and setting expectations for activity level, logistics, and pacing. Normand Schafer records this conversation onboard, and Lehi—an Aranui guide for 14 years—offers exactly the kind of grounded advice travelers wish they had before the first tender ride.

The first tip is structural: understand that Aranui includes excursions at every port. That means your baseline experience is already planned, coordinated, and meaningful, which matters because remote islands don’t operate like cruise terminals with endless buses waiting in rows. You’ll still have choices, but you’re not starting from scratch each day. The second tip is mindset: the more you try to force a big-city pace onto small islands, the more stress you create. Lehi explains that some guests rush to go outside, stand in the sun, and then feel overwhelmed when vehicles aren’t instantly visible. His implied advice is simple and powerful—stay cool, stay comfortable, and let the logistics unfold. Your day will instantly improve.

Lehi walks through a classic example on Nuku Hiva, often a full-day safari-style outing from morning into late afternoon. Guests travel in local jeeps and four-wheel drives, visit key sites like a cathedral and archaeological areas, and share lunch ashore with island hosts who welcome everyone with music and dance. A subtle travel tip embedded in Normand’s comments is to appreciate the flow: sometimes the ship repositions while guests are on the island, so your excursion may not be “out and back.” Embrace that as part of the journey. It’s one reason Aranui feels like real travel rather than a series of short stops.

Food planning is another practical topic that comes up naturally. Meals ashore can be cooked differently than onboard, sometimes using traditional methods, and that difference is part of the cultural experience. At the same time, Lehi explains that special diets can be supported by preparing meals onboard and bringing them ashore so travelers can still participate fully. The tip here is to communicate needs early and plan with specialists who know how Aranui works, so you’re not trying to solve it at the last minute in a remote village.

When it comes to optional excursions, the episode provides a helpful framework: add-ons often make the most sense in lagoon-centric areas. Lehi mentions Rangiroa options such as dolphin observation and glass-bottom boat style experiences as examples of excursions that are available but not included. In Bora Bora, optional aquatic activities may be offered, and Lehi highlights the included motu picnic as a signature moment that many guests look forward to, especially as the voyage nears its end. A simple tip here is to decide what you want most—wildlife, lagoon time, culture, hiking, or photography—then choose optional upgrades that support that priority rather than saying yes to everything.

For hikers, Lehi describes the Fatu Hiva crossing from Omoa to Hanavave—about 15 km for those who want the full challenge and the panoramic reward. He also explains smart alternatives, including a four-wheel-drive option or sailing around to meet the ship on the other side. The tip is to choose intensity honestly. You don’t need to prove anything to enjoy the destination, and groups can still share the same day even if individuals choose different routes. If you want help mapping your priorities to the right sailing and excursion mix, Far and Away Adventures can plan and book the trip so you know what you’re signing up for—and love it.