Kananaskis Village Hotel & Nordic Spa

Tuesday, July 7, 2026

From the Takakkaw Falls, it took us about two hours to reach the Kananaskis Village Hotel, where had planned to stay one night, Inna had found an amazing Nordic Spa and wanted to rest after many days of hiking.

We reached the Kananaskis Village Hotel at around 16:30, and it took some time to check in to our room #2013, make reservations for the Nordic Spa (for one-time entry between 17:00 - 21:00), and unload and park the car in the hotel's underground garage. 

At around 17:30, we were ready for dinner and decided to eat prior to going to the spa (as we could not return to the spa once we left for dinner). We explored the hotel's restaurants and decided to eat a buffet dinner at Forte, as it was reasonably priced ($57 / person) and offered the quickest way to finish dinner.

Luckily, the restaurant was mostly empty, and the buffet was unusually excellent. We did not expect such high-quality entrees.

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Stunning Lake Moraine

Sunday, July 5, 2026

We awoke at 06:00, brushed our teeth, and quickly dressed. At 06:30, we started our drive toward the Summer Gondola at Lake Louise, where we had planned to park our car, before catching the shuttle to Lake Moraine. Our shuttle was scheduled to depart at 07:25,  so we had a 15-minute wait to drink coffee (from our Thermos) and eat pastries (pastel de nutta) prior to boarding the shuttle.

We rushed to the Lake Moraine shuttle and made it just in time (the last ones to board), prior to 07:25 departure. Our shuttle made a brief stop at the Samson Mall (Trailhead Cafe was mentioned by our guide as a great coffee shop) and then continued on to Lake Louise. It took about 40 minutes to reach Lake Louise.

Our first order of the day was to follow the Rockpile trail to the best Lake Moraine overlooks. In a short time, we ascended the rocky steps, reaching multiple overlooks. We marveled at the turquoise waters of Lake Moraine and took hundreds of photos.

Lake Moraine is one of the most famously beautiful bodies of water in the world. Nestled in the rugged Valley of the Ten Peaks in Banff National Park, this glacially fed lake sits at an elevation of roughly 1,884 meters (6,181 feet) and is globally renowned for its brilliant, surreal turquoise water. 

Why It's Famous

• The "Twenty Dollar View": The iconic vantage point from the top of the Rockpile—looking out across the intense blue water framed perfectly by the towering, jagged backdrop of the Ten Peaks—was famously featured on the reverse side of the Canadian twenty-dollar bill issued in 1969 and 1979.

• That Vibrant Turquoise Color: The lake's striking hue is completely natural. As glaciers melt in the late spring and summer, they deposit fine particles of rock silt (often called "rock flour") into the water. When the sunlight hits these suspended particles, it refracts and scatters light, creating an intense, milky blue-green color that peaks in intensity by late June or July.

Seeing calm waters below and multiple canoes on the water, we decided to try canoeing next, while the weather held. There was plenty of sunshine, without a cloud in sight, and almost no wind.

At the Canoe Rental, we signed several electronic legal forms before being handed life jackets. We were led to a standard red canoe. As the chief paddler, I sat down in the back first, while Inna sat down in the center, and Alex sat down in front.

At 10:05, we paddled quickly across the glassy Lake Moraine, enjoying the beautiful views of the nearby Canadian Rockies and lush surroundings. We paddled around the entire lake, while taking multiple photos and recording several videos. We returned our canoe at 11:05, having thoroughly enjoyed exploring the lake.

We decided to walk along the Lake Moraine shoreline, and we did so, reaching the end of the trail in 30 minutes. Inna decided that it would be a great time (and location) for a snack, so we got our previously prepared Italian sandwiches and started eating.  

On the way back along the shoreline, we stopped for hot coffee at the local Lake Moraine Cafe:

• Boris: Cappuccino
• Inna: London Fog
• Alex: Hot Matcha
• Dessert: Banana Bread

My cappuccino was not bad at all, and Inna enjoyed her London Fog. After we rested for a bit, we decided to start hiking the main hike to Consolation Lakes.

The Consolation Lakes trail is one of the best "high-reward, low-effort" hikes starting from the iconic Moraine Lake area in Banff National Park. If you want spectacular alpine scenery, towering mountain backdrops, and a dramatic glacial lake without a grueling all-day climb, this is a fantastic choice.

Because it branches away from the heavily trafficked trails like Larch Valley or Sentinel Pass, it also offers a much quieter, more serene experience. 

Trail Profile 

Metric	Details
Distance	6.0 km (3.7 miles) round trip
Elevation Gain	~120 meters (393 feet)
Duration	1.5 to 2.5 hours
Difficulty	Easy to Moderate (mainly due to uneven footing at the ends)
Trailhead	Moraine Lake (just past the Rockpile)

Route Breakdown 

1. The Start & The First Talus Field

The hike begins right near the Moraine Lake day-use area. Follow the path toward the famous Rockpile trail, but look for the distinct signage branching off to the left for Consolation Lakes. Almost immediately, you will cross a 200-meter boulder field—the ancient remnants of a rockslide from the towering Tower of Babel on your right. The path through these rocks is well-defined and easy to track, but it requires a bit of deliberate footing. 

2. The Forest Walk & Babel Creek

Once past the initial rocks, the trail plunges into a dense, old-growth subalpine forest. This stretch is a gentle, steady, but very manageable uphill grade. The trail runs roughly parallel to Babel Creek. Keep an eye out for roots underfoot and occasional muddy patches, especially in the early summer as the high-elevation snowmelt runs down the valley. 

3. Arriving at the Meadow and Lakes

As the forest thins out, you’ll enter a wide alpine meadow that opens up to spectacular, rugged mountain views. To reach the actual shoreline of the first Consolation Lake, you have to navigate a large, scrambling talus field of massive boulders.

We really enjoyed our hike to Consolation Lakes, especially walking across the snow and climbing large boulders at the Meadow (at the end of the hike).

After the hike, we stopped by for another coffee at Lake Moraine Cafe and also browsed for gifts at the nearby Gift Shop (finding nothing worth purchasing, most of the T-shirts were polyester).

Since we still had time (before the arrival of our shuttle), we decided to try another stroll along the Lake Moraine shoreline. We enjoyed it a second time, too!

We returned to our shuttle stop at 16:00, right as it started to drizzle. We actually boarded the 16:00 shuttle  - not the 16:15 designated by our ticket. The shuttle driver was very accommodating.

After a quick shuttle ride back to the Summer Gondola parking lot at Lake Louise, we drove our Hyundai Kona back to Storm Lodge. Since we wanted an early dinner, we talked to the receptionist and had our dinner time moved to 18:15 instead of 19:30.

                                                                 

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Gorgeous Lake Louise

Saturday, July 4, 2026

After the 50-minute drive from Peyto Lake, we arrived at Storm Mountain Lodge, near Lake Louise. Inna had chosen the Storm Mountain Lodge for its convenient location for the many hikes around Lake Louise (since shuttles were required to access the hiking trails). (I wish that UberX were available for drop off at Lake Louise, as the price of shuttles is crazy high)

The Storm Mountain Lodge is an authentic, rustic lodge - quite different from where we usually stay (we usually stay in modern hotels). We checked in and were provided directions to access our Cabin #2. It had our last name printed on the blackboard (a nice touch). We changed our dinner reservation from 19:30 to 18:15, as we wanted more daylight time to explore the area after dinner.

Our studio lodge (meant for 2 people) had one large room with a bathroom. The bathroom had the tub/shower and toilet, but not a sink (which was in the main room). There was no TV, and the decor was quite rustic/old-fashioned. I tried to connect to the WiFi (STORM_GUEST) in our room, but when I did connect, it was extremely slow. (The WiFi speed did not improve over the next 3 days)

We had purchased an Intex inflatable twin air bed for Alex (from Walmart) and proceeded to inflate it. It took us a few minutes to figure out how to insert the air pump into the mattress and how to inflate it. We were expecting the bed sheets & pillows to be prepared for us, but they were missing. Alex went to the main reception area and brought back the pillows, sheets, and blankets. 

There was a fireplace, and we tried to start a fire, but it would not stay lit. We talked to the receptionist about getting help with it, and the manager came down with a blowtorch and started a very nice fire. He left us a few more kindlings to help start a fire in the fireplace.

At 18:15, we walked over to the reception/dinner area and sat down at a table. We were the first diners there, and we looked at the dinner menu. We selected the following dining choices:

• Appetizer: Lodge Bread & Butter, Greens (Salad)
• Drinks: Left Field Cider, Lonetree Dry Cider
• Boris: Game Burger (elk)
• Inna: Salmon
• Alex: Butcher Block

I really liked my Game Burger (elk meat), but Inna disliked the Salmon, so we ended up trading them. I ate the Salmon while Inna ate my burger. Alex enjoyed his Butcher Block. The Lodge Bread & Butter was delicious. I liked the sweeter Left Field Cider over the Lonetree Dry Cider.

After dinner, we walked around the trails on the property. I carried Bear Spray just in case, but we did not see or encounter any wild animals. There was nothing much to see.

We returned to our room, took an evening shower (as we had early hikes planned for the next morning), and then went to bed.

Sunday, July 5, 2026

In the morning, after waking up at 06:00, we dressed and drove to the Summer Gondola for the bus shuttle to Lake Moraine. I write about Lake Moraine in a separate blog post.

After returning to Storm Mountain Lodge in the evening, we stopped by the rereceptionist to modify our dinner reservations.

Inna had made dinner reservations for 19:30, but having arrived early, we thought that eating dinner early would give us more time to play games in the reception area (which closes at 20:30). There was an acoustic guitar too (on the mantle), but I did not try playing it. We were able to reschedule our dinner for 18:15 (an hour earlier).

At 18:15, we walked over to the reception/dinner area and sat down at a table. We were the first diners there, and we looked at the dinner menu. We selected the following dining choices:

• Appetizer: Lodge Bread & Butter, Greens (Salad)
• Drinks:  2 x Lonetree Dry Cider
• Boris: Game Burger (elk)
• Inna: Butcher Block
• Alex: Butcher Block

The Butcher Blocks were excellent, as was my Game Burger.

After dinner, we hung out in the reception area, playing cards. Inna kept winning all the games (as usual), but we had a fun time.

Monday, July 6, 2026

In the morning, after waking up at 06:30, we dressed and drove to the Summer Gondola for the bus shuttle to Lake Louise. We initially considered waking up at 05:20 to try to get parking at Lake Louise by 06:00, but decided instead to purchase tickets to the 08:00 shuttle. 

When we reached the Summer Gondola parking, we parked our car and stopped by the Lake Louise Main Lodge to purchase some food for the hike and a few items for a quick breakfast. (Note, there were offers for summer gondola rides to the top, with a chance to see bears.)

For breakfast, we purchased 3 small coffees, a couple of small pastries, and one muffin. Inna also purchased yogurt, but it turned out to be too sweet, and we discarded it.

For lunch-on-the-trail, we purchased a couple of sandwiches (turkey), but we did not eat them (since we stopped by for lunch at the Plain of Six Glaciers Teahouse, at the end of the trail.

At 07:50, we rushed out to catch the Lake Louise Shuttle and quickly boarded it. We had to wait a few minutes for the shuttle to show up. We reached Lake Louise at 08:20 and began the long hike to the Plain of Six Glaciers. The first part of the hike was along the northern shore of Lake Louise.

Lake Louise is arguably the most famous and iconic destination in Banff National Park, renowned worldwide for its surreal, brilliant turquoise water set against the backdrop of soaring peaks and the massive Victoria Glacier.

The lake gets its signature milky turquoise color from "rock flour"—fine powder created by glaciers grinding against rock as they move. When the glacial meltwater flows down into the lake, these tiny rock particles remain suspended in the water, refracting the light and creating the vivid blue and green hues that peak in brilliance during July and August.

Key Highlights & Activities

• World-Class Hiking: It serves as the ultimate launching pad for some of the best trails in the Canadian Rockies. Beyond the flat walk along the shores, popular routes branch off into the alpine, including the steep trail up to the historic Lake Agnes Teahouse and the Big Beehive, or the longer journey deep into the glacial valley along the Plain of Six Glaciers.

• On-the-Water Exploring: Canoeing is the classic way to experience the lake from a different perspective. A historic boathouse on the west shore offers canoe rentals, allowing you to paddle right up toward the mountain reflections, though the glacier-fed water remains far too cold for swimming year-round.

• Winter Transformation: In the winter months, the lake completely freezes over and transforms into a snowy wonderland. It hosts one of the world's most scenic outdoor skating rinks, complete with an ice castle built right on the surface, while the surrounding trails become popular for snowshoeing and horse-drawn sleigh rides.

Lake Louise was gorgeous, but of a different color than the turquoise Lake Moraine. There was no wind on the lake, and the canoes were just starting to be rented out. The surrounding beauty of the Canadian Rockies was breathtaking. 

The Plain of Six Glaciers Trail Overview

Distance: ~11.4 km (7.1 miles) round-trip to the historic teahouse; ~13.8 km (8.6 miles) if you continue past the teahouse to the true end of the trail at the Abbot Pass/glacier viewpoint.

Elevation Gain: ~365 meters (1,200 feet) to the teahouse; ~500 meters (1,640 feet) total to the final viewpoint.

Time: 3.5 to 5 hours round-trip.

Difficulty: Moderate. It’s a very steady, gradual climb rather than a steep scramble, making it highly manageable for anyone with a reasonable baseline of fitness. 

The Route Breakdown

The Lake Louise Lakeshore (The Warm-up): The hike begins on the paved, flat path that wraps around the right (north) side of Lake Louise, starting right in front of the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. This first 2 km (1.2 miles) is entirely flat, offers classic postcard views looking back at the hotel, and is usually quite crowded.

The Forested Climb: At the far end of the lake, the pavement ends, the crowds thin out drastically, and the trail turns into a natural dirt-and-rock path. You’ll cross a silty, gravel delta where glacial meltwater feeds the lake and pass a rock wall frequently used by local rock climbers. From here, the trail begins a steady, gentle ascent through a subalpine forest of spruce and fir.

The Lateral Moraine & High Alpine Valley: As you push past the treeline, the valley bursts wide open. The terrain transitions into an exposed, rocky landscape shaped by ancient retreating glaciers. The trail follows the spine of a massive lateral moraine. The views here are spectacular: massive hanging glaciers, steep avalanche chutes, and plunging waterfalls surround you. (Note: Because this section is highly exposed, it can get very windy, cold, or intensely sunny—layers are essential).

The Plain of Six Glaciers Teahouse: At about 5.5 km, you'll reach the historic double-story log cabin teahouse built by Swiss guides in 1929. It operates with no electricity or running water (staff hike supplies in on foot). It’s a perfect spot to rest, use the washrooms, and grab a tea or a fresh scone (keep in mind that it can get very busy during peak hours).

The Final Push to the Viewpoint: Many hikers stop at the teahouse, but it is highly recommended to continue the extra 1.2 to 1.5 km to the true end of the trail. The path past the teahouse is unmaintained and becomes steeper, tracking across looser shale and scree along a narrow ridge. It ends abruptly at a dramatic rocky perch overlooking the deeply crevassed Victoria Glacier. If you sit quietly, you can frequently hear the thunderous cracks and rumbles of avalanches and shifting ice calving off the mountain faces above.

We started the Plain of Six Glaciers hike at a fast tempo, frequently passing other hikers during the Lake Louise Lakeshore section, and slowing down during the steeper sections of the trail. 

We reached the Plain of Six Glaciers Teahouse at around 11:00 and decided to stop for lunch there (although we had sandwiches all ready for lunch; we ended up eating the sandwiches on the next day's hike). We were happy to learn that the teahouse accepted credit cards (as I carried little Canadian currency). The teahouse is cute and a nice stop after a long and tedious hike.

We sat upstairs at separate tables (most tables are really meant for two people) and ordered the following items:

• Boris:  Meal Option 2 (Chili of the Day, Cinnamon Streusal Loaf, Hot English Breakfast Tea)
• Inna: Cheese Sandwich, Tea Biscuits, Hot Tea
• Alex: Meal Option 2 (Chili of the Day, Chocolate Mousse, Hot Tea)

The lunch was tolerable, as the chili was somewhat edible, but the Streusal Loaf was tasteless. The hot tea was the best part of lunch. Next time, just order Hot Tea only.

After lunch at the teahouse, we continued the hike to the viewpoint. The terrain turned steeper with looser gravel, and Inna had some difficulties in going both uphill and downhill. The final viewpoint was nothing special and could have been skipped. Nothing was outstanding to photograph. 

Our way back to Lake Louise was quite smooth with a few rest stops along the way. Inna started to get a bit tired (due to the long hike), and we took a few rest stops. The trail was quite busy (like Disneyland), and we saw crowds of people hiking along the trail.

Once we reached the Lake Louise lakeshore, the trail turned flat, and we were able to walk back at a brisk pace. We were hoping to rent a canoe for an hour, so that we could explore Lake Louise by boat. Luckily, the rental line was not very long, and we were able to rent a canoe at about 15:00 for 180 Canadian dollars for one hour.

There was very little wind on Lake Louise, and we had a wonderful time paddling around. It was quite enjoyable and compared favorably to canoeing on Lake Moraine. We managed to reach the other end of Lake Louise (which normally takes 30 minutes).

When we finished canoeing, we docked the boat and decided to explore the Fairmont Hotel. We found a nice bakery inside that sold delicious pastries, and we purchased one to try. It was delicious (but a bit expensive)!

We rested by the lake, but there were crowds of people taking photos - it was just like Disneyland. We decided to try to return half an hour earlier at 17:00 instead of 17:30 and walked back to the shuttle area. We were able to board the 17:00 shuttle and were quickly back in our Hyundai Kona. We drove to the Post Hotel, where Inna had made dinner reservations for 18:15. We thought that if we arrived early, we could possibly be seated a bit earlier, too.

We quickly reached the Post Hotel and waited to be seated. After being seated and given menus, we ordered the following items:

• Appetizer: Mushroom Toast
• Alex: Angus Beef
• Boris: Tagliatelle
• Inna: Halibut
• Desert: Rhubarb Ginger
• Drinks: No Boats On Sunday (apple cider), Last Chance (peach cider)

Our waiter, Benjamin K., was excellent and talked about the menu and his time in the Lake Louise area.  Our entrees were excellent - a level above our dinner at the Storm Mountain Lodge. The Tagliatele and the Halibut were especially delicious. The Rhubarb Ginger dessert was good - but quite small.

Inna really liked the Post Hotel as well, and it is the kind of hotel where she'd like to stay. There was a grand piano, on which a player started playing later on. 

There was a FIFA World Cup game - Team U.S.A. vs.  Belgium. Alex and I were rooting for the U.S. team, but the Belgium team outplayed the U.S. team (and made fewer mistakes). We started watching halfway through the match, when the U.S. was losing 1-2. I was really hoping that the U.S. team would strike back. It didn't happen, and the Belgians scored two more goals, to make the final score 1- 4.

After dinner, we drove back to the Strom Lodge to rest and relax. It was an extremely long and tiring day, and everyone was very tired. We decided to go to bed early, at 10:30.

Tuesday, July 6, 2027

In the morning, we woke later than usual -  at 07:30, as we wanted to have more rest. We decided to try eating breakfast (for the first time) at the Storm Lodge. 

There was not much available for breakfast - a few pastries and coffee (a bit disappointing for an expensive hotel). The only yogurt was sweetened - not the plain Greek yogurt that we prefer - and the eggs cost extra. We ate a few of the croissants and drank the coffee (but had expected a bit more).

We checked out of Storm Lodge and started our drive to several hikes and viewpoints that we had previously planned. Alex was happy that he would not have to sleep anymore on the inflatable twin bed.

Our first stop was at Emerald Lake. As we started our drive at 09:00, we were worried about the limited parking there. When we arrived at 09:45, we managed to find one of the last spots in the parking lot - and it was still 0.5 miles away from Emerald Lake.

Emerald Lake is the crown jewel of Yoho National Park, located just over the Alberta-British Columbia border and about a 30-minute drive west of Lake Louise. Like its famous neighbor, it features striking, vibrant water, but it offers a distinctly quieter, more serene wilderness atmosphere.

True to its name, the water features a deep, intense green-turquoise hue. Because it sits at a slightly lower elevation than Lake Louise, it thaws earlier in the spring (usually by late May), and its coloration is caused by a mixture of glacial rock flour and fine white calcium carbonate (maritime marl) suspended in the water, which beautifully reflects the intense emerald spectrum.

Key Highlights & Activities

• The Lakeshore Trail: A highly accessible, mostly flat 5.2 km (3.2 miles) loop circles the entire perimeter of the lake. The first half of the trail is paved and wheelchair-accessible, crossing a wooden bridge and wandering through an ancient, humid cedar and hemlock forest, while the back half opens up to dramatic views of avalanche paths and the towering President Range.

• Canoeing: A rustic historic boathouse sits near the entrance, offering canoe rentals for visitors who want to paddle across the glassy water. Because it sees slightly fewer massive tour crowds than Lake Louise, paddling here often feels incredibly peaceful.

• The Emerald Lake Lodge: Perched on a small peninsula reachable by a footbridge, this historic lodge features cozy log cabins, massive stone fireplaces, and an upscale dining room. It blends seamlessly into the forested shoreline, providing a striking focal point for photography.

Our second stop was at the nearby Natural Bridge. The parking lot was very small, but we managed to find a spot. Although there were no hikes here, the views of the rushing water beneath the natural rock formations were breathtaking, and we took lots of photos.

Natural Bridge is a striking geological formation located just a short drive down Emerald Lake Road in Yoho National Park, British Columbia. It makes for an ideal, quick stop on your way to or from Emerald Lake.

This unique rock formation illustrates the sheer erosive power of rushing water. Over millennia, the roaring, silt-laden waters of the Kicking Horse River carved a path right through a solid wall of ancient limestone. What began as a small crack eventually wore away into a massive, wide opening beneath the rock face, leaving a sturdy stone bridge spanning across the roiling canyon.

Our third and final stop was at the Takakkaw Falls. We had to wait for about 10 minutes to find an available parking spot. Once we parked, we started the short stroll to the actual falls. The Takakkaw Falls were spectacular, and we took many photos. 

We walked closer to the falls themselves, but the fine mist coming off the falls became quite heavy, and we turned around. We did not want to get soaked.

Takakkaw Falls is one of the most spectacular sights in Yoho National Park. The name is a Cree expression meaning "it is magnificent," and given its scale and power, the name is well-earned.

The Landscape and Science 

• The Scale: With a total height of 373 meters (1,224 feet), it is widely considered one of Canada’s tallest waterfalls. The main, free-falling drop is 254 meters (833 feet) of sheer plunge.

• The Source: It is fed by the Daly Glacier, which is part of the high-altitude Waputik Icefield. Because it is glacial-fed, the volume of water changes dramatically throughout the day—it is usually at its most thunderous in the afternoons of July and August as the day’s warmth melts the ice above.

• The "Rooster Tail": A distinct feature of the falls is the "rooster tail"—an effect where the water hits a rock shelf partway down the cliff face and gets kicked outward, sometimes shooting dozens of meters away from the rock before continuing its descent.

Visitor Experience 

• Access: A very short, easy, and paved 1.4 km (0.9 mile) round-trip trail leads from the parking lot to the base of the falls. You will get soaked if you walk to the very end of the path during peak flow, so a waterproof jacket is a good idea.

• The Drive: The journey to the trailhead is an adventure in itself. The Yoho Valley Road includes a series of tight, steep switchbacks. Note: Trailers are strictly prohibited, and vehicles over 7 meters (23 feet) in length (like many RVs) must reverse to navigate the turns.

• Seasonality: Because the road crosses high-frequency avalanche terrain, it is closed for the winter. It typically opens in mid-June and closes in mid-October.

On the way back from the Falls, we noticed a Canadian Search-and-Rescue helicopter hovering. We saw the helicopter carry someone to the base of the Falls and pick someone up.

After we finished with Takakkaw Falls, we returned to our car and started the long, two-hour drive to our final destination - Kananaskis Village Hotel (where Inna had made reservations to use the Nordic Spa).

Lake Louise Trip Report

Highlights

• Incredible beauty of Lake Moraine, Lake Louise, and the surrounding Canadian Rockies
• Amazing canoeing on Lake Moraine and Lake Louise
• Excellent hiking trails like the Plain of Six Glaciers

Lowlights

• Access to Lake Moraine or Lake Louise requires the use of expensive private bus shuttles (usually around $50/person). Technically, Lake Louise does have parking (but you ust get there before 06:00 to have a chance)
• At Storm Lodge, WiFi was extremely slow (and a lack of cellphone service), backing up photos to iCloud, updating apps, checking email, and reading new difficult. We also did not like the lack of modern amenities and the early closing time of the reception
• Large crowds of tourists on every hike (any popular hike feels like visiting Disneyland)
• High prices at hotels, lodges, and restaurants (even for mediocre restaurants and hotels)
• The Plain of Six Glaciers Teahouse was a bit disappointing (in terms of food quality).

Links

• Storm Mountain Lodge
• Post Hotel
• Fairmont at Lake Louise
• Kananaskis Village Hotel 

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Beautiful Banff

Thursday, July 2, 2026

On the way to Hotel Canoe in Banff, where we planned to spend two nights, I planned to stop at Wild Flower Bakery to purchase the next day's packable lunch in Banff. Once we reached Banff, traffic was extremely heavy, so I dropped off Alex and Inna so that they could order the pastries and sandwiches, while I looked for parking.

It took me a while to find an acceptable parking spot. By then, Inna had already purchased banana bread (for next day's breakfast) and a burrito for lunch. I had packed the Hyundai next to Nester's Market, a small supermarket, where I purchased a case of 18 bottles of water (6-liters) and Royal Nuts (cranberry mix with almonds).

From there, we drove to Hotel Canoe, parking at the front, and checking in at the front desk. We were assigned room #546 in building B. We were also given freshly ground coffee with cream and various teas for our pour-over system in our room.

The pour-over coffee process is quite simple (but as I still prefer my Mocha Pot to this method):

Pour-Over Coffee Process

1. Put the paper filter inside the metal filter
2. Put the ground coffee in the paper filter
3. Boil a container of water
4. Pour boiling water over the beans and wait 30 sec
5. Continue pouring until the canister is full

Once in the room, we unloaded our bags and decided to get ready for the hike to the short but spectacular Tunnel Mountain. The trailhead was nearby, and we parked our Hyundai Kona (in the last remaining parking space) at around 18:15.

Since Banff is at a latitude of 51 degrees north, it has much longer summer days than nights. In July, though the sun rises at 05:30, it sets at 22:00. Thus, we have maximum daylight during the summer months.

As we started our upward hike on the Tunnel Mountain trail, we were not worried about returning in the dark. The hike had a steep ascent, and we stopped a few times for rest. However, it's not a long hike, and we quickly reached the top (in less than an hour).

Tunnel Mountain Trail Overview

Distance: ~4.5 to 4.8 km (2.8 to 3 miles) out-and-back.
Elevation Gain: ~260 meters (850 feet).
Time: 1.5 to 2 hours round trip (though quick packers or runners often do it in an hour). 

Difficulty: Rated as Easy to Moderate. Parks Canada classifies it as moderate due to the steady uphill incline, but because the trail is exceptionally well-graded and free of technical scrambling, it is highly approachable for beginners and families.

While climbing the trail, we marveled at the sweeping, majestic views of the surrounding Canadian Rockies. Inna even managed to spot a red fox and take a photo. I was too slow with my Nikon P1100.

We took hundreds of photos along the trail and really enjoyed the views. This is an amazing trail that I would love to repeat again.

After we finished with the trail, we still had time before dinner and drove to the nearby Vermilion Lakes. Once we reached a parking spot, we walked out to look over the lakes. We saw a few paddleboarders and even what looked like a recently married couple going paddleboarding. However, there were lots of flies and mosquitoes, and we scrambled to our car to escape their bites.

For dinner, Inna had made dinner reservations at the Bluebird Woodfired Steakhouse, initially at 19:00, but then rescheduled to 20:30 (to give us more time to hike). Once we found parking nearby, we walked over and were seated upstairs. We initially ordered Prime Rib, but the Steakhouse ran out, so we had to re-order the following items:

• Appetizer: Butterleaf Lettuce, Doughnuts
• Main: 25oz Blue Dot Ribeye
• Sides: Mushrooms, Potato Puree, Grilled Cabbage
• Drinks: Haskap Berry Cider

The 25oz. Ribeye was excellent (shared between the three of us), but smaller than I had expected for a 25-oz steak. We were really disappointed that we did not get a chance to try the Prime Ribs. The Haskap Berry Cider was excellent.

After dinner, we strolled around the town for some time, marveling at the fact that so many stores were still open at 22:00.  We purchased some small gifts and t-shirts for ourselves.

Friday, July 3, 2026

We did not sleep well during the night - perhaps the late steak dinner at the Bluebird Woodfired Steakhouse was difficult to digest. I had woken up at 02:00 and again at 04:00 and had difficulty returning to sleep.

I got up at 05:45 to take a shower and get ready. At around 06:15, I decided to make the pour-over coffee, filling up my thermos to its full 24oz. I packed all our sandwiches, ice packs, and cream into the portable Igloo. When everyone was ready, we loaded up our car and headed for Johnston Canyon (about 30 minutes away). We were worried that the small parking lot there would get full, and we wanted to arrive there in time for our hike.

Fortunately, we arrived at 07:15, and the parking lot was mostly empty. We parked our Hyundai Kona and put on our hiking gear. I had to borrow Alex's belt so that I could attach the can of Bear Spray to it. I also had my Nikon P1100 camera and the small hiking pack (which had my lunch, snack bars, mosquito repellent, and sunblock). 

I poured the freshly made coffee from the thermos into a cup (and added cream). I shared the cup with Alex and Inna, and we took turns drinking it (we forgot to bring additional paper cups). After finishing eating our banana bread (our breakfast!), we got ready for the hike. Initially, I thought of bringing my heavier Lululemon jacket, but it was not as cold as expected. 

As we started the hike at around 08:00, there was already a line of people heading uphill toward the Lower Waterfall. After about 30 minutes, we had reached it and took many beautiful photos. The whole area was spectacular, and we really enjoyed it.

We continued on the trail toward the Upper Waterfall. We spent some time taking beautiful photos from the many viewpoints of this spectacular waterfall.

We continued the hike for another hour to the Ink Pots. The trail was far less busy now, and we rarely encountered any other hikers. Once we reached the Ink Pots, we thought they were quite intriguing, and the surrounding mountains were also amazing. 

We unpacked our bags and decided to eat an early lunch on a used bench (there were many benches throughout the Ink Pots). Alex and I shared a burrito, and I also ate both of my energy bars (RXBAR Honey Cinnamon Peanut Butter & Chocolate Sea Salt).

Johnston Canyon is one of the most spectacular, dramatic, and heavily visited day hikes in Banff National Park. Located about 30 minutes west of the Banff townsite along the scenic Bow Valley Parkway (Highway 1A), it takes you deep into a limestone canyon carved over millennia by rushing water. 

What makes it unique is its engineering: a series of steel catwalks and cantilevered walkways are bolted directly into the sheer canyon walls, suspended right over the roaring Johnston Creek.

The Hike Breakdown 

The trail functions as a series of progressive checkpoints, allowing you to choose how far you want to go.

• To the Lower Falls

  • Distance: 2.4 km (1.5 miles) round trip

  • Elevation Gain: ~30 meters (100 feet)

  • Time: 1 hour

  • The Experience: This section is wide, paved, and exceptionally gentle. The highlight is a small, natural rock tunnel that you can walk through to stand on a viewing platform just feet away from the roaring Lower Falls—expect to get caught in the misty spray!

• To the Upper Falls

  • Distance: 5.0 km (3.1 miles) round trip

  • Elevation Gain: ~120 meters (394 feet)

  • Time: 2 to 2.5 hours

  • The Experience: Beyond the Lower Falls, the trail turns into a more traditional dirt and rugged path, continuing upward via steep staircases and catwalks. It ends at a dramatic 30-meter-high (98-foot) waterfall, which features two viewing angles: one from a bottom platform looking up, and another steep trail leading to a platform looking right over the crest.

• To the Ink Pots

  • Distance: 11 km (6.8 miles) round trip

  • Elevation Gain: ~335 meters (1,100 feet)

  • Time: 4 hours

  • The Experience: If you want a true hike that escapes the crowds, continue past the Upper Falls. The trail leaves the canyon entirely, ascending through a dense pine forest before opening up into a stunning, tranquil mountain meadow. Here, you'll find the Ink Pots: five unique, mineral-rich, greenish-blue spring pools that continuously bubble up from the ground.

Logistics & Planning Strategy 

• Parking vs. Transit: Because over 700,000 people visit a year, the two parking lots (P1 and P2) routinely fill up completely by 8:30 or 9:00 AM during the summer. Roadside parking is strictly prohibited. The smartest move is to take the Roam Public Transit (Route 9) directly from the Banff townsite, which drops you off right at the trailhead and saves you the parking headache.

• Crucial Trail Etiquette: Johnston Canyon is a critical nesting habitat for the Black Swift, an endangered bird species that builds nests on the canyon's wet, mossy cliffs. Because of this, off-trail use is strictly prohibited by Parks Canada. Going off-path or stepping past the railings into the canyon bed can carry massive fines up to $25,000.

What to Bring 

• Good Footwear: While the path to the Lower Falls is paved, it can be wet and slick from the waterfall spray. Sturdy trail shoes or hiking boots with solid traction are highly recommended.

• Bear Spray: Even though the canyon itself is heavily trafficked and noisy, it cuts through prime wildlife corridors along the Bow Valley Parkway. If you plan on pushing past the waterfalls toward the quieter Ink Pots trail, carrying bear spray is an absolute necessity.

From the Ink Pots, we returned to our car, the same way we came, though we encountered a very heavy surge of hikers heading toward us from the parking lot. Being early really helps! We were exceedingly happy to have started hiking the Johnston Trail much earlier, thus avoiding the large  (Disneyland) crowd of people.

Once we returned to our car, we rested a bit and drank the remaining coffee. We started our drive to our next destination - Lake Minnewanka. The direct road there was closed, so we had to take a detour.

Arriving at Lake Minnewanka, we parked our car and inquired about boating activities. There were canoes and power boats for rent, and also an hourly boat cruise.

We purchased the hourly boat cruise for 15:00. The tickets were quite expensive - $90 canadian dollars per person (for a measly 1-hour cruise). 

The Lake Minnewanka Boat Cruise is the only motorized boat tour permitted within Banff National Park, taking you across the largest and deepest lake in the park. Known as Minn-waki ("Water of the Spirits") by the Stoney Nakoda people, the lake is surrounded by massive peaks and holds a fascinating history—including a completely submerged turn-of-the-century resort village hidden beneath its glacial waters.

The cruise takes you deep into the lake's dramatic vertical channel, culminating at Devil’s Gap, a striking opening where the rugged Rocky Mountains abruptly meet the flat Alberta prairies.

The boat cruise was ok - both Alex and I had fallen asleep, due to the slow rocking motion of the boat and our general tiredness from the hike.

After the cruise, we returned to our Hotel Canoe for a bit of rest. I decided to take a shower and relax for a bit, while Inna decided to check out the coffee shop/restaurant in our Hotel Canoe's lobby. She found some delicious pastries, including Pastel de Nata.

At around 17:45, we dressed for dinner at the Farm & Fire restaurant nearby. We parked nearby (having to pay $12 / hour for parking) and were quickly seated inside.

We ordered the following items:

• Appetizers: Heirloom Salad
• Main: Chicken Pizza, Duck Duo
• Sides: Mashed Potatoes
• Drinks: Haskap Cider
• Dessert: Cowboy Cookie

We were pleasantly shocked by the speed of service and the quality of the dishes. They came very quickly and were all delicious. I liked the Chicken Pizza and the Mashed Potatoes! The Haskap Cider was excellent too!

After dinner, we returned to Hotel Canoe, changed out of our clothes, and went to the hot tub /sauna area. I spent some time in one of the hot pools. Alex and Inna stayed a bit longer, while I returend earlier to rest.

Saturday, July 4, 2026

Happy 250th Independence Day!

Unlike during previous days, we got a good night's sleep and woke at 07:00 refreshed. I took a shower, shaved, and made fresh pour-over coffee, filling the 24-oz Thermos. I started to pack my suitcase, but did not finish before we went to eat breakfast downstairs.

Inna and Alex walked to Hotel Canoe's restaurants, where Inna ordered Italian sandwiches for takeout (to eat during their hike later in the day). Alex got a table for us at the Sudden Sally restaurant, where we ordered the following items for breakfast:

• Drinks 3 x cappuccinos
• Boris: Spnach & Tomato Benny (2 poached eggs with potatoes)
• Inna: The Breakfast Croissant
• Alex: Shoked Organic Beeny (2 poached eggs with potatoes)

We really enjoyed the breakfast at Sudden Sally's and should have eaten dinner here (especially since we were staying at Hotel Canoe). Sudden Sally also makes sandwiches for takeout, so we could have used it to prepare our lunches (instead of heading to downtown Banff).

After breakfast, at 10:00, we loaded our Hyundai Kona and headed for multiple stops during the planned road trip to Lake Luise.

Our first stop was Crowfoot Glacier Viewpoint, about an hour away from Banff. We pulled into a fairly full parking lot at 11:00, but managed to find a space. We took a few photos of the spectacular Glacier and walked down to the lake. The water was icy cold. We didn't linger very much here and continued toward our next destination.

Our second stop was Bow Lake, only a few minutes away. We had to wait a few minutes behind cars to find a suitable parking spot. We took many photos of the gorgeous Bow Lake.

We did not realize that directly to the right of the Bow Lake parking lot was a narrow road down to Bow Lake, where another parking lot was available with bathrooms and picnic tables. We decided to explore this area, as our ChatGPT instructions recommended spending 45-minutes here, and we did not immediately see what to do. After some exploration, we decided to eat our snack/early lunch using the picnic tables next to Bow Lake. I got out the freshly brewed coffee, pastries, and cookies, and we enjoyed our delicious lunch, overlooking the beautiful lake.

As we drove to our third stop - Mistaya Canyon - we passed the heavy traffic headed for Peyto Lake. People were parking their cars on the shoulder. We planned to stop there, as our fourth stop, and hoped that the parking and traffic situation would improve (thankfully, it did).

We quickly found a parking spot at Mistaya Canyon and put on our hiking shoes. We started the short, 1-mile round-trip Mistaya Canyon hike after using the bathrooms. The Mistaya Canyon was quite spectacular, and we took hundreds of photos. The rushing water and the narrow canyon were amazing to look at. We didn't see any bears during the hike, but Alex spotted a bear spray plastic safety catch on the ground, and that made us all a bit more apprehensive about bears. However, we did not see or hear any bears during our hike.

Our fourth and finak stop was Peyto Lake, and fortunately, the parking situation had improved markedly. We were able to find parking in the main lot.  and walked the steep, uphill trail for 700m to the Peyto Lake viewing area. The turquoise Peyto Lake and the surrounding Canadian Rockies were stunning and not to be missed!

We returned to our Hyundai Kona and decided to eat a small lunch. Alex and I shared the Italian sandwich and a cup of coffee. I was feeling a bit sleepy, and the cup of coffee really helped me. After the quick lunch, we drove for about 45 minutes to the Storm Mountain Lodge, where we had lodging reservations.

Banff Trip Report

Highlights

• Savoring amazing views of the Canadian Rockies and Banff during our Tunnel Mountain hike
• Enjoying the gorgeous view of Peyto Lake and the surrounding mountains
• Enjoying multiple waterfalls and ink pots during our Johnston Canyon hike
• Hiking the amazing Mistaya Canyon
• Enjoying the beautiful Bow Lake and the surrounding Canadian Rockies
• Enjoying a delicious dinner at Farm & Fire 

Lowlights

• Heavy traffic in downtown Banff (with a lot of construction making it worse)
• Heavy crowds at Peyto Lake and the Johnston Canyon
• Lots of mosquitoes, flies, and other insects at Vermilion Lakes and most other places

Links

• Banff
• Hotel Canoe
• Tunnel Mountain
• Vermilion Lakes
• Bluebid Woodfired Steakhouse
• Farm & Fire

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Calgary

We had always wanted to see the Canadian Rockies, Banff, and Lake Louise, but had never had the time. For the July 4th weekend, I checked to see whether flights from San Francisco to Calgary were available at a reasonable price (and they were). With Inna's help and ChatGPT's, we came up with a detailed plan to see as much as we could in 6-7 days.

I had ordered a Nikon P1100 SuperZoom (to prepare for wildlife encounters) and the GoPro Hero 13 Black for recording canoeing & kayaking. Since we were flying out of San Francisco International Airport, I had also pre-booked an UberX (booking two days in advance turned out to be cheaper) for a 06:00 pickup, as our United Airlines flight #2830 departed at 08:40 on a short 3-hour flight to Calgary aboard a Boeing 737.

Our UA #2830 departed on time, and we landed in Calgary at 12:15 (+1 hour time difference from San Francisco). We had to spend about 20-minutes to go through Canadian passport control, and then we decided to stop by for lunch at the airport, to avoid wasting time somewhere else.

We decided to eat at Yakima Social Kitchen & Bar in the Marriott Hotel, as it had many positive reviews.  After sitting down, we ordered the following from the lunch menu:

• Boris: Ahi Tuna Poke
• Inna: Ahi Tuna Poke
• Alex: BC Coho Salmon
• Drinks: Coffee

We ordered at around 13:00, and the coffee arrived promptly. However, it took 30-minutes for the BC Coho Salmon, and then an additional 5 more minutes for the Ahi Tuna Poke Bowls to arrive. I was hoping for faster service (since the Tuna Poke does not require cooking, and the Coho Salmon also cooks fast).  

While drinking coffee, we watched the FIFA World Cup, Spain playing Austria and winning (3-0).

After I paid for lunch (fortunately, one Canadian dollar buys $0.70 of a U.S. dollar, so the price was more affordable when looked at in USD), we walked to the nearby Alamo Car Rental to pick up my compact SUV rental (I reserved it through Costco Travel for the best price).

We drove out in a grey Hyundai Kona, License #0-GEO88. I have not driven the latest Hyundais recently and was impressed by the large Navigation screen and excellent integration with Apple CarPlay. The Kona drove ok, though the acceleration was somewhat sluggish and the brakes were mushy.

Our first stop was Wal-Mart, where we picked up the following supplies for our week of hiking:

• Self-Inflatable Twin Bed (for Alex)
• RXBAR Energy Bars
• Honey Cinnamon Peanut Butter
• Chocolate Sea Salt
• 8 Type C Batteries (for the Twin Bed)
• 24oz Thermos (for storing Hot Coffee)
• Portable Igloo Cooler (for storing sandwiches)
• Bug Repellant
• Baby wipes

We were hoping to also purchase Bear Spray, but Walmart seemed to be out of stock.

From Walmart, we started our 90-minute drive to Banff.

Links

• Yakima Social Kitchen & Bar

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Nikon Coolpix P1100 Ultrazoom

 When my Nikon P900 started malfunctioning in Iceland, I decided to get rid of it and replace it (eventually) with the latest version of the super zoom. Over the past many years, we have used the P900 to photograph birds and wild animals that were far away.

The P1100 is the latest installment of the Nikon super zoom. Although using the same old 16 Megapixel sensor, it has added a few features.

Nikon P1100 Camera Review

Positives

• 125x Zoom! There is nothing like it!
• Shoots in Nikon Raw (not just jpg like P900)
• Can synchronize with the iPhone's GPS to embed location information in photos
• USB-C for charging and picture transfer
• Records 2K video

Negatives

• Bulkier and heavier than the preceding P900 series
• Old 16 Megapixel sensor

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Review: GoPro Hero 13 Black

When my DJI Action 5 camera died on Bora-Bora (after the first swim in the lagoon), I needed to get a reliable working replacement (that can work well underwater).

As I had good luck with GoPro cameras previously, I looked at the following possible replacements:

• GoPro Hero 13 Black - $339 (Costco.com bundle with 2 batteries and 128GB SDXC)
• GoPro Mission 1 Pro - $699

Although the GoPro Mission 1 had better quality, it was heavier and bulkier, and I decided that I did not need the additional weight. I may purchase it in the future.

Highlights

• 5.3K/60 support
• Compact size
• Low price ($339)
  

Lowlights

• Not the best for recording dark scenes
• Battery life is still not ideal (prefer 2+ hours like DJI)

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Return to Bora-Bora, French Polynesia

Saturday, June 13, 2026

Having visited Bora-Bora ten years ago (see my previous blog post), it was finally time to return to The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort. We had considered other resorts on Bora-Bora, especially the Four Seasons, but the cost differences were substantial, and the Costco package to St. Regis was very compelling. I purchased the transfer flight from San Jose to Los Angeles separately on Southwest Airlines because I still had unused points.

Our trip started with a short hop from San Jose (SJC) to Los Angeles (LAX) aboard Southwest Airlines flight WN4541, departing SJC at 17:00 and arriving in LAX at 18:00. The flight was only half full, and we had our own private seats.

Once we landed in LAX, we walked over to Terminal B (Tom Brady), in the hope of getting into the Virgin Atlantic lounge (since Inna had the special Chase Sapphire credit card). However, when we entered the lounge, we learned that Virgin Atlantic was only accepting passengers on its own flights.

We decided to hunt down a reasonable place to eat dinner and walked over to Santa Monica Brew Works, but we couldn't find a table (there was one bar seat available). We decided to return to the main dining area, where Pret-a-Manger, KFC, 800 Degrees, Border Grill, and Umami Burger were located. Inna found a table at the Border Grill, a Mexican restaurant, and we sat down, ordering the following:

• Boris: Chili Relleno Burger (8 oz. Angus beef, chili cheese relleno, chipotle aioli, lettuce, salsa fresca. Served with kettle chips.)
• Inna: Fish Taco

My Chili Relleno Burger was not horrible, and Inna's Fish Taco was edible. Since Border Grill did not sell any hot drinks, I stopped by the Pret-a-Manger and ordered two hot teas (green and Earl Grey).

The NBA Playoffs were going on, and everyone was yelling, cheering, and screaming. The New York Knicks clinched the championship over the San Antonio Spurs with a score of 94-90.

At around 22:00, we walked closer to our departing gate, 202, and waited for our Air France AF0026 flight to Papeete (PPT) to begin boarding. We were in Premium Economy (group 2) and had to wait for the large Business Class (group 1) to board first. Our group 2 had a lot of wheelchair-assistance folks, and we had to wait a very long time to board the plane. The Air France AF0026 departed at 00:20 for the 7.5-hour flight. 

The premium economy seats were a significant upgrade over basic economy, with more room and better recline, but they were not lie-flat like business class seats. We had a very pleasant flight to Papeete. I tried to sleep on the plane and managed to nap for a few hours. I didn't watch any movies (none interested me), and the selection was a bit sparse. Furthermore, I read my Kindle for a short time, in between naps.

Sunday, June 14, 2026

The flight proceeded uneventfully, and our jet landed in Papeete (PPT) at 05:30 local time. There is a 3-hour time difference between Papeete and LAX, just like Hawaii.

Papeete, the capital of French Polynesia, is on the island of Tahiti. We could tell immediately that we were in a different world, with the warm weather and French spoken everywhere. The airport was relatively small and very crowded, even in the early morning.

Once we picked up our luggage (it's not transferred automatically), we got in line for the connecting flight to Bora-Bora (BOB) aboard Air Moana NM164, departing at 07:45. The check-in line was moving slowly, and we had to endure a long wait.

Since I was traveling with my Sonicake Travel Guitar, I was expecting to take it on every plane with me, but the small ATR72 turboprop (a.k.a. puddle-jumper) from Papeete (PPT) to Bora-Bora (BOB) did not have sufficient luggage space. I had to check in the guitar.

After a short 50-minute flight to Bora-Bora, we landed in a tiny airport there, and I waited for the luggage. Once we had all of our bags, we checked into the St. Regis stand and waited for our boat transfer to the hotel (there are no roads from the airport - only boat ferries).

On arrival at St. Regis, we were assigned a butler—Lydia—who showed us around the property and took us to morning breakfast while our bungalow was getting ready. She also helped to review our dinner reservations and arrange the snorkeling tour.

The breakfast at Te Pahu was excellent but slightly different from what we had eaten 10 years ago. I still had fond memories of delicious French pastries that were impossible to resist. We ordered the following items from the breakfast menu:

• Drinks: French Press Coffee with cream
• Appetizer: Pudding with Chia Seeds
• Boris: Omelet with Onions, Mushrooms, Cheese, and Turkey
• Inna: Omelet with Onions, Mushrooms, Cheese, and Turkey
• Pastries: Various

After breakfast, we walked back to the lobby and waited for our bungalow to get ready. We waited about 45 minutes, and Lydia came back to take us to #325. 

She showed us how to use the shower, to make coffee or tea, and to adjust the multiple thermostats in our bungalow. 

The staff had made a custom “Happy 25th Anniversary” chocolate dessert, and it was such a wonderful touch to be treated so warmly. Most of the staff learned our names and greeted us by name.

Lydia warned us about the strong current near our bungalow, indicated by red flags, to warn guests about swimming. However, we decided to take the plunge anyway, as we saw a few other people swimming too. There was a strong current, but we managed to swim safely back to our bungalow,

I used my DJI Action 5 action camera to record some of our initial swimming, but its USB-C door came open suddenly, and the camera's internals got wet. It would not power on anymore, although I attempted to revive it by drying it with a hair dryer. Eventually, I threw it away. It was an unexpected disappointment, as I was planning to use this camera for recording our upcoming underwater snorkeling adventures.

We rested for the rest of the day, as we were tired from our long overnight flight. I spent some time reading Love Over Scotland (44 Scotland Street #3) by Alexander McCall Smith. I also spent some time practicing my Sonicake guitar.

When touring the nearby beach, I was sad to learn that the Hobiecat catamaran that I was eagerly awaiting to sail had broken down and was not replaced. There were no other small sailboats either. It would have been so enjoyable to have windsurfers or small sailboats to putter around the lagoon, as there was more than enough wind.

At around 19:20, we headed to Bamboo, St. Regis' Asian restaurant, for dinner, where Inna had made prior dinner reservations for 19:30. Although it was breezy, we decided to sit outdoors, where we could enjoy the scenery and listen to the nearby live musician playing a medley of songs, including:

•  “Hotel California” by The Eagles
• “Sultans of Swing” by Dire Straits
• “Time” by Pink Floyd
• “Another Brick in the Wall” by Pink Floyd
• “Iris” by the Goo Goo Dolls

After looking at Bamboo's menu, we ordered the following items for dinner:

• Drinks: Water, Hot Green Tea (in tea bags)
• Appetizer: Tuna Tartare, Miso Soup, Dynamite Roll
• Main Entree: Polynesian Shrimp, Freshly caught Mahi-Mahi Fish
• Dessert: Crème Brûlée

I didn't like the taste of the plain tap water — I should have ordered bottled San Pellegrino, but the hot tea was acceptable (though I don't like tea bags).

I really liked our Miso Soup, the Dynamite Roll, and the Tuna Tartare. For the main entrée, the Polynesian Shrimp and the Mahi Mahi were excellent.

Monday, June 15, 2026

After waking up at 07:00, I showered, shaved, and dressed. We were expecting to have freshly brewed French press coffee at 08:00, and our butler, Lydia, came in right on time. It was so wonderful to drink freshly brewed coffee in the morning, while overlooking the emerald lagoon.

Inna took a morning swim while I read my Kindle, and then we decided to head to breakfast at Te Pahu. We bicycled the short distance to Te Pahu, leaving our bicycles parked on the lawn of the Aparima Bar.

We checked in at Te Pahu and were taken to a nice table overlooking the beach. We ordered the following items from the breakfast menu:

• Drinks: French Press Coffee with cream
• Appetizer: Pudding with Chia Seeds
• Boris: Omelet with Onions, Mushrooms, Cheese, and Turkey
• Inna: Omelet with Onions, Mushrooms, Cheese, and Turkey
• Pastries: Various

The breakfast was splendid, and we enjoyed everything — the spectacular view of the beach, the heavenly French press coffee, the scrumptious omelets, and the delicious pastries.

After breakfast, I decided to try out paddleboarding, while Inna wanted to check out the Lagoonarium, where a local biologist was going to give a talk about the various fish that live in the lagoon.

Paddleboarding was fun, despite the strong, gusty winds and strong currents in the bay. After I returned to the room, I decided to bring back the two inflatable chairs that needed to be inflated and also try to remove the pin from my GoPro Hero 11 Black mini. Inflating chairs went well, but I was unable to remove the pin from the GoPro.

I spent some time reading on my Kindle and waited for Inna to return from her talk. She thoroughly enjoyed her talk and suggested that I join the talk on Wednesday.

Inna tried out the floating chairs and liked using them in the ocean. After some time, we decided to head for lunch at Aparima Bar, near Te Pahu restaurant. After sitting down, we ordered the following items:

• Drinks: San Pellegrino Sparkling 
• Boris: Fish & Chips
• Inna; Ahi Poke Bowl

My Fish & Chips were some of the best I've ever had (far superior to the ones I've had in Scotland and Iceland). Inna's Ahi Poke Bowl was also excellent and much better than the one we had ordered at Duke's on Kauai (Note: lunch was quite expensive, $40 USD / entree).

After lunch, we wanted to return to our bungalow #325, but it was being cleaned, so we took a few photos and visited the nearby Oasis Adult Pool (which was a bit busy). 

At 15:00, we were picked up and taken to the St. Regis Spa, which overlooks the gorgeous Mount Otemanu. Inna had booked a couple's balneotherapy (aqua massage). I was basically submerged in a bathtub with lots of water jets. It wasn't bad, but not a replacement for a full-body massage.

After balneotherapy, I spent 10 minutes in a very hot sauna and a few minutes in a jacuzzi. We also spent 15-25 minutes relaxing. The view of Mount Otemanu, with the lagoonarium, is spectacular, and we saw many couples posing for photos.

We briefly returned to our bungalow, and then Inna decided to try out her snorkeling gear, while I practiced my Sonicake guitar and read my Kindle. I saw a sea turtle near our bungalow, but I was too slow to take a photo before it submerged.

For dinner at 19:30, Inna had made reservations at the famous and expensive Lagoon Restaurant. Both Inna and I dressed nicely for this exceptional restaurant and were taken to a table overlooking the lagoon.

We immediately ordered San Pellegrino sparkling water and waited for the menu. We selected the following items:

• Drinks: San Pellegrino
• Appetizers: 
• Garden Illusion (creamy burrata, tomato jam, rose sorbet, vinaigrette)
• Tahitian Ahi Tuna
• Tahitian shrimp in 3 steps
• Chilled champagne cream
• Crispy, herbal emulsion
• Marinated mango ravioli
• Main Entrees:
• Mahi Mahi (Chef's signature)
• Lamb in Two Ways
• Dessert:
• Apple

The overall dinner was marvelous, and close to one of the best (in the top 5) of all time. All the appetizers were exceptional. Of the entrées, the Lamb was remarkable too.

Tuesday, June 16, 2026

After waking up at 07:00, I showered and dressed. We were expecting freshly brewed French press coffee at 08:00, and our butler, Lydia, came in right on time. It was so wonderful to drink freshly brewed coffee in the morning.

Inna took a morning swim while I read my Kindle, and then we decided to head to breakfast at Te Pahu. We bicycled the short distance to Te Pahu, leaving our bicycles parked on the lawn of the Aparima Bar.

We checked in at Te Pahu and were taken to a nice table overlooking the beach. Furthermore, we ordered the following items from the breakfast menu:

• Drinks: French Press Coffee with cream
• Appetizer: Pudding with Chia Seeds
• Boris: Scrambled Eggs
• Inna: Omelet with Onions, Mushrooms, Cheese, and Turkey
• Pastries: Various

The breakfast was splendid, and we enjoyed everything: the spectacular beach, the heavenly French press coffee, the scrumptious scrambled eggs, and the delicious pastries.

After breakfast, we decided to snorkel in the Lagoonarium. We borrowed two pairs of fins from the St. Regis activity desk and used our mask and snorkel. I brought my GoPro Hero 11 Black mini to record some of our explorations. 

During the snorkeling, we saw many fish, including the following sea creatures:

• Napoleon wrasse (humphead wrasse)
• Moray Eel
• Puffer Fish
• Angel Fish

After one round of snorkeling, I was done and returned to our bungalow while Inna continued to snorkel. 

When Inna returned, she swam in the lagoon overlooking our bungalow, and then we headed for lunch at Aparima Bar. After sitting down, we ordered the following items:

• Drinks: San Pellegrino Sparkling 
• Boris: Indian Butter Chicken with rice
• Inna; Ahi Poke Bowl

After lunch, we spent our time on the beach, swimming, and paddleboarding. It was another perfect day in Bora-Bora.

For dinner at 18:30, Inna had booked the Italian Farniente Ristorante. After sitting down and looking at the menu, we ordered the following items:

• Drinks: San Pellegrino Sparkling
• Appetizers: Piatto Antipasto, Fritto Misto
• Main Entrée: Pappardelle Al Funghi, Risotto Al Pescato Del Giorno (Mahi-Mahi)
• Dessert: Tiramisu

The Piatto Antipasto was excellent, but the main entrees (Risotto al Pescato and Papardelle Al Funghi) were a bit of a letdown. The pappardelle was a bit too stiff for my tastes. We should have ordered the pizza instead, as it looked much better.

While dining at Farniente, we were seated near a live musician who played and sang the following songs on his guitar. We thoroughly enjoyed listening to his rendition of these classic songs.

• Hotel California by The Eagles
• Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd
• Tears in Heaven by Eric Clapton
• Nothing Else Matters by Metallica
• Typical Situation by The Dave Matthews Band

After dinner, we stopped by the concierge to play a game of pool. Inna won!

Wednesday, June 17, 2026

After waking up at 07:00, I showered and dressed. We were expecting freshly brewed French press coffee at 08:00, and our butler, Lydia, came in right on time. It was so wonderful to drink freshly brewed coffee in the morning.

Inna took a morning swim while I read my Kindle, and then we decided to head to breakfast at Te Pahu.  We decided to walk over and bring all our swimwear (swim shirts, Kindles, etc.)

We checked in at Te Pahu and were taken to a nice table overlooking the beach. Furthermore, we ordered the following items from the breakfast menu:

• Drinks: French Press Coffee with cream
• Appetizer: Pudding with Chia Seeds
• Boris: Scrambled Eggs
• Inna: Scrambled Eggs
• Pastries: Various

The breakfast was splendid as usual, and we enjoyed everything: the spectacular beach, the heavenly French press coffee, the scrumptious scrambled eggs, and the delicious pastries.

After breakfast, we spent our time at the beach. At first, I went out paddleboarding. After I returned, Inna decided to try the Electric Paddleboard, and she really loved it. We also tried out kayaking, but the strong, gusty wind made it a bit less pleasant. 

I finished reading my Love Over Scotland (44 Scotland St. #3) by Alexander McCall Smith and started the next book in the sequence, The World According to Bertie.

For lunch, we stopped by Aparima Bar and ordered the following items:

• Drinks: Pellegrino Sparkling 
• Boris: Ahi Poke Bowl
• Inna: Ahi Poke Bowl (with more vegetables & less rice)

After lunch, we spent our time on the beach, swimming, and paddleboarding. It was another perfect day in Bora-Bora.

For dinner, Inna had made reservations for the Polynesian Show (which included a full dinner buffet from 18:30 to 19:30, followed by Polynesian Dancing and Fireworks at 20:46).

When we arrived at 18:00, many couples had already taken the best seats, but we still managed to snag a table with an excellent view of the Polynesian Show.  At 18:20, we ordered a bottle of Pellegrino and a cocktail (which Inna did not like and ended up exchanging for a tried and true Cosmopolitan cocktail.

Buffet:

• Plate 1: Various salads, Ahi tuna, tuna sashimi, and a coconut bread roll.
• Plate 2: Beef, freshly baked fish
• Plate 3: Lamb, spinach, and chicken
• Plate 4: Desserts
• Plate 5: Cake

With so many delicious choices, it was difficult to stop sampling different dishes, and we ended up eating too much.

Here is a short video sample of the Polynesian dance:

After we finished dinner, the show started with multiple Polynesian dancers dancing to the beat of the heavy drums. 

When the show ended, we were invited to take photos with the dancers (we did). We waited for the fireworks, which started at 20:45. The fireworks were short but wonderful. 

Here is a short video of the fireworks:

Overall, it was such a perfect day of fun, relaxation, and entertainment.

Thursday, June 18, 2026

After waking up at 07:00, I showered and dressed.  We decided to skip the freshly brewed coffee today, as we had a planned snorkeling activity at 09:00 and needed to have breakfast earlier.

We checked in at Te Pahu and were taken to a nice table overlooking the beach. Likewise, we ordered the following items from the breakfast menu:

• Drinks: French Press Coffee with cream
• Appetizer: Pudding with Chia Seeds
• Boris: Scrambled Eggs
• Inna: Omelet with Mushrooms, Turkey, and Cheese
• Pastries: Various

After our delicious daily breakfast, we packed our snorkeling gear (mask, fins, snorkel), my GoPro Hero 11 Black Mini, and rushed to the dock. Our boat—Crazy Sea Horse—was not there yet, but it arrived at 09:00. 

We boarded, seated ourselves at the head with two other French tourists, and were quickly on our way to the next snorkeling spot, where manta rays are known to visit. Polynesian Captain Te and his wife, Mate, made sure everyone was comfortable on this very fast jet ski boat.

At our first stop, we joined a group of other boats that had spotted manta rays. Once in the water, we spotted one large manta ray and, later on, a few more rays. We snorkeled above them, while a few divers deep below followed them. 

At our second stop, we snorkeled through a shallow coral garden. I tried to keep pace with Mate, who was towing one of the tourists, and she took many turns to avoid the really shallow areas.  It was a beautiful underwater area, made even more magnificent in the clear Bora-Bora water, where all the colorful fish could be easily seen.

At our third stop, we snorkeled in deep water, looking for sea rays. We found some very deep underwater, not moving very much at all.

Here is a GoPro Hero 11 Black mini compilation of our snorkeling around Bora-Bora with the Crazy Sea Horse:

At our fourth and final stop, we walked around a shallow area inhabited by black-tipped sharks and stingrays. It was a bit strange to have so many sharks and stingrays circling about.

For lunch, we stopped by Aparima Bar and ordered the following items:

• Drinks: San Pellegrino Sparkling 
• Boris: Fish & Chips
• Inna: Fish & Chips (with salad instead of French fries)

The Fish & Chips were excellent, as usual, and we enjoyed another delicious lunch with a beautiful view of the Bora-Bora lagoon.

After lunch, we relaxed on the beach. I took a paddleboard out for a quick spin around the bay and then read The World According to Bertie on my Kindle.

For dinner, Inna had made reservations for 19:00 at the Italian Farniente Ristorante. After sitting down and looking at the menu, we ordered the following items:

• Drinks: San Pellegrino Sparkling
• Appetizers: Piatto Antipasto, Burrata Caponata
• Main Entrée : Lasagne, Prosciutto Crudo Pizza
• Dessert: Tartuffe

The Prosciutto Crudo Pizza was much better than the Lasagna (or the Risotto we had last time). The Tartuffe was delicious, though a bit too decadent.

After dinner, we stopped by the concierge to play a game of pool. It was close, but I finally won!

Friday, June 19, 2026

After waking up at 07:00, I showered, shaved, and dressed.  Our butler stopped by at 07:30 with the freshly brewed French Press Coffee, and we enjoyed sipping it in our on-the-water bungalow, overlooking the emerald lagoon.

At around 08:15, we walked over to Te Pahu for our daily morning breakfast and were taken to a nice table overlooking the beach.  We ordered the following items from the breakfast menu:

• Drinks: French Press Coffee with cream
• Appetizer: Pudding with Chia Seeds
• Boris: Scrambled Eggs
• Inna: Omelet with Mushrooms, Turkey, and Cheese
• Pastries: Various (apple, chocolate)

We had brought a few items for the beach along with my GoPro Hero 11 Black mini, for use during the upcoming 90-minute jet ski tour around Bora-Bora.

I mounted the GoPro Hero 11 Black mini on the Yamaha jet ski (I attached an additional strap as a backup for the mount, in case it separated). Fortunately, the GoPro mount held for the duration of the jet ski adventure, and I recorded all the jet skiing. 

Our guide showed us how to operate the jet ski — the separate reverse throttle on the left handle and the standard throttle on the right handle. We followed another couple from New Jersey on the long tour around Bora-Bora, stopping at a few places to relax.

Unlike last time, the conditions were less than ideal with blustery winds and high waves. Our ride was quite jarring, and we had to keep our speed below 30 km/h (expected 38 km/h).  During one of the stops, our Yamaha jet ski tipped over, and we fell in the water. Fortunately, we recovered quickly and were back on course in a jiffy.  At another time, Inna lost her favorite NY hat, but we managed to recover it later.

Here is a GoPro Hero 11 black mini video of jet skiing highlights:

At our final stop, we relaxed in a shallow region near the shore, saw a nearby stingray, and took numerous photos. Our guide also opened and cut up a fresh coconut, and we drank coconut water and ate a few bites.

When we reached St. Regis, we swapped drivers, and Inna got a chance to drive the Yamaha jet ski. She liked it, but not the high speed.

For lunch, we stopped by Aparima Bar and ordered the following items:

• Drinks: San Pellegrino Sparkling 
• Boris: Burger & French Fries
• Inna; Tacos & French Fries

After lunch, we relaxed on the beach. Inna did a few swims, and I paddled out a couple of times on the stand-up paddleboard.

For dinner at 18:30, Inna had made reservations at the famous and expensive Lagoon Restaurant. Both Inna and I dressed nicely for this exceptional restaurant and were taken to a table overlooking the lagoon.

We immediately ordered San Pellegrino sparkling water and waited for the menu. We selected the following items:

• Drinks: San Pellegrino
• Appetizers: 
• Garden Illusion (creamy burrata, tomato jam, rose sorbet, vinaigrette)
• Tahitian Ahi Tuna
• Tahitian shrimp in 3 steps
• Chilled champagne cream
• Crispy, herbal emulsion
• Marinated mango ravioli
• Main Entrees:
• Mahi Mahi (Chef's signature)
• Lamb in Two Ways
• Dessert:
• Mocha

The dinner was fantastic as expected. It was our last full day in Bora-Bora and a bit sad. It's been such a magical place, and we did not want to leave.

At 23:00, our water stopped working, and we reported it to the St. Regis staff, who were already aware and working on the problem.

Saturday, June 20, 2026

We woke early (06:45), and Inna went outside to watch the sunrise and enjoy the beautiful scenery.  The water pressure was back to normal, and I took a shower. I started packing things away, disconnecting my FireTV and other devices.

Our butler came in at 07:45 with freshly brewed French Press coffee. She told us that our late checkout request was declined due to room unavailability (other guests flying in). We could use a room for showers from 15:00 to 15:30, and our pickup at the dock for the BOB airport transfer was at 16:00.

We spent 20 minutes packing our belongings before heading to our final breakfast at Te Pahu. We also dropped off the two sets of borrowed fins that we had used for snorkeling.

After being seated,  we ordered the following items from the breakfast menu:

• Drinks: French Press Coffee with cream
• Appetizer: Pudding with Chia Seeds
• Boris: Scrambled Eggs
• Inna: Omelet with Mushrooms, Turkey, and Cheese
• Pastries: Various (apple, chocolate)

After breakfast, we spent our time on the beach. At first, both Inna and I swam back to our room #235. Then, we swam back to the beach. I had to return briefly to our room to make sure that our luggage was ready to be picked up by the staff of St. Regis. I called the butler service (9 on the phone), and they asked me not to wait.

After I returned to the beach, I paddleboarded the 10' Moana SUP, while Inna swam in the lagoon. At around 13:45, we decided to eat our lunch on the beach instead of heading to Aparima Bar  (which would have required changing out of our wet clothes).

We ordered the following items on the beach:

• Drinks: Non-alcoholic cocktail for Inna
• Boris: Ahi Poke Bowl
• Inna: Ahi Poke Bowl with extra vegggies and less rice

At 15:00, we headed back to the reception, where we ordered a ride to the St. Regis Spa so that we could take a shower and change out of our swimsuits. We also paid our bill (St. Regis was having issues with processing Chase credit card payments). 

At 16:00, we boarded the small boat to Bora Bora (BOB) airport. On arrival there, we waited for Air Moana's gate to open up, and then we boarded Air Moana NM #957 for the short, 45-minute flight to Papeete (PPT), Tahiti. Air Moana operates ATR-72 two-engine turboprops used for both our Papeete-> Bora Bora and return flights.

Once in Papeete, we waited for our luggage and then boarded a taxi for the short ride to the Hilton Tahiti (8 minutes away). The taxi fare was $19 USD, and the taxi drivers did not accept credit cards—only cash (but USD were acceptable). Fortunately, I had $20 USD, and it was sufficient to pay for the short ride to the Hilton Tahiti.

The Hilton Tahiti was expensive ($500/night), but it was the closest, most convenient hotel nearby for our morning flight to Los Angeles (LAX).

We scheduled a taxi for 05:40, so that we would arrive 2 hours before Air France AF0027 departure.

Once we checked into our Hilton Room #215, we decided to search for a place to eat. Hilton's highly rated Japanese restaurant was fully booked, so we looked for another eatery nearby and decided to try L'annexe across the street. L'annexe has high ratings on Google Maps.

L'annexe was a local place with few tourists. There was a local live band playing some familiar and unfamiliar songs (Sting's How Fragile We Are). The band played very well, and we enjoyed their singing and playing. At L'annexe, we ordered the following items after a brief discussion with the waitress: 

• Appetizer: Bruschetta
• Main: 250g Burger

The Burger was enormous, and we split it among us. We thought about also ordering dessert, but I was no longer hungry and also a bit tired.

After returning to Hilton Tahiti, we strolled around the property, admiring the enormous pool and the many bars and restaurants around the property. Many people were enjoying themselves, but no one was using the pool (the pool may have closed).

The beach was rocky, as I expected a sandy beach for a Hilton hotel.

Sunday, June 21, 2026

As we had a very early, 07:40 departing flight from Papeete to Los Angeles, we set our alarm to 05:15. I actually woke up even earlier, at 05:10, and started to pack our bags for the return flight home.

We had pre-ordered a taxi for 05:40, and after checking out of the Hilton Tahiti, we were told that its arrival would be announced, but no one announced it. Thankfully, I inquired and found the taxi waiting for me. Initially, the driver was reluctant to accept Euros (instead of USD), as he would not accept credit cards. He relented, and I paid him 20 euros for the short 8-minute drive to Papeete airport.

Inna had already checked in and had our boarding passes prepared (and I had also checked into Southwest Airlines and had boarding passes in my Apple Wallet). We proceeded quickly through security and passport control.

Papeete airport is quite small (Tahiti has only 230,000 inhabitants), and the small cafe and a couple of small stores were all that was there.  I got in line for coffee and ordered two cappuccinos and a pastry. The cappuccinos were expensive and tolerable, but the pastry was atrocious (inedible).

Eventually, the time for boarding Air France AF0027 from Papeete (PPT) to Los Angeles (LAX) had come, and we got in line for Zone 2 (premium economy).

Our Air France flight departed with a slight delay. It was scheduled to depart at 07:45, but it actually departed at about 08:15. Fortunately, the delay was not serious, as I wanted to land in time for my connecting flight to San Jose, aboard Southwest WN2524, departing at 20:55.

The 7.5-hour flight to Los Angeles was fairly smooth. We were initially treated to champagne (for breakfast). 

My headphones' earpads had separated, and I asked the flight attendants for help, but they ignored me. I was a bit disappointed with the lack of customer service (but this wasn't the first time).  The staff ignored me even when I requested help in person. Thankfully, I did not have any urgent requests. Note, the "help" button was also useless, as no one ever checked it (and it turned off by itself).

I gave up on the headphones and the entertainment center and read my Kindle instead, finishing The Unbearable Lightness of Scones by Alexander McCall Smith and starting the next book, The Importance of Being Seven.

Air France served lunch followed by a light breakfast, but I skipped all the meals, as they did not look appetizing to me.

Once we landed in Los Angeles, at 18:55, we quickly went through passport control and then had a very long walk to Terminal 1 (20-minutes). Our Southwest Airlines WN2524 flight was departing on time, at 20:55, and I was forced to check in one of my bags due to the small plane size (Boeing 737).

We landed in San Jose at 22:00, and Alex picked us up at the airport. It was nice to be back home, though we missed Bora-Bora.

Bora-Bora Trip Review

Highlights

• Enjoying spectacular, unreal scenery in Bora-Bora and the amazing staff of the St. Regis Hotel
• Dining at a Michelin-quality Lagoon restaurant
• Snorkeling around Bora Bora with Crazy Sea Horse 
• Jet skiing around Bora Bora with St. Regis staff
• Snorkeling at the hotel's Lagunarium
• Paddleboarding and kayaking in the lagoon
• Riding the Electric Paddleboard around the lagoon
• Relaxing at the St. Regis Spa
• Enjoying freshly brewed French Press coffee in our on-the-water bungalow

Lowlights

• Air France ignored my requests for help with the non-working headphones
• Dealing with nasal congestion (Both Inna and I still had nasal congestion from our cold)
• Gusty winds made swimming and paddleboarding less than ideal on many days. I should have brought my wing foiling gear!
• The St. Regis resort used to have a Hobie catamaran, but it had broken down and was no longer in service. I was really looking forward to sailing it again.
• My DJI Action 5 camera died on the first day (after the USB-C door popped open while recording video in the water near our bungalow). Thankfully, my backup GoPro Hero 11 mini worked well.
• St. Regis WiFi frequently disconnected when trying to sync photos and videos to Apple's iCloud. I was eventually able to upload all of my GoPro videos and iPhone photos, but it took a long time.
• The lemon shark that used to visit Bora-Bora had permanently departed. We fondly recall swimming next to it, 10 years ago. Apparently, during COVID-19 times, when tourists stopped visiting Bora-Bora, shark feeding had stopped, and the shark permanently migrated somewhere else.
• In Papeete, taxis do not accept credit cards and have to use U.S. dollars to pay for the ride.

St. Regis Restaurants

1. Lagoon is the best restaurant
2. Bamboo (Asian)
3. Farniente (Italian)

Recommendations for Next Trip

1. Purchase a dedicated underwater, waterproof camera for snorkeling (GoPro is not ideal for still photos)
• Olympus Tough TG-7
2. Purchase a dedicated iPhone underwater housing
• Pro Shot Touch Case 2.0
3. Bring more U.S. cash for taxi rides in Papeete
4. Bring a portable wing foiling board/wing/foil to Bora-Bora (if possible)

Links

• Bora-Bora
• The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort
• Crazy Sea Horse Snorkeling Tours
• Air Moana
• Air France
• Papeete
• Hilton Tahiti
• L'annexe restaurant

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