# Mountains in French Polynesia: what there is and when to go

> Summits, passes and cols, high mountain huts, cable cars and climbing routes; and everything above 1,500 metres, where a path becomes a mountain path. This site lists 51 such places in French Polynesia, all of them with a Wikipedia article; the best known is Mount Otemanu. The best time for this in French Polynesia is May to October, and it is also possible March to April and November. Each place has its own season, which is not the country's: a high mountain hut and a valley in the same country are not open in the same months.

- Address: https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/montana/
- Reviewed on: 2026-10-12
- Language: en

## In a nutshell

- **What this is:** The places in French Polynesia people go to for mountains, each with its own season.
- **How many:** 51 on this page, all with a Wikipedia article; you get them all on your trip map.
- **Best known:** Mount Otemanu — mountain on Bora Bora.
- **Best time:** May to October.
- **Also possible:** March to April and November.
- **Highest point:** Pito Hiti, at 2,107 m.
- **Where they cluster:** [Papeete](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/papeete/) (12) and [Quai Paul Gauguin](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/quai-paul-gauguin/) (6).
- **Ways in:** PPT Papeete · BOB Motu Mute · RFP Uturoa · NHV Nuku Hiva

## What counts as mountains

Summits, passes and cols, high mountain huts, cable cars and climbing routes; and everything above 1,500 metres, where a path becomes a mountain path. Above 1,800 m the season shrinks to the snow-free months, June to September in the northern hemisphere: that is why each place gives its own.

Each place is included because of how its source describes it, not because of what anyone says about it: that is why a castle that is now a museum appears under history and museums at the same time. Of these 51, 51 also count as [nature](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/naturaleza/).

## When to go

For mountains in French Polynesia, the best time is **May to October**, and it is also possible March to April and November.

| Mes | Época | Hours of daylight |
| --- | --- | --- |
| January | Better not | 12 h 57 |
| February | Better not | 12 h 35 |
| March | Possible | 12 h 07 |
| April | Possible | 11 h 36 |
| May | Best time | 11 h 10 |
| June | Best time | 10 h 57 |
| July | Best time | 11 h 02 |
| August | Best time | 11 h 24 |
| September | Best time | 11 h 54 |
| October | Best time | 12 h 25 |
| November | Possible | 12 h 51 |
| December | Better not | 13 h 03 |

In December there are 13 h 03 of daylight, and in June, 10 h 57. Daylight hours are those at the average latitude of these places, on the 15th of each month.

Counting place by place, in May 51 of the 51 are at their best, and in January, 0.

> Mind the altitude: above 1,800 m there is snow until June and it returns in October, so Pito Hiti (2,107 m) has quite a few weeks fewer than the rest. Each place gives its own.

When to visit French Polynesia in general, with its festivals and high seasons, is on [its page](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/#cuando-ir).

## The best known

Ranked by how many Wikipedia editions have an article on them, which is the closest thing to measuring fame without asking anyone.

- [Mount Otemanu](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/mont-otemanu/) — mountain on Bora Bora (11 Wikipedias)
- [Mount Tohivea](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/tohi-e-a/) — mountain in France (10 Wikipedias)
- [Mount Duff](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/duff/) — mountain in French Polynesia (9 Wikipedias)
- [Mont Oave](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/oave/) — mountain in the Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia (9 Wikipedias)
- [Temetiu](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/temetiu/) (7 Wikipedias)
- [Mont Aorai](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/aora-i/) — mountain in France (5 Wikipedias)
- [Mont Rotui](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/mt-rotu-i/) (5 Wikipedias)
- [Hitikau](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/hitikau/) — mountain in France (4 Wikipedias)

## What there is

Each one has its own page: what it is, where it lies, its altitude, its daylight hours and which months are worth it. Pito Hiti is the highest, at 2,107 m, and Mont Terua Kotuku the lowest, at 171 m. Most of them are in [Papeete](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/papeete/) (12) and [Quai Paul Gauguin](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/quai-paul-gauguin/) (6). Open whichever you like and have a look before you decide on the trip.

- [Mount Otemanu](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/mont-otemanu/): Mountain on Bora Bora · 727 m
- [Mount Tohivea](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/tohi-e-a/): Mountain in France · 1,207 m
- [Mount Duff](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/duff/): Mountain in French Polynesia · 441 m
- [Mont Oave](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/oave/): Mountain in the Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia · 1,230 m
- [Temetiu](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/temetiu/): Mountains · 1,266 m
- [Mont Aorai](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/aora-i/): Mountain in France · 2,066 m
- [Mont Rotui](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/mt-rotu-i/): Quai Paul Gauguin · 899 m
- [Hitikau](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/hitikau/): Mountain in France · 887 m
- [Mount Pahia](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/pahia/): Mountain on Bora Bora · 661 m
- [Pito Hiti](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/pitohiti/): Mountain in France · 2,107 m
- [Mt Tautuapae](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/mt-tautuapae/): Mountain in France · 769 m
- [Araope](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/araope/): Mountain in France
- [Area](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/area/): Mountain in France · 459 m
- [Ateuru](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/ateuru/): Mountain in France · 1,046 m
- [Diadème](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/diadem-mountain/): Mountain in France · 1,321 m
- [Fatavete](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/fatavete/): Mountain in France · 687 m
- [Le Pic Rouge](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/le-pic-rouge/): Mountain in France · Papeete
- [Mamanu](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/ma-manu/): Mountain in France · 909 m
- [Mahire](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/mahire/): Mountain in France · 820 m
- [Mapurarahi](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/mapura-rahi/): Mountain in France · 409 m
- [Pic Mataihua](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/mataihua/): Summit in France · 314 m
- [Matie](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/matie/): Mountain in France
- [Matotea](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/matotea/): Mountain in France
- [Mauru](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/mauru/): Mountain in France · Papeete

And the other 27:

- **[Papeete](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/papeete/)**: [Mont Faiere](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/mont-faiere/), [Papaihona](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/papaihona/), [Pariauta](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/pariauta/), [Tahuotira](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/tahuotira/), [Teraiotupo](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/teraiotupo/), [Totini](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/totini/)
- **[Quai Paul Gauguin](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/quai-paul-gauguin/)**: [Puuroa](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/puuroa/), [Mont Ruahiti](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/ruahiti/), [Sommet Tuputupuraa](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/tuputupuraa/)
- **Outside the towns**: [Mont Matarufau](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/mont-matarufau/), [Mont Motu](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/mont-motu/), [Mont Ohiri](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/mont-ohiri/), [Mont Pukunia](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/mont-pukunia/), [Mont Rauiri](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/mont-rauiri/), [Mont Vavahi](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/mont-vavahi/), [Orofaamu](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/orofaamu/), [Orohe](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/orohe/), [Parau](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/parau/), [Pehuea](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/pehuea/), [Pihau](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/pihau/), [Tara](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/tara/), [Tarania](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/tarania/), [Tararea](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/tararea/), [Tatara-moa](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/tatara-moa/), [Mont Terua Kotuku](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/terua-kotuku/), [Tuiora](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/tuiora/), [Vaipuu](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/vaipuu/)

## More in French Polynesia

Everything else listed for French Polynesia, with how many places of each kind: [Nature](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/naturaleza/) (76) · [Beaches](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/playa/) (15) · [Diving](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/submarinismo/) (46) · [Temples](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/espiritual/) (39).

And if you are looking at it the other way round —I know when I can go, tell me where— that is [where to travel](https://kokai.app/en/adonde-viajar/).

## Frequently asked questions

### When should I go to French Polynesia for mountains?

May to October, and it is also possible March to April and November. Each place above also gives its own, which changes with altitude: at three thousand metres the season is not the same as in the valley. In December there are 13 h 03 of daylight, and in June, 10 h 57.

### What is the best-known place for mountains in French Polynesia?

Mount Otemanu — mountain on Bora Bora, with an article in 11 Wikipedias. After it, Mount Tohivea and Mount Duff.

### Where in French Polynesia are most of the places for mountains?

Of the 51 on this site, they cluster most in [Papeete](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/papeete/) (12) and [Quai Paul Gauguin](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/quai-paul-gauguin/) (6).

### Which one is the highest?

Pito Hiti is the highest, at 2,107 m, and Mont Terua Kotuku the lowest, at 171 m. Above 1,800 m the season shrinks to the summer.

### How do I add this to a trip?

Create a trip to French Polynesia and you get them all on the map, with their category. The ones you like go into a day of the plan with one tap, and the app lets you know when you pass nearby.

### I don't know where to go yet

That is what [Find a trip](https://kokai.app/en/adonde-viajar/) is for: tick what you feel like and the months you can travel, and it suggests destinations among the 105 countries in Kokai, with the places that fit those dates.

Data from [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright), licensed under the ODbL, from [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/), CC0, and airports from [OurAirports](https://ourairports.com/data/). Daylight hours are calculated from latitude. More in [credits](https://kokai.app/en/aviso/#creditos).