Vanira Lodge

Travel Date: April 30, 2024

The Vanira lodge is located on Tahiti iti in Teahupoo. The lodge is located on the mountainside with amazing views. Each bungalow is made of local materials and is very unique. A truly authentic experience. The staff were attentive and made sure we had everything we needed - including ice...

The Vanira lodge is located on Tahiti iti in Teahupoo. The lodge is located on the mountainside with amazing views. Each bungalow is made of local materials and is very unique. A truly authentic experience. The staff were attentive and made sure we had everything we needed - including ice and a champagne bucket! If the restaurant is open, take advantage- you will not find a better breakfast or dinner location!

Travel Date: June 30, 2023

Vanira lodge was the last place we stayed during our two weeks around French Polynesia. It was such a lovely way to end our time there. The bungalows are unique and very comfortable and the views are fantastic. It was nice to experience the overwater bungalows elsewhere and the mountains...

Vanira lodge was the last place we stayed during our two weeks around French Polynesia. It was such a lovely way to end our time there. The bungalows are unique and very comfortable and the views are fantastic. It was nice to experience the overwater bungalows elsewhere and the mountains here. The restaurant is small and the hours are limited but the food was excellent and the staff is lovely, accommodating and warm. It has a rustic charm and was one of our favourite stops.

Travel Date: April 30, 2023

If you want to book HAARI room in VANIRA LODGE, you will not get the following advertised items: - Air conditioner (does not exist) - Safe (broken) - Coffee maker - Hair dryer - Hand and face towels - Room is not is not properly sanitized, dirty and dusty shelves...

If you want to book HAARI room in VANIRA LODGE, you will not get the following advertised items: - Air conditioner (does not exist) - Safe (broken) - Coffee maker - Hair dryer - Hand and face towels - Room is not is not properly sanitized, dirty and dusty shelves with ants eggs - No door in the toilet, it is not separated from kitchenette

Travel Date: October 31, 2019

We stayed at Vanira Lodge for two Nights in Vai Ora Bungalow and loved it. The Lodge has a very relaxed atmosphere with unique architecture in a beautiful mountain location. The bungalows are very private with scenic views towards the ocean. Breakfast is nice with fresh fruit and eggs prepared...

We stayed at Vanira Lodge for two Nights in Vai Ora Bungalow and loved it. The Lodge has a very relaxed atmosphere with unique architecture in a beautiful mountain location. The bungalows are very private with scenic views towards the ocean. Breakfast is nice with fresh fruit and eggs prepared to your liking. Behind the ressort is a nice mountain trail, in only 20mins you have stunning views on a lush green Tahiti countryside. Nature is very close by and you are far away from the bustling Papete city hotels.

Travel Date: August 31, 2018

Very happy stay giving wonderful holiday in incredibly beautiful surroundings. What will always be with me is the incredible architecture of the lodge. The craftsmanship and use of local materials enhances the comfort we enjoyed. It is easy to enjoy strolls in local village to the store or go to...

Very happy stay giving wonderful holiday in incredibly beautiful surroundings. What will always be with me is the incredible architecture of the lodge. The craftsmanship and use of local materials enhances the comfort we enjoyed. It is easy to enjoy strolls in local village to the store or go to watch the famous surf. Hope to return someday.

Travel Date: July 31, 2019

On the leeward shore, facing the sunset, Teahupoo is a village at the end of the world. The road gives way to a sea-side path that leads to the Te Pari cliffs, The bungalows are inspired by Polynesian building traditions with features like exposed beams of varnished tree trunks and...

On the leeward shore, facing the sunset, Teahupoo is a village at the end of the world. The road gives way to a sea-side path that leads to the Te Pari cliffs, The bungalows are inspired by Polynesian building traditions with features like exposed beams of varnished tree trunks and open-air floor plans. The wide open views of the ocean are dramatic and can be seen from your bed and jacuzzi.

Travel Date: June 30, 2019

We wanted to get away to someplace private yet tropical, and we found it at Vanira Lodge. The bungalows are absolutely wonderful--unique with fantastic views and a lot of privacy. You are right in the midst of Tahiti's natural beauty, and with the jacuzzi on the deck, you can enjoy...

We wanted to get away to someplace private yet tropical, and we found it at Vanira Lodge. The bungalows are absolutely wonderful--unique with fantastic views and a lot of privacy. You are right in the midst of Tahiti's natural beauty, and with the jacuzzi on the deck, you can enjoy the sunset from the comfort of your own space. We loved everything about the bungalow except the fact that there was only instant coffee and not a real coffee maker (we had to go up the restaurant to get a real cup in the mornings). There is no wifi in the bungalows, so again you need to go to the restaurant to use your computer, but this didn't bother us because we were trying to get away from all that. The only thing that did bother us was the noise made by all the chickens in the valley below. I don't know if I missed that in other reviews, but a sleeping pill and some ear plugs will help you sleep in. We didn't use the a/c at all--we slept with the window and doors open and were totally comfortable. The staff is very friendly when you ask them for something, but otherwise they let you be (and you really do feel like you're in your own private villa). If you are coming to this part of the island, then this is THE place to stay. The perfumed air at night (I could never find the source but something was blooming) made me inhale deeply and just "be." So bring your ear plugs if you're not an early riser, and pack some shampoo and conditioner (the shampoo there was watery and there was no conditioner), and that's all you need. Loved it--secluded and peaceful (when the chickens are behaving!).

Travel Date: June 30, 2019

We loved our stay at Vanira Lodge. The view of Teahupoo's waves and the sunset watching are the first things I think of. But my first reaction when we arrived was a squeal of delight when I saw our treehouse, a la Swiss Family Robinson, but cleaned spotlessly on idyllic,...

We loved our stay at Vanira Lodge. The view of Teahupoo's waves and the sunset watching are the first things I think of. But my first reaction when we arrived was a squeal of delight when I saw our treehouse, a la Swiss Family Robinson, but cleaned spotlessly on idyllic, well-manicured grounds that succeed in feeling natural while also enhancing the landscape for use and enjoyment. The best part is simply enjoying the view from the amazing setting, but there's plenty on offer here as well. We loved our half-day boat excursion where we got to see the famous Teahupoo waves up close and catch some surfers in action before cruising over to a quiet sandbar for some snorkeling among the coral. Before that, we spent a day playing ping pong in the sun with a view of the sea, hiking up the awesome (and very steep!) 45-minute trail on the grounds, reading in our treehouse nook, and taking in the sunset from the small but well-kept pool on the property. The attention to detail is hard to miss at Vanira -- everything is carefully maintained and the staff is both friendly and hard-working. The on-site restaurant was great for dinners under the stars, too! The way natural elements and tasteful furnishing come together make you feel like a classy Tarzan and Jane enjoying the island life. And the management went above and beyond to make our departure smooth and easy. We loved everything about it!

Travel Date: April 30, 2019

We booked the Vanira lodge based on a recommendation from one of the local tour guides. The place is very highly regarded on the island. It is a unique place with beautiful views from its plush green hillside vantage point. Here you find the many unique bungalows described on their...

We booked the Vanira lodge based on a recommendation from one of the local tour guides. The place is very highly regarded on the island. It is a unique place with beautiful views from its plush green hillside vantage point. Here you find the many unique bungalows described on their website. However, the “lodge” is not what many foreign guests would conjure in their mind. And it is certainly not a resort. The property, while quite picturesque, has a small pool and a designated yoga bungalow. The onsite restaurant serves delicious food, but the menu is limited. Staff are helpful, friendly and this is the only place to get wi-fi. We stayed in the Vai Here bungalow one of the air conditioned units with a jacuzzi, although it was too hot to really enjoy the jacuzzi. The deck of the unit faces west, so even with the large deck cover it was too hot and humid to be on the deck in the heat of the afternoon. For some reason we did not even get much of a breeze. Finally, an hour or two after sunset things started cooling down. The bedroom air conditioner did cool things down sufficiently for sleeping but was noisy. The bedroom consisted of a king bed and a small refrigerator. We brought in two deck chairs to have some place additional to sit. Shelf and hanging storage seemed sufficient. Since there were many ways for bugs to get in the room, we did sleep using DEET on arms and legs and that seemed to keep the critters at bay. The shower, sink and toilet were on the deck. Privacy was ample, but we would burn mosquito coils to keep the pests away while we tended to our daily routines. We also burned them when we just hung out on the deck. You are on the hillside of a subtropical rain forest---there are a lot of mosquitos. We were there in mid-April and we had rain showers every day. Everything felt damp, even in the bedroom. Towels and linens are changed every three days. We would sweep down our deck daily to cut down on the leaves and flotsam we would track into our room. There is only a tiny garbage can near the wash area that gets emptied every 3 days, a larger can away from the deck would have been nice. We used our deck for drying, but, with high humidity it took a while. The multitude of geckos did not really bother us, but you had to keep an eye out as they could be anywhere. Everything in your room had to be zipped tight or sealed. It would have been nice if the lodge provided an umbrella in the room to help with the walk to the restaurant which was essentially uncovered and who wants to arrive for dinner or breakfast all wet. Our bungalow also could use some light maintenance. I already mentioned the air conditioner. The hook that held the shower head was loose and the shower curtain needs replaced. One of the deck chairs had a couple broken ribs. If you book here, two maybe three nights are adequate to do and see what Tahiti Iti/Teahupoo have to offer. We recommend hitting the west coast highlights on the way from Papeete. Take a ½ day to go out to the reef to watch surfers and explore some of the lagoons and caves (book ahead). One day to explore the east side of Iti and up the east side of the main island. The driveway/road to the lodge is steep and unpaved. It is not two-way. If you are a person who usually stays in 4 or 5 star hotels/resorts, I think you are going to be disappointed.

Travel Date: March 31, 2019

Or everyone will want to go there! Truly extraordinary slice of heaven, far south on Tahiti Iti's west coast. Absolutely, serenely beautiful, each bungalow is totally private and has a Lost Horizon kind of view down over the rain forest to the sea. Each is a little unique; with perhaps...

Or everyone will want to go there! Truly extraordinary slice of heaven, far south on Tahiti Iti's west coast. Absolutely, serenely beautiful, each bungalow is totally private and has a Lost Horizon kind of view down over the rain forest to the sea. Each is a little unique; with perhaps a hot tub on the deck, AC in the bedroom or open to the mountain breezes, maybe a kitchenette to do some of your own cooking, etc. What the bungalows have in common is a rustic, meticulously thought out decor, comfy beds, open air showers and everything else you might need for a quiet, romantic interlude. No stress. Besides the good onsite restaurant, there are a couple of other excellent restaurants within about a 15min drive. A car really is an advantage here; especially if you want to explore or go to the beach. Be Warned: If you are looking for loud boom-boom music and overpriced umbrella drinks by a crowded swimming pool, this is not the place for you. There is no television, the wifi only works in the restaurant and we never saw anyone doing cannonballs into the small pool. This place is all about getting away from it all, including the typical tourist traps. But remember, if you do decide to visit Vanira Lodge, don't tell your friends! Or we won't be able to get in next time...

Travel Date: October 31, 2018

We arrived later than we wanted due to flight delays. It was pouring rain and dark but the well lit sign gave us plenty of notice to turn.. I did not realize that it was up so high but we made it. We had supper in the restaurant and it...

We arrived later than we wanted due to flight delays. It was pouring rain and dark but the well lit sign gave us plenty of notice to turn.. I did not realize that it was up so high but we made it. We had supper in the restaurant and it was very good, as was the breakfast. The staff were amazing. The power was out in the bungalows when we first arrived but that was corrected and our room was amazing. We had a lower unit, looking out into the forest. It was so private and the outdoor restroom was fun. The bedroom area was air conditioned and the bed was very comfortable. The deck was very large with lots of seating. We had a chirping gecko with us overnight! Our tour we had planned the next morning was cancelled, which was very disappointing so we hung around for a little while longer. I was told that they are soon getting their own boat to take tours so that would be a plus as the rain lifted quickly in the morning and I think our tour could have gone. It was so delightful I wish we could have stayed longer. Good wifi up at the restaurant.

Travel Date: September 30, 2018

Factory making fiberglass boats right next door. All through the day we suffered the acrid stench of curing fiberglass (epoxy) resin - certainly one of the least natural or outdoorsy smells. The entire pool area and area by the "spa" bungalows were affected by this stench. Certainly nothing "eco" about...

Factory making fiberglass boats right next door. All through the day we suffered the acrid stench of curing fiberglass (epoxy) resin - certainly one of the least natural or outdoorsy smells. The entire pool area and area by the "spa" bungalows were affected by this stench. Certainly nothing "eco" about the smell of this "ecolodge". I spent 20 years working in laboratories. If my laboratory had smelled this bad, I would have complained. Yes, the bungalows are quaint but no reason to stay in a place with a stench. The bathroom was outside and we encountered a giant stinging centipede in our toilet room. The air conditioning is European style - a cool breeze, but not fast cooling. The restaurant is OK and not plagued by the stench. But, after two nights, you will have sampled everything you like on the menu. The breakfast was good.

Travel Date: September 30, 2018

This place ticked all the boxes for us. The views, the comfort and we were secluded from other guests. I liked that the wifi only worked in the dining area. We enjoyed our breakfasts and you could either choose to dine in which isn’t cheap but the meals are generous...

This place ticked all the boxes for us. The views, the comfort and we were secluded from other guests. I liked that the wifi only worked in the dining area. We enjoyed our breakfasts and you could either choose to dine in which isn’t cheap but the meals are generous in portion and the ingredients are very good quality - the tuna carpaccio was excellent along with the Paraha dish - which was a whole fish. The duck was excellent. We borrowed snorkelling gear for our day trip out on the water and they contacted other tour businesses for us as we didn’t have a phone. The sunset swim in the pool was excellent. Each Villa is different and ours had the spa!