Review: Sofitel Kia Ora Moorea Beach Resort

Sitting at the Sofitel Kia Ora Moorea Beach Resort’s open-air bar sipping a cocktail, I couldn’t believe my eyes. But it wasn’t the beautiful sky full of stars or the twinkling lights from the overwater bungalows leaving me in awe — instead, it was a photo of the brochure my parents had saved from their 1987 honeymoon in French Polynesia, confirming that they had stayed at the exact hotel I was currently visiting.

It came as a delightful surprise to all of us that I had found myself at the property some 38 years after their trip — kismet, some might say. The situation was especially impressive given that I’d dreamed of visiting French Polynesia my whole life, mostly as a result of decades spent listening to my parents wax poetic about their time in the destination.

Fortunately, my visit to the Sofitel Kia Ora Moorea lived up to, and even exceeded, all my expectations. For one thing, its location on the island can’t be beat: Spread luxuriously along Moorea’s largest stretch of white-sand beach, the Sofitel is also fortunate to reside on a designated marine reserve. In addition to keeping large swaths of reef and its abundant marine life safe, the lagoon’s protected status also means that no motorboat activities (including jet skis) are allowed around the resort, making it supremely peaceful for guests and safer for swimmers and snorkelers. 

Beautiful Bungalows

The property’s 110 bungalows are spread across its lush gardens, idyllic beachfront and turquoise lagoon. Accommodations range in size from 441 to 882 square feet, and evoke French Polynesia through woven roofs, exotic woods and locally inspired artwork. They also have modern features that keep comfort top of mind, such as air conditioning and walk-in showers.

I started my stay in a Luxury Overwater Bungalow, one of 20 rooms added in 2006 (out of 38 total overwater bungalows, together with the older Superior category). I loved that the bed faced the wall of floor-to-ceiling windows, looking out at the blue lagoon and vibrant green Moorea. (Pro tip: For clients who want the most unobstructed views, opt for the Horizon rooms, located at the far end of the row.) Three comfortable chairs surrounded a glass panel in the floor that let me see the underwater scene below, which was absolutely teeming with life. My modern bathroom featured a double vanity and a walk-in shower with doors that could be opened to the outdoors, for an optional open-air experience. 

Outside, a large deck featured two loungers and an additional set of chairs, plus a ladder to the water and a shower for post-swim rinsing. The best part? The Sofitel’s bungalows are surrounded by coral, drawing a huge variety of colorful fish and other marine creatures. And so, with a single step off my ladder, I was in snorkeling heaven, floating on top of the shallow water to soak in the mesmerizing scene around me.

For the second half of my stay, I swapped to a Beach Bungalow for a toes-in-the-sand vibe. The interior was almost identical to my overwater room, still with floor-to-ceiling windows and a small patio outfitted with chairs. A top feature of these accommodations is direct access to the beach and closer proximity to the hotel’s restaurants, bars and aquatic center (from which snorkel gear can be checked out for the duration of guests’ stay).

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Travel advisors should know that all of the Sofitel’s bungalows are undergoing a refresh featuring new bathrooms, decks and floors, along with updated furniture. The project is being done slowly to avoid disruption, and is expected to wrap by the end of the year. 

Restaurants and Bars 

Sofitel Kia Ora Moorea’s main restaurant, Pure, overlooks the lagoon and serves meals throughout the day. Breakfast is offered buffet-style, while a la carte lunch options range from sandwiches and salads to fish of the day, cucumber gazpacho and more. The regular dinner menu includes grilled fish and meat options, pastas and other entrees, though the must-try here is the twice-weekly Polynesian show and buffet held on Wednesdays and Saturdays. 

The spread at that event includes traditional Tahitian dishes such as pork cooked in an underground oven, chicken fafa (a kind of coconut curry with local spinach) and po’e, a tapioca-pudding-like dessert with tropical flavors. While enjoying these and a wide variety of other dishes, an impressive live show with music and dance performances entertains diners. 

Pure also hosts fun themed meals; my stay coincided with Lunar New Year, a huge event in French Polynesia thanks to the islands’ large Chinese-Tahitian population, and I was lucky to enjoy a special multi-course menu of Asian-inspired dishes. To my surprise and delight, the meal was even accompanied by a performance, complete with dancing dragons roaming the restaurant. 

K restaurant, meanwhile, offers a more upscale tasting menu of five or seven courses. Set on the beach under a cathedral ceiling made from local wood, the restaurant serves fusion cuisine in French style. Dishes offered during my meal included an elegant-yet-punchy tuna sashimi in ginger sauce; seared scallops adorned with a delicate cauliflower floret; pan-roasted beef tenderloin; a fresh fruit “tartare” with vanilla-infused olive oil; and a chocolate-and-hazelnut dessert. (Make sure clients know that reservations are required.) 

For light snacks and creative cocktails, guests can pull up a chair at Vue Bar, overlooking the lagoon (I highly recommend the yuzu-infused take on a Moscow mule) or stay on the sand at the Beach Bar. At the latter venue, a scenic swing is the perfect spot for Instagram-worthy photos during the newly introduced evening happy hour.  

Amenities and Activities

Other highlights of the resort include its lagoon-front pool and the Le Jardin Spa & Beauty wellness center. 

In addition to offering a peaceful atmosphere with an idyllic outdoor relaxation area, the spa’s services are top-notch. My Polynesian Massage featured long strokes meant to mimic the movement of ocean waves, flowing from head to toe. After my treatment, I rested near a small pool with a cool beverage, still smelling the delightful scent of the tiare (Tahitian gardenia) oil used for my massage.

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Ocean activities can be arranged at the on-site Ia Ora Diving Center, where I participated in the resort’s coral preservation program. This excellent experience includes an educational session on the life cycle of coral, its benefits for the ocean ecosystem and ongoing risks to the world’s reefs (including climate change and pollution). 

Next, our guide led us into the water under the resort’s bungalows, where a station is set up to grow coral. Here, we used a natural glue to attach broken pieces of coral to small tubes of bamboo before carefully drilling a hole in a strategically placed underwater location and “planting” the coral.

Just before leaving our coral to grow, our guide suggested that we send it love to help it prosper — a practice I now keep for the entire Sofitel Kia Ora Moorea every time I think of my stay at the standout property.