Name: Ninamu Resort
Address: Tikehau, Tikehau, Tikehau, Tikehau, 00000, French Polynesia
Rating: 9

Ticket assistance

Gift shop

Garden

Television in lobby

Terrace

No elevators

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General

Laundry

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Library

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Kids

Pets Not Allowed

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Extra decontamination measures

Additional measures against COVID-19

Health and Safety Measures

Location

At the resort

Tikehau Atoll Airport

Mataiva Airport

Ninamu Resort

Tikehau

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Ninamu, you’ve still got it. There is literally no where else I’ve been that rivals the marine life and gorgeous coastline here (and not to sound like a jerk, but I’ve traveled a lot). Our hut was beautiful and super comfy even without ac. And Christian and Melanie were wonderful and welcoming. We miss it already and are planning our third trip. Thanks Chris!

Magical place

While this remote location and its logistical limitations aren’t for everyone, a visit will reward those who seek unspoiled beauty and simple experiences of the highest quality.

We thoroughly enjoyed disconnecting at Ninamu with Chris, his son Thomas, Bashu and the rest of the staff. We specifically loved the beach bungalows, snorkeling in the clear water, watching the black tipped sharks near shore, catching a 10 lb (by “some” estimates 😅) Blue Trevally, excursions to the Manta Ray feeding station and Blue Lagoon. Lunch and dinner always had the freshest fish and good portions (we didn’t even eat snacks we brought). The drinks (Ti Punch and Mai Tai) from Mel and Thomas were delicious. 
There are some mosquitoes but the coils Ninamu provides keep them away.

The helpful staff allow guests space to unwind and is there for anything you need. 

Thank you Cris, Thomas, Bashu, Mel, Noah, and the entire Ninamu for welcoming us and providing us with a magical escape (and lime to prevent infection from my reef mishap).

Great disconnect getaway

The aircraft to Tikehau and boat ride to the remote Ninamu Island gave a real feeling of being somewhere special of which Daniel Defoe would have approved. The resort is beautifully landscaped but, sympathetically, so from the sea it's not obviously habited. Harmless black tipped sharks and turtles circle the island to add to the air of tranquility. We were lucky with the weather during the January rainy season as we only had one inclement day during the whole week. Thomas the manager/owner's son was a pleasure to get to know and a professor of the local fauna with a special interest in the endangered coconut crabs. He also is an accomplished cocktail maker. The Island is a true 'back to nature' experience but with many creature comforts. Authentic, not dressed up which suited us perfectly. The manta rays, snorkelling, kayaking, paddle boarding and fishing filled up the week with a good balance of relaxing in the beach huts provided. Without any light pollution the night sky was something we had rarely seen before. We will be back. Thanks to Thomas, Chris and the team.

Perfect retreat experience in Polynesia

Our recent stay at this hotel, set in a breathtaking natural paradise, unfortunately fell short of our expectations. While the surrounding nature and location on the motu were undeniably beautiful, our experience within the family bungalow was significantly less impressive.
The primary concern was the inadequate ventilation in the bungalow. The absence of air conditioning was keenly felt, and the provided fan, necessary for any semblance of airflow, had to run all night, which was less than ideal. This issue was particularly problematic given the high seasonal prices we paid.
Additionally, the mosquito netting on the first floor was insufficient, resulting in our children suffering from mosquito bites. This added an uncomfortable element to our stay, which could have been easily avoided with better facilities.
The food and service also left much to be desired. The menu was not particularly child-friendly, and the staff's inflexibility regarding meal modifications was disappointing. Each request for a change seemed to be an inconvenience, which did not contribute to a welcoming atmosphere. We thank the staff who tried to make it easier for us.
While the staff members were not unfriendly, the overall ambiance and setup appeared to cater more to adults than to families with children. This discrepancy further detracted from our experience.
Considering the cost of over 1000 euros for one bungalow, our expectations were understandably high. Unfortunately, these expectations were not met, resulting in a feeling of dissatisfaction. The price-quality ratio was not justified, leaving us with a lingering sense of regret despite the gorgeous surroundings.
In conclusion, while the natural beauty of the location is indisputable, the shortcomings in accommodation, food, and service make it difficult to recommend this hotel for families, especially considering the high cost.

Stunning Nature, aisappointing accommodations and service

We stayed at 5 different places for our 2 week vacation in FP. Ninamu was the big splurge for our family of 4. Disappointingly it was not our favorite. Looking at Ninamu’s website and throwing down XPF332,000 for 4 of us in one bungalow for two nights, I was expecting a top-notch experience. In USD this equals $3043- $380 per person per night. The bungalow that the 4 of us shared was creatively built, but rather tight. The surroundings at Ninamu are extremely beautiful. It’s very quiet which is a welcome change from everyday bustle, but it felt stale; lacking liveliness and background music in the common area. We know it’s a personal thing, but we love FP music and were so happy to hear lively music in Rangiroa where we went next. Our family also enjoys open air accommodations. We stayed at some in Thailand and Costa Rica in the last couple of years. We generally like the fun vibe of them. Ninamu felt different in this way. The snorkeling right from the beach is amazing and the water clarity stunning. However the furnishings and gear were very tired and in disrepair including an old non-functional ping pong table covered in old rain water, and an old pool table with no sticks to be found. The sofas in the main building were tired and musty. The fabric at the base of our bed was tattered and ripped. No doubt that open air coastal places require a lot of maintenance to keep things fresh. But repairs and replacements of broken items were clearly not a priority at Ninamu. We brought our own snorkeling gear but used Ninamu’s SUPs. The SUPs were fine and we were grateful to use them. However we were unable to find any paddles that weren’t broken. So just used ones that were there but couldn’t be adjusted. Chris, the owner arranged a sunset dive for us. We later were able to book our own morning dive. Chris was knowledgeable and helpful when telling us to communicate to our diving depth to our dive master. Thomas, Chris’ son was very kind and helpful. He brought our bags to our bungalow when we arrived. He also brought the guests out to see coconut crabs at night. Amazing beautiful creatures. The staff was cheerful and nice. The food was tasty. But like a lot of other reviews have said, it was fixed modest portions. I had asked about any food requirements. I let him know that I didn’t eat beef so they were accommodating and served fish. I appreciated this. I had mentioned that I like a lot of fruits and vegetables. They put out some fruit including one or two avocados and papayas at breakfast. These were quickly eaten up by the guests and they didn’t bring out more. One of my daughters slept past breakfast one morning and the staff kindly saved her some breakfast. Upon leaving we were presented with another. $23 bill for 4 sodas we had during our stay. Bummer a few non alcoholic drinks weren’t included. In spite of the good parts, we don’t feel this was worth the huge price tag.

beautiful island.  tired resort

Went to Ninamu to celebrate my 60th Bday with two other couples. It was an incredible experience. Completely stress free. Every bungalow is well designed and beautiful in its own way. Great showers with instant hot water. The entire resort is extremely clean everywhere. The water is some of the clearest and most beautiful that you will find anywhere in the world . The staff is friendly and very hospitable. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served at the same time everyday and always delicious. The only thing you have to worry about is what bathing suit you are going to wear that day.

Truely the best vacation for relaxing.

We can not say enough good things about Ninamu and Chris. If you want total relaxation this is the place, very laid back, not a lot of people. Food is amazing, the staff is so nice. The excursions are very exciting. The water and island are picturesque with fantastic sunsets. The pink sand beach and the blue water are unmatched. We were a group of six celebrating a 60th birthday for one of us, Chris and his staff made it very special. 
We are already planning a return trip for 2024. 

AMAZING

My family loved Ninamu so much that we are already peeking at our calendars for a return visit. We stayed at Ninamu for three nights in August 2023 and did not scuba dive since the kids are a bit too young. 

But Ninamu might not be for you. Ninamu resort and the entire Tikehau atoll are not Bora Bora; Ninamu is not a country club. The beaches and landscaping are not meticulously manicured and sanitized for the luxury-resort dreamscape. The wine list is not a booklet. Instead, the beaches and vegetation are as nature intended. Consider Ninamu to be a little bit roughing it, but with comfortable accommodations, good food, and excellent service. 

Arrival day: after checking in and having lunch, we waded around the entire Ninamu motu (island) and outward almost to the reef. 

Full day 1: we arranged through Ninamu staff for a full-day excursion from another company. It consisted of snorkeling with manta rays in the lagoon, walking around Bird Island, a beach barbecue at a fishing village near the pass, and snorkeling in the ocean where the coral garden and pass meet. Afterward there was still time before sunset to snorkel right by the resort.

Full day 2: Ninamu shuttle to the main island, walked through the town and visited Coconut Beach, then returned and hung out at our cabin and the main structure’s dining area, small library, and recreation/fitness room. We were planning on more snorkeling and beach fun but sometimes even in August here an afternoon can be overcast and rainy.

Departure day: Ninamu staff prepared breakfast early for us since we were scheduled to fly from Tikehau on the first flight.

Food: the food and drinks are excellently varied and prepared, but are a rotating set menu; supplying a tiny motu on a low-key atoll means it would be economic suicide to keep a large menu available on order. Breakfast is a simple buffet of breads and pastries, fruits and spreads, and various sausage meats. Lunch and dinner are exquisite meals, French-style cooking with Polynesian fish and flavors. Very flavorful and no repeats during our stay. The desserts were amazing, and also did not repeat. Chocolate mouse, coconut cake, real-vanilla ice cream, and others. All very rich and naturally sweet.

Lodging: Ninamu has only a small number of bungalows. They are unique so check the website for their occupancies. Ours slept four: one large bed in the loft and two small beds on the main floor. Those two are under the same mosquito net so that and their size may mean your group of four may not fit. Perhaps a large mattress can be put atop those to create a second large bed rather than two small ones if you request before arrival. Because Ninamu is on a tiny motu of Tikehau and Tikehau has not been massively developed for tourism like Tahiti or Bora Bora, infrastructure is basic but functional. There are three types of water on Ninamu: drinking water from the dining area dispenser (fill your bottles multiple times per day), washing water from the sink and shower, and desalinated water for the toilets. It’s fine but takes a moment to get used to. We were mostly not affected by mosquitos and pests. The mosquito nets, nightly mosquito-coil incense, and near-constant breeze kept them at bay. But bring and use your repellant, because we didn’t all leave pristine. Internet was surprisingly capable, with both a relatively strong connection at the main structure and a moderate connection at our bungalow. Downloading worked fine but trying to upload photos was limited and slow. That’s life in Tikehau. The village has a cell tower and that signal reaches Ninamu, in case you need to make a call.

Kids and fun: the only blemish on our stay was that Ninamu does not have a lot of young snorkelers visiting so has very limited equipment options for them. Masks were fine but sizing kid-sized fins onto them and whether those are all in good condition was disappointing. More important though, was that my kids are inexperienced snorkelers, and as such they require the snorkels to self-seal when they are tipped or submerged. I don’t know whether Ninamu has any snorkels with that function. From looking in shops in Papeete later though it looks like that kind just may not be at all common in French Polynesia like they are in the U.S. My kids struggled—quite audibly!—when they got water in their mouths and had not mastered clearing their snorkel and continuing on. Their snorkels didn’t even have clearing valves; they were only curved tubes with mouthpieces—not good for beginners. Overall though, my kids absolutely loved all the wildlife and nature Ninamu and Tikehau offers. They were enamored with all the hermit crabs and fish and (small) sharks we saw all around, and learning about coral and coconut trees and Polynesian life on an atoll. To have a 5-star trip with young kids, bring your own (self-sealing) kid snorkels, and fins if you have space. With those we could have been satisfied to stay a couple more days, and if we also were able to dive, even more days. Last thing on kids: Tikehau is probably a fantastic destination if kids are just learning to walk and/or swim! There are many places surrounding the motu where the water is between 1 foot (30 cm) and 3 feet (90 cm) deep and no to little current. I was quite surprised how far from shore I could wade without even wetting my waist. But bring beach shoes appropriate for rocky, dead-coral walking! As I said, Tikehau is not made of luxury-soft white sand.

Beyond all that though, it’s the service at Ninamu that more than anything won our hearts and tempts us to return. The facilities are subject to a lot of wind, sun, surf, and rain. But that the care to maintain it all in good order is being applied is obvious. There are boardwalks from the main structure to each bungalow which are disinfected and cleared of debris often. The staff meets all loading expectations: easy check-in and check-out, daily servicing of the lodge, attentive but not smothering wait service. They also exceed typical tourism expectations. Arranging excursions with other companies for us was great, shuttle service to the village precisely when we wanted, and answering our questions and offering advice whenever we needed, all great. Our final evening’s dinner though exemplified excellent service: (1) because Ninamu had not received their next stock of coconut milk which was a key ingredient in a cocktail we wished to order, they pressed some coconut to create their own fresh coconut milk to prepare the drink, and (2) when I let the waitress know between the main course and dessert that my kids found that meal small and were still hungry, the cook sliced a couple extra servings of fruit for them to come with the dessert….which was especially great to dip in the dessert’s chocolate!

So come to Tikehau to see life and nature not yet commercialized to the same extent as elsewhere in French Polynesia. Stay at Ninamu for comfortable accommodations, great food, and a very helpful staff.

4 stars with kids under 10 years old; 5 stars if not

Snorkeling in the surroundings of the MOTU to see corals and a diversity of marine fauna, sitting on the sand in absolute solitude, practicing water sports or enjoying the exquisite food in the dining room are some of the experiences that make Ninamu a unique place. It is not suitable for people looking for luxury resorts because this place is not. It brings you as close as possible to the timeless experience of feeling that you are completely alone in Polynesia with all its nature in splendor. That feeling alone is priceless. 
The cabins are built with autochthonous elements, they are sober, clean, comfortable and their design blends with nature in perfect harmony.
Raimana is the one who takes you to observe manta rays, dolphins and corals. The level of professionalism and care for the entire group was outstanding.
Vehai provided excellent service to make dining room guests satisfied. The portions of the food were adequate and every day we tasted exquisite meals.
Chris and Greta, the owners, are permanently available to clarify doubts, solve problems and make your experience to the fullest. In my personal case, I forgot a very expensive camera in the room but they kindly sent it to my hotel in Rangiroa in less than 24 hours.
Once again, it is not a purely luxury resort with those characteristics but it gave us the most personal, immersive, beautiful experience in all of Polynesia with its pink sands still in our heads. 
I would go back again and again.

Great experience in this eco lodge where the entire island can be exclusively for you.

It was really incredible. Ninamu is a paradise. We found family, friends and nature. This is the style of resort we love. We spent 13 days there and could have stayed many more. So many activities and so much peace. Ninamu has only eight or nine bungalows. You can enjoy the peace at all times. Chris and Greta made us feel like family. All the staff were always smiling and ready to help. I can't forget Colman. He was our dog for thirteen days. We walked , ran , slept , fished , swam ... so many things we did and Colman was always with us.
It would be difficult to find a place where we could relive this experience.  Chris, you have truly created a unique place.  Thank you

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