It's the question we get more than almost any other: Bora Bora or the Maldives? Both destinations offer the iconic overwater bungalow experience, extraordinary lagoons, and world-class luxury. So how do you choose? The honest answer is that they are genuinely different experiences — and the right choice depends entirely on what you're looking for.

The Setting

Bora Bora is a high island — a dramatic volcanic peak rising from the center of a lagoon ringed by a coral reef. The visual drama is extraordinary: the mountain provides a constant, magnificent backdrop to every view from the water. The Maldives, by contrast, is a collection of 1,200 coral islands, none more than a few meters above sea level. What the Maldives offers is an almost surreal flatness: the sense that you are floating in the middle of the Indian Ocean, surrounded by nothing but water and sky.

The Marine Life

Both destinations offer exceptional snorkeling and diving, but the Maldives has a slight edge for serious marine life enthusiasts. The Indian Ocean's warm, clear waters support extraordinary biodiversity: manta rays, whale sharks, sea turtles, reef sharks, and thousands of species of reef fish.

The Verdict

Choose Bora Bora if you want dramatic scenery, you're traveling from the US West Coast, or you want a more active water-sports-focused experience. Choose the Maldives if you want the ultimate in seclusion and privacy, you're serious about diving, or you want the most luxurious overwater villa experience available. Can't decide? We've sent plenty of couples to both — on the same trip.