Mont Orohena

Mont Orohena is the highest peak on Tahiti in the Windward Islands (Society Islands), rising to about 2,241 meters above sea level. It is the highest point in French Polynesia.

The mountain is a steep, heavily vegetated volcanic massif at the island’s center; routes to the summit are rugged and pass through dense tropical forest and ridgelines. Climbs are physically demanding and typically undertaken by experienced hikers and local guides.

Mont Orohena formed as part of Tahiti’s volcanic activity and is the eroded remnant of the island’s central shield volcano. Over geological time the peak has been shaped by erosion and tropical weathering rather than recent volcanic activity.

The peak sits roughly in the center of Tahiti Nui, on the island of Tahiti, surrounded by steep valleys and ridges; the nearest major settlement is Papeete, on the island’s northwest coast, several tens of kilometers from the summit.