Big Fiji Explorer

Welcome to your South Pacific adventure! All of our scheduled group flights to Fiji depart from Los Angeles on Fiji Airways, Fiji’s national airline. Your flight will be non-stop to Nadi International Airport and will be escorted by a Rustic Pathways flight leader. The flight will depart LAX in the evening and take about 10 hours. During your flight you can meet other students, get some sleep in preparation for your arrival, relax with a movie or two, and start to settle into the easy-going Fijian way of life.

Today is lost as you cross the international dateline, but don’t worry too much – you will get it back on your way home!

Upon clearing customs and immigration, you will be greeted by Rustic Pathways’ Fiji leaders and transported to the beautiful South Pacific Eco-Lodge Base. Enjoy a tropical breakfast with your leaders and new friends. Receive an orientation about the two weeks ahead of you while you look out at sugarcane fields that seem to fall into the ocean. The staff will help you settle into your new home and answer any questions you might have. Then, it is off on a coastal drive to the Eastern side of Viti Levu. You’ll stop along Fiji’s legendary Coral Coast for lunch before continuing to your island resort for the evening. Get a good night’s rest as the adventure is just beginning!

Spend the morning relaxing on the beach, or participating in one of the activities with the resort’s fun and knowledgeable staff. You’ll have plenty of options to choose from! Whether you’re joining in on an epic snorkel, or learning about traditional Fijian sailing techniques, your day will be full of opportunities to begin to learn about your new home. In the afternoon, spend time getting to know your group as you take in your surroundings. Play a game of volleyball, work on team building exercises, and make friends that will last a lifetime.

Rise early and head to Pacific Harbour, the adventure capital of Fiji. Expect magnificent coastal vistas as you drive up to a High Ropes course that will challenge you to test to your limits. Complete four high-flying activities, including the Leap of Faith! After you get settled in to your dorm at a local hotel, spend the afternoon playing beach volleyball, relaxing by the pool, or kayaking. Stroll down the beach at sunset and start to feel at home on the Pacific Harbour Coast.

Wake up and enjoy a leisurely breakfast overlooking your coastal resort before a morning of high-flying fun. Soar through the canopies of the rainforest and get your adrenaline pumping as you travel from platform to platform among the trees. Conquer your fear of heights while traveling 30 mph through the air and let out a loud “Wananavu!” as you enjoy stepping outside your comfort zone. Next, experience the big city life in Suva, Fiji’s capital city, for lunch and some souvenir shopping. Following your meal, you’ll head to Colo-i-Suva Forest Reserve for a hike through another one of Fiji’s National Parks. Return to your accommodations before dinner for some free time. Play a game of beach volleyball, or find a hammock for an afternoon nap. Enjoy a last dinner in Pacific Harbour before you return to the Eco-Lodge tomorrow!

Wake up and say goodbye to your Pacific Harbour home. Get ready for a full day river adventure! Leave your resort and travel to the Luva River where you will spend the day aboard inflatable kayaks. The river will take you deep into the mountains where you can jump out of your boat and enjoy a side hike to the Wainuta Falls and a local village. This day of adventure and scenic wonder will leave you with a smile on your face. Settle into the Eco-Lodge for the evening and get ready for the adventures still to come.

After a tasty breakfast your group will head out island hopping through the Mamanuca Islands. You will tour around the islands where you will get to see the notorious waves at Cloudbreak and watch surfers try and ride out perfect barrels. Enjoy a smoothie or cold drink when we stop at a nearby resort for lunch. See the famous island where Tom Hanks’ “Cast Away” was filmed. Jump into the water for some snorkeling at one of Fiji’s beautiful reefs. When you reach dry land again you will be transported back to the Eco-Lodge for a warm shower.

Spend the morning kayaking the beautiful waters of Momi Bay. You will explore the mangroves and coral coastline just off the shores of our Eco-Lodge and learn about the natural environment that is right in our backyard. Grab your beach gear after lunch and head out to Fiji’s premier white sand beach, Natadola . Soak in the sunshine as you swim, stroll down the beach, or try body surfing in the waves.

Tonight, enjoy a dinner at the Ecolodge and get a good night’s sleep to prepare yourself for your morning trip to the Yasawa Islands.

Board a ferry in the early morning and take a four-hour boat ride through the breathtaking Yasawa Islands. Pass by some of the most beautiful islands in the world while enjoying a cold ice-cream bar. Over the next four days, you will call one of these tropical islands home as you explore the white sandy beaches, crystal-clear waters, and lush surrounding hills. You will be without electricity while you sleep in large safari tents on cots, only a few yards from the ocean. Step off the boat and get to know a village that is ready to welcome you with open arms. After lunch, start orientation with your trip leaders and discuss what to expect during your four days on the island. Once you have finished orientation, throw on your swimsuit, snorkel, and fins and head out to explore the exotic marine habitats of the South Pacific. Head to Dollar Beach, nicknamed for its representation on the back of the old Fiji one-dollar note. Here you can often spot a multitude of fish, squid, and rays. If you are not up to snorkeling, spend time relaxing in the sun or pull out a kayak and paddle through the aqua waters.

In the evening, enjoy a kava ceremony with the locals from Somosomo Village who will make you feel at home under the bright constellations of the Southern Hemisphere.

Explore island paradise. Each day will include new adventures, including a rewarding sunrise hike, ocean kayaking, snorkeling with manta rays, and learning a traditional Fijian war dance called the meke. There will be time to play games with the local school children and to learn some traditional Fijian phrases. In order to better understand everyday life in Somosomo Village, you will have the exciting opportunity to engage in an ongoing service project that contributes to initiatives undertaken as part of the Village Community Plan. These may include helping with repairs to village homes, building kitchens, engaging in a sports day with students and planting mangroves. You will have the chance to go on an add-on scuba dive if you would like to see more of Fiji’s underwater world. Fiji has the best soft coral reefs on the planet and spending a day exploring the ocean can seem otherworldly. Spend your nights hanging out at the beach bonfire or gazing up at the stars.

In the morning join in on a local church service in the village. This will be an opportunity for you to visit a local Fijian’s home and share stories about the different ways of life in the islands. Return for lunch at the islands base and finish packing before your departure. Say goodbye to the Yasawa Islands and head back to Nadi via the Yasawa Flyer. You will be surprised at how much you have learned from your new Fijian friends who feel more like family.

Tonight, enjoy some of Fiji’s best pizza before heading back to the Ecolodge for a hot shower. Be sure to reflect on your islands experience before you venture into the vastly different world of the Nausori Highlands region tomorrow!

Spend the morning soaking in the local hot pools and mud baths. Challenge our local guides to a game of volleyball on our riverside court. When you return to your bure in the evening, you can take part in a kava ceremony, relax, and listen to the Fijians sing traditional songs late into the night. After lunch, hop into local transport and head up to the interior of Viti Levu, Fiji’s largest island. Ride through the mountains and over lush landscapes en route to your new home in a remote area of Fiji. Hike for approximately forty minutes to where you will be staying on mattresses in a traditional Fijian “bure”, or hut, by the river. Enjoy a delicious dinner and gaze at the breathtaking stars before heading to bed early in this isolated paradise. By the time you leave, you will understand why this place holds a special place in our hearts.

Spend your day hiking to one of the country’s largest waterfalls, swimming in pristine rivers, and enjoying the tranquility of the Highlands. Join in with the locals on the rugby field or try your turn on the volleyball court. When you return to your tent in the evening, you can take part in a kava ceremony, relax, and listen to the Fijians sing traditional songs late into the night.

Prepare for your final morning in the highlands and hike back to the road early as the morning mist rises from the valley.  Take a day to go souvenir shopping or get your adrenaline up one last time. This morning you will have time to say goodbye to your new friends and the community that you have become a part of. The serious thrill seekers in the group may participate in an optional heart-pumping skydive. Your legs will be shaking on the way up, but the fall is pure adrenaline. Head to Nadi in the afternoon where you can explore the town and purchase gifts for your family and friends. Enjoy your final dinner in Fiji with a view of the sunset before leaving for the airport. If you are departing to the U.S. today, you will bid Fiji farewell (until next year perhaps) and head to the airport for the escorted group flight home. If you are continuing on to another Rustic Pathways program, your staff will help you connect with your new leaders.