Big Fiji Explorer

Arrive at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) where you’ll meet your Rustic Pathways Flight Leader, who will help get you checked in and through security before traveling with your group to Fiji. Get acquainted with fellow Rustic travelers before boarding your flight.

Today is lost as you cross the International Date Line. Not to worry, though–you’ll get it back when you return.

Bula! Arrive at Nadi International Airport (NAN) and meet your Program Leaders who will be with you for the duration of the program. Head to the South Pacific Eco-Lodge Base and settle in, relaxing after your long flight. Join the group for an orientation discussion about the week ahead, expectations for your adventure, and an introduction to the local culture. 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 home for the evening. Get a good night’s rest as the adventure is just beginning!

Start your morning relaxing on the beach. After breakfast, you’ll be participating in one of several marine focused activities with your knowledgeable Program Leaders and local partners. You’ll have plenty of fun and learn about the local marine environment along the way! 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.

Another great day enjoying your beautiful surroundings, helping the environment and learning about some of the challenges your island home faces. Alongside a local marine biologist, you may be involved in fish counts, helping monitor coral health and planting mangroves to help protect this fragile ecosystem. Finish the day with a bonfire on the beach as you watch the sunset.

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.

Today you’ll return to the Western side of Viti Levu, stopping along the way to explore Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Park. Spend the morning hiking at the coastal Sigatoka Sand Dunes, one of Fiji’s National Heritage sites. You’ll learn about this unique ecosystem while walking through forested trails and pristine beachfront. Explore the enormous dunes, learn about the early Fijian artifacts that have been discovered in this park, and support the Park Rangers with dune stabilization and reforestation efforts. Tonight, you’ll have a chance to relax and get to know more of our local team back at our Momi Bay base.

Wake up and enjoy a leisurely breakfast overlooking our Momi Bay base, before a morning of high-flying fun zip- lining. Soar through the canopies of the forest 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 hustle and bustle of Nadi town for lunch and some souvenir shopping. Check out the local market to try some new tropical fruits or local snacks. Following your meal, you’ll head to one of the local community service initiatives that Rustic Pathways is involved with for an afternoon of engagement, learning and fun. Return to your accommodations before dinner for some free time. Play a game of volleyball against the local staff, or find a hammock for an afternoon nap.

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 infamous 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.

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 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. The next two days will reveal 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!

Before we take off to relax in the mountains of Fiji, we will go souvenir shopping in town or head to one of the local Nadi beaches. After lunch, we’ll make our way to the interior of Viti Levu, Fiji’s largest island. Ride through the mountains and over lush landscape en route to your new home in a remote village of Fiji. Enjoy a delicious dinner, gaze at the stars, and partake in evening village activities before heading to bed in this isolated paradise.

Spend the day enjoying the tranquility of village life in the highlands. Learn about farming, the common economic income for families in the highlands and experience what a day in the life is like. Enjoy tea time with your favorite Fijian snacks and then engage in some heavy volleyball competition! At the end of each program, students reflect on their experiences and the issues they engaged with, and talk about how to apply this new understanding to their own worlds.

After your final breakfast in the highlands, you will have to say goodbye to your new friends and take in your final views of the mountains of Fiji. Spend a few hours soaking in the local hot pools and mud baths before you head to town for lunch and maybe any final souvenir shopping you need to do. You will head back to the EcoLodge to make sure you are showered and packed up before having your final dinner in Fiji with a view of the sunset. Your Program Leaders will take you to the airport for your flight home or to your next Rustic program as you say goodbyes and reflect on your adventure.