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 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!

Get ready for a day full of tubing! Say goodbye to your Pacific Harbour resort and travel to the Navua River, where you will enjoy rushing rapids aboard inflatable inner tubes. The river will take you deep into the mountains where you will get the chance to swim at a local waterfall near Sabata village. This day of adventure and epic scenery will leave you with a smile on your face. Return to 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 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. Grab your gear after lunch and head to Fiji’s premier white sand beach, Natadola. Soak in the sunshine as you swim, stroll down the beach, or try bodysurfing 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!

Before taking off the relax in the mountains of Fiji, you have the option of getting your adrenaline pumping with an optional skydive activity. Any members of the group who are not skydiving 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 area of Fiji. Enjoy a delicious dinner and gaze at the stars before heading to bed in this isolated paradise.

Spend the day enjoying the tranquility of life in the highlands. Learn about farming, the common economic income for families in the highlands and experience 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. During or after their closing discussion, groups participate in Rustic Ties, a unique and powerful activity that allows students to capture the memories and learning moments of their program to process and share with their communities back home.

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.

If you’re staying in Fiji, your Program Leaders will take you to your next accommodation to meet your new group. If you’re continuing on to another Rustic Pathways destination, you’ll board a connecting flight to that country.