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Participant, CLF 2022-2023 Director, CLF 2023-2025 Harvard College Class of 2029
August 7, 2025
June 19, 2025
Live with locals in a homestay, work on construction and agriculture community service projects, and snorkel to tropical coral reefs.
Join a grassroots project designed to support basic needs within a Nausori Highlands community. Live in pairs with a host family, an experience that will open cultural doors and introduce you to the Fijian lifestyle. Contribute to the ongoing development of a school, work on small-scale agriculture and construction projects, and lead after-school enrichment programs for students in the village. Then travel to the Yasawa Island chain where you’ll overnight on the beach, snorkel to tropical coral reefs, swim in turquoise waters, and kayak to pristine beaches. Return home after this rewarding experience with a new perspective about the challenges this community faces.
Students leave feeling like they understand the “real” Fiji–they will understand the traditions and cultural aspects that often are overlooked.
Fiji service and island living
Age 14-18
$3,995 plus Airfare
This small, but friendly country is the only Central American country that is part of the Caribbean.
$2,495
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 into the mountains of Fiji’s Nausori Highlands region 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. After a welcome kava ceremony and orientation to learn about life in this incredible place, you’ll head to bed early to get a good night’s sleep before the service activities begin tomorrow!
For the first 3 nights of your program, you will be staying at “Heaven’s Edge,” a simple accommodation that sits beside the picturesque Vaturu Dam. Your hostel consists of several dormitory-style rooms with mattresses on the floor and walls made of repurposed timber. Students will have access to flush toilets and showers, but will not have access to electricity.
Just across the dam are several farms surrounded by lines of tomatoes, long beans, eggplants, and local crops of dalo and cassava. Today you will begin working with local families as they develop their farms to support their basic needs. Learn how to water the crops, plant seedlings, and harvest what is ready for sale in the market. As part of your daily routine, you will share in the cooking, help collect firewood, and immerse yourselves in the rhythms of an agricultural lifestyle. During downtime, go for a hike, spend time exploring the Dam, and learn some basic Fijian phrases. As night falls, spend time listening to traditional songs around the fire.
This morning you will leave the farm and being the next chapter of your Highlands adventure. Hop back into local transport and make your way to Nausori Village, where you will spend the next six nights truly immersing yourself in the traditional Fijian way of life. When you arrive in the village you will provide your sevusevu to the chief of the village in a very traditional ceremony required of any visitor to the community. This is an amazing cultural experience and also offers a chance to spend time with the elders of this village. Rustic Pathways has been working in this region for over 20 years and has developed a special connection with community members in the area. You will be assigned to homestay families in pairs and will have time this afternoon to get to know the people that will be opening up their homes and hearts to you.
For the next 6 nights you will be living with a homestay family. Each home will vary but includes a mattress, and access to running water and a flush toilet is always available at our Rustic Pathways staff house. Each homestay will have 2 participants of the same gender.
Over the next week, you will split your time between ongoing construction efforts at the local school and in the village itself. Rustic Pathways works to support dedicated teachers who work at the schools in this interior region by improving classroom and housing facilities. We are also committed to ensuring that the school library is top notch, so please feel free to bring along some of your favorite early reading books to donate if you would like. You will also have the opportunity to participate in afterschool enrichment programs that will help reinforce the curriculum taught in the local school. You may help with reading or writing exercises, arts and crafts projects, or sports and physical education sessions. You’ll take breaks from your hard work by learning about traditional weaving techniques from village women and will get to see a traditional meke dance performance in appreciation for your service. A spectacular sunset view awaits on one of your afternoon hikes and you’ll enjoy relaxing at the local waterfall and swimming hole. You will leave the highlands having seen all the best things it has to offer! On Friday evening, share time with your group and village friends at the Staff Bure for a final Fijian farewell ceremony marking your last night in the village. There will be lots of laughter and tears and you will be amazed how quickly you have grown attached to your new family and friends in the Highlands!
After a last morning of relaxing by the river and packing up, eat an early lunch and say farewell to the Highlands region of Fiji. Goodbyes are never easy, so expect to see many of the villagers waving farewell as the truck is loaded for your return to Nadi. Remember – you can always come back again next year. Reach Nadi in time for lunch at a local restaurant and add-on skydive for those who are interested in taking the plunge. Notice the change as you return to the hustle and bustle of Nadi town from the peace and quiet of the village. Join your group for a post-service debrief in the evening, discussing what you experienced and learned through hands-on work in the community.
Tonight you’ll be staying at our South Pacific Eco-Lodge Base. Students will stay in small houses that sleep eight to ten on bunk-beds, separated by gender. Each house has an attached bathroom with solar powered hot water showers, sinks, and flush toilets.
This morning after an early breakfast, you’ll head out to the breathtaking Yasawa island chain for some rest, relaxation, and well-deserved island time! Traveling by boat, it will take about three hours to arrive at your destination. Stay right along the beach in an eco-friendly camp that will serve as your base as you explore the beauty of the islands and begin to learn about Fijian culture and life. This afternoon, take a swim in the ocean, enjoy the sunset and settle into Fiji time.
Your next 2 nights will be spent students sleeping just a few meters from the beach. Students will stay in dorm rooms with standard bunk beds, separated by gender. There will be cold showers, flush toilets, and electricity available.
This morning after breakfast and a good night’s rest, you’ll have the opportunity to go on an add-on scuba dive. Fiji’s world-renown coral reefs are some of the most stunning, so if you have any interest in seeing the reef from a fish’s perspective, you are welcome to give it a try. Whether or not you are a certified diver or if this will be your first time, the dive instructors will make you feel at home under water. If you choose to not do an add-on scuba dive, spend the morning snorkeling and relaxing in the sun. Perhaps you will choose to challenge the local team to a game of beach volleyball or horseshoe!
After breakfast this morning, travel by boat to the nearby colorful reefs for some spectacular snorkeling and a chance to learn about the importance of the marine environment for local livelihoods. Talk with locals to learn how they earn a living from the sea and the steps they are taking to preserve the marine environment for future generations. This will be a fun and educational morning as you learn more about the realities of life in Fiji and have a chance to explore these world-famous tropical waters. 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.
Your last night will be spent at our South Pacific Eco-Lodge Base. Students will stay in small houses that sleep eight to ten on bunk-beds, separated by gender. Each house has an attached bathroom with solar powered hot water showers, sinks, and flush toilets.
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.
Packing the right gear (and the right amounts) is the first step to an incredible travel experience. Follow these tips to pack like a pro:
Travel light. Pack only the essentials. You’ll need less than you think! Bring the right clothes. Pack clothes that are culturally appropriate for your destination and acceptable for service projects. This means bringing long shorts (think Bermuda and basketball shorts), t-shirts with sleeves to cover shoulders, and appropriate footwear. Leave your valuables behind. While traveling, it’s easier for things to get lost, stolen, or damaged. Keep any prized possessions safe at home. Check with TSA. Make sure your luggage complies with TSA regulations, especially your carry-on. Useful tip: Pack an empty water bottle and fill it up after security. Extra paperwork? If you need additional forms filled out to get credit for your service hours, no problem! Bring these forms with you so they can be completed in-country.
A school backpack or similar sized bag is ideal.
A 50-70 Liter duffel bag or backpack is ideal.
Clothes
Toiletries
(Travel size bottles in Ziploc bags)
Other (Required)
Homestays: The focus of the program will be in the highland mountains where students will be in homestays with local families. Each home will vary but includes a mattress and access to running water and a flush toilet is always available at our Rustic Pathways staff house. Each homestay will have 2 participants of the same gender.
Hostel: For the first 3 nights of your program, you will be staying at “Heaven’s Edge,” a simple accommodation that sits beside the picturesque Vaturu Dam. Your hostel consists of several dormitory-style rooms with mattresses on the floor and walls made of repurposed timber. There is also a main dining activity house. Students will have access to flush toilets and showers, but will not have access to electricity.
Beach Dormitory: The last few days will be spent in the islands, where students will be sleeping in dorm rooms with standard bunk beds with electricity a few meters from the beach. Girls and boys will stay in separate rooms and enjoy meals in a central kitchen area. There will be cold showers and flush toilets available.
South Pacific Eco-Lodge Base: Students will also stay at the Eco-Lodge or a comparable hotel where they will have electricity, a hot shower, and common amenities.
Rustic Pathways works with local community leaders and organizations to identify and prioritize the needs of each community. Please note that while we try our best to ensure we provide our advertised projects, some changes may occur due to the communities and project partners we work with.
This program will focus on various education and infrastructure initiatives and will be determined in the late spring.
This program involves adventure activities and service that require students to be physically active.
Students will eat a combination of local Fijian and Indian dishes, and more western-style dishes, eating family-style while seated on the floor. Breakfasts typically include cereal, baked goods, eggs, and fruit. Lunches and dinners range from traditional Fijian lovo feasts of chicken, cassava, and dalo (root crops similar to potatoes) to barbeques, pastas, stir fries, curries, salads, and vegetables.
Dietary Requirements/Food Allergies – This program can cater to most specific diets including, but not limited to, vegetarian, vegan, and lactose-free, as well as peanut-free cooking. Gluten-free can be accommodated, but is much more challenging. We do not accept anaphylactic allergies on this program due to the remote nature of this program.
Rustic Pathways uses sterilization techniques to ensure that all drinking water for students is potable and safe to drink. We ask students to bring reusable water bottles in order to reduce plastic usage.
This program takes place during the dry season in Fiji. Rain is not likely, but can occur so we recommend bringing a light raincoat. The weather is an average of 75-80 degrees Fahrenheit during the day. Mornings and evenings tend to be a little cooler so a light jacket is advisable.
Flights: Rustic Pathways offers escorted group flights from the United States to Nadi, Fiji. Students will depart from the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and arrive at the Nadi International Airport (NAN). The advertised dates for this program include travel time from the USA.
Visa: There are no visa requirements in Fiji for students traveling on United States passports.Students traveling with Rustic Pathways on passports not issued by the United States are responsible for determining their own visa requirements. Please check with the appropriate consulate or embassy.
Internal Travel: There are no internal flights on this program. Students will travel via boat and private vans throughout the program.
Students are allowed to bring phones on their Rustic Pathways program, but must abide by our cell phone policy. Students will not be allowed to use their phones during group activities, nor at any other time where it is disruptive to the group dynamic. If students are unable to abide by this policy, disciplinary action may be taken and phones may be confiscated until the end of the program.
There is no WiFi in the Nausori Highlands or Yasawa Islands and data reception is not always consistent. Students will have one or two trips into town per week and can access WiFi at this time.
Parents will have access to our 24/7 emergency number and will also receive updates from our staff once students are in country.
Personal gifts, internet, phone calls, and snacks are not included. All other costs (accommodation, meals, in-country transportation, and activities) are included in the program price. We generally recommend $100USD per week of spending money, plus additional for any optional activities that you would like to do. Please note that we DO NOT accept American Express in Fiji.
Laundry can be washed by hand at any time. Students will have the opportunity to learn traditional laundry practices with their host family. It is still best to pack without the expectation of doing laundry. Laundry can be sent out once a week for $20USD a load depending on weight.
Fiji is a traditionally conservative country and we expect students to dress accordingly. While Nadi town is more relaxed, it is important that we show respect when working in schools, villages, or other local communities. The requirements are the same for any gender:
Shorts: Basketball-style only; no running or soccer-style shorts. The bottom of the shorts should be approaching, or covering, the kneecap. Leggings or yoga pants are NOT acceptable at service sites as they are too form-fitting. Loose-fitting pants or capris are acceptable and preferred. Skirts: Maxi-length only. Long skirts are the best option for education-based service work in local schools. Tops: Shoulders must be covered. No tank tops, spaghetti straps, low-cut, transparent, or crop tops. Bathing suits: Two-piece bathing suits are acceptable, but no revealing or string bikinis please! One piece suits are preferred.
All students will be given a Rustic Pathways Fiji sulu, or sarong, upon arrival. In the village, both genders will wear their sulus over pants every day when not doing service.
If you arrive and your clothing is deemed unacceptable by your Program Leaders, you’ll have to purchase appropriate clothing before service work begins in the village.