2009/2009 Gap Year – Fiji Itinerary
Living, learning, and lending a hand in the South Pacific
Day 01 – October 14, 2009
Depart the USA-
Rustic Pathways recommends organizing a flight from the USA on Air Pacific – Fiji’s national airline. The flight is a comfortable 10-hour nonstop flight from LAX. During your flight, get some sleep in preparation for your arrival in the South Pacific or relax with a movie or two and start to settle into the easy-going and friendly nature of the Fijian’s and their legendary hospitality.
Day 02 – October 15, 2009
In transit
Today is “lost” as you cross the international dateline, but don’t worry too much… you will get it back on your way home!
Day 03 – October 16, 2009
Bula! Welcome to Fiji!
You will immediately be greeted by our Rustic Pathways staff and transported to your new home at our beautiful Rustic Pathways Momi Bay Base. Here you will enjoy a tropical breakfast with your new staff and new friends. You will receive an orientation about the week ahead of you while you overlook sugarcane fields that seem to stretch into the ocean. The staff will help you settle into your new home and answer any questions you might have, while you also relax and unwind while getting to know your new friends.
But there is no time to waste, by mid-morning you will be exploring the beautiful Sigatoka Sand Dunes. These dune sweep into the ocean and are rearranged everyday by the wind. Once you have taken a leisurely climb and walk around the dunes you will be transported to Natadola Beach. Here you can go swimming, snorkeling or surfing while surrounded by crystal clear turquoise water. Enjoy a picnic lunch while you lie on the beach and recover from your night of travel.
Your introduction to Fiji will be spent enjoying the wonders that Fiji has to offer in whatever way that fits your mood! Get ready for a day you will never forget!
During the evening, you can unwind from your “busy” day with a swim in the pool, a friendly soccer match or simply watching the sunset from our huge deck overlooking the Pacific Ocean with some new friends. You can be guaranteed a good night sleep tonight!
Overnight: Rustic Pathways Momi Bay Base
Day 04 – October 17, 2009
The Fijian People and Your Projects
For the next four days you will be participating in several of our local community service opportunities and an exciting day trip to Beachcomber Island! Rustic Pathways has developed a wonderful relationship with the local people of Momi Bay and the larger Nadi area. Project work during the course of your program may involve participation in a variety of initiatives. You can expect to spend time within the local schools, tutoring students in English, getting involved with afternoon sporting events and facilitating much needed art and music classes. In addition, you might be singing songs and creating crafts at local kindergartens or orphanages while learning new games that the Fijian children love to play. Our services extend beyond the children; we teach computer literacy classes to people of all ages that would not have access to this information otherwise. Other projects involve repairs and maintenance to school buildings, construction of new amenities or upgrading of present facilities. You can also expect to spend a day at the local hospital or one of the rural nursing stations to help disperse medical donations, teach the locals about hygiene, dental care and general medical issues. If you love the outdoors you will be able to help preserve the marine life and coral coast through environmental projects with local Fijians. Your service time will be varied, interesting, challenging and extremely rewarding and worthwhile.
In the evening you will be formally welcomed to Fiji with a Kava ceremony (Sevusevu) by the local Fijian’s. This will be your opportunity to learn a lot about Fijian culture and the beauty and history behind Kava. This is an experience you can only get in Fiji!
Overnight: Rustic Pathways Momi Bay Base
Days 05 – October 18, 2009
Day trip to Beachcomber Island!
Prepare for a truly magical island hoping experience. In the morning you will depart to Beachcomber Island, which is completely surrounded by beautiful white sandy beaches. Spend the day relaxing on the beach or participate in a multitude of island activities. Take a view of the island from the air if you would like during a para-sailing adventure. If you prefer to stay grounded, grab a snorkel and explore the beauties of Fiji’s underwater world.
To top off this day of relaxation, you can enjoy an amazing dinner while watching the sunset at Denerau marina.
Overnight: Rustic Pathways Momi Bay Base
Days 06 to 07 – October 19 to 20, 2009
More Exciting Projects and Wonderful Cross-Cultural Participation!
During the next three days your focus will be a variety of community service group projects. Each morning your group will concentrate on a new project for the day.
After a whole day of service you will participate in the outdoor adventures or culture Fiji has to offer. Your group can determine the pace of the afternoon but it may include a few hours at a local beach to relax, swim, snorkel or perhaps even learn to surf. Other options include a stop in town to explore a Hindu temple, survey the open-air market for possible bargains and souvenirs, or taking a class in local handicrafts. If your group would rather keep the energy level high you can jump into natural hot pools or mud baths, or hike up to a beautiful waterfall and go for a dip. Your staff will know all the best sights and activities to fill up your day and will happily help you make the most of your afternoon.
In the evening, you will return to the base house to socialize, swim, play soccer, go for a run or walk with our staff or just chill out. There will be night activities from learning to cook traditional Indian food, henna and astronomy classes, movies under the stars or watching a Meke dance performance!
Overnight: Rustic Pathways Momi Bay Base
Days 08 to 10 — October 21 to 23, 2009
The Nausori Highlands
Today you will head into the glorious Nausori Highlands. Located within the central region of the main island of Viti Levu for the next three days and two nights, towering waterfalls, pristine vistas, welcoming villages, breath-taking hikes, tranquil rivers and “way off the beaten track” experiences will fill your time in this region. Rustic Pathways has been working with several of the Highland villages for 15 years and has some wonderful contacts and relationships with the local people in these areas. Swim beneath the highest waterfall in the Western Division of Fiji, work in local rural schools, spend time in remote village communities and work alongside some of the friendliest and most welcoming people in the world. The Nausori Highland villages offer the visitor insights into aspects of the Fijian culture and the opportunity to visit little known and truly beautiful parts of Fiji that most travelers never learn about or get the opportunity to visit.
You will return back the base house on the evening of October 23rd. Once you arrive back at base, you can relax and repack your bag for a new adventure the next morning.
Overnight: Village Stays within the Nausori Highlands
Day 11 — October 24, 2009
The Yasawa Islands
From the base house your group will travel to Denarau Marina and board your catamaran to travel north to the magnificent Yasawa Islands. The Yasawa’s are a chain of 20 islands that stretch from Kuata in the South, all the way up to Yasawa Island in the North. Be forewarned you are about to see some of the most beautiful islands, beaches and marine life in the world. This is where the rich and famous from all over the world come to rest, relax and explore the beauty. The area was also made famous as the location where the movie “The Blue Lagoon” was filmed.
Due to the remote locations you visit, travel will be by boat and small runabouts. The journey to Nacula Island – your base for the next several nights - normally takes about four hours with endless opportunities along the way for photos (the island views as you travel north are nothing short of spectacular!) and a chance to say “Bula” to the locals and other tourists traveling on the boat with you. Early in the afternoon our group will arrive at Nacula Island and Rustic Pathways Yasawa Island base. During your stay here you will sleep at our base camp situated right on the beach. As part of your initial orientation, you will be taught many aspects of Fijian protocols and expectations of behavior. Malakati Village is located right next door to our base and you will be spending plenty of time with the locals over the next few days, learning about the culture and island way of life, as well as helping with a variety of service projects.
Sun, sand and warm South Pacific waters will be the order of day whilst living the tropical lifestyle. Set amongst deep blue waters with fringing coral reefs of turquoise and pastel green, the Yasawa Islands offer some of Fiji's most outstanding island beauty. Home to a beautiful tropical isle with a tranquil blue lagoon, fringing coral reefs, a long white sandy beach, swaying palm trees, fresh tropical fruits, abundant seafood and friendly pacific islanders … (are you excited yet?) ... your stay is the perfect opportunity to sample a taste of the tropical life-style.
Your time on the island will include a trip to the Sawa-i-Lau caves, a sea kayaking adventure, a trip to a local school, island lovo feasts each day with fresh fish, BBQ chicken & salads with cool tropical fruits, fishing and snorkeling trips (with gear provided), and numerous opportunities to play beach volleyball and rugby as well as swim with the local kids as your beach is right at your doorstep!
Overnight: Rustic Pathways Yasawa Island Base
Day 12 — October 25, 2009
Island Hopping the Yasawa’s
After breakfast, your group will depart for an island hoping day cruise. During the day we will head to some of the most gorgeous beaches in the world. Spend the day relaxing on virtually untouched beaches, snorkeling, kayaking or fishing. Jump into the fresh water of the “bottomless” cave that was once known for the sparking jewels that lay beneath the crystal clear water. If the sense of adventure pulls at you, spend the day diving with sharks (optional) and watch as they are fed by professionals mere feet in front of you. These are images that most individuals only experience through the pages of National Geographic.
You will return to your base in the late afternoon. Remember to bring your camera as you take a short hike up to a beautiful sunset viewing area. Watch the sun fall bellow the horizon with a picture perfect background of islands scattered on top of the ocean. Complete this amazing day with a full dinner provided by the Malakati villagers. After dinner spend the remainder of the evening chatting, enjoying kava and singing on the beach under the stars.
Overnight: Rustic Pathways Yasawa Island Base
Days 13 and 14 — October 26 to 27, 2009
The Village of Malakati – a taste of the real Fiji!
This morning you will walk to the village of Malakati, the location of your service projects for the next two days. In the morning, you will take part in a formal sevusevu ceremony, welcoming you into your new village. As part of the morning welcome, you will also be introduced to your adoptive Fijian family. You will be briefed on the community service aspect of your time in the village.
The community service project may include teaching in the village kindergarten, working in the family farm with your adopted family, doing repair work to local bures (huts), fishing for food, collecting firewood, and helping to prepare meals for the villagers. Your interaction with the people and the projects you contribute to, continue to facilitate a wonderful brotherhood between the Fijian people and Rustic Pathways’ students, a relationship that has been growing for several years.
The evenings are filled with fun, laughs and social gathering. Your group will learn local dances, put together a skit and put on a small show for the village. This always ends up being a very entertaining evening!
Overnight: Rustic Pathways Yasawa Island Base
Days 15 to 17 — October 28 to 30, 2009
Two Nights in Paradise
For the next three days and two nights you will sleep, eat, swim, kayak, snorkel, dive, and relax in paradise. Lie in a hammock and read and relax while you absorb the beauty around you. Jump in the water with a mask and fins and see the Manta Rays, Sting Rays, eels and exotic coral all around you. Eat a delicious dinner and socialize with travelers from all over the world. You will be blown away by the beauty of the islands and the fun that is to be had here!!
Overnight: Manta Ray Bay Resort
Day 18 — October 31, 2009
Something to take home with you!
Your three weeks have flown by like a dream and you should now be well and truly entrenched in Fiji and much of what this easy-going island nation is all about. Today is a chance to do some souvenir shopping. You will get the chance to explore town and the local handicraft market for gifts and reminders of your time in Fiji. If you are departing to the USA tonight, after a final meal with your group, you travel to the airport and bid Fiji farewell. For those students who are continuing to another Rustic Pathways Gap Year Program overseas, you will depart for that country today.
An Important Note about Schedule Changes:
Rustic Pathways reserves the right to change, alter, or amend the daily itinerary for this trip at any time. Changes can be made for various reasons including changes in flight or program schedules, changes in the schedules of various external tours incorporated in our trips, the addition of new activities into a trip, or the substitution of an old activity for a new activity. The itinerary shown here provides a good outline of the anticipated daily schedule for this program. As with any travel program, some changes may occur.
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Bula and Welcome to Tropical Paradise
Sail to Bliss in the Yasawa Islands
