Day 01 - Monday - Depart the USA
All of Rustic Pathways scheduled group flights to Fiji depart from Los Angeles.  Our carrier is Air Pacific – Fiji’s national airline.  The flight each week is non-stop to Nadi International Airport and is escorted by a Rustic Pathways Flight Leader. The flight departs LAX in the evening and takes about 10 hours.  During your flight take the time to get to know other students, get some sleep in preparation for your arrival in the South Pacific, 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 – Tuesday - 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-Wednesday Bula!  Welcome to Fiji! 
You will immediately be greeted by our Rustic Pathways staff and transported to Denarau Marina – about 20 minutes drive from the airport.  After a light breakfast you’ll board The Yasawa Flyer bound for the picturesque chain of islands off the coast of Viti Levu known as The Yasawa’s.  Your journey north should take about four hours and during this time you can enjoy the chance to meet your staff, get to know your fellow trip members and learn about the exciting journey ahead.  Your staff will also help answer all the questions you may have.

By lunch time your group will have been transported to a surreal, wildly beautiful location of crystal clear blue waters, enormous stretches of soft white sandy beach, swaying palm trees and your rustic home for the next four nights.  Rustic Pathways Yasawa Base Camp is situated directly on the beach and consists of a collection of basic but comfortable raised platform tent sites, traditionally styled bures and a large central eating area.

Spend your afternoon exploring the area, meeting the local villagers, taking in a glorious sunset and eating fresh produce and seafood gathered earlier that day for your culinary enjoyment.  This is paradise and you will know doubt feel a wonderful sense of belonging in this glorious South Pacific location.

Day 04 - Thursday - Mysterious Caves and Colorful Coral
After a tropical breakfast this morning on the beach, your group will set off by boat to explore the island and her surroundings.  There will be plenty of opportunities to snorkel the warm blue waters, taking in a plethora of marine life, colorful coral and interesting sights that few visitors have the chance to see.  Your group will also have the privilege to enter a series of sacred caves that Rustic Pathways has been given special permission to enter.  Hear about the myths and legends associated with these amazing formations and learn about the historical significance from past days of warfare and cannibalism.

Day 05 - Friday - Wild Hiking and Amazing Vistas.
Spend your day on foot exploring the mountain trails and hidden secrets to your island home.  Learn about the local vegetation and how the Fijians have used these plants for food and medical uses over the generations.  Take in wonderful views from atop the mountain summits and savor the soft tropical breezes that pass over you from these heights.  Enter your neighboring villEdad and share in the cultural exchange that occurs when you visit.  You are exploring an area that very few westerners are able to access and as such your group will be witness to, and participants in some special aspects of Fijian culture that very few outsiders are witness to.

Day 06 – Saturday
For the next two days your group will leave the base camp and head off to set-up and live at a remote location on the other side of your island.  Camp right on the beach, cook your meals on the open fire, learn how to read the stars at night and develop your abilities to live comfortably with nature.  Your staff will help lead you through this challenging and rewarding overnight adventure.

Day 07 - Sunday
This morning there will be plenty of time for snorkeling, sea kayaking and swimming before you need to break camp and rendezvous with your boat ride back to Denarau Marina and Viti Levu.

You group will stop overnight in Nadi, enjoy a great meal at one of the local restaurant and get ready fro an early start the next morning.

08-09 Days – Monday and Tuesday - Island living!
Your group will head off to a glorious tropical island, Robinson Crusoe, off the coast of Viti Levu.  You will stay here for three days and two nights.  Sun, sand and warm South Pacific waters will be the order of time whilst living the tropical life-style. Set amongst deep blue waters with fringing coral reefs of turquoise and pastel green, the islands off the coast of Nadi 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, traditional thatched bures, soft island music, 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 jungle river cruise, ocean kayaking adventure, a trip to a local school, island lovo feasts each day with fresh fish, BBQ chicken & salad bar with cool tropical fruits, fishing and snorkeling trips (with gear provided), numerous opportunities to play beach volleyball and rugby as well as witness spectacular fire dancing and Polynesian / Melanesian shows that will blow your flip flops off!

Day 10 – Wednesday - Sailing the Islands
Step aboard a magnificent cruising yacht for an amazing three days of sailing and cruising to deserted blue lagoons, exploration of ancient volcanic islands, snorkeling amongst a plethora of marine life and soaking in the grandeur of Fiji’s famous Mamanuca Islands. Visit a Fijian village, drink kava and meet the chief and village elders. Trek to the top of nearby mountains and swim in cool freshwater rock pools.    Spend your nights at anchor under the stars, falling asleep on the decks if you wish.

Days 13 to 17 – Saturday to Tuesday - Circumnavigating Viti Levu
This morning your group will load up the trucks and commence an epic driving trek around the largest island in Fiji.  Expect magnificent coastal vistas, action a plenty and a mix of beach camping and hotel stays over the next four days.  Included in the journey will be island hiking, white water rafting and a stop in Fiji’s capital of Suva.

The highlights of your trip may be the visit to famous Natadola Beach, and the exciting day your group will spend rafting on the Upper Navua River.  In the remote highlands of Viti Levu lies one of the most unique river trips on earth. Slicing a deep chasm through the island's tropical interior, the Upper Navua River is a hidden pathway to a pristine tropical wilderness. Shrouded in lush rainforest, fed by countless waterfalls and protected by challenging rapids, your exploration of this amazing gorge is perhaps one of the most unique journeys in all of Fiji if not the South Pacific and the world. This excursion will take you through some of the country's most formidable and phenomenally beautiful terrain in the relative comfort of inflatable rafts. This is a place where black volcanic walls are at points barely seven meters apart and over forty meters high and fringed by emerald rainforest. This is a place where man has been merely an intermittent visitor at best, where some of the wildest and most beautiful Fiji can still be found. Students consistently rate this day as one of the absolute highlights of their time in Fiji.

Day 17 – Wednesday - Returning to Nadi
Well your two weeks have flown by like a dream and you should now be well and truly entrenched in Fiji.  This morning you will have time to say goodbye to the new friends and community that you have become a part of. 

Today is a chance to do some much desired shopping for souvenirs.  You will get the chance to explore town and the local handy craft 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 (until next year perhaps).  You will be escorted to LAX with a Rustic Pathways Flight leader.   For those students who are continuing to another Rustic Pathways program in Fiji or overseas, depending on the trip you are continuing on to, you will commence your next program this morning, or stay overnight at the Base House and commence your new program the following morning. 

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.

Big Fiji Explorer

In addition to the general Fiji Islands packing list available at www.rusticpathways.com/packinglists  all students should review the following information specific to the Big Fiji Explorer program:

Big Fiji Explorer – FAQ
1 - What will the accommodation on this trip be like?
Students will stay at several small hotels and local resorts during this program. Accommodations vary from tents on the beach (with mattresses and sheets provided) to rooms shared by two or three students. Students will also spend two nights sailing and will sleep aboard the boat.

2 - Will the students be drinking bottled water?  
Students can purchase bottled water but will be supplied with safe drinking water at each location.

3 - What kind of food will we be eating?
There will be multiple types of food available to students during their program.  Most Fijian food consists of vegetables, fish and chicken.  Other food that is available includes pizza, Indian and other western comforts.

4 - How many girls and boys are usually on this trip?
The average trip load is 60% girls and 40% boys.

5 - How does this program connect to other programs?
The Big Fiji Explorer is usually connected to after a service program as a reward for all your hard work.  Some of the great service programs that we have in Fiji include Growing Within, Introduction to Servicio comunitario and Malikati Magic.
This program connects easily with other programs in the South Pacific, as well as our other countries.  Students who will be coming from or going to other countries will fly to and from Nadi, Fiji. 

6 - Will there be a flight leader to this country?
Students travelling on our group flights from Los Angeles will fly to Nadi, Fiji and will be accompanied by a flight leader.

7 - How long is the flight to this country?
From Los Angeles to Fiji is 10 hours by air.

8 - Do we need to get visas for this program?
US citizens do not need a visa for entry as a tourist into Fiji. On arrival into Fiji, immigration will issue US citizens with a tourist visa for entry into the county. No prior arrangements for US citizens are needed

9 - What immunizations do we need to get for this trip?
All Rustic Pathways students are required to have an up-to-date tetanus shot. We suggest Hepatitis A and B and Typhoid vaccinations and recommend that you consult a doctor regarding immunizations for travel to the region. You can find additional information on immunizations for travel from the US Center for Disease Control at www.cdc.gov.

10 - What costs are not included on this trip?
Optional activities, snacks and souvenirs are not included in the program cost.  Optional activities include;
Massage: $45 per hour
Horseback riding: $10
Scuba diving: $100 – $150 (depending on if you are scuba certified)
Souvenirs and snack food: $20-$200 
Skydiving: $300 - $400