Escape to The Fiji Islands

2012 Itinerary
Escape to The Fiji Islands

Day 1 (Tuesday): Depart the USA 

Welcome to your South Pacific adventure! All of our scheduled group flights to Fiji depart from Los Angeles on Air Pacific, Fiji’s national airline. Your flight will be nonstop to Nadi International Airport and will be escorted by a Rustic Pathways flight leader. The flight will depart LAX in the evening and take about ten hours.  During your flight you can meet other students, get some sleep in preparation for your arrival, relax with a movie or two, and start to settle into the easy-going Fijian way of life. 

Day 2  (Wednesday): 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 3 (Thursday): Welcome to Fiji!  

You will immediately be greeted by our Rustic Pathways staff and start the journey of a lifetime.  After hopping off a plane you will take a short car ride and then board a ferry for a five-hour ride through the breathtaking Yasawa Islands.  Pass by some of the most beautiful islands in the world while enjoying a nice cold ice-cream bar and talking with your group.  The last stop in the Yasawa Islands is Nacula island which is home to Malakati Village and that is where you will call home for the next four days. Toba Totoka, meaning “Beautiful Bay” is the name of our Nacula Island Base where you will be partaking in your exciting activities. By the time you reach Nacula Island there will be a village ready to welcome you with open arms. 

After lunch you will start orientation with your trip leaders about what to expect over the next week. Once you have finished orientation throw on your swimsuit, snorkel, fins and head out to see some of the beautiful marine life that the South Pacific has to offer.  There is a beautiful reef right outside Toba Totoka and you can usually 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 explore the bay Malakati village has a population of approximately 200 people. It is located on the northeastern side of Nacula Island.  The village still maintains strong cultural traditions and this becomes very evident within a short period of time at Malakati. Students will be able to gain a great impression of the Fijian way of life and contribute their energies and time towards very worthwhile projects. They will also have the chance to see some wonderful areas of Fiji, including the beaches, islands and mountains that Fiji is famous for. 

Day 4 and 5 (Friday and Saturday): Island Living

Over the next two days you will get to explore island paradise.  Each day will include great adventures like a trip to mysterious underwater caves, a sunset hike to one of the tallest mountains in the Yasawas, night fishing, ocean kayaking, snorkeling, and a traditional Fijian dance called the meke put on by the villagers of Malakati.  There will be time to play games with the local school children or learn how to make traditional mats with the people of Malakati Village.  One day you will have the chance to go on an optional scuba dive if you would like to see more of Fiji’s underwater world.  Fiji has the best soft coral reefs in the world and spending a day exploring the ocean can feel like you are in another universe. Your nights will be spent hanging out at the beach bonfire or gazing up at the stars. By the time you leave this island you will have fallen in love with the villagers and the beauty of Nacula.

Day 6 (Sunday) Return to Nadi

This morning you will say goodbye to Malakati and Nacula Island and head back to Nadi via the Yasawa Flyer.  You will be surprised on how much you have learned from the people of Malakati and they will truly feel like family.  Tonight you will enjoy some of Fiji’s best pizza before heading to your hotel in Nadi and get ready for the next part of this incredible journey.

Day 7 (Monday) Beautiful Beaches and Natural Sand Dunes

This morning you will rise early and head to Pacific Harbor, the adventure capital of Fiji. Expect magnificent coastal vistas as you drive up to the resort. Before you reach your accommodation for the evening, you will visit the Kula Eco Park and get a chance to see Fiji’s wildlife up close and the unique Sigatoka Sand Dunes, where four miles of windswept mountains of sand unfold along the coast. The area has been granted protected national park status and is administered by the National Trust of Fiji. Other then towering hills of sand that lead straight into the ocean, you can sometimes find pottery shards from the Lapita Era (1,000 years ago) that were buried by drifting sands.  

After you get settled in at the hotel, you can spend the afternoon playing beach volleyball, relaxing by the pool, or kayaking.

Day 8 (Tuesday): Adventure in Fiji’s Capital Suva

You will spend the majority of today in Suva, Fiji’s capital city. This will be the largest city you visit in Fiji, so you will want to soak up its diversity and many cultural sights. You’ll wander through local markets practicing your bargaining skills as you hunt for deals, and you may catch a glimpse of one of Fiji’s professional rugby players, many of whom call Suva home. After a great day exploring the city, you will return to the resort for an amazing dinner.  Get some sleep tonight – tomorrow you will wake up early for an amazing day zip lining and rappelling through the Fijian rainforest.

Day 9 (Wednesday): Zip line through Fiji's tropical rainforest.

Wake up and take a morning stroll on the beach before breakfast if you wish to watch the sunrise or spend some time on the ocean.  Today Wake up and take a morning stroll on the beach before breakfast if you wish to watch the sunrise or spend some time on the ocean.  Today after breakfast it will be time to experience the trill of Fiji as you head to the zip lining course that will have you flying through the air at speeds of up to 60 kph.  The zip lining course is set over a river in the rainforest of Fiji so you will get to zip line through the tree canopy.  After zip lining it will be time to get some time on the ocean swimming, snorkeling and relaxing on the beach.  

The day’s journey will continue to a trip to white sandy beach called Natandola, home to one of Fiji’s Five Star resorts.  This afternoon there will be time for swimming, exploring the beach or relaxing under the shade of a palm tree.  Your last night in Fiji will be spend in Nadi and you and your group will enjoy a great last dinner and have some time to reflect on your awesome weeklong journey.

Day 10 (Thursday): Departure Day and Optional Skydiving 

For your final day in Fiji there will be time for souvenir shopping in Nadi town or optional skydiving.  You can choose to have a free-fall lasting from fifteen to 60 seconds. Your legs will be shaking on the way up, but the fall is pure adrenaline. 

After one final meal together, it will be time to say goodbye to your group. If you are departing to the United States tonight, you will head to the airport to catch the escorted group flight and bid Fiji farewell (until next year perhaps).  If you are continuing on to another Rustic Pathways program, your group leaders will help you connect with your new trip. 

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.

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 Escape to Fiji program:

• Please make sure you have the following items:
  • Plenty of waterproof sunscreen
  • Sun hat
  • Lightweight, long-sleeve top to protect from the sun
  • Water bottle
  • Sleeping bag 
  • At least one nice t-shirt or short-sleeved shirt
  • Flash light or head lamp
  • You will visit traditional villages during this program, where it is customary to for females to have shoulders and knees covered. Females will need at least one shirt with sleeves (nice t-shirt is fine). Traditional sulus (sarongs) will be available for students to wear. Females may wish to bring a long skirt with them, but this is not required

ESCAPE TO THE FIJI ISLANDS – FAQ
1 - What will the accommodation on this trip be like?
Students on this program will be staying on the island on Nacula.  The tents will be equipped with a mattress and linens are is quite comfortable.  Boys and girls will be places in separate tents with the counselors sleeping in adjacent smaller tents.   There will be a separate area for eating and three large bures with multiple activities in each one where students can hang out after they return from their daily activities. Showers will be heated by solar power and flush toilets will be right outside the tents.

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?
The food will be cooked for the student by Fijian staff on Nacula.  There will be a fix of traditional Fijian food which includes chicken, rice and various vegetables. 

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?
Other trips will be running on Nacula Island so you can easily add a week of marine research, with Marine and Environmental Monitoring or a week of community service with 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 for this trip?
Rustic Pathways does not make recommendations regarding immunizations. We strongly suggest that you consult with a travel doctor or your family physician regarding immunizations before you travel. You can also find more information on the websites of the Center for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov) or World Health Organization (www.who.int).

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
Wake boarding/ tubing: $30
Scuba diving - $100 – $150 (depending on if you are scuba certified)
Souvenirs and snack food: $20-$200