Big Fiji Explorer
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): Sandy Beaches and Optional Skydiving
After an exciting few days it will be time to take a day and relax in style. You will spend the day hanging out at a beautiful five-star resort. When you have had enough lounging on the beach, you can hit the ocean for some tubing and banana boating.
For lunch you will head to one of our favorite pizza restaurants for a taste of home. After lunch the serious thrill seekers in the group can take flight during an optional heart pumping skydive. 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.
Days 11 - 13 (Friday - Sunday): To the Highlands
Rustic Pathways began running trips in Fiji sixteen years ago, and the Highlands continue to offer our students a unique perspective on the country. Far off the beaten tourist track, the Highlands offer beautiful views, magnificent waterfalls, peaceful hikes, and remote villages that few who visit Fiji ever see. You will spend two nights here, and by the time you leave, you will have come to understand why this place holds a special place in our hearts. You will spend your days hiking to one of the country’s largest waterfalls, swimming in pristine rivers, and enjoying the tranquility of the Highlands. When you return to your traditional accommodations in the evening, you can take part in a kava ceremony, relax, and listen to the Fijians sing traditional songs late into the night.
Days 14 - 16 (Monday - Wednesday): Sailing the Islands
Step aboard a magnificent cruising catamaran for an amazing three days sailing around the islands. Check out deserted blue lagoons, explore volcanic islands, snorkel in a teeming ocean, and soak in the grandeur of Fiji’s famous Mamanuca Islands. You will also visit a local village, drink kava, and meet the chief and village elders. Then trek to the top of a nearby mountain and go for a dip in a cool freshwater rock pool. In the evening, you will drop anchor and fall asleep under a blanket of stars.
Day 17 (Thursday): Departure Day
Well, the last two weeks have flown by like a dream, and you should now be well and truly entrenched in the relaxed Fijian lifestyle. This morning you will have time to say goodbye to your new friends and the community that you have become a part of.
Today is also your chance to do some last-minute shopping for souvenirs. You will get the chance to explore the town of Nadi and check out the local crafts market for gifts and reminders of your time in Fiji. Then you will have a final meal with your group before heading on to your next adventure.
If you are departing to the United States today, you will bid Fiji farewell (until next year perhaps) and head to the airport for the escorted group flight home. If you are continuing on to another Rustic Pathways program, your staff will help you connect with your new leaders.
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 is one of our most popular adventures. It has enough action to keep seasoned explorers’ adrenaline flowing, and it is also a great introduction to travel for students who are venturing abroad for the first time. Come discover the welcoming nation of Fiji and its hundreds of beautiful islands. You will zip line, hike, snorkel, kayak, and sail your way through this paradise in two amazing, fun-filled weeks.
At Home on the “Mainland”
Learn water-rugby (Rustic style!), join in traditional Fijian dances, and play games with local children. Get in touch with local life as you join villagers in traditional ceremonies and explore local markets packed with handmade Fijian crafts. You’ll never want to leave this idyllic paradise and its laid-back way of life.