Fiji Trekking Adventure
5 Good Reasons To Do This Trip!
You’ll partake in traditional welcoming ceremonies, better known as sevusevu, in Fiji’s villages. It’s all part of proper local etiquette and a tastebud-tingling cultural highlight you’ll never forget.
Chances are you won’t see another visitor in the isolated Highland region. Located on the island’s interior, away from the beaches and resorts, these forest-covered mountains offer a window into a Fiji you never knew existed!
From mouth-numbing grog to trek-powering brews, going in search of the island’s drinks will lead you to local markets, off-the-track communities, and sustainable local industries.
Plunging into highland rivers, snorkeling above busy reefs and hiking through gasp-inducing scenery – your sense of adventure is about to get the ride of its life!
From village community halls to nearly-deserted islands, you’ll get to rest your head on some unforgettable pillows.
Uncover more info by clicking the tabs below!
Trip Details
| Dates | Price AUD (per person twin share) |
|---|---|
|
|
This experience is in collaboration with Talanoa Treks
Price
- $1,350 deposit.
- 2 week cooling off period applies.
- Lifetime Deposit. If you need to cancel, your deposit is transferable to other trips.
- Twin Share: we’ll match you with a roomie if you’re travelling solo.
- No private supplement available
Please refer to our payment terms in the FAQs.
Trip length
9 days, 8 nights
Meeting point
Lomalagi Luxury Apartments, Wailoaloa, Nadi, Fiji
Departure point
Lomalagi Luxury Apartments, Wailoaloa, Nadi, Fiji
Group size
Maximum 12
Participation requirements
- You’re open-minded and open-hearted.
- You try to embrace the little things.
- You don’t mind bush camping and washing in a river.
- You love adventure and the surprises that come with it.
- You are gracious to others and a team player.
Fitness
Level 3 – Moderate Plus
A fair amount of endurance and a slightly more than moderate level of fitness is needed for our Level 3 rated trips. Expect to walk for between 4 and 7 hours a day, that’s somewhere between 10 and 15 kilometres. Also keep in mind that we’ll need to cover that distance at a fairly moderate pace through undulating terrain. Some days may be solely devoted to trekking through isolated wilderness, while others are dedicated to relaxation and cultural experiences.
Included
- Meals: 8 breakfasts, 7 lunches and 8 dinners
- Private vehicle transportation
- 6 nights accommodation (apartments, villas, hotel)
- 2 nights village homestay
- A top-rated and English-speaking Tour Leader
- All listed activities and more!
Not included
- International flights
- Travel insurance (compulsory)
- Personal trekking equipment
- Additional hotel nights & late checkouts
- Drinks and other personal expenses
- Tip kitty (See FAQs for more information)
Accommodation Preview
Lomalagi Luxury Apartments, Nadi
Village Community Hall, Naga
Bedarra Beach Inn, Korotogo
Overview
Trip Summary By Days
|
|
Arrival day | 2 | 1 | |||
|
|
Ba Market, Waitika Farms, and your final destination - Volivoli Point | |||||
|
|
Village of Nabalesere and the sevusevu ceremony | 4 | 2 | |||
|
|
Snorkelling and the Naga Village. | Mt Tomaniivi - 9km | 6 | |||
|
|
Naga to Nubutautau hike | 11 | 5 | |||
|
|
Nubutautau circular hike and the cross-country drive | 6 | 4 | |||
|
|
Sigatoka Sand dunes and Bula Coffee | 5 | 2 | |||
|
|
Batilamu climb | 9 | 6 | |||
|
|
Departure day | |||||
| Total | 46 |
Trip Map
Get to Know Your Fiji Trekking Adventure Itinerary
What You'll See & Do
Day 1: Bula! – Welcome to Fiji!
Welcome to Fiji! Can you believe those palm-tree-swaying, South Pacific island, top-down views before you even touch the ground? Well pinch yourself, because your tropical daydreams are about to come true! You’ll be welcomed at the airport and whisked directly to your hotel in Nadi.
Drop your bags at the hotel, but don’t get too cozy because you’ve got a welcome dinner to head to. With your toes in the sand, views of the sea and maybe a cheeky coconut daiquiri while kicking off with your Camino crew at a local beach club, it’s a sure sign you finally made it to paradise! Just you and a close-knit crew of eleven other adventurers. And there’s nothing like an adventure to build friendships.
Accommodation: Lomalagi Luxury Apartments
Included: Dinner
Day 2: North to Volivoli Point
The adventure starts this morning when you leave Nadi behind in a convoy of 4x4s – now, that’s something that doesn’t happen everyday! Your final destination is Volivoli Point today, but we’ve got a few pit stops along the way that will have you plunging straight into Fijian culture.
First up, is Ba Market to grab a bundle of kava. Your guide will give you the low-down about this root’s significance – it’s so much more than just a drink that causes you to feel all tingly. For the locals, it’s a powerful symbol of friendship and unification.
Break up the road trip again at Waitika Farm and get behind the scenes of honey harvesting. Finish off your stop with an empowering lunch provided by a regional women’s group. Before you know it, you’ll be cruising within the grasp of Robinson Crusoe vibes along Viti Levu island’s northern coast. As you drift right up to shore, your jaw will most likely hang open and your gaze will linger on the isle’s tree-covered beauty and its super-cute cottages. Settle in at Volivoli beach – believe it when we tell you it’s going to be home for the next two nights!
Accommodation: Suncoast Villas, Volivoli Point (or similar)
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner
Day 3: Nabalesere Village
Rise and shine early if you want to sneak in an ocean dip before breakfast, or keep this morning on snooze – it’ll be hard not to with the sound of waves lapping at your door. Then it’s time to meet up with your 4x4s again – you’ve got a sevusevu to catch!
Remember that coveted bundle of kava you picked up at the market yesterday? That will come in handy in about one-and-a-half hours as you make your way deep into Fiji’s Highlands. Visiting the village of Nabalesere is a great privilege and you’ll be wholeheartedly welcomed during the sevusevu ceremony. Afterwards, you’re in for a special treat courtesy of a local village guide. Let’s just say it involves a stunning cascade during a three-kilometre walk, so pack your hiking boots and your swimmers!
Accommodation: Suncoast Villas, Volivoli Point (or similar)
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner
Breakout: What is a sevusevu?
Is sevusevu a drink? A ceremony? A gift? It can be a little confusing when you attend your first sevusevu in Fiji. A sevusevu is a ceremony that essentially shows appreciation for the chief’s hospitality and formally asks permission to visit the village. The core of a sevusevu is the traditional giving of kava, a bundle of the yaqona root, which is used to make a mildly sedative drink that goes by the same name.
Proper etiquette is an important part of sevusevu, but don’t worry! Your local guide will explain the details, including providing you with sulu wraps for modesty and indicating when to clap. You’ll sit in a circle around the Kava tanoa, a large ceremonial bowl where the root is combined with water and strained to create kava. After the chief and high ranking village members drink, visitors are offered a sip, which will leave your mouth feeling a bit tingly. Sevusevu is a highlight of any visit to Fiji and you’ll be a pro after attending four!
Day 4: Ocean Time & Naga Village
The place you’ve called home for the last two nights just so happens to be close to some of the best snorkelling you might ever experience. Known for its soft coral gardens, gorgonian sea fans and heaps of colorful fish friends, you’ll have the chance to get awfully close, which means epic snorkel conditions!
Fuel up with a picnic lunch, before packing up and heading back to the highlands. Can you believe you’ll touch both beaches and mountains in one day? After a three hour drive, you’ll come to the end of the road at Naga Village – the jumping off point for the Nabutautau hike – where you’re headed tomorrow. Stretch your legs on an easy-peasy two-kilometre walk that shows off the village farms before the sevusevu. Tonight it’s a sleepover, Fiji style! You’ll all get cozy in the community hall with plenty of comfy mattresses, blankets, pillows and refreshing cold showers too. What a luxury!
Accommodation: Village Community Hall (dormitory style accommodation)
Included: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, & Dinner
Day 5: Nabutautau Village
Today starts the biggest hike of the trip! After a quick breakfast, it’s time to head to the trailhead. Leave your heavier items back in the 4×4. That’s right, you’ll get to be light as a feather for the 11-kilometre trek. After a short incline, you’ll start descending down to the river and the abandoned village where Reverend Thomas Baker met his end. Keep following the river, where you’ll come across a few spots that are just begging for you to yell “Cannonball!” Stop to enjoy your picnic lunch, surrounded by forest and laughing friends.
What comes down must go up and you’ll have a steep, one-and-a-half kilometre climb to end the day, with Nabutautau a very welcome sight! In a village this remote you might not expect flush toilets and showers, but that’s just what you’ll find. Fall asleep to the sound of frog croaks and yeah, maybe a few snores. It’s all part of the fun!
Accommodation: Village Community Hall (dormitory style accommodation)
Included: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, & Dinner
Day 6: Korotogo
Another seaside getaway is your reward after today’s hike – but you’ll have to earn it first! Don’t worry because part two of the trek is a bit shorter with a few surprises up its sleeves. Sit down to a breakfast full of “yums!” with the village before heading out.
It’s not often that a waterslide and pool are in the plans during a remote trek, but only the best for our Camino Women! Cool off at these all-natural amusements before stopping at an abandoned village along the Sigatoka River. Your guides will give you the low down on its history, before turning back for a riverside picnic and plunge. It’s one last steep climb back to Nabutautau Village where a refreshing cold shower and the 4x4s are waiting. Wave goodbye and set your sights on the crew’s new beachfront digs on Viti Levu’s southern coast.
Accommodation: Bedarra Beach Inn, Korotogo
Included: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, & Dinner
Day 7: Sigatoka Sand Dunes
Who knew Fiji had soaring sand dunes? That’s just what you’ll find this morning following the park rangers on a light five-kilometre trek. Amble through forests that surround the dunes and learn more about the local geology and history, from rugby training grounds to pottery shards left behind by Fiji’s first inhabitants.
If you’re feeling a little sleepy this afternoon, we’d hardly blame you! Which is why you’re off to visit Bula Coffee. This sustainable coffee business grows, dries, roasts and packs all of its coffee in Fiji – with the help of 5,000 locals. Join the women from their grower network to see behind the scenes and, of course, sample the goods! Can you believe tomorrow is your last full day?
Accommodation: Bedarra Beach Inn, Korotogo
Included: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, & Dinner
Day 8: Batilamu
Brush off those yawns, you’ve got a mountain to climb! You might be wondering why we roused you so early from a good night’s sleep, but you’ll be very happy when you aren’t hiking under the midday sun. Meet up with a conservation specialist who will guide you up the 1,100-metre slopes of Mt Batilamu, distracting you from the climb with a little lesson on the area’s precious dry forests.
As you reach the top, soak up those views of both highland and coast. You’ll no doubt look back on this moment in a few weeks and feel pride welling up inside you. Celebrate the summit with a picnic lunch and a few “Hip, Hip, Hoorays!” before your Camino crew makes their way down the mountain.
You’ll come full circle this evening back in Nadi, sitting down to a farewell dinner together. It’s amazing what a day in the wilderness and a good, hot shower can do for the soul!
Accommodation: Lomalagi Luxury Apartments
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner
Day 9: Farewell Friends
It’s time to say “moce” to your Fiji friends and guide. You know what they say – time flies when you’re having fun – and wow have the last eight days flown!
Grab one last breakfast of Fijian bakery treats like lolo buns or babakau and squeeze your hiking buddies tight. Don’t forget to swap info so that you can get started planning the next trip!
Included: Breakfast
FAQs
Prior to the payment of your full balance, the final price may change if there is significant variation in the AUD:FJD exchange rate. Our trip pricing is determined by what the exchange rates are at the time of publishing the trip.
The pricing on this trip is based on an exchange rate of 1 AUD : 1.45 FJD.
A deposit of $1,350 is required to hold your spot. Payment can be made by credit card (fees apply) or bank deposit.
There is a cooling-off period of 2 weeks. (Applicable to all bookings made 110 days in advance.)
We have implemented a ‘lifetime deposit’ guarantee. Deposits are not refundable, but they are transferable at any time, right up until the first day of the trip.
The final balance of the trip is required 120 days in advance of the departure date. Our suppliers require upfront payment well in advance to guarantee availability.
Please refer to the full terms and conditions for further information.
Australian and New Zealand passport holders do not require a visa to travel to Fiji for tourism purposes for stays of up to 4 months. They must have a valid passport and a return or onward ticket.
Level 3 – Moderate Plus
A fair amount of endurance and a slightly more than moderate level of fitness is needed for our Level 3 rated trips. Expect to walk for between 4 and 7 hours a day, that’s somewhere between 10 and 15 kilometres. Also keep in mind that we’ll need to cover that distance at a fairly moderate pace through undulating terrain. Some days may be solely devoted to trekking through isolated wilderness, while others are dedicated to relaxation and cultural experiences.
Most of our trips have a tip kitty because many cultures have interesting and diverse rules when it comes to tips. We’ve found it to be the easiest way to combat over-tipping, under-tipping or having the tip fall into the wrong hands. Our goal is for guests to relax and know that the complexities of tipping are taken care of, on their behalf.
We’ll be updating this section with the tipping amount and how it’s distributed, soon.
August in Fiji offers a blend of warmth and dryness, making it one of the best months to visit. With temperatures ranging from 17°C to 26°C, the weather remains comfortable, providing ideal conditions for exploration.
Two nights will be spent at the beginning in a Nadi hotel for ease of access to the airport depending on flight arrival and departure times. Two nights will be on the beautiful Suncoast at MacDonalds cottages. Two nights will be spent near Sigatoka on the Coral Coast.
Our two nights in villages in the interior is dorm-style in the community hall with mattresses, pillows, sheets and blankets provided. This feels a little bit like indoor camping, but with plenty of space to spread out. If you’d like to social distance or want extra privacy, you are more than welcome to bring a tent and sleeping mat.
On our return from the highlands we’ll have two nights at a small property in Korotogo on the ocean close to Sigatoka.
This trip begins and ends in Nadi, Fiji. We recommend that you fly into Nadi International Airport. Both transfers – on arrival and on departure are included in your price.
For travelers from Australia and New Zealand, there are direct flight options available.
In the unlikely event of a health or security-related incident during a trip, we’ve engaged a local partner to assist. From our experience, there is not one framework that fits all, and every incident is unique and requires a different approach. With all trips, your guides are your day-to-day support. While behind the scenes, there is an active line of communication – between your guide, the on-ground support team, and Australian Ops.
In Fiji, it’s important to carry and drink plenty of water. You should be prepared to carry at least 2 liters of water in your day pack and ensure you have enough carrying capacity. In case of urgent need, our guides carry a small amount of additional water and purifying tablets. We recommend a 2–3 liter capacity water reservoir/bladder so you can sip during hikes, or lightweight refillable bottles.
Always wear a sulu (sarong/wrap around material) that covers your legs down to just above your ankles while you’re within the village boundaries.
Sit down as quickly as possible when you go inside and don’t stand up indoors. If you need to move around indoors when others are sitting, it’s polite to stoop or crawl.
