Challenge:

Adventure

Destination:

*Fiji

Departure Dates From:

21/06/2008

Duration:

2 weeks

Kitty:

£ 220

The Fiji Island Safari is a new and utterly amazing adventure that offers a unique opportunity to sample the varied delights that Fiji has to offer.

You can experience traditional Fijian life in remote villages, raft grade IV rapids, kayak through lush mountain rainforests, relax on some of the world’s most beautiful beaches, trek in ancient volcanic highlands, snorkel with Manta Rays and even get a PADI qualification all during the course of this action packed yet totally relaxed experience.

The 16 day option follows the intinerary below up to day 16.  The adventure cost is £795 with a kitty payment of £120. To book this option simply book up as a 2 week option.

Day 1 An early start as we catch the early boat from Lautoka to Savusavu. 

Day 2 You’ll be picked up by the crew of the Seahawk for a sail and snorkel trip around the area. The day will be an awesome chance to relax and take in the stunning scenery of the southern part of Vanua Levu. 

Day 3 Hike to the spectacular Lomaloma falls. 

Day 4 you’ll be catching a boat to Taveuni. Upon arrival we’ll head to the famous Waitavala Water Slide. This is definitely one for the adventurous! 

Day 5 After a relaxed breakfast we’ll get our day packs ready to take on the Lavena Coastal Walk. This trail follows the forest edge along a white-sand and then volcanic-black beach. 

Day 6 After a leisurely morning we’ll catch the afternoon ferry to Suva. As we cross back to the mainland we’ll watch the golden sun set over the sparkling blue pacific before bedding down for the night. 

Day 7 An early arrival to Suva and we’ll make our way up to Pacific Harbour to prepare for the next week of our Safari in and around interior of Fiji in the Namosi Valley.  

Day 8 after a hearty breakfast and some last minute packing we head off overland by truck to a small Village, part of Fiji’s unspoilt highland interior unseen by most tourists.  After dropping off some of our gear and a welcome from the village we will then head to the put-in-point for the kayak trip on the beautiful Luva River.  After a full day on the river we come to Nakavika village and are welcomed with a traditional kava ceremony. 

Day 9 we will start a mountain trek through the sacred highlands, passing a couple of waterfalls where you will have a chance to have a swim and see some amazing scenery, unseen by most tourists. 

Day 10 after breakfast we continue our kayak journey downriver seeing more beautiful scenery travelling through the heart of some of Fiji’s most unspoilt landscape.  We’ll kayak through canyons gouged out of the rock and enjoy chances to get out and swim in deep pools or under idyllic waterfalls.  

Day 11 we’re off to sea but won’t stray too far from the beautiful Coral Coast. This time we will be in 2 man sea kayaks which are great fun and require plenty of team work and coordination.  

Day 12 after an early start we’re heading back inland to do some exhilarating white water rafting on the upper Navua River! This is a full day on the river and the big raft poses a very different prospect to the individual kayak. 

Day 13 we start in Koroyanitu National Park, from where we’ll be starting our climb of Fiji’s second highest peak Mt Batilamu (3450ft), otherwise known as the Sleeping Giant.  We will stay at the very top of Mt Batilamu in a hut built by the New Zealand Army where we can watch the sun setting over the Pacific Ocean.  

Day 14 The next day we trek to Abecca village where we’ll have the opportunity to rest our legs. 

Day 15 we set off early to drive deep into the Nausuri Highlands for a couple of hours, where we will reach Bukuya village.  We then get on our mountain bikes and begin a tough 40km ride though Fiji’s unspoilt heartland.  Whilst being a tough day, many venturers point to this as being the most rewarding day of the safari.   

Days 16 and 17 Departure day for 16 day trip.  21 day continue by catching Yasawas Flier and head north to the more remote and even more beautiful group of Yasawa islands.  First stop Waya Lai Lai eco haven, whose activities include jet ski’s, snorkels, village trips, walks, crafts and diving. 

Days 18 – 21 Next we’re heading to Manta Ray resort for the final stop on our Adventure, so named for the massive and beautiful manta rays that gather off the beach to feed in a coral channel. 

We’ll be here for three days which will give you the opportunity to achieve your PADI open water scuba diving qualification in an absolutely perfect location with one of the best dive schools in the region and with the newest equipment.

We love getting feedback on our trips, Chess O Dowd just did the safari in March 2008, here is what she thought

'The Safari was the best part of the whole Fiji trip, it was the part that is actually making me work towards going back out and working in Fiji for a year or two and then off to other countries. The Safari opened my eyes, not only to more of the Fijian culture and way of life but the activities and the people you meet while you’re on it are really inspiring. The actual Safari itinerary was very good. The Rivers Trip was awesome! Not only the Kayaking and the rafting, but being able to see parts of Fiji that are not beaches. The Rivers are beautiful! The Village trips (and the kava ceremonies) was the mega highlight of the trip. Just being immersed in the Fijian village way of life (it really puts things in perspective- I came home with some rather different ways of thinking, especially about materialism and 'Fiji time'). For me the 'real' Fiji was up in the highlands and on the river and in the villages, the Islands were beautiful but it's not the same when you're surrounded by Brits and Americans on a beach resort where know-one can be bothered to learn how to say ‘thank you’ in Fijian. The time in Nadi was good. I loved our hostel 'traveller’s beach'. During this time Megan did her skydive and me and Hazel went Surfing just North of Nadi (so there was time on this one day on this specific safari where we had the freedom to do what we wanted to do too). Next this brings me onto the Islands. The Island hopping week was mega mega chilled out, which was awesome! You have a good balance of activity and chilled out which is good. The first island was Waya lai Lai, which I definitely recommend again. It has lots of activities and is more Fijian (as it's run by a Fijian village) and there is more of a community feeling. Mantaray was awesome with beautiful beaches and good activities again (free kayaking/volleyball) but less of a Fijian experience and more touristy.  So over-all the Safari was a really good Balance between Fijian Culture experience, Activity and Chill out. Phil was a good leader too by the way. By the end of the trip I’d made more Fijian friends then British friends, although I did make some really good British friends too'