Madventurer.com

Challenge:

Adventure

Destination:

*Fiji

Departure Dates From:

05/06/2010

Duration:

3 weeks

Kitty:

£ 0

21 days Lautoka-Nadi

£1250 (+ local payment FJD$400, Extra meal payment of FJD$280)

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 III 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 further your diving experience in some of the best diving spots in the world. An action packed few weeks, but a totally relaxed experience. 
 

           

              

            

            

            

 

The Fiji Island Safari has a kitty which has just been reduced down to FJD$400 (it was FJD$680).  This is to give our travellers more flexibility on meals/restaurants etc.  You will now need to budget seperately for an Extra Meal Payment, more details given below and in the full trip notes.

You will now have to budget seperately for some meals not included.  We suggest bringing FJD$280 to cover these extra meals.   The kitty is to be paid locally and covers some food, some accommodation and other local payments. The fee of £1250 is to be paid before you depart covers all other food, (breakfast, lunch and dinner on sellected days) transport (both by road and sea) and accommodation throughout the safari.  All activities scheduled as part of the itinerary are provided, including the rafting, kayaking, sea kayaking, mountain biking and trekking.

It does not provide for any extra costs prior or subsequent to the start and end dates respectively. The Adventure begins in Lautoka at our Madventurer base and finishes in Nadi once we return from the islands (21 day only). Transport will be provided for those returning to the Madventurer programme in Lautoka. Crew will be able to advise on accommodation for those wishing to stay in Nadi.

Optional extras such as the PADI dive course, scuba diving, skydiving, jet-boating and any motorized water sports are not included in the cost but can be arranged and paid for directly with local providers.

Snacks, extra drinks and alcoholic drinks are not included.

Spending Money

While accommodation, transport and some food are included, you may wish to purchase, gifts, snacks and extra drinks while travelling. On certain occasions we will be staying in remote locations and villages where there will be little to spend money on whereas on some occasions we will be staying in towns and tourist destinations where there will be a greater temptation and choice to spend money on. Any additional expenses will depend entirely on your own personal budget and preferences and we recommend approximately £150 - £300 spending money for the duration of the 3 weeks although it is always advisable to have some access to some spare money in case of an emergency.

Here are some approximate costs of some of the extra expenses/activities you may wish to purchase which may affect your budget.

$10 - $20 per day for snacks and extra drinks etc.

$600 skydive

$210 2 tank dive

$115 Introductory Dive for those without PADI

$60 for jet skiing

$40 for parasailing

$10 - $50 for motorised watersport activities including equipment and instruction

Further Links

• Trip Notes
• Fiji Photos
• Mad Videos
• Weather Guide from bbc.co.uk
• Money Conversion from Oando.com
• InterHealth Pack - Click this link, register and then have access to a comprehensive health pack.
• Pre-Departure Form - To be filled in and returned to Mad HQ before you depart

Feedback 

'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'

Chess O Dowd, March 2008

05/06/201031/07/2010 x 3 weeks = £ 1250