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Fiji
Mountains Trek
Suggested
Itinerary
Day
1-3 Fly from London to Fiji
We depart from London Heathrow in the evening and
arrive at Fiji's main international airport, Nadi,
on the morning of day 3. We are met on arrival and
transfer to the Raffles Gateway Hotel. The remainder
of the day is free at leisure. The hotel has a beautiful
outdoor swimming pool where we can relax after the
long flight.
Day
4 Begin the trek to Nausori Highland Village
From the hotel we go to the highest point in Nadi
and can see traditional Fijian and Indian settlements
and sugar cane farms. This exciting one day trek departs
from Nadi into spectacular upper reaches of the Nausori
Highlands region. We trek to the traditional Fijian
village of Yavuna, one of the highlands oldest villages,
settled in the early 1700's. We can enjoy a traditional
Fijian lunch, a refreshing swim and time with the
local villagers. On the summit, we will enjoy the
spectacular view of Nadi Bay and the Mount Evans Range.
This one day trek combines excellent trekking with
fascinating cultural experience. Overnight at Nausori
Highland Village. In the evening there will be a traditional
Kava ceremony. This is the welcoming ceremony for
new visitors and we will be able to join in the singing
and dancing with the locals.
Day
5 Trek to the village of Bukuya
Today we will be able to see some of the flora and
fauna of inland Fiji. We trek through beautiful forests
where we can find wild fruits and native root crops.
At lunch we can cool our feet in the refreshing waters
of the nearby creek or try your hand at fishing. Overnight
at Bukuya. In the evening there will be time to learn
about the history of Fiji, the arrival of the first
Fijians and the Indians. 4 hours walk through the
rainforest.
Day
6 Trek from Bukuya to the village of Nanoko
Today's walk through the lush bush gives us a chance
to see the best of Fiji's wildlife, its unusual animals
and exotic birds. We reach the spectacular Lolo waterfall
in time for lunch and maybe a cold swim. Our accommodation
for the evening is at Nanoko, where we can watch the
native Meke-Fijian dances. Our meal tonight will be
cooked in a Lovo - the traditional earth oven. The
Lovo is the Fijian name for a feast cooked in the
earth. The taste is like a barbeque, only a little
more smoked, and it's a very efficient way to cook
large quantities of food at the same time. 3 hours
trekking.
Day
7 Trek to Koro Village
We are now right in the interior of Fiji and the mountains
and streams present a scene of great beauty - time
for photos to take back home. We stop overnight at
the village of Koro where there will be time for us
to learn about Fijian culture around the traditional
kava bowl. A kava bowl is used in the south Pacific
to drink kava, a local beverage made from the roots
of the kava plant. A kava bowl is usually nothing
more than a coconut shell cup or a carved wooden bowl,
but to drink kava from anything else is like drinking
champagne from a coffee mug.
Day
8 Trek to Navai and Nabutautau.
Our walk today takes us through the bush to reach
the summit of Mount Victoria, at 1324 metres the highest
peak in Fiji. We should reach the top in time for
a picnic lunch and a chance to gaze across the outstanding
views. We overnight at the village of Nabutautau where
we will hear about the arrival of the first missionaries
in Fiji and the death of the British missionary Mr
Baker. He was murdered, cooked and eaten while trying
to spread Christianity in Fiji's rugged highlands
in July 1867. Legend has it that Mr Baker, a Methodist
minister from Sussex, was murdered after breaking
a taboo by taking a comb from a chief's hair. Mr Baker
is the only white man to have been eaten in Fiji,
once known as the Cannibal Isles. We can also hear
tales about Ratu Udreudre. If Reverend Baker is Fiji's
most famous victim, Ratu Udreudre is its most famous
cannibal. In 1849, sometime after Udreudre died, the
missionary Richard Lyth came across a row of stones
in Udreudre's yard and asked Udreudre's son what they
were for. Udreudre's son explained that his father
had put down a stone for each person he ate. Reverend
Lyth counted 872 stones!
Day
9 Return to Raffles Gateway Hotel
The day starts with a short trek to Nadrivatu followed
a drive to the town of Nadi and our accommodation
at Raffles Gateway Hotel. The afternoon will be free
to relax around the swimming pool.
Day
10 Depart from Fiji
We will have a free day to explore the town of Nadi
and do any final souvenir shopping. In the evening
we make the short transfer to the airport for our
homeward flight.
Day
11 Arrive London
We arrive at London Heathrow in the morning.
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