Anchorage: Modriki Island

After your early morning arrival in Fiji, the first part of the day is free. Our floating hotel for the next 7 nights, the Fiji Princess, is available for boarding at Port Denarau between 1:30 and 2:30 pm. The taxi ride from Nadi Airport into Nadi, where you would spend your free time, is about 10 minutes. From Nadi to Port Denarau is about 15 minutes.

Travelers who join us for the Optional Pre-night or Pre-cruise packages have this morning free to enjoy a preview of Fijian paradise from our 5-star beach resort. Have a leisurely breakfast, stroll the beach, or relax by the pool before a short transfer to the ship in the early afternoon. (These two add-on packages are described briefly in the Including section above and will be fully explained in the Adventure Advice memo travelers receive after registration.)

Mid-afternoon, we set sail for the outer Mamanucas. While we cruise, settle into your cabin, enjoy the welcome briefing along with English tea and snacks, meet fellow guests, and admire the scenery that slides by as we sail the South Pacific.

Our first destination is gorgeous, secluded Modriki Island, filming location for Tom Hanks’ movie “Cast Away”. On arrival, we explore this little island and have our first chance to take a dip in the warm South Pacific waters. Back on board, cocktails are served with canapés on the sun deck. Mingle with fellow travelers and drink in views over tranquil waters as the sun sets.

This evening, the Captain’s Welcome Dinner is an à la carte menu with entertainment provided by our crew! Don’t forget to wander up to the upper deck to see the magnificent array of stars of the Southern Constellations.

B* – Breakfast for early arrivals only.

Anchorage: Soso Bay
Walk #1: Soso Village Walk on Naviti Island – 3 km, rated 2C

Awake to the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and consider a morning swim or stroll on the beach before we set sail for the southern Yasawa Islands during breakfast.

Late morning, we take you on a bit of an adventure… to a special reef location where you are invited to swim with reef sharks (sea conditions permitting)! While harmless to humans, reef sharks make for an remarkable snorkel experience!

Back on-board, we cruise into the waters around Naviti and Soso Bay. A tasty buffet lunch is served on-board before heading ashore for a visit to the chiefly village of Soso. We’ll be welcomed in traditional fashion with a “yaqona” kava ceremony, before exploring this typical Fijian island village with our hosts. A presentation on the local history and legends gives insight into early Yasawan life.

This afternoon’s walk is one of four planned hikes during the cruise. Wandering through the village, we ascend one of the surrounding hills. This is a two-stage walk; the second section is steeper and rewards hikers with better views. This trail is particularly weather dependent due to steeper sections that can be unsafe due to slickness after rains.

Back on the Fiji Princess, ease into the evening with cocktails served on the sun deck, followed by a ‘Thali’ buffet dinner featuring exquisite Indian dishes. After dinner, those with energy remaining are welcome to take in a ‘Bollywood Dancing’ lesson on the sun deck!

Anchorage: Naukacuvu Island
Walk #3: Barefoot Manta Hike – 2 km, rated 3C

Sunday is still a day of rest in Fiji and this morning we have the unique opportunity to attend a village church service, and learn more of the happy culture of Fiji.

Lunch is served on board as we cruise a short distance to our next slice of paradise. As we sail, you are invited to join a Fijian cooking lesson and help prepare a tasty Fijian fish-dish, “Kokoda”.

The walk of the day is more of a hike–probably the most adventurous of our trails. It departs from an eco lodge in the jungle, crosses a stream (depending upon rainfall), and ascends for outstanding views over the islands! Footing can be challenging so walking sticks are a good accessory, and the stream crossing is easier if you have water shoes or sandals (like Tevas). The distance, however, is nominal, and the views well worth the effort!

Later this evening, we anchor in the sheltered waters of Naukacuvu and Narara Islands, picture-perfect for a lazy evening.

Tonight’s buffet dinner has a range of dishes from Fiji as well as a selection of European favorites.

Anchorage: Yalobi Bay

In the morning, join the crew for a finger fishing trip or snorkel, swim or kayak before we depart to one of Fiji’s most beautiful and remote island groups – the Sacred Islands.*

Filming location for the popular “Survivor” series, the Sacred Islands provide a breathtaking backdrop for swimming, snorkeling, and kayaking, especially since we expect to be the only ones there!

A beachside picnic lunch is provided by your crew along with afternoon scones and tea. Back on board it’s happy hour at the bar followed by another festive Captain’s dinner.

*Depending on seasonal weather conditions, an alternate stop may replace the Sacred Islands.

Anchorage: Blue Lagoon

Laze on the sun deck after breakfast as we sail on the famed Blue Lagoon. This superb stretch of water is circled by islands, creating a lagoon filled with fascinating coral reefs easily seen from the surface of the crystal-clear waters.

One of these islands, Nanuya Lailai, is home to our private beach. Lunch is served on-board, while on shore our private ‘Fiji style beach club’ awaits, with sun loungers, onshore massage, a bar, and beach volleyball to work off a bit of lunch.

Time abounds for swimming, snorkeling, fish feeding, viewing coral from the glass bottom boat or just wandering along a secluded stretch of beach. Our ship’s crew will also teach basket weaving and give a coconut demonstration – climb the palm tree, collect the coconuts and husk them, then enjoy fresh coconut milk straight from the coconut along with afternoon tea.

Diving for both novices and experienced divers can be pre-booked for this location or you can join our crew for a guided ‘reef safari’ snorkeling tour!

Happy hour is served on shore from our beach bar along with canapes followed by the unveiling of a traditional Lovo meal where the food is cooked underground in a specially prepared pit.

Our dining room tonight is on the beach beneath coconut palms and tropical stars from the southern constellations. The day ends with a “Meke” show featuring singing, dancing and story-telling by a group of local villagers.

Anchorage: Sawa-i-Lau Island
Walk #3: Guided cross-island walk to Lo’s Tea Shop – 2 km, rated 2B

This morning is at leisure at our private Blue Lagoon beach. Dive, snorkel and swim, or try your hand at basket weaving.

The main event, however, is a leisurely hike along the beach and up over the hill to the other side of the island. Exquisite panoramas across Blue Lagoon are part of this hike before arriving to the ‘very local’ Lo’s Tea Shop on the beach! Enjoy Lo’s famous cakes and browse the shell market prior to returning to the ship via water taxis.

During lunch, we sail to our next destination, the island of Sawa-i-Lau, where the 1980 Blue Lagoon movie starring Brooke Shields was filmed. Here, we visit the subterranean pools of the Sawa-i-Lau Caverns. View the dramatic caverns from the stairs or take to the water on a short swim through an underwater passage to the second of these stunning limestone caves! This was a favorite activity of the 2022 WAI group.

This evening, cross the bay for a memorable visit to the village of Tamusua. A kava ceremony, a guided stroll around the village, and an authentic Fijian village style ‘feast’ prepared and cooked by the locals awaits. The Fijian meal is served to us as we sit upon mats and listen to our hosts share more about village culture.

Anchorage: Drawaqa Island
Walk #4: Somosomo Village Walk – 2.5 km, rated 2B

Fiji Princess sails south out of the bay, this morning, bound for Drawaqa Island. On arrival, a marine biologist joins us to tell about local marine life and the conservation work of the Vinaka Fiji Volunteers.

Later this morning, today’s trail begins in Somosomo Village and follows the path local elementary students use to walk to the island school. Once at the school, a highlight of the cruise is our interactions with a darling group of local children. This is a place to bring donations much appreciated by teachers and children alike.

Our farewell dinner this evening is a barbecue served on the upper deck dining under the stars, where a final feast is the perfect way to celebrate our time in the Yasawa Islands! Try your hand at the “Bula Bula” dance, if you haven’t already, or simply enjoy the grandeur of the southern night sky one last time!

Enjoy a final breakfast on-board as the Fiji Princess cruises back toward her home port. We’ll be “farewelled” with the traditional Isa Lei song from the crew as our exploration of the beautiful Mamanuca, Yasawa, and Sacred islands comes to an end.

Late morning, we disembark the Fiji Princess. Flights are later this evening. Travelers who purchase the Standard package have the day free with no additional services and depart at their leisure from Nadi Airport.

Travelers who purchase the optional Pre-night and Pre-cruise packages enjoy a shared day room (4 people per room) in the same hotel we used before the cruise. These rooms are meant to serve as a base to store luggage, explore the Denarau Island resort area,  and freshen up throughout the day and before the shuttle to the airport.

These two optional packages also include a transfer to the airport around 7 pm this evening for flights to North America across the International Date Line, arriving in Los Angeles on November 4, (technically, before we even leave Nadi)!

To register, a non-refundable $500 deposit is required to hold your spot.

An Adventure Advice email with critical information on flight arrangements will be sent soon after registration, with important details about steps to take in the months before your trip. Please do not buy your airline tickets until you review the Adventure Advice email.

Please follow this link to read our full General Tour Conditions.

Because of the ship’s payment terms, our standard payment and cancellation terms must be modified.

To register, a non-refundable $500 deposit is required to hold your spot.

A second, non-refundable deposit of $500 is due by May 15, 2023.

Final payment is then due July 21, 2023.

All payments are non-refundable after the due date.

The cruise begins in Nadi, Fiji, on October 27. Because we fly across the international date line, and flights are overnight, arriving into Fiji very early in the morning, it is necessary to depart North American on the evening of October 25. WAI will notify travelers when it is time to purchase air and will have suggestions to make in that regard.

The official start and finish point for this adventure is Port Denarau outside the city of Nadi, Fiji. this is the embarkation and disembarkation point for the M.V. Fiji Princess. Travelers should arrive into Nadi, Fiji (airport code NAN).

WAI believes strongly in the importance of travel insurance for financial and medical protection from any number of unforeseen circumstances that can arise before departure or during your Adventure. This is now especially true in the era of COVID-19, which is typically treated like any other illness for travel insurance purposes. Many travel insurance providers are available for you to consider. Laura Pfahler and Sharon Mitchell of World Travel Inc. are travel agents who provides air travel and insurance services to many WAI travelers.

• Laura Pfahler: 503-434-6401 or [email protected]
• Sharon Mitchell: 971-261-2091 or [email protected]

Check out Insurance Tips from World Travel for a short introduction to travel insurance. (NOTE: WAI receives no commission or financial remuneration from World Travel Inc.).

As always, do some shopping to ensure you are getting the best value. Using the squaremouth.com website can be a good way to compare pricing.

Other options include:

• Allianz
• Betins
• Travel Guard
• Travel Insured International

NOTE: We suggest purchasing from a reputable, well-established insurance company (avoid buying insurance from an unknown company found only online). Travelers interested in purchasing “cancel for any reason” insurance coverage should be careful to check pricing and terms BEFORE they register for a tour. Recent changes in the international travel landscape has caused changes in the policies of some insurance companies, and made the purchase of this particular type of policy even more time-sensitive.

Walking Adventures International reserves the right to cancel any tour departure with fewer than 15 participants, in which case registered participants will receive a 100% refund of payments received.

This refund policy contains one exclusion related to the COVID-19 outbreak. Many suppliers require non-refundable deposits as a condition of booking services. Unforeseen circumstances linked to the virus can force us to cancel a tour. Due to these supplier’s non-refundable policies, WAI intends to retrieve as much of these deposits as possible, but cannot guarantee a 100% refund.

In cases where full refunds cannot be obtained for a cancelled tour, we will do our best to transfer unrefunded money as traveler credits to be applied to a future tour to that destination.

View our full General Tour Conditions for more details.

Upon registering for this Adventure, you will receive a welcome letter and initial invoice.

An Adventure Advice email with critical information on booking your flights will be sent soon after registration, as well as important steps to take in the months before your trip. Please do not buy your airline tickets until you review the Adventure Advice email.

Later this spring, you will receive a statement reminder for the second deposit of $500 due in May 15, 2023. In early July, you will receive a statement reminder for the final balance due on July 21, 2023. All payments are non-refundable after the due date.

About 2 weeks before departure, you will receive a final packet with all the details of the program, including hotel name and contact information, a list of fellow travelers, and a more detailed daily schedule.