Anchorage: Modriki Island
Walk #1: Optional Denarau Island Stroll – 2 km, rated 1A

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 arrive a day early on May 8 (highly recommended) and opt for the Pre-night package have this morning free to enjoy a preview of Fijian paradise from our luxury resort. Have a leisurely breakfast, stroll the beach, or relax by the pool before a short transfer to the ship in the early afternoon. WAI guides will likely offer an optional walk of the delightful port area. (This optional service package is 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 travelers who arrive May 8.

Anchorage: Soso Bay

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.

We ease into the evening back aboard the Fiji Princess 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 fun ‘Bollywood Dancing’ lesson on the sun deck!

Anchorage: Naukacuvu Island

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”.

Later this afternoon we anchor in the sheltered waters of Naukacuva and Narara Islands, picture-perfect for a lazy Sunday afternoon. Sunbathe on the Fiji Princess or dive into the waters and discover the amazing colorful underwater world below.

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 #2: Cross-island hike 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 at 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 #3: Somosomo Village Walk – 2.5 km, rated 2B
Walk #4: Barefoot Manta Walk – 2 km, rated 3C

Fiji Princess sails south out of the bay, this morning, bound for Naviti Island and our second walk of the cruise. We disembark at the tiny island village of Somosomo and hike up over the saddle of the island on the path used by village children to reach the island’s school.

After an opportunity to connect with the children (when school is in session), we continue our cruise to Drawaqa Island. On arrival, a marine biologist joins us to tell about local marine life and the conservation work of the Vinaka Fiji Volunteers.

A guided ‘Reef Safari’ snorkeling tour here offers some of the tour’s best snorkeling to see prolific corals, clams and, from May to October, fascinating Manta Rays!

Our final walk opportunity is a sunset hike through lovely Barefoot Manta Resort with an ascent up Drawaqa Island for outstanding views over the island and the surrounding azure seas. This trail is the most difficult of the three but travelers are welcome to hang back and hang loose aboard the Fiji Princess or ashore.

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!

Walk #5: Optional Nadi Town Cultural Walk – 2.5 km, rated 1A

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 and travelers who purchase the Standard package have the day free with no additional services and depart at their leisure from Nadi Airport.

Optional Day Room Package: Travelers who purchase the Day Room Package enjoy the use of a shared day room (4 people per room) in the upscale Hilton 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 rest and freshen up throughout the day  before the evening shuttle to the airport.

This package also includes an evening transfer to the Nadi airport.

Price: $130 per person

Optional Nadi Town Cultural Walk: Exploring Nadi is a great way to spend the day while awaiting late night flights back to North America. This 4-hour experience includes:

• Roundtrip transfers from Port Denarau to Nadi Town with a local guide
• A local lunch, laced with famous Fijian hospitality, at the Corner Cafe Restaurant
• A 2-hour, 2.5 km walk in Nadi Town in small groups led by local guides. The walk features 3 highlights:
  • Nadi handicraft centre, where local crafts people display their talents (for which Fijians are renowned) in wood carvings, clay pots, tapa cloth, and Whales’ tooth, or ‘Tabua’, of significant value to the Fijian people
  • the colorful fruit & vegetable market to enjoy the richness of tropical produce and the culture of Fijian farming, and
  • Sri Siva Subramaniya Swami Temple, largest Hindu temple in the Southern Hemisphere, a reflection of the large Indian population in Fiji, originally brought as indentures workers by British colonial rulers in the 19th century.

Price: $125 per person (10 person minimum)

To register, a non-refundable $300 deposit is required to hold your spot. A 2nd non-refundable deposit of $1000 is due July 15, 2024. A final payment is due January 31, 2025. You will receive a prompt email from us 2 to 3 weeks in advance.

Once this tour has a viable number of participants, an “Adventure Advice” email will be sent with critical information on flight arrangements as well as important steps to take in the months before your trip. Please do not buy your airline tickets until you review this 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 $300 deposit is required to hold your spot.

A second, non-refundable deposit of $1000 is due by July 15, 2024.

Final payment is then due January 31, 2025.

All payments are non-refundable after the due date.

The cruise begins in Nadi, Fiji, on May 9, 2025. 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 May 7. WAI will notify travelers when it is time to purchase air and will have suggestions to make in that regard. Travelers should arrive into Nadi, Fiji (airport code NAN).

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.

Walking Adventures International reserves the right to cancel this tour departure with fewer than 12 participants, in which case registered participants will receive a 100% refund of payments received.

This refund policy contains one exclusion. Many suppliers require non-refundable deposits as a condition of booking services. Though it is rare, unforeseen circumstances can force us to cancel a tour. In cases where supplier’s non-refundable policies are imposed, WAI attempts 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.

Our approach to wellness on tour has traditionally been to encourage travelers to:

Once we have a viable number of participants, an “Adventure Advice” email is sent with critical information on flight arrangements as well as important steps to take in the months before your trip. Please do not buy your airline tickets until you review this Adventure Advice email.

You will receive reminders to pay the second deposit and the final payment as detailed above under Modified Payment Terms. 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.