South Pacific island perfection . . . “Bula” to four distinct, adventures including live aboard PADI certification, cultural immersion, eco surf camp and community service.
$5,288.00
PRICE INCLUDES:
Two CPR and Wilderness First Responder leaders and all ground costs, all ground transportation including airport pickup and drop-off; all diving gear including mask and snorkel; all activities and gear listed in the above itinerary; all meals; local gratuities to wait-staff and all hotels or hostels.
PRICE DOESN’T INCLUDE:
Flights to/from Nadi, Fiji
Optional e-learning online PADI Open Water or Advanced Diver Course
Entry or exit taxes
Baggage fees
Optional gratuities
Extra snacks and souvenirs.
Live in traditional Fijian-style thatch bures only steps from the white sand beach. Provide community service for a variety of development projects the village selects as the most helpful for promoting sustainable practices and education.
The Tui Tai is rated by National Geographic Adventure as one of the world’s 25 Best Trips. We’ll spend most of our time soaking wet – snorkeling, sea kayaking and enjoying every water sport imaginable – aboard our 140-foot (43- meter) boat. We visit a different dive site and island destination each day as we sail through a chain of islands known as the “Pacific Cultural Triangle.” PADI dive certification course and all dives are included. Before diving in Fiji please complete online PADI certification course, print out proof of passing the quizzes and come ready to practice your skills.
This friendly and remote island is a bit like Hawaii’s Ná Pali Coast. In partnership with local villagers, we will enjoy great surfing, breathtaking trekking trails, dense coastal forest, black sand beaches and a river kayak trip to caves and waterfalls. To give back, we work with the village to develop sustainable tourism alternatives and help in the schools.
To give back, we work with the village to develop sustainable tourism alternatives and help in the schools.
All students must pass a SCUBA diving physical and cannot have used an inhaler or suffered from asthma in the past 3 years. For those not wishing to SCUBA dive, alternative water activities are available.
Students fly and arrive together from Los Angeles (LAX) to Nadi airport (NAN). Together with your experienced Bold Earth trip leaders, we spend the day getting to know each other and learn what to expect in the days ahead. We will learn about our daily routine, trip safety, expected responsibilities, meet local guides and learn all trip logistics. The process of growing together as a group begins. That afternoon we fly to a neighboring island to begin our adventure. Then travel in private transport to our first homestay at Nabua Village on the shore of the largest bay in Fiji, Natewa Bay.
Nabua Village on the Island of Vanua Levu: Our official welcoming ceremony “Sevusevu” is hosted by the Chief of Nabua Village. Students and trip leaders are introduced to their carefully selected host families who live in traditional Fijian style perfectly safe, clean and friendly homes; two students to a family. Our one week stay, only steps from the white sand beach, includes 24 hours of service on a variety of community development projects selected by the village as most helpful for sustainable development and education:
After the first few days of getting to know the kind families of Nabua Village. We will really dive into giving back to this beautiful culture. We have the opprotunity to help out with a variety of different projects. Pull on your work gloves, open your hearts and prepare to change and be changed.
Farming projects: Clean up brush, prepare land and plant a pineapple farm! Clean, repair, renovate the village community center. Build a playground at the village school. Beach, coast and reef cleanup. Present to the school about how trash can impact the environment, fish stocks, farm production and water quality.
Enjoy the last couple of days in your new village-home of Nabua! Grab your water proof camera and jump aboard the traditional ‘bili bili’ rafts. We will race through the waters at high tide, learn traditional fishing practices, watch as village leaders catch octopus, eel and the fish you’ll be eating for dinner. As your days fill with volleyball on the beach, horseback riding along the river and watching traditional fire dancing by the pale moonlight, you will wonder if you’re dreaming… it is a dream… you’re in Fiji.
Welcome to the Tui Tai cruise! Rated by National Geographic Adventure as one of the world’s 25 Best Trips. We’ll spend most of our time on a Tui Tai soaking wet. From snorkeling to sea kayaking to paddle boarding, there’s hardly a water sport you can’t do from this majestic 140-foot (43-meter) boat. Back onboard the Tui Tai, meaning King of the Sea, you’ll be able to sit and watch as paradise glides by. We will visit a different island and dive site each day.
Our Tui Tai Expedition is a dream of the best adventures, islands, dive and snorkel sites, and the greatest people we have ever come across. Activities often arise spontaneously with an invitation from a nearby village to come for a celebration, a passing pod of dolphins or whales or the discovery of a new dive site.
Days are filled with activities including: Guided scuba diving and snorkeling, kayaking, hiking, waterfalls and village visits.
Tui Tai is the only adventure ship sailing through a chain of islands known as the “Pacific Cultural Triangle.” This unique cultural hotspot has people of Micronesian, Polynesian and Melanesian heritage. The people have maintained their culture, language and traditions and you’ll have the unique opportunity to learn about them during several village visits.
CONGRATULATIONS! Today could be the day that you receive your PADI Dive Certification. The Tui Tai’s Dive Masters will bring you from novice to experiences or from experienced to advanced. We will certify you onboard the Tui Tai and you’ll go home with incredible tales from the crystal blue waters of Fiji. A place where only a few lucky people have the chance to dive.
Time to say “Moce Tui Tai” (‘good bye to the King of the Sea’ in Fijian) and move on to Lavena Village on the Island of Taveuni. Students and trip leaders will meet their host families in the village, where they will live for the week.
We’ll spend our time with some of the friendliest and most colorful people learning to dance, sing, live the island life and join a variety of community development projects selected by the village as most desired:
The breathtaking and remote Lavena Village provides an excellent opportunity to interact with the local culture and experience the area’s natural beauty. Tucked into a lush forest reminiscent of Jurassic Park, the village is a prime launch-point for expeditions to caves and kayaking trips to seaside forests with fruit-laden trees. It provides access to some excellent hikes along black sand beaches and dense coastal forest. Numerous stream crossings, waterfalls, and even some orange doves punctuate the area’s gorgeous physical setting.
Time to pour into this beautiful culture. Bold Earth has the chance to be a part of service that will last long after we leave.
Farming projects: Clean up brush to prepare land and plant seeds (4 hours)
Beach, coast and reef cleanup. With presentation to the school about how trash can impact the environment, fish stocks, farm production, water quality (4 hours)
Maintain the Lavena Village Visitor Center. Assess the village and surrounding area for tourism potential. Including hiking to waterfalls and making trails; identify river kayak excursion and design a day trip itinerary; identify snorkel/scuba sites and beach locations for picnics. (8 hours)
Build a playground at the village school (4 hours)
ead to a nearby hidden oasis. Hiking through a lush green landscape, you feel like a part of a great adventure as you part the last branches and see the most breathtaking waterfall you’ve ever seen. Welcome to paradise. Go ahead and jump in. We will spend the day enjoying lunch in the midst of these falls. You can spend hours jumping from the cliffs into the pool or just sit captivated by the sounds of Fiji.
Welcome to the Maqai Beach Eco Resort: World class chill. Surf the perfect waves, tan on the white sand beaches, swim alongside a sea turtle and explore the surround jungle. The plan is to follow the ocean tide, when it’s flat, snorkel and enjoy the beach and when the surf’s up grab your board and head for the waves – it is just that simple. We’ll stay in low impact eco friendly canvas cabins living five days in a water sports paradise with the friendliest people and most beautiful ocean creatures you will ever meet. spending time enjoying the surf, waves, idyllic palms beach sports, volleyball and campfires.
Meals are a combination of vegetables from the on-sight organic garden as well as local farmer’s markets and free roaming chickens and eggs. Fresh fish is on the menu when we catch it (often). Meal inspirations and recipes come from the local Fijian village homes as well as popular favorites across the globe.
On our last day at Maqai, the resort staff will prepare a beautiful traditional Lovo meal. The Lovo meal is cooked all day in an underground fire pit and is the Fijian version of a big BBQ feast. As our time here in Fiji winds down, you will know the culture, love the people, and never want this incredible feast to end. We’ll relish in the island atmosphere, as the sun goes down we’ll end yet another perfect day with much laughter, singing, music and traditional fire dancing.
ur last night together in Fiji, we pack up our gear and celebrate our successes. We share our memories and challenges and say our good-byes. All great things must come to an end. We will head to the airport, confident, tan and strong after the most incredible summer of adventure, fun and friends.
All students wishing to dive must pass a dive physical at home.
PADI certification is optional. To be PADI certified, an approximately ten hour online PADI Open Water Diver Course is required. The $120 fee is paid by you directly to PADI. We use e-learning so you can spend more time in Fiji being active (instead of reading and studying, which you complete at home before the trip).
Yes, those already certified can upgrade to an Advanced Open Water Diver certification. Advanced dives will see Manta Rays, world renowned sites such as the Great White Wall and more. It’s an amazing dive experience.
Dive students cannot have used an inhaler or suffered from asthma in the past three years. Those not wishing or qualified to SCUBA dive, alternative water activities are available. Not diving is common.