Fiji Highlands & Islands Tour Itinerary
REF:
AUFJF1
VERSION:
4
| Duration: | 9 days - Nadi to Nadi |
| Countries Visited: | Fiji |
| Age Guide: | Child 8-11 years
Adult 12-65 years |
| Max Group Size: | 16 |
| Transport: | Private Vehicle, Jet Boat, Inflatable Raft, On Foot |
| Accommodation: | Hotels (8 Nights) |
| What's Included: | 8 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches - All Activities and Entrance Fees as per Itinerary - Fully Escorted Tour – Local Guides - Sigatoka Sand Dunes & Kula Eco Park - Upper Navua White Water Rafting - Jet Boat Safari and Village Visit |
| Local Payment: | NO LOCAL PAYMENT |
| Highlights: | Fiji - Sigatoka Sand Dunes - Kula Eco Park - Pacific Harbour - Upper Navua Rafting - Coral Coast - Fijian Cooking Demonstration - Mountain Trek - Sigatoka River Jet Boat Safari - Village Visit with Traditional Welcome - Vuda Point - Fiji Beaches |
| Optional Highlights: | Fiji - Day Trip to Bounty Island - Zip Lining - Snorkelling - Kayaking |
| Meeting Point: | Novotel Nadi
Namaka Hill
Nadi
Fiji
Tel: +679 672 2000
Fax: +679 672 0590 |
| Introduction: | Fiji is the perfect destination for families – it is renowned for being one of the friendliest places in the world. For children it is a fabulous country to visit with a variety of activities and kids clubs to keep them entertained, and a fascinating culture to give them an amazing learning experience. Made up of over 300 islands, Fiji is famous for white sandy beaches and clear turquoise waters. But there is so much more to Fiji – with highlands to walk in, canyons to raft through and rivers to jet boat along! There are even tropical forests where you can enjoy the adrenaline rush of ziplining! And of course a trip to Fiji would not be complete without a traditional village visit with warm Fiji welcome. |
| Day 1: | Nadi. Bula! On arrival you will be met at the airport for the transfer to the hotel.
The pre departure meeting will be held at 6pm in the joining hotel, giving you the chance to meet your Local Tour Guide and fellow travellers, and the opportunity to ask any questions.
Please ensure that you provide us with your flight details to enable us to organise your transfer to the hotel. |
| Day 2: | Sigatoka Sand Dunes, Kula Eco Park, Pacific Harbour. After breakfast, it is time to check out and head down east to the Coral Coast. En-route we stop at one of Fiji’s natural heritage sites, the Sigatoka Sand Dunes for a guided tour.
Our next stop will be at the Kula Eco Park for a guided tour. Established in the 1980’s, this is an environmental showplace of the South Pacific and Fiji's centre for the captive breeding of endangered species and the environmental education of school children.
We stop for lunch (at own expense) at one of the resorts located on the Coral Coast and then continue on to Pacific Harbour. We will stop at the rafting company for a briefing on the next days adventure.
On arrival at our resort in Pacific Harbour, the local guide will brief you on facilities available, and options for the free day. (B) |
| Day 3: | The Upper Navua - White Water Rafting. Today is an exciting day of white water rafting. You will be picked up from the hotel after breakfast at 8.30am (time to be confirmed at previous days briefing).
In the remote highlands of Viti Levu lies one of the most unique river trips on earth. Slicing a deep chasm through the island's tropical interior, the Upper Navua River is our hidden pathway to a pristine tropical wilderness. Shrouded in lush rain forest, fed by countless waterfalls and protected by challenging rapids, the Upper Navua River is Fiji rafting at its best.
Your exploration of this amazing gorge is perhaps one of the most unique journeys in all of Fiji if not the South Pacific and the world. This excursion will take you through some of the country's most formidable and phenomenally beautiful terrain in the relative comfort of inflatable rafts. This is a special trip not because of one unparalleled attribute upon which the success of the trip is based, but many special and scenically significant places; each individually worthy of special recognition. There is not one waterfall but many, (some say at least seventy); not one short stretch of deep, narrow canyon, but kilometres. This is a place where black volcanic walls are at points barely seven meters apart and over forty meters high and fringed by emerald rainforest. This is a place where man has been merely an intermittent visitor at best, where some of the wildest and most beautiful Fiji can still be found.
WHAT TO BRING: Sunscreen, sun hat, sunglasses, swimsuit, shorts, T-shirt, bottle of water, dry change of clothes for the return trip back to your hotel and a good pair of river shoes. Sandals with a heel strap are suitable, but a pair of comfortable tennis shoes which you don't mind getting wet will likely serve you better on any side hikes. We also suggest that you bring along a big bottle of water. While we provide water and other refreshments as part of our trips it is often more convenient for you to keep a bottle with you in your raft. Please note that cameras and other photographic equipment is taken at your own risk. You may prefer to take along a waterproof camera, as the area that we raft through is a river canyon worthy of photographs. You can leave your dry change of clothes and valuables with the transfer vehicle, which will be locked up and watched over by our driver. At the end of the day the vehicle will meet you at take-out for your return journey to the hotel. (B,L) |
| Day 4: | Pacific Harbour - Free Day. Today is free at leisure - you might like to relax on the beach or take one of the many options available - kayaking, zip-lining, horse boaring, various watersports, diving etc (B) |
| Day 5: | To Coral Coast. After breakfast, we transfer to our resort on the Coral Coast. The drive is about 2 hours.
On arrival, the Local Guide will brief you on the facilities available, and various activities on offer. You can spend the afternoon at the kids club and have fun taking part in the various activities. There will be the opportunity to learn how to prepare a bowl of "Kokoda", a Fijian delicacy with fish, coconut milk and lemon. Also a short mountain trek, or maybe a trip to a local village.(B) |
| Day 6: | Coral Coast. Today is free at leisure. You can relax on the beach or at the resort, enjoy the various activities on offer, or maybe arrange an optional excursion. (B) |
| Day 7: | Safari Experience with Sigatoka Jet Safari. This morning we check out of the hotel, and transfer to Sigatoka River for an inland safari by jet boat. Learn local history & facts, capture scenic photos of remote, awe inspiring scenery, visit a Fijian Village and experience village life. Participate in a sevusevu (Kava ceremony), enjoy a Fijian lunch, and possibly swim in the river (optional), and best of all enjoy the thrilling ride in a jet safari boat .
At the end of the tour, we transfer to our hotel on the coast at Vuda Point. (B,L) |
| Day 8: | Free Day - Optional Trip to Bounty Island. Today is a free day. You can either stay at the hotel enjoying the beach and sea or the pool, or take part in various water activities, or you may like to take an optional day trip to Bounty Island. (B) |
| Day 9: | Nadi. The tour ends today after breakfast.
An airport transfer is included, so again please ensure that we have your flight details in advance to organise the transfer. (B) |
| Finishing Point: | First Landing Beach Resort
Vuda Point
Lautoka
Nadi
Fiji
Tel: +679 666 6171
Fax: +679 666 8882 |
| Please Note: | Please be aware that arrival times and the itinerary may change due to unforeseen delays or events such as festivals and public holidays. However, we shall endeavour to ensure all sites are visited and that your tour runs as smoothly as possible. Be flexible, you will enjoy your tour much more.
This itinerary will be followed as closely as possible. However there may be times when it is necessary to change the route according to local conditions.
You are free not to participate in any of the included excursions. However, please note that there will be no refund for any excursions not taken.
Lastly, your tour leader is always conscious of everybody's views, but sometimes he/she will have to make an unpopular decision and your understanding will be appreciated in these circumstances. |
| What's Not Included: | All optional excursions and meals unless otherwise stated in the itinerary, visas, tipping, pre-tour and post-tour accommodation. |
| | Pre Departure Information Follows |
| |
| Pre Departure Meeting: | The Pre-Departure meeting is held at 6pm THE DAY of the scheduled departure date. The pre-departure meeting is held to discuss the tour itinerary in more detail, meet your crew and fellow passengers.
In each departure city we have named a joining hotel from where the tour will leave. It is your responsibility to make your way to this hotel.
PLEASE ADVISE KUMUKA OR YOUR AGENT IF YOU WILL BE ARRIVING LATE AND ARE THEREFORE UNABLE TO ATTEND THE PRE-DEPARTURE MEETING.
In addition the crew will check that all passengers have the necessary travel documents, insurance and immunization certificates for the tour. It is IMPORTANT that you attend this meeting. Please advise KUMUKA or your AGENT if you CANNOT attend this meeting.
All passengers MUST bring:
1. Passport.
2. Vaccination Certificate.
3. Travel Voucher.
4. Travel Insurance Policy. |
| Insurance: | Travel insurance is compulsory for all tours. All clients MUST be insured to cover personal accident, medical expenses, cancellation, curtailment, repatriation, etc. Also, be aware that many activities such as trekking, bungy jumping or white water rafting may not be covered on your insurance policy. If you plan on doing any of these activities please purchase additional insurance. We recommend that you have a photocopy of this document, which you keep separate from the original. If you have not already arranged your own travel insurance then Kumuka can do this for you. Please visit http://www.kumuka.com/Travel-Insurance.aspx for more details or contact your nearest Kumuka office.
Please Note: You will not be permitted to join a Kumuka Tour without travel insurance. |
| Passport: | Your passport is a valuable document and you should exercise extreme care in keeping it safe. We recommend that you keep your passport on you at all times, preferably in a money belt that is worn under your clothing. We advise that you take copies of relevant pages in your passport and any visas that you may purchase in case of loss or damage. Your tour leader will require your passport details at the pre-departure meeting. Again, we recommend that you have a photocopy of all passport details, kept separate. Your passport must be valid for six months after the END of your tour, and must have one blank page for each country to be visited. |
| Visa Requirements: | It is important that you obtain the appropriate visas before you embark on your Kumuka trip. Country entry regulations change daily, www.kumuka.com provides you with visa information. Please consult your relevant embassy for all details such as opening hours or costs.
EACH CLIENT IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR OBTAINING ALL NECESSARY VISAS BEFORE JOINING A TOUR.
Kumuka does not accept responsibility for changes in regulations or requirements for visas. The information provided is given in good faith. |
| Medical Information & Vaccinations: | Vaccinations:
No vaccinations are compulsory in Fiji, however you may need additional inoculations so please contact your G.P or a travel medical centre for further information.
We also recommend:
A dental check-up prior to travelling.
That you know your blood group in case of emergency.
That if you have any pre-existing medical conditions which might affect you on tour, you make these known to your tour leader and your agent/Kumuka at the time of your booking.
You can also visit www.kumuka.com for further details.
Medical Supplies:
We advise that all passengers bring along their own personal first aid kit.
Below is a list of some recommended items:
Band Aids/Bandages, Laxatives, Upset stomach remedy, Anti-diarrhoea remedy, Panadol/Aspirin, Rehydration remedy, Antiseptic cream/powder, Sterile dressing, any relevant course of medication such as contraceptive pills.
A complete Travellers Medical Pack can be purchased for approximately US$25 at most Vaccination Centres, Chemists and outdoor travel shops. |
| Climate: | For detailed climate information see www.kumuka.com.
Travel Tip: Always bring a lightweight, waterproof jacket and/or an umbrella even during the height of summer - this should prepare you for anything! |
| Time: | For detailed information see www.timezoneconverter.com |
| Food: | Traditional Fijian foods include an array of tropical fruits. Papayas and bananas grow all year round, and pineapples are also found most of year. Some tropical fruits are seasonal, such as mangoes, guava, passionfruit, mandarins, starfruit, and soursop.
Fiji, an island nation in the South Pacific, has plentiful fresh seafood and fish. Walu fish is used in the traditional marinated fish dish known as kokoda (koh-kon-da), a must to sample while visiting Fiji Islands. Fiji also has excellent beef (the Yaqara region in northern Viti Levu being one of the most famous cattle-grazing areas).
The Fijians traditional diet consists of many root crops. These include dalo (taro), cassava, and sweet potatoes. In villages these are either boiled, or roasted in an underground 'oven' of hot stones (a lovo). Included in the lovo are whole fish, or pork or chicken. Another popular starch food staple are vudi (voon-dy). These grow like bananas and are boiled in the skins and often served as part of a main course. |
| Books and Reading Material: | You might like to read up on the destinations that you are about to visit as these cities all have interesting sites and histories. We recommend a variety of guidebooks such as Lonely Planet, The Rough Guide and Insight Guides. All these publications have good general information as well as more specific country information that will help orientate you in the countries you visit. |
| Security: | - Do not take unnecessary valuables with you.
- A money belt, or something similar, worn close to your body is the best way to carry passports, airline tickets and money.
- DO NOT leave any valuables in ANY hotel room, please use SAFETY DEPOSIT BOXES. Items are left at the individuals’ risk.
- Pickpockets operate worldwide, you must always exercise care.
- Be aware that anything left lying around could also be liable to theft. |
| Money: | We recommend an average of AU$50-75 per day. This of course depends on your own spending habits, the number of optional excursions you wish to take and the amount of additional snacks, souvenirs and drinks you wish to buy along the way. Be aware that some towns and cities are more expensive than others. Similarly there will be some days when you may spend nothing at all and others when you exceed your budget. We advise that you carry a mixture of cash, and credit/debit cards with you on your trip.
Fiji uses the dollar and cent monetary system. The currency code for the Fiji dollar is FJD. You may also see this represented as FJ$ or F$. Notes are available in denominations of $2, $5, $10, $20, and $50. Coins used are 1c and 2c (Copper Plated Zinc - copper colour), plus 5c, 10c, 20c and 50c (nickel bonded steel - silver colour) and $1 (brass - gold colour).
Banks in Fiji include ANZ, Westpac and Colonial. There is a 24 hour bank at Nadi International Airport.
Visa and Mastercard are commonly accepted at most resorts and at the larger shops. There are several money exchange companies in Nadi and Suva.
Banks opening hours are Monday to Thursday from 10 in the morning to 3 in the afernoon; with early closing (4pm) in the afernoon on Fridays. In addition, the ANZ bank located at the Nadi International airport has a 24 hour currency exchange office in the Arrivals Concourse. All banks are closed on Public Holidays and weekends.
Most major credit cards are accepted by businesses in the Fiji Islands, e.g. Fiji resorts and hotels, restaurants, shops, tours, cruises, local travel agents, hire car companies, etc. Cards accepted may include Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB International and Diners Club.
ATM machines are located in a number of major population centres as well as at the Nadi International and Nausori Airport (Suva). If you are travelling to one of Fiji's many smaller outer islands, the resort itself may be your only resource and if the resort is remotely located they may not be able to handle cash advances on your credit card. Most on-site activities and gift shop items will probably be charged to your room for payment on departure, but for any local purchases outside the resort you may need cash, so taking some local currency notes may be a good idea. |
| Luggage and Personal Equipment: | How much should I take?
- Please bring lightweight walking shoes or sandals, and a day sac.
- Because of limited luggage space on transport, we must limit each passenger to ONE main suitcase or frameless backpack and one day bag. Your main bag must not weigh more than 20 kg’s. A frameless or internally framed backpack is the best way to carry your belongings since it is easy to lift on and off vehicles.
- A small daypack is practical for keeping general items (e.g. camera, books, wallets etc.) at hand when your main pack is out of reach. It is also handy for day trips and excursions.
- We also recommend that you keep your passport, credit cards travellers checks etc. on you at all times, preferably in a money belt worn under your clothes.
TRAVEL TIP: You might be tempted to buy a few souvenirs here and there, so leave a little room for those extra purchases!! |
| Personal Effects: | We suggest that you take into account the time of year you will be travelling, and pack accordingly to the season. Quick drying clothes are recommended, and at many hotels there are laundry facilities. Your tour guide will advise where this is possible.
Personal Effects:
Camera & film, Spare passport photos, Water bottle, Money belt, Torch, Sewing kit, Sunhat/ Sunglasses, Music cassettes/CDs, Books, Wet Ones, Soap to wash clothes, Writing materials, Swiss Army knife, Calculator, Personal toiletries, including tampons, Contraceptives, Insect Repellent, Sunscreen
For the children: A notebook to record the trip is a great idea - younger children can use it to stick postcards in and draw pictures of what they have seen, while older children will enjoy keeping a diary of everything they have got up to. A cheap digital camera will pay dividends, and you may want to invest in a portable DVD player. Travel games are a good idea for any longer journeys, or free time. |
| Accommodation: | We have put a lot of thought and effort into locating the most appropriate type of accommodation for each tour. In Fiji we use mainly 3-4* hotels, most of which have swimming pools. It will always be clean, comfortable and of a very high standard. |
| Optionals: | Kumuka endeavors to advertise a compliment of optional activities available locally during tours with selected ground handlers to make your tour more enjoyable. These ground handlers and activity partners are selected for their standards in quality, professional ability and reputation. Although Kumuka has developed a travel insurance policy to cover all activities offered during your journey, Kumuka cannot be held responsible for injuries or claims arising from adventurous activities by a third party.
Details and prices of optional activities will be advised by your tour leader. |
| Drug Policy: | Under no circumstances are any illegal drugs allowed on any part of the trip. Anyone discovered in possession of any such drugs, will be asked to leave the tour immediately without question or refund. |
| Staying in Touch: | Whilst on tour you will probably want to stay in touch with family and friends. There are several ways of doing this:
Mobile Phone – Before departing your home country check with your phone supplier to see if it compatible with the mobile phone networks in the countries that you are traveling to, and how much will it cost to use abroad.
Email – Internet Cafes are very cheap and popular, and you are sure to come across several during your tour. If you haven’t done so already, set up a free Google Mail, Hotmail, or Yahoo email account which you can then access from any computer. Internet Cafes will charge a nominal fee for using their computers.
Twitter – A method of communication that is rapidly gaining in popularity on the Internet especially amongst travelers. Twitter allows you to send short messages and update your friends and family with where you are on tour and what you are doing. Create your free account at http://twitter.com. Visit Kumuka’s page on Twitter at http://twitter.com/kumuka
Facebook – Very popular website that allows you to upload stories, get in touch with fellow travellers before and after your Kumuka tour, upload photos and videos to share with other travellers, your family and friends. To create a free account, go to www.facebook.com and then become a fan of Kumuka’s Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/pages/Kumuka-Worldwide/26617121087?ref=ts
Postcards – The good ol’ fashioned postcard. But you will probably get home before the postcard does! |
| Tour Feedback: | Tour Questionnaire - We would like to hear about your experiences on tour. One week after your tour ends you will automatically receive a feedback questionnaire via email. If we do not have your email address you can still complete a questionnaire by visiting www.kumuka.com/feedback
Email - If you have any specific comments about your tour then please write to us by email to operations@kumuka.com |
| Contact Details: | KUMUKA WORLDWIDE
UK OFFICE
40 Earls Court Road, London W8 6EJ
Tel: 020 7937 8855 Fax: 020 7937 6664
Email: sales@kumuka.com
www.kumuka.com
AUSTRALIAN OFFICE
Level 5, 387 George Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Tel: 02 9279 0491 Fax: 02 9279 0492
Email: sales@kumuka.com.au
www.kumuka.com.au |
| Map: |  |
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This tour is operated by Kumuka Worldwide. Information given in all brochures, leaflets
and dossiers is given in good faith by the company, and is based on the latest information
available at the date of publication. The company reserves the right to change any
of the facilities or vehicles described in the brochure without becoming liable
for compensation or refund. |
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