Top 10 Things To Do in Fiji
For those of you who think Fiji is just a group of islands where all there is to do is lie around on a beach side resort, tan and sip on cocktails (Though that is pretty dreamy), you’d be sorely mistaken. Fiji has a rich culture to immerse yourself in, jungles to explore and some pretty unbeatable marine life to witness.
To ensure you have the best trip backpacking Fiji, we have outlined the top 10 things to do in Fiji on your trip.
Island Hopping
Fiji is an archipelago that consists of over 300 islands - which means it’d be a shame to only explore one. All the islands have something different to offer, with beautiful beaches, crystal clear lagoons and jungles waiting to be explored. You can opt for live on cruises, or packages with boat transfers and accommodation options that you can do at your own pace. Island hopping is a great way to explore everything Fiji has to offer, instead of staying in one resort or place.
Attend a Traditional Kava Ceremony
Kava is the national drink of Fiji, and made using Kava root. A Kava ceremony is considered of great importance and attending one signifies respect to those you are visiting and the place that they live.
Previously a political affair in which guests were served in order of rank, has now become more about the coming together of people, regardless of your background. It is a common custom in the evenings when you visit families, and small hotels and hostels on the Islands.
The ceremony starts with the creation of the Kava drink by smashing the kava root into a pulp and mixing it with water before draining out the pulp. Everyone congregates in a circle around a Kava Tanoa (Kava bowl), and starting with the host, is passed a small cup of kava to drink one at a time, from the same cup.
Don’t be put off by its brown colour, the drink is mild in taste, but is pretty ‘earthy’. The coolest part is that Kava is actually a very mild sedative and narcotic, previously used for medicinal purposes. This means it leads to a gradual feeling of calm and relaxation, as well as causing your tongue and lips to go numb.
Explore Fiji’s Waterfalls
Believe it or not, Fiji is well known by travellers for it’s array of beautiful waterfalls to explore. Although Fiji consists of 300 islands, most of the waterfalls you can explore are located on just 2 islands, a short ferry ride from each other: Viti Levu and Taveuni. This is because the majority of the islands are uninhabited or lack the requirements needed for a waterfall to form.
Waterfalls are so big in Fiji, that you can even book onto a Fiji waterfall tour, and all of the waterfalls have something different to offer. Some have natural waterslides, others involve hiking through the jungle or exploring a national park, and some are particularly great for families with perfect picnic spots.
The main waterfall are:
Savu-i-one Waterfalls
Savusavu
Waitavala
Tavoro
Biausevu
Wainibau Falls
Nakawaga Waterfalls
Vereni Falls
Uru’s Waterfalls
Swim with Sharks
Fiji is one of the best places in the world where you can encounter sharks safely, without the need for a cage. A specialist centre in Fiji, run by highly experienced shark divers and conservationists run regular trips from their base (a Catamaran) into the Beqa Lagoon.
Beqa lagoon is home to 8 species of shar including: Blacktip Reef Sharks, Whitetip Reef Sharks, Grey Reef Sharks, Silvertip Sharks, Tawny Nurse Sharks, Sicklefin Lemon Sharks, Bull Sharks and the occasional Tiger Shark. These dives are of the highest quality, with no need for a cage, and while sometimes experiencing a controlled feeding frenzy.
I bet you’re wondering how it is even possible to witness a controlled shark feeding frenzy in a safe environment without a cage. Alright i’ll tell you, cause it’s seriously cool.
This lagoon has been home to these sharks for 1000 of years, as well as the locals in the surrounding villages, and for thousands of years the locals have been diving with them. Firstly, during the dive, you will rest on the lagoon floor behind a rock wall that will operate like a viewing barrier. Next an experienced shark diver will be between the divers and the feeding zone, using hand signals to direct sharks to the food.. If a shark doesn’t respond to hand signals (which is rare), they will be gently redirected manually. These two things prevent a diver and shark from accidentally colliding. All of this means you are able to sit at the edge of a shark feeding zone, and witness these creatures in their natural habitat.
Check out Fiji Shark Dive to book your tour
Sigatoka River Safari
The Sigatoka River is the longest river on Fiji's Viti Levu Island, and is surrounded by beautifully flourishing hills and sand dunes. This tour is a great way to learn about Fiji's culture while experiencing it’s natural beauty from the comfort of a speedboat.
The tour involves travelling down the Sigatoka river on a speedboat to learn about the history of the surrounding villages for about 45mins. You’ll then stop at a local village, where you’re greeted by the host and taken to meet the village chief. During your visit you’ll experience a traditional kava ceremony and take a tour of the village before, sitting down for a Fijian lunch. A great thing about the Sigatoka River Safari Tours is that they visit a different village each day of the week. This ensures the tours minimise the impact of tourism on the locals traditions and culture while also ensuring visitors have an authentic experience.
Experience a Banana Leaf Massage
A banana leaf massage is a Fiji staple when it comes to relaxing spa treatments, as bananas are grown in abundance on the islands, with some spas growing their own purely for treatments.
Banana leaf massages are so popular due to the leaves' high concentration of polyphenols, which are natural antioxidants. This means banana leave’s offer a lot of benefits for the skin, including; treatment for skin conditions such as eczema and minor wounds, providing relief for bites and stimulating skin cell growth. A traditional Fiji banana leaf massage will start with a massage to relieve all the knots in your body, which is carried out while laying on a bed of banana leaves covered in natural oils. Once the massage is over the body is wrapped in more banana leaves, to induce sweating and allows the body's pores to open up and flush out the toxins. Most spas and resorts will offer banana leaf massages, so if you can definitely give it a try!
Attend a Fire Walking Festival
A Fiji fire walking festival involves people walking barefoot over hot coals as a way to cleanse the body of physical and spiritual impurities. A traditional Hindu festival that originated as a pre-deepavali event, but is now used for a range of celebrations.
With almost 40% of Fiji’s population being Hindu, there are a range of fire festivals that take place throughout the year. The biggest fire walking festival in Fiji takes place around July or August in Suva point. However, there are festivals all year round, so check for the dates you are travelling to Fiji and see if there is one you can attend.
Swim with Manta Rays
Between the months of May & October Manta Rays can be seen swimming daily off the coast of Fiji, mostly found in the channel between Nanuya Balavu and Drawaqa Islands. They are such a big deal that there are two hotels named after Manta Rays. Both offer incredible excursions where you can swim with them in a controlled environment. Regularly clear waters also means great visibility, so much so that you can often see the variations of colours on the Manta Rays backs.
Be warned, unfortunately, you can’t swim with the Rays without going on a tour as Manta Rays are protected species. However, Fiji is one of the leading countries in Manta Ray conservation and you would be diving with specialists, who are involved in various conservation projects and know the best times and places to maximise your chance of seeing them.
Skydive with a view
Skydiving in Fiji is super popular with tourists, and for good reason, the views are INCREDIBLE! On a clear day you will have stunning views of clear coral reefs and miles of sandy white beaches, and to top that most operators also have the option for a beach landing.
Skydive from 14,000ft, in warm sunny weather, with breathtaking views. Honestly what more could you ask for? When it comes to Skydiving, Fiji is one of the best places in the world you can experience it. Two of the best provider on the island is Skydive Fiji and it costs around £200 for the skydive. Be sure to book in advance so you aren’t disappointed.
Waitavala Natural Rock Waterslide
Waitavala Natural Rock Waterslide is a strip of small waterfalls in quick succession, that end in a small deep lagoon. Over time the rocks have smoothed over from the flow of water, this paired with the slippery residue of algae creates natural slides that are really popular with travellers in Fiji.
After a short hike through the forest, which is beautiful in itself, you’ll meet a lively stream where you’ll often find small groups of people have set up camp for the day on the rocks, and taking it in turn to slide down into the lagoon at the bottom.
