Fiji Tour & Service Trip Overview
Fiji, the Land of Smiles, is the unbelievable island destination you never knew you needed to explore. Earn up to 20 hours of service credit when you help improve the facilities of a local island school. Your hard work has a direct positive impact on the lives of the school children you’ll see as little brothers and sisters.
This rewarding experience is complemented by unforgettable adventures through the best parts of this idyllic Pacific island nation. You’ll dive into the crystal clear blue waters to swim with manta rays, reef sharks, exotic fish, and vibrant corals. Feel like a local as you explore limestone caves, cook a lovo, savor kava and visit local villages. Our Fiji service trip is the perfect mix of relaxation, adventure, and cultural immersion that makes for an unconventional worldly experience in an off-the-beaten-path destination.
During this program, you will…
- Earn up to 20 hours of community service credit
- Make rewarding bonds with local Fijian students as you work to improve their elementary school
- Snorkel and scuba dive* vibrant coral reefs alongside exotic marine life
- Prepare a traditional lovo, a banquet feast slow cooked in an earth oven, and learn how to weave palm frond baskets with Fijians.
- Hike to capture incredible sunrise and sunset views of the Yasawa Islands, a volcanic archipelago in turquoise waters.
- Swim into sacred underwater limestone caves and learn about their centuries-old local legends
- Zip line through jungles, mountain tops, and cave systems
*This is an optional add-on
If your teen plans on diving, it is mandatory for you to purchase dive insurance in advance of the program. Please review our FAQ section for more information.
Trip Itinerary
DAY 1: DEPART FROM LOS ANGELES (LAX)
DAY 2: CROSS THE INTERNATIONAL DATE LINE
DAY 3: NADI, VITI LEVU
During the first day on the largest of the islands in the Fijian Archipelago, Viti Levu, we’ll spend the afternoon at Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Park. The grey, windswept dunes have been formed over millions of years at the mouth of the Sigatoka River. We’ll shake off jet lag with a leisurely walk along the trails where it’s not uncommon to stumble across pieces of the past—archaeological excavations have uncovered pottery more than 2,600 years old! The walking trails lead to a beautiful beach where we’ll relax, swim, and get acquainted with slow island life. That evening, we’ll head back to our beautiful resort right on the beach to capture our first incredible South Pacific sunset.
DAYS 4 – 11: YASAWA ISLANDS
Next is Nacula Island, one of the northern-most destinations in the Yasawa Island chain. Here, over the next several days, we’ll come to know the true meaning of Yasawa which means “heaven in Fijian and settle into “Fiji time,” a point of local pride. According to natives, Fiji time is a wonderful sensation of minutes turning into hours and hours feeling like days—of slowing down and living in the present moment.
We’ll complete important community restoration projects. You’ll create rewarding bonds with the Fijian students as you coordinate playground games, swap stories, and teach each other about your different cultures. In addition to service, immerse yourself in the Fijian lifestyle: prepare an authentic lovo ( a delicious Fijian feast cooked in an earthen oven), participate in a traditional kava ceremony to prepare the country’s national drink, and learn Fijian songs and dances.
Once our service projects are finished, we’ll travel to Drawaqa Island or Barefoot Island. This idyllic isle is one of the best places in the world to snorkel among coral gardens with majestic, graceful manta rays. Listen for the village drum which announces the return of the mantas during high tides. After a day of manta safaris, relax on the perfect white sand, listen to the gentle sound of the waves lapping the shore and soak in the sunset.
Our final Yasawa Island destination, Waya Lai Lai, has the tallest peak of any of the islands we will visit. An early morning wake up call for a sunrise hike to the second-tallest peak reaps huge rewards when you take in the 30-mile panoramic view. After breakfast, experts will guide us off-shore to swim with reef sharks—the ultimate adrenaline-pumping adventure!
DAYS 12 – 13: NADI, VITI LEVU
We complete our adventure in Fiji at Nadi where the final two days of our trip is filled with exciting activities. Get your heart racing on a thrilling zip-line adventure through jungles, caves, and mountaintops. Enjoy a day at the mud baths where we’ll slather ourselves head-to-toe in nutrient-rich mud then rinse off and relax in the invigorating natural hot springs.
After over two incredible weeks together it will be time to say goodbye to the friendly Fijians, but the memories we made together will last a lifetime!
DAY 13: RETURN FLIGHT TO THE USA
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is unique about the Fiji Service & Adventure trip?
Our Fiji Service & Adventure is a community service program with the local school is something we are very proud of, having formed a wonderful relationship after returning to volunteer there for years. This gives the teens an exclusive all-access pass to form amazing bonds with the students. Year after year there are tears as the teens have to bid fond farewells to their new-found friends.
Our Fiji Service & Adventure is a community service program with the local school is something we are very proud of, having formed a wonderful relationship after returning to volunteer there for years. This gives the teens an exclusive all-access pass to form amazing bonds with the students. Year after year there are tears as the teens have to bid fond farewells to their new-found friends.
Where do we stay?
Students stay in centrally located, safe, and well-supervised accommodations in each city.
They are well suited to facilitating group supervision and usually within walking distance of the main attractions. We do not use large, impersonal chain hotels on the outskirts of cities; we prefer to select smaller, family-run hotels where we establish personal relationships with the owners.
On the mainland we stay in Nadi Bay at a local beachfront hotel. In the Yasawa Islands we stay at three local rustic resorts, each situated on the water and selected for the amazing activities and famous Fijian hospitality on offer. Please note, these are not Western resorts. They are rustic accommodations with very simple facilities. The properties are naturally beautiful but participants should be prepared for the experience of traveling to an under developed country, especially when traveling there for community service work with underprivileged communities.
For safety reasons, we do not publish the names of the accommodations we use. We do not feel it is safe to publish the name of a hotel where a group of teenagers is staying abroad. After registering, participants and parents are given access to our secure parent website where you will be able to see the names of all of the accommodations for the program.
Students stay in centrally located, safe, and well-supervised accommodations in each city.
They are well suited to facilitating group supervision and usually within walking distance of the main attractions. We do not use large, impersonal chain hotels on the outskirts of cities; we prefer to select smaller, family-run hotels where we establish personal relationships with the owners.
On the mainland we stay in Nadi Bay at a local beachfront hotel. In the Yasawa Islands we stay at three local rustic resorts, each situated on the water and selected for the amazing activities and famous Fijian hospitality on offer. Please note, these are not Western resorts. They are rustic accommodations with very simple facilities. The properties are naturally beautiful but participants should be prepared for the experience of traveling to an under developed country, especially when traveling there for community service work with underprivileged communities.
For safety reasons, we do not publish the names of the accommodations we use. We do not feel it is safe to publish the name of a hotel where a group of teenagers is staying abroad. After registering, participants and parents are given access to our secure parent website where you will be able to see the names of all of the accommodations for the program.
What is included on the Fiji Service and Adventure trip?
Tuition cost includes ground transportation; accommodation; chaperones and guides; program-related activities and admissions; taxes and tips; all breakfasts, lunches, and dinners.
Not included (this is not intended to be an exhaustive list): airfare; visas and visa application fees; personal and medical expenses; activities and admissions that are not program-related or referenced in the itinerary; beverages other than filtered water at meals; participant expenses that are outside of the program description, such as excess baggage fees and damage to hotels; expenses related to unforeseen circumstances, such as transportation strikes and natural disasters.
Tuition cost includes ground transportation; accommodation; chaperones and guides; program-related activities and admissions; taxes and tips; all breakfasts, lunches, and dinners.
Not included (this is not intended to be an exhaustive list): airfare; visas and visa application fees; personal and medical expenses; activities and admissions that are not program-related or referenced in the itinerary; beverages other than filtered water at meals; participant expenses that are outside of the program description, such as excess baggage fees and damage to hotels; expenses related to unforeseen circumstances, such as transportation strikes and natural disasters.
What is the food like on this program?
The food on this program is authentic, delicious, and a central part of the cultural travel experience.
We prioritize eating at local, authentic establishments rather than Americanized chains, encouraging students to sample the local specialties wherever we go. We fully accommodate all dietary needs, including vegetarian, vegan, gluten allergies, and other restrictions.
Fijians are amazing chefs, so during the program there is delicious array of dishes, and lots of it! Try a TFT favorite, the local fish and coconut delicacy kokoda, as well as taro and cassava, straight from the steaming lovo, which is a traditional earth oven used for centuries.
Of course, we are always willing and able to accommodate vegetarians, vegans, gluten allergies, and other dietary restrictions.
The food on this program is authentic, delicious, and a central part of the cultural travel experience.
We prioritize eating at local, authentic establishments rather than Americanized chains, encouraging students to sample the local specialties wherever we go. We fully accommodate all dietary needs, including vegetarian, vegan, gluten allergies, and other restrictions.
Fijians are amazing chefs, so during the program there is delicious array of dishes, and lots of it! Try a TFT favorite, the local fish and coconut delicacy kokoda, as well as taro and cassava, straight from the steaming lovo, which is a traditional earth oven used for centuries.
Of course, we are always willing and able to accommodate vegetarians, vegans, gluten allergies, and other dietary restrictions.
Do I need anything special for the scuba diving portion of the program?
All students participating in dives during our Fiji programs are required to have dive insurance. Many health insurance policies already cover this and so do some homeowners policies. We recommend that you check with these first in case you already have coverage.
We recommend using this website to find the best insurance policy for your teen.
All students participating in dives during our Fiji programs are required to have dive insurance. Many health insurance policies already cover this and so do some homeowners policies. We recommend that you check with these first in case you already have coverage.
We recommend using this website to find the best insurance policy for your teen.