Planning a trip to Fiji? Make sure you do these 11 things

Posted by Swathi Shetty on March 6th, 2019

Fiji, an island country in Melanesia, has everything from white-sandy beaches to tumbling jungle waterfalls. Officially known as the ‘Republic of Fiji’, the country is one of the friendliest places in the world.

Fiji, which has a significant number of soft coral reefs, attracts tourists from all around the world. Sandy beaches, all-year-round tropical weather, aesthetically pleasing islands, outdoor activities, makes Fiji a popular tourist destination. Fiji also offers Visa on Arrival Facility.

Here, we have compiled a list of things that you need to do when in the country. Read on to know more about it:

Take a tour of Mamanuca Islands: Mamanuca Islands, which consists of 20 islands, offers you crystal clear waters, live coral reefs, and palm-fringed sandy beaches. A helicopter tour enables you to get a different vantage of the country’s topography. The islands are a great spot for water sports of all kinds.

It needs to be mentioned here that Monuriki Island is also part of the string of islets. Monuriki Island was featured as the anonymous island in Robert Zemeckis’ movie ‘Cast Away’ starring Tom Hanks.

Visit Turtle Island with your better half: When in Fiji, a visit to Turtle Island is a must. Home to only 14 couples at a time, the place is a private island which carries the scent of tropical flowers and offers 14 secluded beaches to relax.

The island, which has 14 Fijian villas, offer couples a plethora of activities to choose from. Couples can indulge in water-based and land-based activities when in the island. Turtle Island helps you feel the true essence of Fiji.

Indulge in kava drinking: Drinking Kava is a must when visiting Fiji. The beverage which is considered to be the ‘national drink’, is made from Piper methysticum. The drink helps calm anxiety, stress, and restlessness and also treats sleeping problems.

You can find Kava in Vanua Levu, the second-largest island of the country. The place is laced with stellar beaches, epic diving spots, and traditional village life. If you are looking for a memorable experience, take a tour of Nukubaluvu village. Indulge in the gift giving ceremony called ‘sevu-sevu’, drink kava and follow it up with a wild traditional dance along with grass-skirted warriors.

Stay at overwater huts: When in Fiji, staying in one of the overwater huts is something you can’t miss. So, head straight to Likuliku Lagoon Resort. The place which is located on Malolo Island is surrounded by calm waters and submerged reefs.

Staying in the overwater huts makes everyday tasks seem new and exciting. In addition to this, you can count the marine life of protected coral reefs and enjoy beautiful sunsets.

Watch warriors tread over burning embers: Heard of fire-walking? One of the islands in Fiji called ‘Beqa Island’ is home to the Sawau tribe, who originated the traditional art of fire-walking. The island which has more than 100 dive sites and offers you the opportunity to spy on blue ribbon eels, seahorses, pelagics, ghost pipefish among others.

However, the main attraction of the place is the fire-walking ceremony. In the ceremony, warriors are seen treading over burning embers.

When in Fiji, head to Beqa Island, which is located off Vitu Levu’s southern coast to witness fire-walking and get amazed.

Relax at Viti Levu: Fiji’s official and tourism capital i.e., Suva lies on the country’s largest island Vitu Levu. The island is a great place to relax after landing in the country. The forested foothills of the Sabeto range is filled with vanilla-scented orchids and Zen-like lily ponds. Walk through the ‘Garden of the Sleeping Giant’ lets you enjoy the country’s largest and most magnificent orchid collection

When at Vitu Levu, you can enjoy the panoramic views of Nadi Bay and Yasawa Islands, and get the refreshing taste of tropical fruit juice and seasonal fruits. A visit to Namaka market should also be squeezed into the schedule.

Get the taste of Lairo in Qamea: Lairo is a unique and remarkably tasty species of land crab found in Fiji. So, when in the country enjoying a once-in-a-lifetime lunch of Lairo is a must.

The island of Qamea is known to be the home of Lairo in the country. The island is laced with beaches and lush jungle-clad hills. The best part of visiting the island is that resorts let you snare the Lairo yourself for the delicious meal.

Visit Taveuni Island: Cigar-shaped Taveuni Island is the third-largest island in Fiji. The island which belongs to the Vanua Levu group of islands has abundant flora. That is the reason why the island is known as the ‘Garden of Eden’.

Bushwalks, prolific bird life, waterfalls, and excellent diving opportunities attract tourists to the island. Tavoro waterfalls, a 60-foot horsetail of white water needs to be witnessed while visiting Taveuni Island.

Discover unique pearls at Savusavu Bay: Known as the ‘hidden paradise of Fiji’, Savusavu is famous for its hot springs and the world’s most unique pearls. A trip to Savusavu lets you source the best-sourced pearls right at the source.

Scuba diving and yachting facilities attract adventure buffs to the place. Savusavu is located on Fiji’s northern island of Vanua Levu.

Experience Fijian culture and Heritage: The culture of Fiji is a rich mosaic of indigenous Fijian, European, Asian and Indo-Fijian traditions. The various cultures of the country help in creating a unique multicultural national identity which can be witnessed in the food, rituals, arts, and festivals.

Various crafts give Fiji a unique identity, that, along with the traditional etiquette and local architecture tells a story of the country’s culture over time. Documents and artefacts which are of historical importance are displayed in museums and protected as National Heritage sites.

Given this fact, when visiting the country make sure to take some time out and visit the cultural structures and museums. This will enable you to know more about the culture and heritage of the Fijian people.

Visit Matangi Private Island Resort: Situated on its own 240-acre island paradise in the North-East part of Fiji group of islands, Matangi Private Island resort natural splendour is breathtaking. Laced with lowland rainforest and beaches, the island is home to many native bird species. The underwater world in the island is just as stunning as the above water world. Snorkelling excursions let you explore the pristine fringing reefs.

When in the island resort, you can indulge in activities like kayaking, scuba diving, stand up paddle boarding, hiking, fishing etc. In addition to this, excursions to waterfalls and pearl farms, taking cultural village tours makes the stay in the resort a memorable one.

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About the Author

Swathi Shetty
Joined: March 6th, 2019
Articles Posted: 1