Highland Escape

Escape into Fiji’s highlands, hike historic trails, and visit remote communities in the heart of Viti Levu.

Highland Escape

FJD 1450 per person

Individuals, couples, families with older children

Maximum of 12 places on each hike

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Overview

3 days / 2 nights

Discover a less seen side of Fiji during this highland escape. Stay in remote villages and trek along rugged trails with guides from the local communities. Enjoy cooling rivers and big views.

Transport

Provided in our Talanoa Treks 4×4 Toyota Hiluxes and/or with our transport partner Pehicle (pehicle.com)

Pick-up / Drop-off points

We will pick-up from Nadi, Suva or hotels on the Suncoast (Rakiraki area), and can drop in Nadi, along the Coral Coast, or back in Suva. Please enquire if you would like to return to the Suncoast, as this may be possible.

Accommodation

Sleeping is dorm-style in the community hall with mattresses and blankets provided. This feels a little bit like indoor camping, but with plenty of space to spread out. If you’d like to social distance or want extra privacy, you are more than welcome to bring a tent and sleeping mat.

Meals & snacks

Meals are included as specified in the itinerary. Dinner and breakfast are prepared by the village buffet style, we provide light lunches for the hikes, and some snacks. It’s always good to carry some of your own snacks, and please tell us if you have dietary requirements.

Pricing

Talanoa Treks is run as a social enterprise in partnership with the communities that you visit. Payments to the villages for accommodation, hosting, meals, and guides are included in what you pay. Your payment also covers our support to the communities in the form of various training programmes, including first aid, guiding, governance and financial management, cooking and food preparation, food hygiene and safety, as well as the provision and maintenance of the facilities that you use, the equipment that you see (and all the safety equipment that hopefully you don’t see!), the vehicle that accompanies you, and our trip coordination role. Plus, all the boring stuff like insurance, vehicle maintenance, and taxes.

Add on

It is possible to add a climb of Fiji’s highest mountain, Mt Tomaniivi, to the beginning of this trip. Check out the full itinerary here.

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Itinerary

Day 1: Cross-country drive into the heart of Viti Levu

12:30 / 13:00 / 13:30 | Pick-up Suva, Nadi, or the Suncoast]
16:00 | Arrive Naga, stretch legs on a short stroll (1.5km)
18:30 | Sevusevu, dinner, overnight

Day 2: Naga to Nubutautau hike (11km)

07:30 | Breakfast
08:30 | Start hiking
11:30 | Swim, lunch on the river
15:00 | Arrive Nubutautau, free time
18:30 | Sevusevu, dinner, overnight

Day 3: Nubutautau circular hike (5km)

07:30 | Breakfast
08:30 | Start hiking
11:30 | Swim, lunch on river
14:00 | Arrive back at Nubutautau
15:00 | Depart, drive via Sigatoka valley for Suva OR Nausori Highland Road for Nadi
[17:30 | Drop-off Nadi] OR
19:30 | Drop-off Suva

Please note that timings depend on the fitness of individuals and size of the group.

Elevation profile | Naga to Nubutautau hike | Distance 11km | Ascent 410m | Descent 680m

Elevation profile: Naga to Nubutautau

Elevation profile: Nubutautau circular hike | Distance 5km | Ascent 305m | Descent 310m

Elevation profile: Nubutautau circular hike

Check out our Trek Schedule for when this Highland Escape trip is taking place. If you’re part of a group and would like to do the this hike, please contact us for tailored group options.

Joining using your own 4×4 is only possible when at least one of our vehicles is booked to go either by your group or by other guests. Our vehicle carries equipment and supplies for the communities, and acts as a support vehicle to the trip.

Please note

If the weather is very bad, we may need to change the itinerary for your safety.

 
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Packing

This is not an exhaustive list and is an aid to common sense! We do not expect you to go out and buy all these things new. They’re general items we recommend you either bring, pack an alternative to or consciously disregard.

Etiquette

When you’re visiting or staying in a Fijian village there are some important rules for you to remember so that you are being respectful of Fiji’s history and culture.

Tips

Some tips to make your trip more enjoyable and rewarding

The starting points for this itinerary are Suva, Nadi or the Suncoast. The drive times to our partner villages are similar from all three places as we’re heading into the middle of Viti Levu, Fiji’s largest island.

Nadi is the main tourism hub with access out to the Mamanuca and Yasawa islands and is where you will likely fly into. Coming to Suva will give you an opportunity to explore the hub of the South Pacific, a bustling place, with cafes, restaurants and a bit of culture (have a browse round the Fiji Museum and a beverage of your choice at the refurbished Grand Pacific Hotel). Alternatively, resorts tucked away on the Suncoast are laid back, great for diving, and will minimise your driving time.

The ending point is anywhere from Nadi to Sigatoka to Suva along the south coast of Viti Levu.

Our itineraries are designed for hikers. While they cover a variety of levels of difficulty, they are enjoyed most by people with a good level of fitness who hike regularly. The visit to Nabalesere and their waterfall is within most people’s ability. The track is 1.5km each way, with some up and down, but no time pressure. All the other walks are more strenuous. Longer days should leave you feeling satisfyingly tired after a good day’s hiking with a sense of achievement. The challenge of walking in Fiji comes from the heat, humidity, remoteness and the nature of the tracks, which are not constructed paths, are uneven, and can become muddy and slippery. If you don’t exercise regularly, we’d recommend getting out on the trail before you come to Fiji, as you’ll enjoy your trip with us all the more!

Footwear

Approach or trail shoes are ideal for Fiji conditions. But trainers/runners with a good grip or other walking shoes will do. Avoid stylish trainers with no grip! Paths can be slippery and muddy – especially after rain. We will also be crossing small creeks and some larger rivers, and you will get your feet and up to your knees wet! We recommend keeping your shoes on at all times, whether you’re crossing a river or even swimming.

Other clothing

Most people wear a lightweight t-shirt (quick-dry, collared t-shirts are ideal) and a pair of shorts for walking, but if you want to protect your shins from grass cuts, then trousers, long socks (stylish!) or exercise leggings are highly recommended. If you have a lightweight raincoat/pac-a-mac, it’s worth carrying it in case we get caught in a shower… it won’t keep you dry, but it’ll keep the wind out. We also strongly recommend you bring a hat to keep the sun off your head.

Although the piped water in the villages is drunk by the locals, to reduce the chance of any problems we strongly recommend you only use only filtered, treated, or boiled water. We carry a supply of filtered water in our vehicles and we have installed Lifestraw Community filter systems at each overnight for refilling bottles. Lemon-leaf and lemongrass tea, using boiled water, is in plentiful supply in the villages, and with a bit of sugar added makes for a good energy drink!

In Fiji, you need to carry and be drinking a lot of water. How much will depend on the length of the walk, the heat, humidity, your own personal fitness, and how much you naturally sweat. However, you should be prepared to carry at least 2 litres of water, in your day pack and ensure you have enough carrying capacity. In case of urgent need there are opportunities to replenish water bottles on some of the walks from side streams, using our filter or purifying tablets. We recommend a 2 to 3-litre capacity water reservoir/bladder, so you can sip away during hikes, or lightweight refillable bottles, plus an additional smaller bottle to mix electrolytes or for the car journeys. Taking on board electrolytes on a hot day can make a big difference.

Please note that drinking alcohol is not allowed in Fijian villages

Dinner and breakfast are provided by the villages. On this trip, you are responsible for your packed lunches and snacks to keep you fuelled during the hikes. Please let us know if you have any dietary requirements before your trip. There are no shops or stores once we leave the coast.

Check out our FAQs and if there’s anything you can’t find the answer to, please just drop us a line via the Enquiry Form or email [email protected].

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