Planning Your Trip to Fiji
On a five-day trip to Fiji, you'll fly into Nadi on Fiji's main island of Viti Levu. You'll want to stay around this area to maximize your time. Plenty of opportunities for cultural experiences await in the cities, in addition to beach activities. Bonus, you won't waste any time with overwater travel.
In one week, you have ample beach time on Fiji's main island, can visit one of its main cities for a festival or cultural experience, and can explore nearby island groups known for surfing and cave swimming. Another option is to add Kadavu Island for a diving experience. Meanwhile, spending 10 days offers travelers the above destinations and an off-the-beaten-path experience. Visit Fiji's second largest island, Vanua Levu, and nearby Taveuni Island for a more active and nature-filled holiday.
Fiji in 5 Days
With five days in Fiji, you can have a relaxing vacation if your travel doesn't take away too much from actual beach time. You'll want to stay in one area to make the most of your holiday.
For a beach-only vacation, set up at a resort on Viti Levu, Fiji's main island, and where you'll arrive. Enjoy the days swimming in turquoise waters and sunbathing on white sand beaches under a thatched umbrella. Most resorts offer snorkeling and diving on location, so you won't have to stray too far for these water activities.
If you're looking for a break from the beach, from Viti Levu, hop over to Nadi for a night. Nadi is home to Sri Siva Subramaniya, the largest Hindu temple in the Pacific and a popular tourist site. Here, you'll also find the Garden of the Sleeping Giant, known for its orchids and hiking trails. Another perk of staying near Nadi is that its beaches receive the least precipitation in the wet season. If you are wondering about the weather, check out the Best Time of Year to Visit Fiji.
Those interested in more cultural pursuits and are fine with skipping the beach altogether will want to spend their days in the nation's capital, Suva, for its cultural experiences and festivals. This religious and cultural hub is also an entertainment hot spot and hosts many concerts during the dry season. Staying in Suva means you'll have access to local villages for a lovo or traditional Fijian feast that feels like the Hawaiian luau, or the meke (a traditional dance performance that tells a story).
Fiji in 1 Week
Seven days in Fiji allows for spending time at a resort on the main island as well as a trip to another nearby island group of your choice.
After enjoying resort life, visit the Mamanuca Islands, another island group that is easy to reach from Nadi on Viti Levu. One of the Mamanuca Islands was the filming location of the television series "Survivor." Reenact scene from "Cast Away" on, Monuriki, another idyllic island worth checking out. And when you're ready to hit the waves, Cloudbreak is a well-known surfing spot for pros.
After spending a few days on Viti Levu, you'll ferry to the Yasawa Islands. Here you'll spend time paddleboarding and hanging out in a hammock with ample time for swimming and snorkeling. Swim with manta rays and through the domed mountain of the saltwater Sawa-i-Lau Caves, called the Heart of the Yasawa Islands. This volcanic archipelago is filled with local legends about the petroglyphs on the surfaces of the caves.
The more experienced diver might consider heading to Kadavu Island, off Viti Levu, instead. It's part of the Great Astrolabe Reef and a popular dive site due to the colorful and vibrant coral reef that is prime for viewing fish, reef sharks, turtles, manta rays, and dolphins. For those wanting a more off-the-beaten-path experience, it's one of the least developed parts of Fiji and its mainly untouched rainforest.
Fiji in 10 Days
With 10 days, holidaymakers can experience Fiji's main island, visit another nearby island group for a change of scenery or cave-diving experience, and take a short flight to other islands.
Arrive in Nadi and spend time exploring the island and enjoying its stellar beaches. When it's time, catch a short flight to Vanua Levu, Fiji's second largest island. Vanua Levu is gaining in popularity, but it is known for offering a less touristic view of Fiji. Get a glimpse of its sugar cane industry and geothermal pools, and enjoy a hike to Nakawaga Waterfall—the views will not disappoint.
Nature lovers will want to venture to Taveuni. Once on Vanua Levu, board a quick flight over to the island. Known as the "Garden Island of Fiji," you will enjoy the new scenery of abundant flora, birdlife, and waterfalls. There are excellent diving opportunities within its marine reserves and coral reefs, and if you're a more active traveler, don't miss Bouma National Heritage Park. It offers stunning hikes and panoramas of a mountain ridge running through its rainforest-like landscape.