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Fiji/New Caledonia/Vanuatu

Fascinating Fiji: Exploring Above and Below its Shores

Program No. 23554RJ
Don your snorkeling mask to discover the coral reefs and aquatic biodiversity of Fiji with experts — then go on land to meet the locals and share in their culture and traditions.
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Water SportsOutdoor AdventuresSmall Group
Length
12 days
Rating (5)
Activity Level
Starts at
5,599
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Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. Read More.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
12 days
11 nights
What's Included
29 meals ( 9B, 10L, 10D )
7 expert-led lectures
11 expert-led field trips
1 hands-on experience
4 performances
An experienced Group Leader
9 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
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Activity Note
A day is “lost” due to crossing the International Date Line.
Activity Note
Early morning flight arrival at Nadi International Airport, Fiji. Bus transfer to Pacific Harbour - approximately 2.5 hours - followed by a 45 minute ferry ride to Beqa Island. Hotel check in from 11:00 a.m. Snorkeling refresher up to 1 hour swimming and snorkeling.
Morning:
Upon arrival in Nadi, go through immigration, reclaim your luggage and go through customs. You will be met by your group leader after customs, then board a bus for a 2.5 hour drive along Viti Levu's southwest coast to Pacific Harbour. You'll then board a boat for the 45-minute ride across Beqa Lagoon to Beqa Island - a six square mile island with no roads. Upon arrival, you'll step out of the boat into shallow water and walk up the beach to the hotel. You'll relax in the resort's common areas while you wait for your room to become available, then check in to your home for the next four nights.
Lunch:
At the resort with coffee & tea included during seated meals. Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages available for purchase.
Afternoon:
After lunch those who are interested may meet at the resort pool for a snorkeling refresher class. This will be an opportunity to test your equipment and refamiliarize yourself with snorkeling. After freshening up we will gather for our Program Orientation: The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Please note that the snorkeling and swimming sites described are representative examples. The selection of sites for each field trip is subject to change based on weather, tides, and other local conditions at the time. Safety is our first consideration. Periods in the daily schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities for you to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/ conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Dinner:
At the resort with coffee & tea included during seated meals. Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages available for purchase.
Evening:
Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Activity Note
Getting in/out of small boats. Approximately 4-hour boat-based excursion with snorkeling and swimming for approximately 1-2 hours; non-snorkelers can observe from boat. Walking up to 1 mile. The selection of sites for each field trip, subject to change, will be based on weather, tide, and other local conditions at the time.
Breakfast:
At the resort with coffee & tea included during seated meals. Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages available for purchase.
Morning:
We will board a boat with marine experts to explore the treasures of the Beqa Lagoon. Please note that due to varying weather, tide, and other local conditions, we have not specified what snorkel sites we will visit each day. The reefs off Beqa allow us to explore the variety of stages of health of coral reef. We may all wish and hope for spectacular, flawless, densely populated reefs, but the reality is that today, coral reefs are under a wide variety of stresses that threaten their health, some of which have always been there and some of which are increasingly prevalent in modern times. Coral reefs have always been threatened and damaged by tropical cyclones, but are now increasingly threatened by warming seas which result in coral bleaching. Therefore, please accept that as a part our learning experience, we will see evidence of all of these reef conditions. The snorkel sites give the opportunity to explore hard corals, soft corals (harder to see near the surface because they are more fragile), anemones, urchins, sea cucumbers, colorful sea stars, and numerous other species such as clown triggerfish, damselfish, angelfish, surgeon fish, pink and orange anthias, silver-blue fusiliers, busy cleaner wrasse, sea turtles, sharks, octopus, eels, rays, and maybe even a seahorse if you have a good eye.
Lunch:
At the resort with coffee & tea included during seated meals. Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages available for purchase.
Afternoon:
Free time. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. You may wish to explore the "house reef" - located straight out from the resort, the reef boasts healthy hard corals, numerous juvenile reef fish, rays, and even elusive seahorses hiding in the shallow eel grass. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities for other alternatives, and of course your Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. We will have a late afternoon class on the Fijian marine ecosystem and fish identification.
Dinner:
At the resort with coffee & tea included during seated meals. Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages available for purchase.
Evening:
Remainder of evening at leisure.
Activity Note
Getting in/out of small boats. Approximately 4-hour boat-based excursion with snorkeling and swimming for approximately 1-2 hours; non-snorkelers can observe from boat. Walking up to 1 mile. The selection of sites for each field trip, subject to change, will be based on weather, tide, and other local conditions at the time.
Breakfast:
At the resort with coffee & tea included during seated meals. Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages available for purchase.
Morning:
Enjoy a boat-based snorkel trip to explore the Beqa Lagoon. The selection of sites for each field trip, subject to change, will be based on weather, tide, and other local conditions at the time.
Lunch:
At the resort with coffee & tea included during seated meals. Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages available for purchase.
Afternoon:
Free time. Afternoon lecture on Fijian plants and their medicinal uses followed by a separate lecture on local marine-based projects.
Dinner:
At the resort with coffee & tea included during seated meals. Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages available for purchase.
Evening:
Enjoy a face-paced, exciting, Polynesian-inspired fire show with dancers twirling their fire torches.
Activity Note
Getting in/out of small boats. Approximately 4-hour boat-based excursion with snorkeling and swimming for approximately 2-3 hours; non-snorkelers can observe from boat. Walking up to 1 mile. The selection of sites for each field trip, subject to change, will be based on weather, tide, and other local conditions at the time.
Breakfast:
At the resort with coffee & tea included during seated meals. Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages available for purchase.
Morning:
Enjoy a boat-based snorkel trip to explore the Beqa Lagoon. The selection of sites for each field trip, subject to change, will be based on weather, tide, and other local conditions at the time.
Lunch:
At the resort with coffee & tea included during seated meals. Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages available for purchase.
Afternoon:
Free time. Afternoon lecture on Fijian Culture.
Dinner:
At the resort with coffee & tea included during seated meals. Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages available for purchase.
Evening:
We’ll observe traditional Fijian meke (dances) performed by local villagers. Meke are an expression of story-telling through dance and song. Prepare for check-out and transfer tomorrow afternoon.
Activity Note
Getting in/out of buses and boats. 1 hour drive to Suva. Walk around the city, approximately1.5 miles on paved walkways. 3 hour drive from Suva to Rakiraki, portions of the road may be unpaved.
Breakfast:
At the resort with coffee & tea included during seated meals. Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages available for purchase.
Morning:
This morning you'll check out, bid farewell to Beqa Island, and board a boat for the 45 ride back to Pacific Harbour. You'll then board a bus for the one hour drive along Viti Levu's south coast to Suva, the capital of Fiji and the largest city in the South Pacific outside Hawaii, Australia, and New Zealand. After arriving in Suva, we'll drive by the Fijian Parliament building and the Presidential Palace on our way to the Fiji Museum, where you'll learn about Fijian history through archaeological artifacts and displays.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant with water & juice included. Specialty drinks available for purchase.
Afternoon:
Time permitting, we'll make a quick stop to explore the Suva Municipal Market. We'll re-board the bus and drive for three hours up to Viti Levu's north side from Suva to Rakiraki, passing through the countryside and small villages along the way. Arrive and check into the resort in the late evening.
Dinner:
At the resort with coffee, tea, juice, soft drinks included during seated meals. Additional specialty & alcoholic beverages available for purchase.
Evening:
At leisure to relax in your new surroundings.
Activity Note
Getting in/out of small boats. Approximately 6-hour boat-based excursion with snorkeling and swimming for approximately 1-2 hours; non-snorkelers can observe from boat. Walking up to 1 mile. The selection of sites for each field trip, subject to change, will be based on weather, tide, and other local conditions at the time.
Breakfast:
At the resort with coffee, tea, juice, soft drinks included during seated meals. Additional specialty & alcoholic beverages available for purchase.
Morning:
This morning we’ll venture into the famous “Bligh Waters” to begin exploring the reefs of this area. The Bligh Waters are so named because Captain Bligh sailed through the area in 1789 after the famous “Mutiny on the Bounty” during which Fletcher Christian and others seized his ship, the HMS Bounty. We can expect to see beautiful hard coral reefs teeming with tropical fish while larger pelagic fish swim by. The Bligh Waters are also well-known for its soft corals, but again – as these are fragile they tend to be in deeper waters, so keep your eyes out for them in channels, gaps in the reef, and other places where they may be protected from surf and stormy conditions (Please note that there are 80 different dive/snorkel sites in this area and as with Beqa, due to varying weather, tide, and other local conditions, we have not specified which snorkel sites we will visit each day.)
Lunch:
Lunch at the resort or picnic lunch to eat on-board the boat depending on the snorkel sites.
Afternoon:
Continue all-day boat excursion. In the late afternoon we will have a lecture about marine sustainability.
Dinner:
At the resort with coffee, tea, juice, soft drinks included during seated meals. Additional specialty & alcoholic beverages available for purchase.
Evening:
We’ll enjoy live music by a local band during dinner.
Activity Note
Getting in/out of small boats. Approximately 4-hour boat-based excursion with snorkeling and swimming for approximately 2-3 hours; non-snorkelers can observe from boat. Walking up to 1 mile. The selection of sites for each field trip, subject to change, will be based on weather, tide, and other local conditions at the time.
Breakfast:
At the resort with coffee, tea, juice, soft drinks included during seated meals. Additional specialty & alcoholic beverages available for purchase.
Morning:
We’ll set out on a boat-based snorkeling fieldtrip and explore the nearby off-shore islands of Nananu-I-Cake, Yanuca and Nananu-I-Ra, stopping at Lomanisue Bay and another location for snorkeling and a walk along a beautiful beach.
Lunch:
At the resort with coffee, tea, juice, soft drinks included during seated meals. Additional specialty & alcoholic beverages available for purchase.
Afternoon:
After the snorkel we will return to the resort for a marine-focused lecture. Just before sunset, reboard a boat for a sunset cruise.
Dinner:
At the resort with coffee, tea, juice, soft drinks included during seated meals. Additional specialty & alcoholic beverages available for purchase.
Evening:
Free evening
Activity Note
Getting in/out of small boats. Approximately 6-hour boat-based excursion with snorkeling and swimming for approximately 1-2 hours; non-snorkelers can observe from boat. Walking up to 1 mile. The selection of sites for each field trip, subject to change, will be based on weather, tide, and other local conditions at the time.
Breakfast:
At the resort with coffee, tea, juice, soft drinks included during seated meals. Additional specialty & alcoholic beverages available for purchase.
Morning:
Today you'll board a boat and go deeper into the "Vatu-i-Ra Seascape" which stretches across the channel between the islands of Viti Levu (where you are staying) and Vanua Levu (the other "large" Fijian island). The Seascape's waters encompass numerous reefs which house 300+ reef-building coral species, 1,000+ fish species, dolphins, whales (seasonally), sharks, sea turtles, and a vast array of other sealife.
Lunch:
At the resort with coffee, tea, juice, soft drinks included during seated meals. Additional specialty & alcoholic beverages available for purchase.
Afternoon:
Free time. Afternoon lecture about the environment and culture of the north side of Viti Levu.
Dinner:
At the resort with coffee, tea, juice, soft drinks included during seated meals. Additional specialty & alcoholic beverages available for purchase.
Evening:
Free Evening
Activity Note
Getting in/out of small boats. Approximately 4-hour boat-based excursion with snorkeling and swimming for approximately 1-2 hours; non-snorkelers can observe from boat. Walking up to 1 mile. The selection of sites for each field trip, subject to change, will be based on weather, tide, and other local conditions at the time. Walking approximately 2 miles on uneven terrain during village visit. See packing notes for special attire required for village visit.
Breakfast:
At the resort with coffee, tea, juice, soft drinks included during seated meals. Additional specialty & alcoholic beverages available for purchase.
Morning:
Enjoy one final boat-based snorkel before heading back home
Lunch:
At the resort with coffee, tea, juice, soft drinks included during seated meals. Additional specialty & alcoholic beverages available for purchase.
Afternoon:
Fiji is still largely a village-based country in which 82% of the land is owned collectively by traditional village-based families and clans. This afternoon you will visit a nearby village and start to explore village life in Fiji. Late Afternoon Final Wrap-Up Class by your Group Leader
Dinner:
At the resort with a non-alcoholic beverage; other beverages available for purchase. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.
Evening:
Experience a Farewell Meke (dance performance). Finalize your preparations for tomorrow morning's check-out.
Activity Note
2 hour and 45 minute drive to Nadi. Approximately 1 hour of walking at garden. We will check into the Fiji Gateway Hotel in the afternoon to allow time to shower and refresh before late evening flights. If your flight is departing the next day, you will be able to stay in that room overnight. Please notify info@pac-island.com if you plan to use the room overnight. Fly to continental US Regain “lost day" when re-crossing the International Date Line.
Breakfast:
At the resort with coffee, tea, juice, soft drinks included during seated meals. Additional specialty & alcoholic beverages available for purchase.
Morning:
Board bus and drive 3 hours along Viti Levu's western coast to Nadi town. Along the way we will stop and visit the Garden of the Sleeping Giant.
Lunch:
Picnic-style lunch along the way back to Nadi.
Afternoon:
We will check into rooms at the Fiji Gateway Hotel to allow time to shower, change, and repack before late night departures. Free afternoon to explore Nadi's sites of interest or rest before the overnight flight back home.
Dinner:
Farewell dinner with a soft drink at a local Nadi restaurant close to the airport. Additional specialty & alcoholic beverages available for purchase.
Evening:
Transferring back to the airport concludes our program. Flights from Fiji to the Continental US typically leave late evening. Crossing the International Dateline in the opposite direction, we will have gained the back the day we “lost” at the beginning and it will be the afternoon of the same day we left! If your flight is departing the next day, you will be able to stay in that room overnight. Please notify info@pac-island.com if you plan to use the room overnight. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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Please Note: This program has itinerary variations on certain dates.
Jan 18 - Jan 29, 2026
Nov 6 - Nov 16, 2025
Jan 18 - Jan 29, 2026
Mar 29 - Apr 9, 2026
Jul 19 - Jul 30, 2026
Aug 30 - Sep 10, 2026
Nov 8 - Nov 19, 2026
Dec 6 - Dec 17, 2026





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