Yasawa Islands Sea Kayaking - Fiji

On arrival in Nadi, a free airport to hotel transfer will be provided by the hotel. Upon leaving customs, a Fiji Visitors Bureau agent will show you where the transfer shuttle bus is waiting. The group trip briefing with your guide will be held at 8:00pm in the hotel. If your flight arrives after this, please advise our office so we can arrange an alternate briefing for you. The trip briefng will last for approximately an hour, so it’s a good idea to eat dinner prior to the meeting. Dinner tonight is not included in the trip cost. Overnight hotel: Tanoa International Hotel Nadi (or similar).

We have an early start to the day in order to meet our boat transfer at Denarau marina for the 8.45am boat to the islands. The Yasawa Flyer, the boat servicing the Yasawas, is a 267-passenger catamaran. All luggage can be taken with you on the boat, but please do keep your valuables on your person during the journey. It’s a good idea to bring some snacks and reading matter for the boat transfer. The Flyer transports us approximately 72 kms to Tavewa Island and the Blue Lagoon, arriving at approximately 1.45 pm. From the Yasawa Flyer, we will transfer to our base on Tavewa Island by small island boat. The combination of reefs, close island grouping and shallow waters create the stunning aqua colours for which this area is famous. Our base camp has a dining bure (hut) and grassy campsites to pitch your tent. Your guide will issue watertight bags to carry your personal gear during the kayak trip. The bags are 20 litres in volume (about 2/3 the size of a pillow case). Luggage not wanted while kayaking can be stored in our shed on the island. After customising the kayaks and getting acquainted with the expedition gear, there will be an instructional paddling session before a short excursion in the lagoon. Watching the sunset from the beach, followed by a delicious tropical dinner, is a great way to end the first day in the islands. Overnight camping.

After breakfast, we’ll pack our snorkelling gear and picnic lunch and head off to circumnavigate nearby Matacawalevu Island. We seek out the best coral reefs, explore a delightful maze of sandbars and time permitting, visit the local primary school. Paddling distance today is approximately 15kms. Tonight, weather dependent, we’ll enjoy an island BBQ back at our Tavewa base. (Note: snorkelling equipment is not included). Overnight camping.

This morning we will load our kayaks and paddle 15 km to Navotua, weather permitting. With favourable tides, our lunch spot will occur en route where fringing reefs run directly off the beach. After a refreshing snorkelling session we paddle some more to round the point of Nacula Island and head for the small village of Navotua. The villagers here are particularly friendly, exuding a special warmth and offering an unforgettable reception. Personal escorts will show us through nearby plantations and the village, where we can observe the making of mats and perhaps the building of a Fijian bure. If the winds are too strong today we will only paddle what is comfortable and then transfer to an accompanying boat to cover the remaining distance to Navotua. We pitch the tents on our grassy campsite and experience island-village life. Overnight camping.

We paddle to Sawa-I-Lau, a scenic island with sharp limestone peaks and salt water caves that make for fascinating exploring. After the return paddle to Navotua, we round out the day with afternoon entertainment provided by the village and an invitation to join the chief for a social kava party in the evening. (Kava is a non-alcoholic drink with mild, numbing effects). Overnight camping.

Paddle back to Tavewa, exploring the many inlets and bays of Nacula en route. If time permits, we can snorkel at the back of the island. Tonight we enjoy our last tropical dinner together, savouring the flavours of the South Pacific beneath rustling coconut palms and reflecting on our adventures. Overnight camping.

We spend a relaxing morning on Tavewa Island before departing on the Yasawa Flyer at 1.45 pm. The trip concludes on arrival at Denarau Marina in Nadi at approximately 6.00 pm. Accommodation on this night (and transfers to your hotel) are not included in the trip cost. If departing Fiji the evening of Day 7, we recommend not booking a flight that departs before 10.00 pm. Please ask your consultant for accommodation suggestions in Nadi or you may like to extend your stay in the Yasawas at one of the resorts and return to the mainland on a later day. If you would like to stay longer on the islands, please let us know at least 6 weeks prior to your trip departure date so we can change your boat reservation (note - boat surcharge may be applicable).