Highland Escape with Mount Tomaniivi

Challenge yourself to climb Fiji’s highest mountain and continue on our Highland Escape.

Highland Escape with Mount Tomaniivi

FJD 1750 per person, 3 nights

For individuals, couples, families with older children

Trips comprise small groups of approximately 5-8 hikers

OFFER! Use the code HETOM10 when you book for 10% off

Overview

4 days / 3 nights

Take on the challenge of the steep climb through Fiji’s unique cloud forest to reach the country’s highest point, Mt Tomaniivi, then head on to discover more of Fiji’s rugged interior with our Highland Escape.

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.

Shorter option

Join us just for our Highland Escape if the steep Mt Tomaniivi trail is not for you. Check out the full itinerary here.

Itinerary

Day 1: Cross-country drive to the base of Tomaniivi

12:30 / 13:00 / 13:30 | Pick-up Suva, Nadi, or the Suncoast. Leave the tar seal behind, get to know your guides, enjoy the views and get a glimpse into village life as we head inland in our 4WDs.
16:00 | Arrive in Navai village. Meet our hosts for the night at our homestay and take a stroll around the village.
18:30 | Enjoy a home-cooked dinner, talanoa with your guides and hosts, take a deep breath and relax into the rhythm of your time with us.

Day 2: Climb Mt Tomaniivi (6hrs return, 9km)

07:30 | You’ll be woken by the sounds of the village and the preparation of breakfast. Coffee and tea will be made and you’ll get the chance to store away some energy for the hike ahead.
08:00 | Setting off on foot from our homestay, Mt Tomaniivi rises behind Navai village shrouded in cloud forest and morning mists. An increasingly steep climb requiring some scrambling through the tree roots with the help of your guides, brings us up to the ridgeline that leads to the summit. Keep an eye out for endemic birds and orchids in this special habitat.
11:30 | We’ll reach the summit (1,324m) and on a clear day take in the sweeping views across Viti Levu’s interior. A light lunch and rest sees us ready to take on the descent.
14:30 | Going down is no quicker than coming up and requires a bit of time and care on the steep track. As the views become shrouded by forest, the path levels and we arrive back at the homestay in time for a shower and afternoon tea.
16:30 | A short drive takes us further into the middle of the island, and onto the border between the dry and wet sides of the island. Our destination is Naga village, our home for the night.
18:30 | Experience a sevusevu, the traditional Fijian welcome, find out about village life and Fiji’s deep-rooted culture and enjoy a dinner made by the women’s group from local, fresh produce, before bedding down for the night.

Day 3: Naga to Nubutautau hike (6hrs, 11km)

07:30 | Your guides will have plunger coffee and hot water for tea ready as you wake, followed by a filling local breakfast.
08:30 | Have your daypack ready as we aim to start hiking while the air is fresh. A short climb provides sweeping views down to the village and across the rolling hills, before a long descent to the cool of the river.
11:30 | Following the banks of the Sigatoka river, we pass through forest groves and old village sites, scramble over rocks and criss-cross the river, before stopping for a packed lunch and a refreshing swim.
15:00 | After continuing along the river, a steep haul out of the valley rewards you with views along the valley and a warm welcome to Nubutautau village.
18:30 | After freshening up and having some time to relax, you will be formally welcomed to village and have an opportunity to find out more about Nubutautau’s place in Fiji’s history. Dinner is another spread freshly prepared by the ladies, before settling down to a satisfying night’s sleep.

Day 4: Nubutautau circular hike (4hrs, 5km)

07:30 | Coffee and tea will be ready as you wake, soon followed by breakfast.
08:30 | Today’s hike is a wonderful combination of great views, a fun natural waterslide, a fascinating old and overgrown village site, and a river swim, so well worth getting onto the trail promptly for.
11:30 | A shady spot on the river and a rock for jumping into the cool waters, provides the perfect spot for our packed lunch, and maybe even a bit stone-skimming.
14:00 | A steep climb out of the river bottom through village plantations – citrus, cacao, avocado are dotted within the forest – bring some final big views before arriving back in Nubutautau village.
15:00 | Shower, pack and say goodbyes as we set off on our 4WD journey back to the coast and a farewell to Fiji’s interior. We’ll drive via the Sigatoka valley for the Coral Coast and Suva OR the 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 | Mt Tomaniivi climb | Distance 9km | Ascent 645m | Descent 645m

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

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

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.

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

Where should I stay before the trip?

The starting points for our itineraries are Nadi, Suva or the Suncoast (the area around Rakiraki). 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. If your accommodation is in one of these places we will pick you up from where you’re staying. If you’re further afield we may ask that we pick you up at an agreed location.

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.

At the end of your time with us we can drop you in Nadi, Suva or anywhere in between along the southern Viti Levu coast.

How fit do I need to be? Is the walking hard?

Yes, some of the walking is hard. Our itineraries are designed for people who enjoy walking in the outdoors. While they cover a variety of levels of difficulty, they are enjoyed most by people with a good level of fitness who hike regularly. Our itineraries should leave you feeling satisfyingly tired after a good day’s hiking and will give you 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. You are rewarded with glimpses of Fiji’s history, sweeping views, unique habitats, natural water slides, revitalising rivers and some good talanoa with people along the way.

What shoes and clothes are best?

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.

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.

What about water?

The amount of water you need for a day’s walk in Fiji will depend on the heat, humidity, your own personal fitness, and how much you naturally sweat. We’ll brief you on how much you’ll need for each day of walking, but you should carry at least 2 litres in your day pack for any of our full day walks, and should ensure you are well hydrated before you set off. In case of urgent need there are opportunities to replenish water bottles on some of the walks from side streams, using a filter or purifying tablets. We recommend bringing a 3-litre capacity water reservoir/bladder, so you can sip away during hikes, or lightweight refillable bottles. On hot days we’d also recommend that you use electrolytes to help with hydration.

There will be water at each night stop piped from local sources. Generally the supply is safe and is drunk by people living there. However, to reduce the chance of a problem we strongly recommend you only use 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!

Do I need to bring food?

Dinner and breakfast are provided by the villages, and your guides will carry a light packed lunch and some snacks to keep you fuelled during the hikes. But, we recommend you bring your favourite snacks with you to enjoy as go. Please let us know if you have any dietary requirements before your trip. There are no shops or stores once we leave the coast.