FJD 1595 per person
Individuals, couples, families with older children
Maximum of 12 places on each hike
Challenge yourself to climb Fiji’s highest mountain and continue on our Highland Escape
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 and 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.
Day 1: Cross-country drive to the base of Tomaniivi
12:30 / 13:00 / 13:30 | Pick-up Suva, Nadi, or Suncoast
16:00 | Arrive Navai and meet your host family
18:30 | Dinner, overnight
Day 2: Climb Mt Tomaniivi (6hrs return, 9km)
07:30 | Breakfast
08:00 | Start hiking
11:30 | Reach the summit for a light lunch
14:30 | Arrive back in Navai for a shower and afternoon tea
16:30 | Transfer from Navai to Naga
17:30 | Arrive Naga
18:30 | Sevusevu, dinner, overnight
Day 3: Naga to Nubutautau hike (6hrs, 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 4: Nubutautau circular hike (4hrs, 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.
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.
Remember, you’re not carrying all your gear. Your main bags and any gear you don’t need during the day will be transferred by vehicle and will be waiting for you at the end of each hike. If you have any specific requirements, then you should also pack with these in mind.
For the hikes:
- A day pack or small backpack
- Comfortable shoes – approach or trail shoes are ideal for Fiji conditions (see FAQs for more info on footwear)
- Up to 3L water carrying capacity – bottles or hydration pack (see FAQs for info about water)
- Hat – a must bring, to keep the sun off
- Lightweight, preferably quick-dry and collared t-shirts
- Walking trousers or if preferred shorts (see FAQs for information on clothing)
- “Ouch-pouch” (personal medical kit) – one of the guides will be carrying a first aid kit, but it is good practice for you to carry a small one also with plasters, blister pads, paracetamol.
- Dry bag or plastic bags for dry storage to keep valuables dry in case of downpour or a slip in the river!
- Pac-a-mac or light waterproof – if we get caught in heavy rain, it’ll keep the wind out, even though it’s unlikely to keep you dry!
- Walking poles – if you’re used to using them, bring them along as they’ll help with the downhill sections
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Insect repellent
- Snacks – we recommend you bring trail mix, biscuits, or muesli bars, not just sweets
- Packed lunches – tuna and breakfast crackers are an easy option.
- Emergency toilet paper
- Camera
For the villages/overnights:
- [Optional] Tent, plus sleeping mat etc. – if you would like some privacy or want to social distance, bring a tent, all your gear can be stowed in the vehicles, no need to trek with it; otherwise mattresses and blankets are provided for dorm-style sleeping in the village community hall
- Sulu (wrap-around/sarong) – we can provide this if you don’t have one
- Flip-flops/thongs or a dry change of footwear for the evenings
- A dry change of clothes
- Long-sleeved sweater or jumper as it can get cool in the evenings
- Sleeping sheet or sleeping bag inner (blankets and where needed mattresses will be available to you, unless otherwise specified)
- Towel
- Book/pack of cards
- Torch/flashlight
- Power bank
- Earplugs – just in case someone nearby snores or the village roosters get going too early!
Where should I stay before and after the trek?
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.
How fit do I need to be?
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!
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.
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.
What about water?
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.
Do I need to bring food?
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.
More frequently asked questions
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].
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.
The most important ones are:
- Always wear a sulu (sarong/wrap around material) that covers your legs down to just above your ankles while you’re within the village boundaries
- Never wear a hat or anything on your head while you’re in the village
- Always take your shoes off before going inside (you can keep your socks on)
- Sit down as soon as possible when you go inside and don’t stand up indoors
- If you need to move around indoors when others are sitting, it’s polite to stoop or crawl
- If you’re presented with a bowl of kava it’s polite to drink the first one… clap once, take the bowl from the server and drink it all, and after returning the bowl to the server clap three times
Guides mixing kava in Naga – Photo: Elliot Wright
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 with Tomaniivi 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.
If you’re a Fiji resident, 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.