Our small group treks take you hiking through Fiji’s hidden and rugged interior, but importantly also offer a window into life in rural Fiji, and an experience of the country’s rich culture.
Fiji’s a great place to go hiking, but as an individual or independent traveller it can be difficult to venture off the beaten track. Traditional land ownership plays a part in this, combined with rough roads once you’re away from the coast, and the fact it’s hard to get your hands on a good quality map. Even for the most adventurous, it can be tricky, but it’s always worth it and is why Talanoa Treks was established.
We work in partnership with four villages to ensure your trek is great for you and great for them. You’re led on each hike by community guides from the villages where we eat and sleep, giving you an opportunity to ask as many (or as few) questions as you like. Each of our trips also has a coordinator who drives one of the vehicles carrying your overnight bags, and joins some of the hikes. They’re there to make sure everything runs smoothly, answer any of your practical questions, and ensure we’re not operating too much on ‘Fiji time’!
We aim to limit our scheduled treks to a maximum of 8 people, usually made up of solo travellers and some couples. And, if the trip is scheduled, it will always go ahead, regardless of how many places are filled. For all our itineraries we will either pick you up directly from where you’re staying or we will help arrange a reliable transfer to meet our vehicles along the way.
Our three-night Cross Highland Hike is our most popular itinerary, but we have shorter and longer options depending on how much, and how hard, you like your hiking!
Cross Highland Hike
Head off the beaten track into Fiji’s interior. Experience its dramatic peaks, sparkling rivers, unique history and rich culture.
4 days / 3 nights | Take in expansive views, swim in cooling rivers, relax in remote villages, and soak up the unique culture, as you trek through forests, along rivers, and over grassy hills with guides who’ve grown up on this land. It’s where they fish and farm, and played as kids. You’ll experience a side of Fiji a world away from its beaches and reefs.
Day 1: Cross-country drive into the heart of Viti Levu
11:00 | Pick-up Suva (or 14:30 Pick-up Suncoast)
16:30 | Arrive Naga, stretch legs on a short stroll
18:30 | Sevusevu, dinner, overnight
Day 2: Hike Naga to Nubutautau (11km)
07:30 | Breakfast
08:30 | Start hiking
12:00 | Lunch on the river, swim
15:30 | Arrive Nubutautau, relax
18:30 | Sevusevu, dinner, overnight
Day 3: Hike Nubutautau to Bulou’s Lodge, Navala (21km)
07:15 | Breakfast
08:00 | Short drive to hike start
08:15 | Start hiking
12:30 | Lunch on river, swim
17:00 | Arrive Bulou’s Lodge, relax
20:00 | Dinner, overnight
Day 4: Guided stroll of Navala, depart
08:00 | Breakfast
09:00 | Short drive to Navala
09:15 | Guided walk around village
11:30 | Depart Navala, farewell to the interior
13:30 | Arrive Nadi, cafe lunch, drop at hotel or transfer
Please note that timings depend on the fitness of individuals and size of the group. Overnight treks are generally limited to a maximum of 8 hikers.
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 waiting for you at the end of each day’s 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 to carry drinking water, sulu, snacks, camera, torch etc
- 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)
- 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
- Torch/flashlight – to be packed in your day bag as a safety precaution
- 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 – trail mix, biscuits, muesli bars or sweets (guides also carry a supply to share)
- Emergency toilet paper
- Camera
For the villages/overnights:
- 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
- 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
- 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 or the Suncoast.
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 Nadi, where we’ll have a final lunch together.
We can drop you at a Nadi or Denarau hotel, or take you on to the Coral Coast. Heading out to the Yasawa or Mamanuca Islands for a bit of beach and reef time after your trek is highly recommended!
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 and lodges is drunk by the locals, we strongly recommend you only use bottled water, boiled water, filtered water supplied by us or use purification tablets. We keep plenty of filtered water in our vehicles for you to top-up bottles from each day. Lemon-leaf or lemon-grass tea is a very common drink in the villages and uses boiled water.
In Fiji, you need to carry and be drinking a lot of water on the hikes, up to 3 litres per hike. While we like reusable bottles they can themselves be heavy and often have small capacities. Water reservoirs, such as Camelbaks, are great, but need to be big enough. The easiest thing is to buy from a store in Fiji, 3 x 1.5 litre bottles of water. Two of these you can carry on the hike, and one you can drink from before and after. All can be refilled from our filtered supply during the trip and we will recycle the plastic bottles afterwards. We can purchase water for you in advance, you can just include it as an add-on when you book.
A small bottle of a soft drink (Powerade, Coke) is also a good addition to your day-pack to keep sugars and electrolytes up on particularly hot days. Or bring electrolyte sachets or tablets to add to water.
Please note: drinking alcohol is not allowed in Fijian villages. If your trip includes a stay at Bulou’s Lodge, beers are sometimes available to buy or you can keep a bottle in your bag for your night there.
Do I need to bring food?
Meals are provided by the villages and lodges. Please let us know if you have any dietary requirements before your trip. The guides carry some snacks to share on each hike, but if you have any favourite snacks, you should buy them in advance. 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 quickly 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 and drink it all, and after returning the bowl clap three times
Guides mixing kava in Naga – Photo: Elliot Wright
Check our scheduled dates through the Book Now button above or check out our Trek Schedule for a list of dates. The Cross Highland Hike itinerary sometimes overlaps with the Full Monty, so if you’re looking for a more strenuous adventure, check this trip out too!
Please note
If the weather is very bad, we may need to change the itinerary for your safety.