Climb three of Viti Levu’s most distinctive peaks in 72 hours. Crazy? Maybe, but let’s do it anyway!
Day 1: Climb Mt. Batilamu (1,110m)
08:00 | Pick-up Suva (or 11:30 | Pick-up Nadi)
13:30 | Arrive Abaca, Koroyanitu Heritage Park
14:00 | Start hiking
17:30 | Reach hut at summit, walk to viewpoint
19:30 | Dinner and overnight in hut
Day 2: Descend Mt. Batilamu
07:15 | Breakfast
08:00 | Start hike down, via swimming holes
12:00 | Return to vehicles
13:00 | Lunch in Lautoka, onward drive
16:30 | Arrive in Navai, dinner, overnight
Day 3: Climb Mt. Tomaniivi (1,324m)
07:00 | Breakfast
08:00 | Start hiking
11:30 | Reach summit
14:30 | Return to Navai
15:00 | Depart Navai, onward drive
19:30 | Arrive Takalana, dinner, overnight
Day 4: Climb Mt. Tova (646m)
07:00 | Breakfast
08:00 | Start hiking
11:00 | Reach summit
13:30 | Return to Takalana, lunch
18:00 | Drop off in Suva (elsewhere by prior arrangement)
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.
Please check out our Trek Schedule for our latest trek dates.
We do not operate this trip regularly for individuals. If we don’t have it scheduled please get in touch with your preferred dates. If you are a group and would like to do the Three Peak Challenge, please contact us for tailored group options.
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.
You will need to carry overnight gear for the night at the top of Mt Batilamu. For the other hikes, your main bags will be waiting for you when you return from the 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 (and basic overnight gear, dry change, toiletries for the Mt. Batilamu climb)
- 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!
Fitness
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. Our longer itineraries should leave you feeling satisfyingly tired after a good day’s hiking and 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.
All three peaks in this itinerary have steep uphill sections, with staircase-like sections amongst the tree roots, and tracks that can become slippery in wet conditions. Timings are based on a standard good level of fitness, and plenty of stops. For Mt. Tomaniivi and Mt. Tova it is possible to go part way and return to the start.
Footwear and clothing
Footwear
Approach or trail shoes are ideal for Fiji conditions. Proper hiking boots are also good on this itinerary as there are no major river crossings that would ordinarily inundate them. Avoid stylish trainers with no grip! Paths can be slippery and muddy – especially after rain. 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, 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.
Water and drinks
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.
On drives between peaks we return to the main road and there is opportunity to buy any drinks or snacks you may want as we pass through various towns.
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.
Meals and snacks
Meals are provided by the villages and lodges, and at cafe stops during this itinerary. 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 look to buy them in advance. There are no shops or stores away from the coast.
However, on drives between peaks we return to the main road and there is opportunity to buy drinks or snacks as we pass through various towns, though choice may be limited.
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
Please note
If the weather is very bad, we may need to change the itinerary for your safety. At times, this itinerary is run in reverse.