Fiji Kayak Tour: Paddle Through the Pacific’s Pristine Nature

Things to know

• What’s included?

  Included:

  • • An experienced, local kayaking guide with extensive knowledge of the area
    • Hotel accommodation on a twin-shared basis for the first night of the trip
    • ‘Glamping-style’ bell tents for two people for 5 nights or staying in a basic island bure
    • Internal boat and bus transfer
    • Double and single expedition kayaks, paddles, life jackets and safety equipment
    • Sleeping mat (full length Therm-a-Rest pad)
    • Watertight bags for your personal gear
    • All meals from breakfast on Day 2 to lunch on Day 7 (as listed in the itinerary)
    • Group first aid kit

  Add-ons

  • • Single supplement

  Not included:

  • • Flights to and from Fiji
    • Meals in Nadi (except breakfast at the hotel)
    • Alcoholic beverages
    • Accommodation and transfers in Nadi at the end of the trip
    • Guide gratuities — optional
    • Travel and medical insurance — optional
• How fit do I need to be?

  This Fiji kayak tour in Yasawa Archipelago is an enjoyable activity for anyone with moderate fitness, comparable to brisk walking or cycling. While prior paddling experience is helpful, it’s not essential for this trip. Most paddling days last 3 to 4 hours, combined with snorkeling and exploration, but the difficulty will depend on weather conditions. The outer islands generally offer stable seas, but on windier days, you may paddle for a full day.

  To ensure a smooth and safe experience, you will primarily use double kayaks, which offer stability for group paddling. Single kayaks are available upon request, subject to approval and demonstration of suitable experience. Kayaks include fiberglass Seabear Packhorse doubles and plastic single Mission Skua, Penguin, and Tasman models, all with rudders. Werner carbon blend paddles are provided.

  On Day 2, your experienced guides will provide a thorough briefing on paddling techniques, allowing plenty of time for practice to get comfortable with the kayaks. The group will always paddle at the pace of the slowest member to ensure everyone enjoys the experience.

  To fully enjoy this Fiji kayak tour, we encourage you to begin some regular exercise before the trip—like walking, jogging, cycling, or swimming. If you haven’t used a sit-in kayak before, we recommend a lesson before the trip. Lastly, all participants must be confident swimmers.

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• What do I need to bring?

  Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:

  Essential items:

  • • A wide brimmed hat for sun-protection
    • A scarf made from a light material like silk (or a buff)
    • Sun-glasses with a cord and side flaps
    • Light weight rain jacket or spray jacket
    • Two long sleeve lightweight shirts (a synthetic shirt is highly recommended for sun protection while paddling and a separate camp shirt for mosquito protection in the evening)
    • Two or three T-shirts
    • A lycra sun top
    • One pair of light-weight, quick drying, full length trousers
    • Two pairs of shorts and swimwear
    • Sulu or sarong (this can double up as a second sheet).
    • Very light-weight fleece jacket (not a heavy jacket) or a sweatshirt
    • Sleeping sheet
    • Sleeping bag
    • One pair of running shoes
    • Reef shoes or a good fitting pair of sandals that attach solidly for paddling
    • Lightweight socks to wear with your running shoes
    • Small towel (a chamois towel is ideal, or a medium sized hand towel)
    • Toiletries (a bio-degradable soap that will lather in salt water is
      useful)
    • A headlamp or small torch and batteries
    • One or two 1-litre water bottles—the type used by cyclists are fine
    • A small dry bag is good for holding things like a sun screen, glasses, etc.
    • Mask, snorkel and fins
    • Pillow case or very small pillow (e.g. airline pillow)

  Optional items:

  • • Camera with waterproof container
    • 10 metres of lightweight clothesline
    • Binoculars
    • Talcum powder
    • Lightweight cycling gloves can ease blistering if you are not used to paddling (and prevent sunburn)
    • Waterproof torch for night snorkelling
    • Ear plugs

  Medical supplies:

  Your guides will carry a comprehensive medical kit, but it’s your responsibility to bring enough of any specific medications you need. Additionally, we recommend you bring:

  • • Sun screen
    • Lip protectant
    • Band-aid strips
    • Insect repellent
    • A mild anti-nausea drug if you are concerned about sea sickness
    • A mild antiseptic soap/liquid hand wash
    • Rapid antigen tests for Covid-19 self-testing

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• What is the accommodation like?

  You’ll spend the first night in a hotel in Nadi, where you’ll be accommodated in twin-share rooms. If you prefer a single room, you can request one for an additional charge. On Tavewa Island, you’ll camp in comfortable ‘glamping-style’ bell tents. Single tents are 3 meters wide (available upon a request), and double/twin tents are 4 meters wide. Each tent comes with a stretcher bed, a Therm-a-Rest camping mat, and a solar-powered fan to keep you cool during the tropical nights.

  On Navotua Island, you can choose between setting up your supplied screened tent or staying in a basic island bure. The bures are 4 meters by 3 meters in size and include either a double or two single beds, along with bedding, mosquito nets, and a sea view. Please note that the bures do not have private facilities and are subject to availability for an additional cost. Composting toilets are available at both the Tavewa base and Navotua village.

  Accommodation for the last night is not included, as many guests choose to extend their stay or take a late evening flight.

• What is the food like?

  Your meals will be freshly prepared by amazing guides, who are fantastic wilderness cooks. On longer paddle days, you can look forward to a hearty breakfast of cereal, fresh fruit, toast, or local roti with condiments. On more relaxed mornings, the guide will cook up a hot breakfast of bacon and eggs or pancakes.

  For lunch, you’ll have a picnic with a variety of cheese, cold meats, fresh vegetables, fruits, bread, and salads. Dinners are a two-to-three-course affair, made with fresh ingredients and varied daily—think pasta, curries, stir-fries, or Mexican dishes. You’ll also aim to add freshly caught fish where possible.

  In Nadi, there are plenty of great restaurants to choose from. As with any change in diet, it’s a good idea to ease into new foods. If you buy fruit from the market, make sure to wash it thoroughly.

  The hotel’s tap water is chlorinated, and in the Yasawas, you source drinking water from rainwater tanks, which can be boiled on request.

  If you have special dietary needs, note that products like gluten-free cereal and UHT soy milk can be hard to find in Fiji. We recommend bringing your own supplies from home to ensure you have what you need during the trip.

• Group sizes and age requirements

  Group sizes and pricing

  • • For this Fiji kayak tour, the usual client-to-guide ratio is 6:1.
    • It takes a minimum of 6 people for this tour to operate. The maximum group size is set at 12 participants (16 for private tours).

  Kayaking in Fiji can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.

  Min. age requirements

  • • If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
    • Minors older than 16 may be permitted to join this Fiji kayak tour on a case-by-case basis, but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian.
    • Children under 15 years receive a 25% discount.

  If your group has kayakers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

• Getting there and meeting location

  The starting point of your Fiji kayak tour is Nadi. To get there, most people fly into Nadi International Airport (NAN). Airport-to-hotel transfer will be organized by a hotel where you’re staying. Once you’re there, you will meet your guide at 8pm in the hotel, where they will explain everything you need to know about the upcoming adventure.

• Safety measures and insurance

  We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both medical and travel protection. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, simply choose Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner!

  Redpoint tailors their protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations. Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.

  Once your booking is confirmed and your trip is paid in full, you will be offered to purchase Redpoint’s protection. If you need any help or require more information, let us know and we will be happy to help!

• Deposits and cancellation policy

  Deposits

  You can secure one of the set dates with a 30% deposit upon booking. The remaining 70% of the trip price is to be paid 90 days prior to departure, at the latest.

  Cancellations

  Booking fees are non-refundable in all cases. During checkout, however, you can choose one of 57hours’ flexibility options:

  Basic

  • • In case of cancellation within 48 hours after booking, the amount paid is fully refundable.
    • For cancellations 60 or more days before the trip, you are eligible for a 70% refund of the trip price.
    • For cancellations 0-59 days before the trip, there is no refund.

  Flexible

  • • In case of cancellation within 48 hours after booking, the amount paid is fully refundable.
    • For cancellations 60 or more days before the trip, you are eligible for a full refund of the trip price.
    • For cancellations 30-59 days before the trip, you are eligible for a 50% refund of the trip price.
    • For cancellations 0-29 days before the trip, there is no refund.

  Super Flexible

  • • In case of cancellation within 48 hours after booking, the amount paid is fully refundable.
    • For cancellations 30 or more days before the trip, you are eligible for a full refund of the trip price.
    • For cancellations 0-29 days before the trip, you are eligible for a 50% refund of the trip price.