10 Places to Visit in Fiji for Unique Experiences

Giving justice to the beauty of the sun-soaked archipelago of Fiji in words is no easy feat. The mere mention of Fiji for many will provoke thoughts of verdant tropical foliage, turquoise lagoons lapping against pristine beaches and cascading waterfalls – and they wouldn’t be wrong. Made up of 333 islands dotted throughout the South Pacific Ocean, Fiji is not only stunning in every sense, here you’ll find some of the most incredibly unique experiences. The nation’s proud heritage and culture shine through its hospitality and authentic local experiences which we are about to showcase. Keep reading for the best places to visit in Fiji for unique experiences!

What You Need to Know Before You Visit Fiji

The Best Time to Travel to Fiji

The perfect year-round destination; as the temperature rarely drops below 18 degrees celsius, there’s no one ‘best time of year to go to Fiji’. If you’re looking to travel to Fiji from Australia, you’ll find the seasons are very similar. 

The dry season spans May to October and is also the peak season when the islands are at their busiest. The wet season, which spans November to April, will see hot, humid conditions with frequent showers and storms. However, both seasons have their merits so the best month to visit Fiji largely depends on what you plan to do when there. To read all about the best time to visit Fiji in detail, check out our Fiji travel guide.  

Important Tips for Fiji Travel

Below we’ve detailed some of our quick tips for Fiji travel. However, for more, check out our detailed posts about Fiji and connect with our trusted Local Designers on the ground in Fiji who can answer all your questions and design your perfect trip!

• Fiji is made up of over 333 islands, however, 87% of its population lives on the two main islands, Viti Levu and Vanua Levu.
• Fiji is one of the few countries in the world that has three national languages – Fiji-Hindi, Fijan and English.
• Fijians are mad for rugby and it is their national sport. Introduced by the British during their colonial rule, the national team of Fiji has grown to be one of the most successful in the world.
• In Fiji, Christianity is dominant, followed closely behind by Hinduism and Islam.
• The currency of Fiji is the Fijian Dollar (FJD). At the time of writing, November 2020, 1 FJD was equivalent to 0.47 USD.
• Being surrounded by the ocean and incredible coral reefs, Fiji is committed as a country to being single-use plastic-free in the very near future. Plastic bag manufacture, sale and supply was banned at the beginning of 2020. 

Unique Experiences in the Best Places to Visit in Fiji

We’ve hand-selected unique experiences from our fully customisable itineraries designed by our Local Designers in Fiji. Any of these experiences, tours and itineraries can be tailored to suit your interests and budget when you choose to design your trip with Designer Journeys!

Village Tour to Meet Indigenous Landowners

Fijian culture is intriguing, diverse and incredibly welcoming. The best way to experience this on your trip is to engage in a tour of local villages with your dedicated Fijian guide. Your guide will typically have a good relationship with the village chief in order to allow your visit and you’ll often bring an offering. 

You’ll be greeted by a traditional dance and then you’ll have the opportunity to learn about life in these villages including visits to the schools, churches and handicraft shops where you may even enjoy a demonstration. As food is a big part of Fijian culture, you’ll often be invited to enjoy a feast with a local family!

• Shell Village Tour from Likuliku Lagoon
• Salia Village Visit on Kioa Island
• Viwa Village Visit with Viwa Island Resort

Scuba Diving on Taveuni Island

Scuba diving in Fiji is a must! Whilst Fiji’s beaches, rainforests and lagoons are incredibly scenic, nothing beats heading below the surface to come face-to-face with the wonderful marine life that occupies Fiji’s coasts and coral reefs.

Taveuni Island deserves a special mention when it comes to excellent dive sites; Rainbow Reef and Somosomo Strait are considered to be two of the world’s best dive sites, home to beautiful coral gardens and over 1500 species of fish!

• Diving on Taveuni Island
• Diving on Yasawa Island

Fijian Crested Iguana Experience

Meet one of Fiji’s indigenous inhabitants on a personalised tour of the iguana sanctuary at Likuliku Lagoon Resort. From your expert guide, you’ll learn all about the history of the Fijian Crested Iguana, how it has been saved from extinction on Malolo Island and what is being done to ensure the survival of its habitat and biodiversity. This is a truly engaging experience, especially for children and wildlife lovers. 

• Fijian Crested Iguana Experience

Blue Lagoon Cave Tour on Yasawa Island

A stone’s throw offshore from one of the world’s top 10 beaches on Yasawa Island, you’ll find the spectacular Blue Lagoon. What lies beneath the surface is an unforgettable experience for all water babies. Swim through hidden chambers, beside giant schools of fish, manta rays and turtles over the vibrant corals – this is some of the best snorkelling in Fiji!

With dramatic volcanic cliffs and beautiful beaches framing the lagoon, this snorkelling experience will be one you won’t forget any time soon. 

• Blue Lagoon Cave Tour

Traditional Kava Ceremony

Whilst Fiji’s best selling points are dominated by its pristine beaches, verdant jungle-clad hills and turquoise waters, it is undoubtedly the cultural experiences you encounter whilst on this archipelago that will make their mark on your Fiji tour. 

For a truly genuine experience, a Kava ceremony is one of the best things to do in Fiji. Seated on the floor in a circle, the root-based plant is mashed into a drink that is believed to soothe the soul by the ceremony leader. You’ll be offered a coconut shell cup, told to clap once, then drink the entire serving saying ‘Bula’ (good health) and return the cup ready for the next person!

• Traditional Kava Ceremony in Yasawa

Explore Monuriki Island

There are hundreds of islands in Fiji so why pick this one out? Well, Monuriki Island, often nicknamed ‘Castaway Island’ is the island made famous by the Tom Hanks-starring film, Cast Away, and is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Fiji. 

With your local guide, you can visit the island, taking in some of the famous set locations where ‘Wilson’ came to life and also learn about some of the local flora and fauna including the Fijian Crested Iguana. 

• Castaway Island Tour

Off-Road Cave Safari in Momi Bay

Nothing is quite as exhilarating as zooming into Fiji’s lush interiors to learn about the history of Fiji’s largest cave system, the Naihehe Cave. You’ll be in safe hands as your expert driver manoeuvres the high-powered vehicle, safely yet in an exciting way. 

You’ll cross the mighty Sigatoka River using the age-old Fijian barge technique, learn about local village life from your guides and witness some incredible natural beauty. 

• Off-Road Cave Safari

Snorkel Encounter with Sharks off Kuata Island

From the Mamanuca Islands, this exciting experience will whisk you to the isolated Yasawa Islands where you’ll disembark at Kuata Island with its unusual rock formations, rustic buildings and picture-perfect beaches. 

After a briefing with your guide, you’ll head out to meet the resident school of white tip and blacktip reef sharks. Your expert guides will monitor the shark’s behaviour the entire time so that you can enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime experience safely.

• Ultimate Snorkel Encounter with Sharks

Zip Line Fiji!

Zoom over a tropical rainforest and thick, lush canopy and take in breathtaking views high above the forest floor and the Wainadoi River Valley on this eight-zipline tour!

With stunning views, thrilling rides and distinctive flora and fauna to define your day, you’ll be able to experience Fiji’s amazing wilderness from a unique perspective. Your guides will accompany you for the day following a full safety briefing so there’s no need to panic about whooshing over the canopy solo!

• Zip Line Fiji on the Coral Coast
• Zip Line Tour in Momi Bay

Sigatoka River Safari on Denarau Island

Venture away from the crowds and deep into the heart and soul of Fiji on a jet boat and village safari tour along the Sigatoka River. From Denarau Island, you’ll head off with your knowledgeable guide as they regale tales of the region. 

Your scenic jet boat trip up the river will be punctuated by disembarkation at a local village where you’ll engage with the residents, participate in a Fijian ceremony and have the honour of meeting the village chief. This is a Fiji tour that you won’t want to miss out on. 

• Sigatoka River Safari

Trust Our Locals in Fiji to Design Your Unique Experience!

Now you’ve got a taste for just how many authentic, unique and exhilarating activities await in this spectacular tropical archipelago, you are probably itching to design your own trip to Fiji!

Navigating the seasons, planning your island hopping routes and making sure your trip is filled with unique activities are just a few of the tricky steps which can be the difference between a truly extraordinary Fiji tour and an average one. At Designer Journeys, all of our trips are designed to meet your vision of extraordinary!

Our Local Designers in Fiji have decades of experience in tailoring custom trips to your budget, travel style and interests. Choose to connect directly with our Local Designers by designing your own trip from scratch or explore our gallery of fully-customisable trips to get inspired! Each and every tour can be customised to suit you. 

Begin your Fiji journey today!