Wanderlist

Oceania · Mamanuca & Yasawa islands, sharks & Taveuni

Fiji

Island-hop by catamaran through the Mamanuca and Yasawa islands, snorkel with manta rays, swim in the Blue Lagoon caves, dive with bull sharks and explore Taveuni's waterfalls.

☀️ Best monthsMay, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
✈️ From Geneva26h–30h · 2 stops · from CHF 1500
🗓️ Ideal length12–18 days
💰 Mid-range / dayCHF 180–300 pp
🛂 Swiss passportVisa-free for up to 4 months, granted on arrival

Overview

Why Fiji?

Fiji is the friendliest place in the South Pacific: 'Bula!' greets you everywhere. It has 330 islands of white sand, coral reefs and palm trees. The classic trip is island-hopping by catamaran along the Mamanuca and Yasawa chains, staying in small beach resorts (from budget bures to luxury), with manta rays, village visits, kava ceremonies and lovo feasts. The main island, Viti Levu, adds the famous Beqa Lagoon shark dive, and the 'Garden Island' of Taveuni has rainforest waterfalls and the soft corals of the Rainbow Reef. No car is needed: the Yasawa Flyer catamaran and small planes do everything. It's more affordable than French Polynesia, but the journey is very long (26–30 h), so 12 days or more is best.

Highlights

  • Island-hopping on the Yasawa Flyer, from resort to resort
  • Snorkelling with manta rays in the Yasawas (May–October)
  • Swimming in the Sawa-i-Lau limestone caves near the Blue Lagoon
  • Cloud 9 floating bar and the Cast Away island of Monuriki
  • The Beqa Lagoon bull shark dive
  • Waterfalls and the Rainbow Reef on Taveuni
  • A village visit with a kava ceremony

Scorecard

How it rates

Tap a criterion to see why it got that score.

3.4
★★★★★★★★★★

Average of 20 criteria

Experiences

  • Food ★★★★★★★★★★

    Kokoda (raw fish in coconut), lovo feasts and Indo-Fijian curries; resort meal plans are often basic.

  • Sightseeing & culture ★★★★★★★★★★

    Village life and a Hindu temple; few monuments.

  • Nature ★★★★★★★★★★

    Islands, reefs, caves and Taveuni's rainforest waterfalls.

  • Beaches ★★★★★★★★★★

    Postcard beaches and lagoons everywhere.

  • Animals ★★★★★★★★★★

    Manta rays, bull and tiger sharks, turtles and the soft-coral capital of the world.

  • Sport & adventure ★★★★★★★★★★

    Diving, snorkelling, surfing, kayaking and hiking.

  • Nightlife ★★★★★★★★★★

    Kava circles and backpacker-resort parties; Cloud 9.

  • Relaxation ★★★★★★★★★★

    'Fiji time': perfect for switching off.

  • Variety ★★★★★★★★★★

    Different island groups, a coral coast and a rainforest island.

Getting there & around

  • Flight from Geneva ★★★★★★★★★★

    26–30 h with one or two stops (Singapore, Hong Kong, Sydney).

  • Transport without a car ★★★★★★★★★★

    The catamaran and small planes work well, but infrequently; few buses outside Viti Levu.

  • Ease of travel ★★★★★★★★★★

    English-speaking, visa-free; the islands are well organised for visitors.

  • Jet lag ★★★★★★★★★★

    +10 h (summer) / +11 h (winter).

  • Fits 10–14 days ★★★★★★★★★★

    12–18 days suits the long journey better; 10–14 days works with 2–3 islands.

Comfort & practicalities

  • Value for money ★★★★★★★★★★

    From cheap backpacker bures to luxury islands; boat transfers and meal plans add up.

  • Weather ★★★★★★★★★★

    Warm all year; May–October is drier, cooler and less humid.

  • Safety ★★★★★★★★★★

    Very friendly and safe in the islands; petty crime in Nadi and Suva at night.

  • Health ★★★★★★★★★★

    Dengue and typhoid; basic clinics on the islands.

  • Accommodation ★★★★★★★★★★

    Charming beach bures at every budget, but simple on the outer islands.

  • Crowds ★★★★★★★★★★

    Busy at the Mamanuca day-trip spots; very quiet in the north.

When to go

Best time of the year

May to October is best; September–October has great weather and fewer families. Avoid January–March because of cyclones.

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
BestGoodMixedAvoid

Dry season · May – Oct

  • Sunny, less humid, calm sea
  • Manta rays in the Yasawas
  • Best visibility for diving
  • Peak prices in July and during school holidays
  • Book the Yasawa resorts early

Wet season · Nov – Apr

  • Lower prices and quieter islands
  • Very warm water
  • Heavy showers and humidity
  • Cyclone risk (Dec–Mar): take out good travel insurance

Getting there

Flights from Geneva

Fly to Nadi (NAN) with one or two stops, 26–30 h in total. Fiji Airways flies non-stop to Nadi from Singapore and Hong Kong, and from Sydney, Auckland and Los Angeles (US ESTA needed).

RoutingAirlineStopsTravel timeReturn, economy
GVA → ZRH → SIN → NAN SWISS / Singapore Airlines + Fiji Airways 2 26h–30h CHF 1600–2600
GVA → HKG → NAN Cathay Pacific (via ZRH) + Fiji Airways 2 26h–30h CHF 1500–2500
GVA → DXB → SYD → NAN Emirates + Fiji Airways / Qantas 2 28h–32h CHF 1500–2500

Itinerary

Day by day, without a car

Pick a trip length. Day 1 is arrival day and the last day is departure day; the overnight flights are extra. Each transfer lists every option, with the recommended one first.

Style:
Trip length:
BoatBus / minivanTaxi / driverPlane

+ A slow Yasawa day

Kayaks and a lovo feast.

🧭 Explorer 5 bases · 5 moves

Nadi & Denarau · 1 nightMamanuca Islands · 2 nightsYasawa Islands (Naviti & Waya) · 2 nightsYasawa Islands (Nacula & the Blue Lagoon) · 3 nightsNadi & Denarau · 1 nightPacific Harbour (Coral Coast) · 2 nights
  1. Day 1

    Arrive in Fiji

    Land in Nadi (often early morning), a 'Bula!' welcome, and a lazy first day by the pool or on Wailoaloa beach.

    • Sri Siva Subramaniya temple

      The largest Hindu temple in the southern hemisphere.

      ⏱ 45 min CHF 2–5
    • Nadi market

      Kava roots, tropical fruit and Indo-Fijian snacks.

      ⏱ 1 h
    • 💡 Taxis to Denarau or Wailoaloa: 15–25 min, CHF 10–20.
    🛏️ Night: Nadi & Denarau
  2. Day 2

    Boat to the Mamanucas

    The morning catamaran from Port Denarau, and your first swim in the lagoon.

    🧭 Nadi & Denarau → Mamanuca Islands: your options
    • Malolo Cat / Yasawa Flyer from Port Denarau Recommended
      ⏱ 45 min – 2 h CHF 50–100 🔁 2–4 a day Comfort ★★★★★★★★★★
      Book: ssc.com.fj
    • Seaplane or helicopter
      ⏱ 10–20 min CHF 200–400 Comfort ★★★★★★★★★★
      Book: Via your resort
    • House-reef snorkelling

      Straight off the beach.

    🛏️ Night: Mamanuca Islands
  3. Day 3

    Monuriki & Cloud 9

    A boat to Monuriki (the Cast Away island), snorkelling, and pizza on the Cloud 9 floating bar on the reef.

    • Monuriki & snorkel trip

      The uninhabited island from Cast Away.

      ⏱ Half day CHF 80–140
    • Cloud 9 floating bar

      A two-storey platform in the middle of the ocean.

      ⏱ 3 h CHF 60–120
    🛏️ Night: Mamanuca Islands
  4. Day 4

    North into the Yasawas

    The Yasawa Flyer to Naviti or Drawaqa, where the mantas come.

    🧭 Mamanuca Islands → Yasawa Islands (Naviti & Waya): your options
    • Yasawa Flyer (South Sea Cruises) Recommended
      ⏱ ≈ 2 h CHF 70–120 🔁 Daily, one loop Comfort ★★★★★★★★★★
      Book: ssc.com.fj (or the Bula Pass)
      Resorts collect you from the catamaran by small boat.
    • Seaplane (Turtle Airways / Pacific Island Air)
      ⏱ 20–40 min CHF 250–450 Comfort ★★★★★★★★★★
      Book: Via your resort
    • Village visit & kava ceremony

      Present a sevusevu (kava root) to the chief; dress modestly.

      ⏱ 2 h CHF 10–20
    🛏️ Night: Yasawa Islands (Naviti & Waya)
  5. Day 5

    Snorkelling with manta rays

    Snorkel with manta rays in the Drawaqa channel (May–October), then climb to the summit of Waya or Naviti for sunset.

    • Manta ray snorkel

      Resorts ring a drum when the mantas are feeding in the channel.

      ⏱ 2 h CHF 40–70
    • Summit hike

      Views over the whole island chain.

      ⏱ 2 h CHF 0–15
    🛏️ Night: Yasawa Islands (Naviti & Waya)
  6. Day 6

    To the Blue Lagoon

    Further north on the Flyer, to the white sands of Nacula and the Blue Lagoon.

    🧭 Yasawa Islands (Naviti & Waya) → Yasawa Islands (Nacula & the Blue Lagoon): your options
    • Yasawa Flyer (South Sea Cruises) Recommended
      ⏱ ≈ 1.5–2 h CHF 50–100 🔁 Daily, one loop Comfort ★★★★★★★★★★
      Book: ssc.com.fj (or the Bula Pass)
      Resorts collect you from the catamaran by small boat.
    • Seaplane (Turtle Airways / Pacific Island Air)
      ⏱ 20–40 min CHF 250–450 Comfort ★★★★★★★★★★
      Book: Via your resort
    • Blue Lagoon swim

      Where the 1980 film was shot.

    🛏️ Night: Yasawa Islands (Nacula & the Blue Lagoon)
  7. Day 7

    Sawa-i-Lau caves & village

    A boat to the limestone caves of Sawa-i-Lau to swim through an underwater passage, and a church service or school visit in a village.

    • Sawa-i-Lau caves

      Swim in a sunlit limestone cave, then dive through to a hidden chamber.

      ⏱ Half day CHF 40–70
    • Village visit

      Meet the community; bring school supplies rather than sweets.

      ⏱ 2 h
    🛏️ Night: Yasawa Islands (Nacula & the Blue Lagoon)
  8. Day 8

    Slow island day

    Snorkel, kayak, a hammock, a lovo feast in the evening, and kava with the staff.

    • Lovo feast

      Fish, taro and pork cooked in an earth oven.

      CHF 0–30
    • Kayak along the beach

      Turtles often swim by.

    🛏️ Night: Yasawa Islands (Nacula & the Blue Lagoon)
  9. Day 9

    Back to Nadi

    The long, scenic Flyer ride south through all the islands to Port Denarau.

    🧭 Yasawa Islands (Nacula & the Blue Lagoon) → Nadi & Denarau: your options
    • Yasawa Flyer (South Sea Cruises) Recommended
      ⏱ 4.5–5 h CHF 110–170 🔁 Daily, one loop Comfort ★★★★★★★★★★
      Book: ssc.com.fj (or the Bula Pass)
      Resorts collect you from the catamaran by small boat.
    • Seaplane (Turtle Airways / Pacific Island Air)
      ⏱ 20–40 min CHF 250–450 Comfort ★★★★★★★★★★
      Book: Via your resort
    • Dinner at Port Denarau

      Seafood or Indo-Fijian curry.

      CHF 20–40
    🛏️ Night: Nadi & Denarau
  10. Day 10

    Along the Coral Coast

    South along the Coral Coast, with a stop at the Sigatoka Sand Dunes, to Pacific Harbour.

    🧭 Nadi & Denarau → Pacific Harbour (Coral Coast): your options
    • Coral Coast express bus (Sunbeam / Pacific Transport) Recommended
      ⏱ ≈ 3 h CHF 8–12 🔁 Several a day Comfort ★★★★★★★★★★
      Book: At Nadi bus station
    • Private transfer with stops
      ⏱ 2.5 h + stops CHF 100–150 Comfort ★★★★★★★★★★
      Book: Via your hotel
      Price per car.
    • Sigatoka Sand Dunes

      Fiji's first national park: huge dunes and ancient pottery finds.

      ⏱ 1.5 h CHF 5–10
    🛏️ Night: Pacific Harbour (Coral Coast)
  11. Day 11

    Beqa Lagoon shark dive

    The famous shark dive: bull sharks, tiger sharks and reef sharks at a marine reserve (snorkel option available); or tubing down the Navua River canyon.

    • Beqa bull shark dive

      Two dives, up to eight shark species; certified divers only.

      ⏱ Half day CHF 220–300
    • Navua River canyon

      Waterfalls and villages by boat or bamboo raft.

      ⏱ Full day CHF 120–200
    🛏️ Night: Pacific Harbour (Coral Coast)
  12. Day 12

    Back to Nadi · fly home

    A transfer back along the coast to Nadi airport.

    🧭 Pacific Harbour (Coral Coast) → Nadi & Denarau: your options
    • Private transfer to Nadi airport Recommended
      ⏱ 2.5–3 h CHF 100–150 Comfort ★★★★★★★★★★
      Book: Via your hotel
      Price per car.
    • Coral Coast express bus
      ⏱ 3 h CHF 8–12 Comfort ★★★★★★★★★★
      Book: On the main road
    • Last swim

      At Pacific Harbour's beach.

    🛏️ Night: Flight home
Want it a bit different?

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Getting around

Transport without a car

Catamaran through the islands, buses and taxis on Viti Levu, and small planes to the outer islands.

⛴️ Ferry ★★★★★★★★★★

The Yasawa Flyer and Malolo Cat: reliable daily catamarans, with resort pick-ups.

✈️ Flight ★★★★★★★★★★

Fiji Link's small planes to Taveuni; seaplanes to island resorts.

🚌 Bus ★★★★★★★★★★

Cheap, open-window express buses along the Coral Coast.

🚕 Taxi ★★★★★★★★★★

Cheap and everywhere on Viti Levu; agree the fare for long trips.

Where to stay & budget

Three budget levels

Per person per day, excluding international flights, sharing a room. On the outer islands, resorts sell compulsory meal plans (CHF 40–100 per person per day), included here.

Budget CHF 80–130 per person / day
Mid-range CHF 180–300 per person / day
Comfort CHF 450–1000 per person / day

Nadi & Denarau

The international gateway on Viti Levu: an Indo-Fijian market town, the colourful Sri Siva Subramaniya temple, and Port Denarau, where the island boats leave.

Where: Port Denarau (boats) or Wailoaloa beach (cheaper).

Budget
CHF 40–80 / room / night
Guesthouse on Wailoaloa beach
Mid-range
CHF 150–250 / room / night
Resort hotel on Denarau
Comfort
CHF 300–500 / room / night
Five-star resort on Denarau

Mamanuca Islands

A chain of small islands close to Nadi, with white beaches, snorkelling reefs, surf breaks and the island from the film Cast Away.

Where: Mana, Malolo or Beachcomber island.

Budget
CHF 60–120 / room / night
Dorm or budget bure on Beachcomber/Mana
Mid-range
CHF 200–350 / room / night
Beach bure resort
Comfort
CHF 500–1200 / room / night
Adults-only island resort (e.g. Tokoriki, Likuliku)

Yasawa Islands (Naviti & Waya)

Rugged volcanic islands with hiking trails, traditional villages, and manta rays gliding through the channel at Drawaqa from May to October.

Where: A small resort on Naviti, Drawaqa or Waya.

Budget
CHF 70–120 / room / night
Budget bure, meal plan included
Mid-range
CHF 200–320 / room / night
Boutique eco-resort
Comfort
CHF 400–700 / room / night
Barefoot Manta or similar premium bure

Yasawa Islands (Nacula & the Blue Lagoon)

The far north of the Yasawas: the Blue Lagoon, limestone swimming caves at Sawa-i-Lau, and very traditional villages.

Where: Nacula or Tavewa island.

Budget
CHF 70–130 / room / night
Budget bure, meal plan included
Mid-range
CHF 220–380 / room / night
Blue Lagoon beach resort
Comfort
CHF 600–1400 / room / night
Turtle Island or Yasawa Island Resort

Pacific Harbour (Coral Coast)

The 'adventure capital of Fiji' on the south coast of Viti Levu: the world-famous bull shark dive in Beqa Lagoon, river canyons and firewalkers.

Where: Near the beach or on the river.

Budget
CHF 60–100 / room / night
Guesthouse or backpackers
Mid-range
CHF 150–260 / room / night
Beach resort
Comfort
CHF 300–600 / room / night
Upmarket resort

Taveuni

The 'Garden Island': rainforest, waterfalls and birds on land, and the Rainbow Reef's soft corals offshore. The 180° meridian runs through it.

Where: Near Matei (airport) or in the south.

Budget
CHF 70–120 / room / night
Guesthouse or dive lodge
Mid-range
CHF 180–300 / room / night
Boutique beach resort
Comfort
CHF 400–900 / room / night
Luxury resort (e.g. Paradise Taveuni, Qamea)

Practical

Good to know

🛂 Visa (Swiss passport)
Swiss passport: visa-free for up to 4 months, granted on arrival. You need a passport valid for 6 months and an onward or return ticket.
💉 Health
No vaccines required; hepatitis A and typhoid are recommended. Dengue occurs: use repellent. Sun protection and reef-safe sunscreen. Medical care on the outer islands is very basic: take out insurance with evacuation cover.
🛡️ Safety
Very safe and friendly. In villages, cover shoulders and knees, take off your hat and sunglasses, and bring a kava root (sevusevu) for the chief. Swimming: watch for currents on outer reefs.
💱 Money
Fijian dollar (FJD), about 2.7–2.8 FJD per CHF. Cards in resorts and towns; bring cash for villages, kava and small island shops.
🗣️ Language
English, Fijian and Fiji Hindi.
🕒 Time zone
UTC+12: 11 h ahead of Geneva in winter, 10 h in summer.
🔌 Plugs
240 V, type I (Australian): bring an adapter.
📶 Phone & apps
Vodafone or Digicel SIM at the airport (≈ CHF 10–20); patchy signal in the Yasawas.

Information last checked: September 2026. Visa rules, prices and timetables change, so always check before booking.