TUITAI EXPEDITION CRUISE (7 nights):

The TuiTai Expedition Fiji Photo Tour will be based from luxurious expedition vessel the Tui Tai – cruising around the outer more remote islands of Fiji.

VIEW THE IMAGE GALLERYFOR THIS TOUR

Photo Tour

Photo Tour passengers will enjoy all on board and off board activities scheduled in the Tui Tai’s classic itinerary, with an emphasis on the photographic opportunities presented at each location, and during each activity.

Chris will accompany the Photo Tour passengers at all times, and be available to offer camera tips, photographic advice and general assistance in both group and one-on-one situations throughout the tour.

Chris will present a Digital Slide Show on the final evening highlighting everyone’s favourite images from the trip, allowing group discussion and a chance to share everyone’s experiences and the talk about the photographic techniques and methods used to obtain some of the best shots.

** Please advise us of your memory card type so that we can ensure we have the correct card reader to download your images each day if you wish to have them included in the slide show. All images remain the copyrighted property of the photographer who took them.

Recommended Equipment:

• Digital Camera
• At least one wide angle lens and one long lens
• Tripod
• Suitable back pack for safely carrying your camera gear during the day’s activities.
• Suitable dry bag or ‘pelican’ style camera case to safely transport your camera gear during any water or ‘wet’ activities.
• Sufficient memory cards for a ton of photos!!

The above is a list of minimum recommended equipment only. If you have additional equipment you would like to bring (water proof housing, extra lenses etc.), please feel free to do so.

FULL CRUISE ITINERARY:

DAY ONE: Monday (Natewa Bay, Vanua Levu)
A scenic early morning drive along pristine coastline takes you from Savusavu to Natewa Bay. Upon boarding and checking in to your stateroom or cabin, enjoy a snack and a complimentary foot massage from our onboard spa therapist.

Then it´s time to get wet and have a play with your underwater camera housing. The morning snorkeling features a chance to see a resident pod of spinner dolphins. After lunch onboard it´s time for sea kayaking. Paddle along the protected coastline of Natewa Bay (the 2nd largest bay in the Southern Hemisphere). Natewa Bay is a magically quiet location with no signs of development or visitors from the modern world. The coastline varies from white sandy beaches to black volcanic cliffs, and a few stretches of mangroves. Tui Tai will set sail around 5pm as the sun sets behind us.

Activities: Snorkeling, Dolphin Viewing, Sea Kayak
Lunch, Dinner

DAY TWO: Tuesday (Rabi Island, Tabiang Village)
Rabi Island is another of Northern Fiji´s hidden treasures, rich in history and natural beauty. It is now inhabited by Micronesian people relocated from the equatorial islands of Kiribati after World War II. In the afternoon, you can meet these unusual people, hear their stories and experience their culture. Micronesians are famous for elaborate and powerful dances.

From the village settlement of Tabiang, you can set out on mountain bikes for a scenic ride that includes a beautiful view of the Tunuloa Peninsula and the mouth of Natewa Bay.

In the afternoon, settle in on one of the best white sand beaches in all of Fiji. A chance to explore the area with your camera, by foot or by sea kayak. Weather permitting dinner will be served on this beach in true Pacific Islander style. Watch as the underground oven is created by the chefs.

Activities: Micronesian Dance Performance, Mountain Biking, beach activities.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY THREE: Wednesday (Kioa Island)
In the morning we will pay a brief visit to Somosomo Village, home to the paramount chief of Fiji’s Nothern Islands.

Welcome to the island of Kioa, the only island in Fiji whose people are Polynesian. Originally from the island nation of Tuvalu, the Kioans are masters of handicrafts and fishing. We´ll typically see Kioan fisherman wave to us as they paddle out to sea in their hand-made outrigger canoes. Around midday, we´ll usually visit the village and learn from their elders how these people came to live in Fiji.

This is a great day to get wet! Both the snorkeling and scuba diving sites are considered the best in all of Fiji.

In the afternoon we´ll explore the Tunuloa Peninsula on mountain bikes. You can expect to meet people from villages we pass by (and usually a few kids waving and yelling “BULA!). Bird lovers might spot the rare and beautiful Silktail. This small black bird is endemic to the islands of Taveuni and Vanua Levu, and has recently been classified as a “Near Threatened” species.

Activities: Snorkeling, Mountain Biking, Polynesian Village Visit
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY FOUR: Thursday (Cobia Island, Ringgolds)
By now, you´ll be far away from any main islands, anchored alongside seven tiny atolls. Known as the Ringgold Isles, each is surrounded by a barrier reef that drops into the deep blue sea. Within the reef is a magnificent lagoon, teeming with life and remarkable colors.

We like to spend most of the day near the stunning island of Cobia, a sunken volcanic crater, the inside of which has filled with sea water, forming a mystic lagoon. In the morning we will hike to the summit of the crater. The trail is an interesting terrain of natural steps formed by large tree roots. The island is home to a handful of wild goats and a dense population of fruit bats.

In the afternoon, you can explore the inside of the crater on a kayak. Many guests describe the feeling of floating around the inside of the crater as sublime, experiencing a mix of geologic power and supernatural superstition. The crater edges drop steeply from the summit down to the sea level and the coast varies from mangrove to black rock.

Throughout this day, you´ll have excellent opportunities for swimming and snorkeling. This location usually offers some of the clearest ocean waters on earth. Since the islands are small and positioned in the middle of the deep sea, the visibility often exceeds 120 feet (36 meters). We´ll eat lunch on one of the best beaches in the world, one that only Tui Tai passengers get to enjoy. There are 4 beaches on Cobia Island, lovely places to walk, and you can even enjoy a massage as we set up a spa right on the island.

Activities: Hiking, Snorkeling, Sea Kayaking
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY FIVE: Friday (Taveuni Island, Bouma National Heritage Park)
Welcome to Taveuni, the Garden Island of Fiji. Experience lush rainforests and gushing waterfalls as you visit the Bouma National Heritage Park. One of Fiji´s best conservation and Ecotourism success stories, the National Heritage Park includes 3 sets of waterfalls where you can relax and swim.

After breakfast, set out on mountain bikes along Bouma Road. You´ll pass several villages along the way (remember to smile, wave, and say “Bula!”). The ride is approximately 45-minutes and includes several hills, making it moderately strenuous, so some guests opt to take a van transfer to the park instead of biking. Once we reach the park, the first set of waterfalls is a short 10-minute walk along a nice trail. There’s also a huge pool for swimming, making it an ideal place to relax.

In the afternoon, we have a short sail to the island of Qamea. We will visit tiny and remote Togo Village for a tour and Melanesian cultural performance.

Activities: Mountain Biking, Hiking, Melanesian Village Visit
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY SIX: Saturday (Taveuni Island, Lavena Village)
Also part of the Bouma National Heritage Park is the Lavena Coast. This rugged coastline stretches along the eastern side of Taveuni and contains over 100 waterfalls!

Our exact route depends on the wind and tides. Usually we begin the day on kayaks launched from a white-sand beach in front of Lavena Village. We´ll kayak for about 45 minutes along the coast to the Nacawa River. The river mouth opens and we can continue on kayak about 5 more minutes to a lagoon surrounded by lush rainforest. The lagoon is fed by a staircase of 3 large waterfalls. You can paddle your kayak right into the bottom-most waterfall.

After a swim at the Nacawa River Falls, we´ll kayak back out of the river, about 10-minutes to a landing site on a black-sand beach. From here, we´ll set out on foot hiking the Lavena Coastal Walk. 20-minutes of moderate trail takes us to a river lagoon. From here we have to swim, about 100 feet, to get to a cathedral-like pool with 2 waterfalls emptying into.

On the return hike you will see a variety of beautiful landscapes that make the national park such a treasure: rainforests, waterfalls, rivers, white sand beaches and more. Our naturalist guide will point out some of Fiji´s exotic birds, herbal medicines and important wild crops.

Activities: Sea Kayaking, Hiking
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY SEVEN: Sunday (Albert Cove, Rabi Island)
We return to the island of Rabi, but this time to a different side. Albert Cove is a beautifully protected harbor featuring one of the best white sand beaches in all of Fiji.

This is a great spot to enjoy an idyllic tropical playground. Imagine you were stranded on a deserted tropical island and all you had was, well, everything! You can kayak, snorkel, swim, or just explore the private, remote beach.

Activities: Snorkeling, Sea Kayaking, beach activities
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY EIGHT: Monday (Savusavu)
Time to say goodbye. Here are a few words from the farewell song: “I levu tu na ua…mai na Tui Tai, nanuma tiko ga.” This means “Soon you’ll be sailing far across the sea; but please sometime just try and remember us and remember the Tui Tai.”

Activities: Fiji Farewell Song
Breakfast

VIEW THE IMAGE GALLERY FOR THIS TOUR

RATES:

US$5,350 per person based on Twin Share Expedition Cabin (contact us for single supplement rates).

Includes all transport ex Savusavu in Fiji, all accommodation, all meals and refreshments, all beverages including alcoholic drinks with dinner, and all activities.
Excludes international flights to Fiji/Savusavu, airport taxes and travel visas (if required). Excludes personal travel insurance. Excludes scuba diving and any personal purchases.