A Fiji Christmas Adventure With Locals
10 Days of Fijian Warmth & Hospitality
5 Good Reasons To Do This Trip!
Forget gravy-doused turkey, Christmas dining in Fiji is all about the lovo, an oven of heated volcanic rocks that’s dug into the ground and packed with fish, taro and meat wrapped in banana leaves.
Spend Christmas Day with the locals – church choir ‘n’ all! Swap stories and compare festivities with your own back at home.
Cross two very different, equally astounding coastlines – one a land of cattle ranches and mangrove forests, the other filled with white-sand beaches and coral gardens that would make WA blush.
Join a local kitchen cooperative to unearth the secret spice mixes and traditions of Indo-Fijian cooking. Your taste buds won’t forget this day of okra stir-fries, rotis and turmeric-infused dals.
What better present could the festive season bring than a whole new crew of like-minded globetrotters to ring in the New Year with? Cheers to the future with a glass of bubbles, a fireworks show and your new Fencox friends!
Trip Details
Trip Breakdown
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Length
10 days / 9 nights
Details
- 2 week cooling-off period applies.
- Lifetime Deposit. If you need to cancel, your deposit is transferable to other trips.
- Private room – no sharing required
Please refer to our payment terms in the FAQs.
Arrival
First Landing Resort, near Nadi
Departure
Tanoa International Hotel, Nadi
Group Size
12
Included
- Meals: 9 breakfasts, 8 lunches and 9 dinners
- Private vehicle transportation throughout
- 9 nights boutique and premium accommodation
- A top-rated and English-speaking Trip Leader
- Community church service on Christmas morning
- A traditional Fijian Lovo Christmas Lunch
- New Year’s Eve Dinner and Harbour Cruise
- Ocean swims and snorkelling
- Cooking class and learning about traditional Fijian dishes
- Farm-to-plate experience
- Wine tasting and private dinner
- Explore Suva on foot, guided by a local poet
- Visit community projects, including a wild-grown coffee processing social enterprise
- All listed activities and more!
Not Included
- International Flights and travel insurance (necessary)
- Additional hotel nights & late checkouts
- Drinks and other personal expenses
- Tip kitty (See FAQs for more information)
Accommodation
Your Fencox accommodation means having a private room, all to yourself – every single time.
Accommodation Preview
Tanoa Rakiraki Hotel, Rakiraki
Grand Pacific Hotel, Suva
Bedarra Beach Inn, Korotogo
Day 1 – Welcome to Fiji!
We’ll have someone waiting to get you out of the airport. It should be easy to find them – they’ll be the ones with the ear-to-ear smile that says “welcome to paradise.” Your first hotel is a mere 15 minutes from the terminal, so you’ll be checking in and chilling out before you know it.
But don’t let the jet lag get the best of you just yet, because it’s time to say a big “Bula” to your festive Fencox crew. What’s bula, you ask? It means ‘hello’ in Fijian, but also much more than that – good spirits, good vibes. You know, everything this trip is about!
New friendships are sealed with new foods, as the group settles in for an evening meal of Fijian specialties to get the trip rolling – uber-fresh Macuata Province seafood doused in coconut milk, anyone?
Accommodation: First Landing Resort (or similar), near Nadi
Included: Dinner
Day 2 – Suncoast, here you come
There’s time for a morning swim and a stop by a local market that’s all-a-flurry with locals prepping for their Christmas day family feasts. Then, off to the Suncoast you go! If that sounds like it won’t be a chore, then that’s because it certainly won’t be. This is a pinch-yourself part of the world to travel through – think sugarcane flats melding with green mountains; mangroves here, reefs there. Just be sure the camera is charged before setting off!
Dinner tonight is a spice-plumed deep dive into the world of Indo-Fijian culture. Prep yourself, for it’s a deep dive that’s both uplifting and sobering – the story of a now-thriving island community that’s been through tough times during the decline of the sugarcane industry. The ladies of the Girmit Kitchen Experience will lead the way at their purpose-driven local kitchen cooperative, where you’ll learn how Indian cooking took hold in Fiji. These ladies are forces of nature, not just exceptional cooks. Then it’s time to hit the hotel where you’ll be spending Christmas in the tropics, The Tanoa Rakiraki. There are no views of pristine beaches here – this place is all about mangroves and a local community feel. A splash in the pool is optional, as is a stroll through the township to meet the locals.
Accommodation: Tanoa Rakiraki Hotel (or similar), Rakiraki
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 3 – Christmas Day in Fiji
We promise you this – you’re about to have a Christmas Day as you’ve never had before.
Roll out of bed to realise that Santa has been, and he’s brought tropical warmth and a fine breakfast buffet served at the hotel. There’s an extra surprise in the mix this morning, too. A hint: you may want to do a little vocal warm-up over your pancakes! Heading to church may not be everyone’s usual way to start Christmas back home, but this is something entirely different. Today’s congregational experience has big voices, big hearts and an unmissable atmosphere.
Next is lunch, and the locals take it from there. They’ll welcome you like you’re one of the family. Your ticket is a traditional sevusevu – an offering made to the village chief. Then it’s time for Fiji’s version of roast turkey and potatoes: lovo. It’s a millennia-old way of cooking that uses an underground oven, and you will be called upon this Christmas to help roast the taro roots and meat cuts in the subterranean fire pit. Don’t worry, you’ll also be called upon to eat them until you can eat no more!
There’s no cure for festive gluttony quite like a dip in the ocean. Your guide knows just the spot, and they’ll whisk you there to wash away any taro-induced laziness in the fresh, salty waters of the Pacific come the evening. Take some time there on the beach to meditate and mull just how different this day is to what you usually do!
Accommodation: Tanoa Rakiraki Hotel (or similar), Rakiraki
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Christmas lunch in Fiji
There’s none of the roast turkey and all the trimmings here – the traditional Christmas meal eaten in family homes (and on our trip) is Fijian lovo. It’s a way of cooking that dates back centuries and closely resembles age-old techniques used across Polynesia. It begins with a pit dug straight into the ground, that’s filled with volcanic rocks and lit ablaze. As the fire cools, chefs add layers of meat, fish, taro root and cassava all tightly packed in wraps of banana leaves. Those can be left for hours to slowly steam in the earth. It’s a ritual as much as a means of getting dinner, but the finished product is a smoky, tender smorgasbord of food like you’ve never had before, at least not on Christmas Day!
Day 4 – A lazy Boxing Day on the beach
Which Boxing Day doesn’t deserve to be a chill day? It’s time to relax and unwind, tropical island style.
Our guide has pinpointed a secret little snorkelling spot for the morning, so go introduce yourself to the local clownfish and sea turtles. You’ll then set up camp for the day on nearby Volivoli Beach, where a picnic lunch in the shade of low-stooping palm trees seems like a great way to dust off the Christmas gorging.
There might also be a chance for an optional massage later on. Call it a present… to yourself.
Accommodation: Tanoa Rakiraki Hotel (or similar), Rakiraki
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 5 – Locally Grown Goodness and a Sunset Swim
Without giving too much away about your prized lunch spot today, suffice to say it will be rural, a true farm-to-plate experience, and there’ll be some medicinal learnings along the way.
After lunch, you’ll pop back to your hotel for a freshen up – don’t forget to pack your swimmers. There’s an afternoon of wine and weaving planned, and sunset by a villa pool with Vatu-i-Ra Islands views. There’s nowhere to travel for dinner – it’s homemade and private, just for you and your Fencoxers tonight.
Accommodation: Tanoa Rakiraki Hotel (or similar), Rakiraki
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 6 – The road to Suva
Okay, so today’s a travel day, but you should know by now that there’s no such thing as a boring travel day in Fiji. Our direction is the King’s Road, a long, winding highway that crosses grassy paddocks and rich sugarcane farms before wiggling through hills where frangipani and hibiscus burst from the sidelines.
There are plenty of pitstops where you’ll hop out and stretch your legs. Perhaps you’ll want to sample a fresh banana bought from a roadside stall? They’re everywhere. Maybe you’ll want to peer in to see the stirring murals at the Church of the Black Christ? No problem. And then there’s the string of villages and their ever-smiling inhabitants. You’ll visit those, too.
Arrival in Suva, the capital of Fiji, means a new hotel – but boy, what a hotel it is. Known as the grand old dame, it once even hosted royalty!
Accommodation: Grand Pacific Hotel (or similar), Suva
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 7 – Suva
Meet a local poet of Suva and let them help you get to grips with the closest thing Fiji has to a big, bustling metropolis. You’ll wander and wonder – glance this way to see the bright effigies of a Hindu temple, glance that way to spy out the vintage facades with a whiff of colonialism about them.
Your guide should come in extra handy as you dive headlong into the sensory overload that is Suva Municipal Market. Seafood scents the air as you dodge huge stacks of cassava and breadfruit there, ducking under bails of tobacco leaves, and ping-ponging through coconut stands.
After lunch at one of our in-the-know kitchens in the capital, the group makes for the Fiji Museum. The visit is a two-parter. Part one – a guided run-through of the most important exhibits with an expert to tell the story of this amazing country. Part two – a walk-through at your pace. Your hotel is just down the road, so don’t rush. There are artefacts in there dating back a whopping 3,700 years, after all!
Accommodation: Grand Pacific Hotel (or similar), Suva
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 8 – Culture Crafts and Coffee
Day 8 is a real Fijian hodgepodge. It’ll feel like you’re back in Suva’s hectic market as you flit from cultural centres to crab shacks to coffee plantations. Just rest assured that there are buckets of fun to be had along the way!
The first move is a jaunt down the Coral Coast – and, yes, that really is as lovely as the name implies. Wisps of white sand spill from the palm forests as you cruise the shoreline to a place called Pacific Harbour. It’s coffee time at the Arts Collective. There’s also a bundle of local crafts to shop – a chance to support local artisans and stock up on gifts for friends back home at the same time.
A short pitstop at a beach shack for a seafood lunch and then we’re back at it, fuelled by the caffeine-infused brews of Bula Coffee HQ. They’re a pretty impressive outfit. All beans are picked in the wild highlands of the island, they have a total commitment to zero deforestation, and – of course – the coffee is tasty to boot!
Accommodation: Bedarra Beach Inn (or similar), Korotogo
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 9 – Your New Year’s Eve in Fiji
If you thought yesterday was a wild ride, today’s probably going to be even wilder. But, hey, it’s New Years Eve, and it’s your final day hanging in this tropical paradise with these wonderful Fencoxers. So, bring on those wild rides! Start with sand dunes. Specifically, start with the Sigatoka Sand Dunes, where you’ll step onto fantastical mounds of beige powder that sweep down to meet the ultra-blue of the Pacific. They’re stunning, but also steeped in history – some of the earliest stone tools and pottery fragments ever found in Fiji were found right here on these dusty coast hills, so keep your eyes peeled!
Retreat to your last hotel for a freshen up before heading out to kick-start those NYE celebrations. They begin in bustling Port Denarau. This won’t be like anywhere you’ve encountered on the trip so far. It’s no rural enclave or secret beach, but rather a happening hub for mass tourism. We’d say you’ve earned a bit of mainstream enjoyment, so grab a cocktail and watch the package holiday hordes going about their business, content in the knowledge that you’ve seen the real Fiji.
Talking of the real Fiji, you’re about to tap your feet and swing your hips in its name, for the group has a show booked over at VOU Hub, a local dance cooperative where the beats are infectious.
What follows is dinner and a harbour cruise – in what order, we’ll keep a surprise for now. What’s for sure is you’ll be ringing in the new year with fireworks and a glass of sparkling with your Fencox mates!
Accommodation: Tanoa International Hotel (or similar), Nadi
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 10 – Departure
As sunrise glows on a new day and a new year this morning, you’ll wake to a sad thing – the official endpoint of this romp through paradise. But why not make a resolution? Why not get that Fencox crew together and promise yourselves to explore, adventure and bond more over future trips? Swap numbers to make that happen, and then we’ll whisk you back to the airport to meet your flight home.
Included: Breakfast
Trip Map
Frequently Asked Questions
Prior to the payment of your full balance, the final price may change if there is a significant variation in the AUD:FJD exchange rate. Our trip pricing is determined by what the exchange rates are at the time of publishing the trip.
The pricing on this trip is based on an exchange rate of 1 AUD : 1.54 FJD.
A deposit of 25% of the total trip price is required to secure your spot. Payment can be made by credit card (fees apply) or bank deposit.
There is a cooling-off period of 2 weeks. (Applicable to all bookings made at least 120 days before trip departure.)
We have implemented a ‘lifetime deposit’ guarantee. Deposits are not refundable, but they are transferable at any time, right up until the first day of the trip.
The final balance of the trip is required 95 days in advance of the departure date. Our suppliers require upfront payment well in advance to guarantee availability.
Please refer to the full terms and conditions for further information.
Australian and New Zealand passport holders do not require a visa to travel to Fiji for tourism purposes for stays of up to 4 months. They must have a valid passport and a return or onward ticket.
Level 1
So long as you have a general level of health and fitness, you’ll be fine. To enjoy this trip, you’ll need to be able to spend time on your feet and regularly walk for 2-3 hours. Daily activities might include:
- Walking on uneven and hilly ground
- Getting on and off various forms of transportation
- Climbing stairs – some of the hotels are boutique and will not have an elevator
- You may also encounter over-the-bath showers in some of the accommodations
- Swimming activities
Activities are optional, meaning that if you don’t feel like it, you can skip it, but it will be impossible to enjoy your trip if you’re not able to do a walking tour for a full afternoon. Unfortunately, this tour cannot accommodate people requiring walking aids.
Most of our trips have a tip kitty because many cultures have interesting and diverse rules when it comes to tips. We’ve found it to be the easiest way to combat over-tipping, under-tipping or having the tip fall into the wrong hands. Our goal is for guests to relax and know that the complexities of tipping are taken care of, on their behalf.
We’ll be updating this section with the tipping amount and how it’s distributed, soon.
TBA
DECEMBER AND JANUARY
Around Christmas time in Fiji, the weather is typically hot and tropical, with daytime temperatures around 28–31°C and warm evenings near 23–24°C. The sea is beautifully warm (around 27–28°C), and while it’s the wetter season, showers are usually brief and help keep the landscape lush and green.
Whenever we can, we’ve chosen charming boutique stays that capture the spirit of the region, mostly around 3-star comfort, and occasionally we’ve snuck in some 4-star touches. Sometimes it’s the shared patio views or unique location that make a hotel stand out. Other times, it’s the local character that makes the stay special, and in some spots, rooms might differ in size and style.
Your accommodation will be private; in other words, no room-sharing with anyone, throughout the entire trip.
Most Fencox travellers tend to be in their mid-50s to mid-70s.
Generally, we have no upper age limit for our trips. But, it’s important for you to know that our trips can be physically demanding and we will chat to you about your suitability. We’ll provide you with details of the health and fitness must-haves for our trips; however, we clearly are not medical experts. We will need you to obtain proper and detailed medical advice at least two months before you travel for the latest health requirements, vaccination advice and recommendations for your destination.
Age 75+
Guests over 75 years old at the time of travel, or those with pre-existing health conditions may need to have medical clearance to ensure safe travel, and must have a doctor complete a ‘Certificate of Medical Fitness to Travel’ within 30 days of booking confirmation.
Minimum age
While it doesn’t happen often, we do get younger guests joining our trips! As a general rule, the minimum age is 15 at the time of travel. All travellers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a legal guardian, or be accompanied by someone over the age of 18 appointed by their legal guardian.
International airfares are not included.
Being tour operators (not travel agents), we are not licensed to sell flights. We recommend contacting your trusted local travel agent to book flights if you’re in need of assistance.
This trip begins and ends in Nadi, Fiji. We recommend that you fly into Nadi International Airport. Both transfers – on arrival and on departure are included in your price.
For travelers from Australia and New Zealand, there are direct flight options available.
Yes! A friendly Fencox representative will meet you upon arrival and take you to either the Start Hotel (for Pre-Trip or Day 1 check-in) or to another hotel within a reasonable distance that you’ve independently booked as Alternative Pre-Trip Accommodation. At the end of your trip, we’ll see you off with a departure transfer from the Trip-End Hotel.
The official currency in Fiji is the Fijian Dollar (FJD). Foreign currencies are not accepted in Fiji, so it’s recommended to bring FJD or have access to local currency upon arrival. You can exchange Australian, US, or New Zealand dollars for Fijian dollars.
ATMs are widely available, and credit cards are accepted in many places. However, be mindful that many businesses apply a 3% surcharge for credit card payments.
In smaller towns and villages, cash is preferred, so it’s a good idea to have Fijian dollars on hand.
In the unlikely event of a health or security related incident during a trip, we’ve engaged a local partner to assist. From our experience, there is not one framework that fits all, and every incident is unique and requires a different approach. With all trips, your guides are your day-to-day support. While behind the scenes, there is an active line of communication – between your guide, the on-ground support team, and Australian Ops.
Fencox was created because we had so many enquiries from men and women who had heard about our amazing Patch Adventures trips for women-only and wanted the opportunity to travel solo in the same way, only in a mixed group.
Fencox caters to both men and women who are solo travellers, have a genuine sense of adventure, are aged 55+, and are physically active and young at heart. Your fellow travel mates on a Fencox trip are inquisitive about the world and love exploring new travel destinations. Fencox travel mates love meeting new people, enjoy a good chat, and are happy to share a table with fellow travel mates for dinner.
If you’re travelling solo but don’t want to feel alone, this is your opportunity to share your travel experiences with other like-minded people. And best of all …. you’ll never pay a single supplement because everyone is guaranteed their own room!
