What to Expect

Are you ready for the adventure of your life?

While it’s not the “Ritz Carlton”, it’s not grass sleeping mats and gecko curry either. It is in fact very comfortable. See below for more information.

The Transport

We will meet you at the Savusavu town bus terminal and put you on the correct local bus to the Kioa Island drop off point. There you will be met by a village boat for transfer to the island. The local buses are………rustic. Some even have an external roll up canvas blind to protect passengers from the rain, but they have never failed to get me where I’m going.

The Beach

There are not acres of sand but there is certainly plenty to spread your towel on and catch some rays if that happens to be on your agenda. Don’t forget your sunscreen.

Bedding

In most cases you will have a room to yourself, or yourselves should you be a couple, with a comfortable double bed, on a base with a mosquito net. I am not a great sleeper but sleep quite well on the island. The roosters can be noisy so I would pack ear plugs if you are a light sleeper.

Coffee shop

The over-water coffee shop was built by the villagers and only opened in August 2023. As mentioned, Kioa is the only village I know of that grinds its own beans and makes a pretty good cappuccino. The ambience is terrific, and they sell basic meals. It is a wonderful place to sit and read or meet with friends for a coffee to contemplate the day’s events.

Activities

As much as the trip is about blending into village life, the trip is about you. If a particular group has a specific list of things they wish to do, they can discuss this with their host who will endeavour to accommodate it. Some of the activities will be weather dependent, so expect a little change if conditions are less than perfect. Some of the available activities are listed below.

Hiking

There are several different guided hikes catering to different levels of fitness where you can explore as much or as little as you feel up to. Your guide will describe how the village people use different plants and herbs in daily use and other points of interest along the way. Take your camera as some of the views from the mountains out to sea are spectacular. Your guide will carry a first aid kit during the more remote trips.

Boat Tour

You will be taken on a scenic boat ride to take in some of the beautiful views from the ocean. It’s common to see fish jumping.

Fishing

Will be from a boat like what you came across in, usually for 2-3hrs. The Kioans are renowned as some of the worlds greatest fishermen having forged their existence from the ocean’s bounty for hundreds, possibly thousands of years. 

They have a particular jigging technique which to my knowledge is unique. You will see home made lures more effective than anything purchased in store.

If the sea is kind, you may well bring home the fish that will end up on your table.

Snorkelling

Can either be done from shore or from a boat. If you are inexperienced, you may choose to do a little from shore where there is still plenty to see and let your guide teach you the intricacies of using a snorkel. If your confidence should improve, you can do a boat trip if the opportunity arises. The boat trip will again be for 2-3hrs and take in some wonderful reefs that at times look more like an aquarium.

Basket Weaving

Join the locals in a basket weaving experience. It is sure to be full of laughs and good will. A great rainy-day activity.

Toddy harvesting and processing

You are unlikely to ever see this in a normal Fijian village. Toddy is the juice that comes from the shoot that produces the coconut bunch. Many cultures around the world harvest this juice from coconut palms. It has a natural yeast and is high in sugar. The backyard brewers amongst you will have already figured out that these are the basic ingredients for making alcohol, and they would be right. The juice self-ferments very quickly. The alcohol content rises to peak in as little as 3-4 days, at which time it is delicious, and then quickly turns to vinegar. It is also boiled down to a molasses type substance that is called Toddy jam. To me this is Toddy at its finest. It is often mixed with butter to make a spread for toast. Enjoy!

Bities and Other Wildlife

There are NO poisonous spiders, snakes or insects on Kioa. The mosquitoes are no worse than anywhere else. The mosquito nets on the beds are there because of the absence of fly screens in most cases. It’s one of the few places in the world where you can dive headfirst into a pile of long grass without worrying about poisonous bities. There are bee’s, wasps and the odd fly like everywhere else.

The Bottom Line

The bottom line is that this will most likely be different to any holiday you have experienced. There is no glitz and glamor, and no well rehearsed routines. It’s just simple, honest fun. 

You will arrive with apprehension, which very quickly disappears, and leave feeling sad to leave this beautiful place and it’s amazing people, whose friendly, accommodating nature will be akin to that of family.

You must also know that you will leave the community you visit with greater opportunities to provide for themselves because most of your dollars are staying with them, as opposed to contributing to the bottom line of a multi national corporation. It is the ultimate example of providing a hand up, instead of a hand out while providing one of the best value for money experiences the South Pacific has to offer.

Enjoy!