Coral Coast Fiji Cultural Week
Trip Details
Coral Coast Fiji Cultural Week
Add our Coral Coast Fiji Cultural Week to your Fijian Project!
Time to get yourself some Happy on our Coral Coast Fiji Cultural Week! Here, you will find the happiest and friendliest people on earth – and little wonder! Paradise awaits you as you join the TRU team on this incredible week of sunshine, dance, music and crafts! This project is the perfect way to immerse yourself in Fiji’s culture and activities before starting out on your project.
Find Sun, Fun and Harmony on the Beautiful Island of Fiji!
The Fijian way of life is known for its positive traditions and etiquette. You will get a taste of living here, as you join a kava ceremony during your stay, whilst also visiting the Fijian markets, attending classes on weaving, cooking – and learning the Fijian language! The week consists of three days of activities to introduce you to the Fijian culture and surroundings whilst you lap up this paradisian atmosphere. During the last two days of the week, you will be visiting your project to get a feel for the week ahead.
Find Adventure for Adrenaline Junkies, or simply Chill …
Fiji is, of course, one of the most popular destinations in the world, and you’ll meet a lot of great people here to share stories with as you relax under a sun canopy or explore the island’s idyllic surroundings. It’s also a great way to really get to know fellow volunteers who may be on your project for the following week. Head out together for some surfing, shark feeding or an exciting four-wheel-drive tour. Or if you’re feeling brave, head to Beqa Island for some fire-walking! Alternatively, keep your feet cool with a walk through Fiji’s lush rainforests, rivers and waterfalls – all at your back door!
Why book our Coral Coast Fiji Cultural Week?
- Learn about Fiji’s culture, cuisine and warm community
- Take on some great classes in crafts, cooking and language
- Relax and enjoy simply ‘being’, in one of the most beautiful spots on the planet
- Meet fellow volunteers and plan your own excursions through the week
- Stay at our beachfront centre in Sigatoka (depending on your project)
- Enjoy Fijian food with all meals and beverages included in the programme
*tea, coffee and drinking water
Get in touch to find out more or browse through our many other volunteer experiences.
Trip Itinerary
These tropical islands are home to some of the happiest people on Earth. The unique blend of culture and nature can be seen throughout Fiji and in virtually every aspect of your stay – from the food, festivals, rituals and the arts. During your Coral Coast Fiji Cultural Week, you will get familiar with all of these aspects as you explore this tropical paradise!
Your Week Ahead …
Highlights: Monday to Friday
- Introduction regarding the culture and people of Fiji
- Sessions on safety, transport and do’s and don’ts
- Sigatoka town and the village visits
- Attend a weaving class
- Attend a class to learn the Fijian language and Fijian cooking
- Experience a traditional Fijian welcome ceremony called a ‘Kava Ceremony’.
- Make friends around the world! – take part in our cultural exchange session where you share your culture with the fellow participants
- Visit your project placement sites and get to know the projects you will be working on
Trip Accommodation
Stay with the TRU team on the most idyllic location on the planet! Your Coral Coast Fiji Cultural Week takes place along the Coral Coast which connects Suva and Sigatoka, with beaches as far as the eye can see!
About the Accommodation
Depending on the project you are moving on to, you will stay at our beachfront centre which is located in the Sigatoka area. Here, your room will be within a male/female separated dorm and will usually have between 4 – 6 people in each room with a private bathroom. In addition, there are refrigerators at the accommodation for volunteers to store their own food and snacks if they choose. The house also has a communal garden as well as a volleyball court. Lastly, please note that whilst there is Wifi available at the accommodation, volunteers staying for a long period may choose to get a local sim card to stay in touch with family and friends.
Food Arrangements
During the week, you will have 3 meals a day, and at weekends we serve breakfast and dinner. Breakfast is western style and lunch and dinner are typically Fijian style cuisine.
Facilities
ATM’s: There are many ATM’s near the centre which is about a 5 to 10 minutes from the house, and the local supermarket is a 5-minute walk from the centre. Also, for those who wish to buy a personal SIM card for their mobile, these are available at the local shop. Additionally, if you wish to visit Nadi, the closest city, it’s about 1.5 hours from the centre, with public transport regularly available. Finally, should you need medical attention at any point during your stay, there is a medical centre, 10 mins away from your accommodation.
Things to Do
- Sigatoka sand dunes
- Kila Eco Adventure Park: enjoy high rope course, a leap of faith and a giant swing.
- Scuba and snorkelling
- Tavuni Hill Fort
- Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course
- Sigatoka Market.
- Arts Village at Pacific Harbour: Enjoy the footbridges, the water-lily ponds, the pathways, the Fijian bure and experience how life was in the olden days!
Trip Country Info
Fiji
Capital: Suva
Language: Fijian
Currency: Fijian Dollar (FJD)
Time zone: ICT (UTC +7)
Country Information
Fiji is an archipelago of 333 sun-kissed, picture perfect islands tucked away in the South Pacific, close to Australia and New Zealand.
It’s famed for its rugged landscape of blue lagoons and palm-lined beaches, and eco-activities from mountain climbing and surfing to soft-coral diving and zip-lining. Its major islands, Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, contain the lion’s share of the population, meaning much of the country is uncrowded.
The 20th century brought about important economic changes in Fiji as well as the maturation of its political system. Fiji developed a major sugar industry and established productive copra milling, tourism and secondary industries.
As the country now diversifies into small-scale industries, the economy is strengthened and revenues provide for expanded public works, infrastructure, health, medical services and education.
The country’s central position in the region has been strengthened by recent developments in sea and air communications and transport. Today, Fiji plays a major role in regional affairs and is recognised as the focal point of the South Pacific.
Fiji is now home to many other races — Indians, Part Europeans, Chinese and other Pacific islanders living in harmony, and keeping their own cultures and identity. Fijians, slightly over 50 per cent of the total population, are essentially members of communities. They live in villages and do things on a communal basis.
Climate
The climate in Fiji is tropical marine and warm year round with minimal extremes. The warm season is from November to April and the cooler season lasts from May to October. Temperature in the cool season still averages 22 °C (72 °F).
Rainfall is variable, with the warm season experiencing heavier rainfall, especially inland. Winds are moderate, though cyclones occur about once a year (10–12 times per decade).
Culture
Fiji was first settled about three and a half thousand years ago. The original inhabitants are now called “Lapita people” after a distinctive type of fine pottery they produced, remnants of which have been found in practically all the islands of the Pacific, east of New Guinea, though not in eastern Polynesia. Linguistic evidence suggests that they came from northern or central Vanuatu, or possibly the eastern Solomons.
Before long they had moved further on, colonising Rotuma to the north, and Tonga and Samoa to the east. From here, vast distances were crossed to complete the settlement of the Pacific to Hawaii in the north, Rapanui (Easter Island) in the east and Aotearoa (New Zealand) in the south.
Unlike the islands of Polynesia which showed a continuous steadily evolving culture from initial occupation, Fiji appears to have undergone at least two periods of rapid culture change in prehistoric times.
Participant Criteria & Requirements
Standard Requirements
Travel Insurance |
Under 18, Parental Consent is Required |
Additional Requirements
Open Mind |
What's included
- 24/7 support in case of emergencies
- Accommodation
- Airport Pick up
- English speaking coordinator
- Meals
- Orientation
What's not included
- Airport drop off
- Flights
- Travel insurance
- Vaccination
- Visa