Summer High School Programs in Fiji with Rustic Pathways

It was a really fun trip! Our troop leaders were amazing; they were so nice and the perfect fit for our group. The kids in my group were all so nice. Our group was special and we all had a great bond. The experience was great! We explored all over the country. It exposed us to different views in Fiji. We got to immerse ourselves in the culture, while going to a few resorts and enjoying the beautiful nature Fiji has to offer, as well as the fun activities (snorkeling, scuba diving, hiking).
I came back home feeling happy that I went on the trip!

This past summer I visited Fiji on the sun, sand, and service program and going on this trip was probably the best decision I have ever made. Before making my decision to travel abroad to Fiji, I had my heart set on Laos. Unfortunately things fell through so my parents had forced me to pick another program. I chose Fiji as the country I wanted to travel to. Flash forward to embarking on my journey, The staff at the airport were super helpful. I did arrive 12 hours early for my flight, but in no time I found another rustic person rocking the green shirt.

Now for my time in Fiji. Fiji is a beautiful place with beautiful people and I hope that one day I can live there and help people with more time. The staff at the base house were great! I loved my program leader so much they became my favorite people ever. I had Sam and Wane. If you don't know if you like service or not, do not stop yourself from choosing this program with heavy hours. The website says 60 hours, but really it feels like 10, because you'll be having so much fun it wont feel long at all. There were only a couple of things I didn't enjoy while at the base. The food. I went in expecting that the food was not going to be like America but some days the food just looked so unappetizing I couldn't eat it, but I'm not saying that all the meals were bad. One day they made spring rolls and I ate so many. Another issue I had was when the water would shut off or we would just run out. The toilets, sinks, and showers wouldn't work all at once and somedays that really stunk. But many of the program leaders at the base say that the water situation never happens so I'm sure it won't happen to you. I stayed at the base house for two weeks and these were the only two things I could find wrong with it. For service in general, I really enjoyed every project I did. You have to be ok with getting dirty. The only thing I didn't like was how they split up the sun sand group into two, but in the end we all bonded and made really strong ties.

If you do choose to go on a weekend side trip I highly recommend Highlands. When visiting the Highlands the culture is extremely different than anything you're probably used too. I really enjoyed immersing myself in a totally different culture.

If you are thinking about going to Fiji in the future with Rustic do not hesitate to choose a base house program. You will meet people from everywhere. Another thing I want to tell you is to read the itinerary for your trip but just know that your trip is going to be very different than what they say on the website. Every day was something new and I loved it. Also the packing list. Follow it or don't. I personally followed it word for word and I felt like I needed more things, so bring whatever you think you will need. I have friends who didn't follow it and some didn't have the right clothes and others did so it's completely a you thing.

One last thing is go in and have fun. Meet new people. Sometimes your not going to like everyone and thats ok but if I were you, just keep it to yourself until the end of your trip. My Rustic trip was amazing and really impacted me.

I had the greatest experience on this trip. Every person I met was very nice and friendly. Service activities were for the most part fun. Teaching and playing with the village children was so much fun. Other activities like the greenhouse and chicken coops were less fun but it was still good service. The local staff are the nicest people you will ever meet. They know everyones name and are engaging. Overall, I highly recommend this trip. It is an experience you can't get anywhere else.

I was on the BFE trip in July 2017. It was my first trip with Rustic Pathways, and would definitely recommend this trip to anyone, first timers and alumni! It gave me a true sense of what Fiji really is from the tourist perspective but the local as well.
For the first week we stayed on an island resort, Leleuvia, and villas in Pacific Harbor. Leleuvia was the most "touristy" we got as a trip but that never got to the group and me. We interacted with the locals by playing volleyball, opening coconuts, and talking to them whenever the chance was given. The pacific harbor experience was amazing. Every night we all ate dinner together and our bonds became so strong. Whoever you encounter on the trip, Rustic Pathways student, leader or local, will turn into family within the first few moments of meeting them.
The most memorable part of the trip was the last week, which was spent in villages. The first was Somosomo. It is located among the Yasawa Islands. We all developed a love for all the villagers who welcomed us to their home with open arms. The second village was in the highlands. This was our last destination before the heading home. It was like the locals were part of our group. We loved them as if they were family.
I had heard too that in the past the trips were flip-floped from ours. (Villages at the beginning and Leleuvia at the end). I thought the layout of our itinerary was the perfect way to experience Fiji. We got closer through the trip as we had to live in more and more rustic conditions the longer time we spent in the country.
My group was absolutely amazing along with my local Fijian leader Akuila. The trip as a whole has not only impacted me in an amazing way, but also was incredibly memorable. Thank you Rustic for an amazing two weeks!

I went on the sun, sand and service program July 11th- July 26th and it was absolutely amazing! During the trip we volunteered at local schools and taught lessons there. I taught grades 1+2 my first time teaching and although the language Barrier was a little difficult, I had an amazing time teaching! The following week I taught grades 5+6 and that was my favorite! All of the kids were very smart and so much fun to be around! My favorite service that we did was working at the loloma house and serving them meals. We made them meals and them served it to the families and got to talk to the children. It was so much fun! Other service projects we worked on was building bathrooms and painting schools. After service we did fun activities such as kayaking and going to the mud pools. The staff was all very accepting and friendly. It was the locals working at base that made this trip the most memorable for me. Thank you so much rustic for giving me this experience!

When I first signed up for this trip I was slightly apprehensive because my previous Rustic trip, Lake Titicaca service adventure, was so incredible I didn't think it could be topped. I was wrong. This trip was not only fun but also so informative about marine life and our effects on the ocean. On our trip we had many informative talks about sharks, tides, invasive species, coral bleaching, and fish. After our discussions and talks we always had the chance to be hands on in the water. This trip allowed us to see everything we learned about first hand. Throughout the trip we stayed in nice beachfront and marine friendly resorts. We also had the chance to stay at a local village. Here, we stayed in safari style tents and we let on cots. While it was the most rustic sleeping arrangement on this trip, it was the most memorable. Getting to help the locals who hosted us by planting coral and removing invasive species was such a rewarding experience. Some of the most memorable experiences were snorkeling with sharks and planting and cleaning coral. Our leaders were incredibly educated and always teaching us new things. They got us excited in the service we were partaking in. This trip was so eye opening and made me aware of our effects on this earth. I got to see the effects of climate change first hand. It was so fun seeing everyone on my trip get so excited and involved in our marine work. Our leaders did an amazing job educating us and this trip was truly unforgettable.

My experience in Fiji was absolutely incredible - the locals were kind and informative, the group leaders were fantastically matched with our group, and Rustic did an incredible job forming an itinerary with the most activities possible for our two weeks. Our group, focused on environmental restoration in Fiji, snorkeled, planted coral, and so much more, all while learning an immense amount about climate change, local species, and ways we could be environmentally friendly. Do not be turned off by a trip you think focuses more on an educational area! Rustic promotes learning through action and hands-on activities coupled with interactive discussions, a combination that makes for an environment that fosters learning and encourages curiosity and passions. We climbed to watch sunrises and sunsets, jumped off sand dunes, and spent much of our time outdoors - Fiji is, quite literally, one of the most beautiful places you could ever visit in your life. The weather is amazing, the culture rich, and the people friendly and open. My favorite memory was being able to dive in a coral reef about 15 feet and see white-tip sharks up close. Observing animals in their natural habitats and learning about what you can do to help them is a wonderful and eye-opening experience. After my trip, I have gone vegan to save water and prevent pollution, and have decided that I want to go into conservation work when I am older, both as a direct result of my trip. I could not recommend a program more highly.

This trip exceeded my expectations. The amount of love you feel from the locals and staff instantly after arriving was amazing. There was also an amazing balance of life changing service and activities. The staff does an amazing job at creating personal connections with everyone there and that makes the trip so much more special. I would strongly recommend this trip (or any rustic trip) to anyone thinking about traveling with them.