Fiji: Sun, Sand, and Island Service with Rustic Pathways

This trip was amazing. There was such a good balance of service and fun outings/activities. What really made it special for me was the connection you made with the locals. Everyone was so excited to see you no matter where you went and were always super thankful in the villages we worked in! The leaders & staff also put such a good effort in making strong personal connections within the first few days which made the experience that much more memorable.

This program was absolutely amazing. All of the staff are so helpful and nice. I left a boyfriend's tee shirt on the plane after getting back to LA, and the plane guide person with Rustic was so sweet and helped me get it back and consoled me while I was crying my eyeballs out. Then when I got sick from dehydration they were so sweet and got me crackers, water, electrolyte packets, anything I needed. Then the trip itself was the perfect mix of fun and service. Plus the service was fun. 10/10 recommend !!!!

When I signed up for the Marine Biology trip to Fiji, I was so excited. I love engaging in new experiences and making friends from all over the world. However, my expectations were quickly depleted. To start off, the social environment of the trip was awful. Everyone was super cliquey, and it reminded me of middle school. There were 2 distinct friend groups on the trip, and if possible, they had little interaction as possible. It wasn't a fun environment to be stuck in for 16 days. Because of this, I was incredibly homesick for most of the trip.

Next, my initial trip leaders were rude and distant towards me. They made us do push-ups if we were even 5 minutes late to an activity. I understand if timeliness is important, but then in turn, they themselves would be 30 minutes late to an activity. The hypocrisy drove me insane. The two trip leaders made no effort to befriend me, and only learned my name 4 days into the trip, even though there are only 15 children and we spent all day together. When I informed my trip leaders of an intense skin reaction I was having that looked like chicken pox, they told me to "get used to it" and that I would probably have it for the next 3 weeks, giving me no medicine or actual diagnosis. Needless to say, that wasn't comforting at all. Then, I continuously had stomach problems because my body had a hard time adjusting to Fijian food, and when I told my trip leaders, they either didn't believe me or acted irritated. In addition, they advised against using medicine I had brought on the trip for that specific sickness. Overall, they did very little to help me adjust and made me grow less likely to reach out to them for help.

Lastly, the simple day-to-day living environment was a bit tricky as well. I was surprised to find myself without warm water or electricity for more than half the trip. I was essentially camping, which wasn't what I had initially signed up for. Herds of rats came into my tent 3 nights in a row, preventing me from getting very much sleep. As for the food, a lot of it was inedible because they didn't remove the bones, so I found myself incredibly hungry and ended up eating unhealthy foods to make up for my loss of food intake. The daily activities were fun, but sometimes a bit too intense. A mandatory 3 hour hike in the hottest part of the day made one of my friends vomit and made us an hour and a half late to lunch, when we were all hungry before we even left. Unfortunately, I wouldn't recommend this trip to my friends.

This was literally the best time of my life. Nothing in my life has topped this thus far. I've traveled to many countries and I've done many volunteer hours back in America, however, this trip truly made an impact on me. Not only did Intro to Community Service help perform tasks and volunteer hours that truly made an impact in the community, the people and friends that I met through this program are unforgettable. We were building a flush toilet in a village that previously shared one between the entire village. It made me appreciate so much. It was amazing to see how we were actually making a difference. Also, my group was told that we were the most compatible and fun group. The leaders and Fijians made our group. Simen, Sophia, Sam, Max, Julie, Hollie and many others made this trip the best. I cried about 8 times when leaving the Eco-lodge and the airport. I'm so upset that I didn't do a longer trip. I hope I encounter those people later in my life. I can't wait to visit Fiji again. I've cherished every moment in Fiji with the best group leaders and friends. Can't wait for the reunion in Portugal!!!

My time spent with Rustic Pathways was the best! I was able to experience a new culture and met new people from all over! During out trip we got to work with some amazing people who really helped up out with the marine service we did. I am very interested in marine biology, and this trip was great for that. I saw sharks, learned new things about the ocean, tried foods I'd never imagined I'd try before, met unique people and saw some of the most beautiful coral reefs ever! Food was pretty good as long as you're not too picky. The Fijian people are the best ever and they act like you're their family. The accommodations were nice. At first we stayed at this sort of rustic resort Kuata Island. So beautiful and it was my favorite spot, despite the cold showers. Then we went into the village of Somosomo which was more rustic where we stayed in tents with cots. Still had a great time! Lastly we finished off the trip with adventuring around the main island, where we stayed at many different places that we all equally as nice. No 5 star hotels but still it was awesome! Go into it with an open mind and a positive attitude and you'll have such a great time!

would also recommend getting scuba certified and going on the shark dive they offer as an optional activity- pricey but SO worth it!
Other tip- I wish I had brought some warmer clothes like sweatpants and more than 1 sweatshirt. It rained while we were in Fiji and got windy and a little cold.

Making the desicion to travel to Fiji by myself into the unknown was difficult but Rustic Pathways gave me the experience of a lifetime on the school leavers program. Living and staying in a unique Fijian village have me an insight into the amazing culture the country has to offer. The support staff were beautiful and did everything to tend to anyone's needs, even travelling a distance away to collect ice every day for my medication. Their Fijian and village background makes them so knowledgable and they were great fun to be around. The 3 days in Nadi was a great way to end the trip, and the activities the company planned were a great way to see another side of Fiji. Cannot recommend this trip enough

Fiji was spectacular to say the least. I had so much fun and made unforgettable memories. My absolute favorite part was swimming in the ocean. The food was yummy. I wish I could go back. I learned how to speak a bit of Fijian. The location was beautiful. Plus, I had such a fun group! I still contact some of my fellow travelers. Being in Fiji was one of the greatest times of my life. The weather was hot, and I loved it! I strongly urge others to go on this.

Amazing trip - often reminisced and perfect for first time overseas travellers.
The school leavers trip was perfect for a celebration after exams and a stressful year of study where you have the support of a local and a group leader and get to both relax and give back to the community.
Despite the hot weather in Fiji at the time the projects in Fiji by Rustic Pathways are fantastic because they take you to place you would not be able to see as a tourist and meet local people and eat with them. And I'm not going to lie. The food was to die for, which in my case was possible as I'm allergic to nuts. Which is also going to say was easily avoided with help in Fiji!
Helping on the farm and in the school was great fun although exhausting and very hot t really did seem that most of our time was spent drinking water and sitting in the shade.
If I had one tip for someone taking a trip with Rustic Pathways its that taking the long way is always worth it - if you can walk instead of drive, do, you'll see some pretty awesome stuff BUT make sure you drink a ton of water because most people for sick from dehydration!!
Also, packs are always more convenient than suitcases!