Whether you are backpacking the Yasawa Islands or visiting on your honeymoon, there are tips and tricks everyone should know about travelling these gorgeous islands.
Fiji is one of the most incredible countries in the Pacific. With over 300 islands to explore, it’s no wonder it attracts visitors from across the world, all year round.
Having backpacked the Yasawa Islands myself, I am sharing 10 things you MUST know before Backpacking Fiji.
This post is all about Backpacking the Yasawa Islands
1. Resorts: What Resorts Are Best When Backpacking The Yasawa Islands
Fiji’s Yasawa Islands boast gorgeous resorts throughout, but with so much choice it is difficult to decide which ones suit your desired trip and budget.
My favourite resorts, and coincidentally the most luxurious, are Blue Lagoon Beach Resort and Octopus Resort.
These both have amazing food, luxurious accommodations (even for dorms), free activities and lots of easy ways to meet people. They also had incredibly kind and friendly staff who made us feel like family within less than a day.
If you are on more of a budget, I would suggest Mantaray Resort. This boasted an impressive 32-bed dorm which was surprisingly comfy, free activities and good food despite being cheaper than both Blue Lagoon and Octopus Resort.
Because of the large dorm room, this resort attracts lots of backpackers and hosts activities each evening which ensures that you will meet likeminded travellers.
The resorts across the Yasawa Islands are not like hostels (in my opinion). They are a taste of luxury for a backpacker but might not give the most natural setting for socialising.
However, I made incredible friends on my travels through these resorts and everyone I came across was fun and friendly. Every resort has free activities which are a great way to meet people. I will go into more detail on these activities now!
2. Activities: Must Do Activities On The Yasawa Islands
Each resort includes both free and paid activities, which allows you to tailor your travel experience accordingly.
Blue Lagoon Island Resort’s Cave Trip.
This trip is one of my favourites from my travelling this year!
It is a paid activity – I think it only cost me £30. It includes a boat trip there and back (around 30 minutes each way) and a guided trip of the caves.
You will get taken through 3 caves, 2 of which are pitch black and you have to swim underwater to get to them. If you are not a strong swimmer, please be careful if you choose to participate in this activity.
It is a great way to explore some of Fiji’s caves whilst also having a slight adrenaline rush from swimming through a pitch-black tunnel!
Barefoot Kuata Resort’s Bull Shark Dive
Whether you love scuba diving or have never done it before, this bull shark dive is a MUST DO!
After lots of form signing and safety briefings, you are taken out to the ocean site near the resort and start your descend with a personal guide. A small rock wall around 12m underwater is where you sit and observe these gorgeous, and terrifying, creatures.
Bull sharks are the 3rd most dangerous shark to humans, so witnessing 10-15 sharks, some nearly 2m long, in front of you with no cage was definitely adrenaline inducing.
This is a must for anyone who isn’t terrified of scuba diving. This was my first ever dive and inspired me to get my scuba diving certification the following week!
Octopus Resort’s Village Visit
This was my favourite free activity to do in the Yasawa Islands. You are guided through the village, introduced to school children and included in a village kava ceremony (there is more on this in point 10 of this post).
You will also watch a collection of traditional songs and dances performed by the people living in the village. This was a special moment I will never forget; their sound and movement were so powerful.
3. Meal Plans: A Huge Secret Cost Of All Yasawa Island Resorts
One expense you MUST be aware of when backpacking the Yasawa Islands is the meal plans.
Each resort gets food imported as they are on a private (or near private) island far from the mainland. Because of this, each resort has a compulsory food price that is not included in the price of the accommodation.
These food costs can amount to as much, if not more than the accommodation itself.
The food at each resorts is generally reflective of the price. However, the dinner meals at Octopus Resort are 5 courses compared to the family style dinner at Barefoot Manta Resort.
Although you get what you pay for, resorts such as Octopus and Blue Lagoon seemed better value for money for me.
4. Dorms vs Private Rooms: How To Backpack the Yasawa Islands
If you are looking to truly backpack the Yasawa Islands, dorms is definitely a great option. They are all clean, have nice shared bathrooms and are a great way to meet new people.
Private rooms are generally double the price of a dorm room per person at the Yasawa Islands resorts, so definitely come at a cost.
Another thing to be aware of is that many of these private rooms will have shared bathroom facilities with the dorm rooms. This is good to note if you are debating whether it is worth the extra cost.
If you are in a couple you may opt for a private room to have some alone time and a more romantic getaway. But for a backpacker, whether solo or with friends, the dorms are more than adequate.
You will still feel like you are having a slice of luxury purely from the Fijian surroundings!
5. Internet Connection: Difficulties Staying Connected When Travelling Fiji
The internet connection throughout the Yasawa Island resorts is unsurprisingly very bad. At most resorts, there would be one spot, usually a communal area with sofas, to access very slow wifi. Apart from that, you are completely off grid.
My friend bought an ESIM which worked on the mainland, but as soon as we left for the Yasawas there was no signal.
This was actually a great aspect of travelling Fiji, as all we had to do was explore and meet new people. There were no distractions with phones, just different people connecting.
However, if you are in need of an internet connection when travelling, it will be a struggle along these islands.
6. Socialising: How To Make Friends When Backpacking The Yasawa Islands
Socialising when backpacking yasawa islands can be incredibly easy. Like any hostel, the easiest ways to meet people are through staying in dorms, hanging out in communal areas, resort activities, and asking groups if you can sit / join in with them.
The best way I made friends when in Fiji was going around the resort at dinner (everyone had dinner at the same time) and offering around my friend’s birthday cake. Because I had embarrassed her with the staff singing in front of everyone, the guests were so friendly to us and one group of Norwegian guys invited us to play cards with them that evening.
The next day we went hiking with them, followed by a spending dinner together with a few more friends we met that day.
We then saw these people at different resorts along our route and it was so special.
Making friends in Fiji was SO EASY!!!!
7. Itinerary: How To Make The Most Of Backpacking Fiji
I would recommend spending at least 7 days along the Yasawa Islands. I spent 15 days which felt like a long time but I could spend my life there if I could.
If you are backpacking the Yasawa Islands, I would recommend staying in at least 3 different resorts (2 nights minimum in each) to get as many different experiences as possible.
I would also recommend travelling from North to South which is the route most common to backpackers I met. This will leave a higher chance of you bumping into friends from previous resorts!
If you want a full Fiji Itinerary, check out my blog post HERE which covers just about everything you could want to know!
8. Transport: How To Get Around Fijis Yasawa Islands
Fiji’s Yasawa Islands can be travelled to from a ferry ran by South Sea Cruises.
I would recommend getting a pass from Awesome Adventures:
Bula Pass
This pass allows you one ferry transfer per day on the Yasawa Islands for a set amount of days. You can choose how many days you would like the pass for and what islands you hop between.
I believe that if you only have 3 travel days but are on the islands for 7 days total, you would need a 7 day pass.
Awesome Pass
The Awesome Pass is like the Bula Pass but it also includes accommodation. This is the pass I opted for as it provided the most ease and convenience for me, but you may be able to get better accommodation deals elsewhere.
This pass is perfect if you want a stress free adventure!
There is also a free coach pick up with the Bula and Awesome Pass so make sure you check that out on the Awesome Adventures website when booking.
You can find more information on Fiji transportation HERE.
9. Homestays: One Thing I Missed On My Fiji Travels
If you are wanting a well rounded trip on the Yasawa Islands, homestays are an amazing way to spend your time.
You are able to stay with Fijian families and experience a taste of their culture.
This is an experience I wasn’t aware of before travelling Fiji but only heard amazing things when I was out there.
It definitely isn’t luxury, with most having minimal to no running water and electricity. However, it is an amazing way to exchange cultures and have a new experience.
10. Culture: A New Outlook On Life After Backpacking Fiji
Fiji has incredibly scenery, activities and experiences. However, it is the culture that has stuck with me the most after my travels.
Whenever you meet someone in Fiji you are both greeted with the word ‘bula’. This is their way of saying ‘hello’ or ‘welcome’ but it translated to ‘life’.
I adore that they are constantly celebrating life and every day seems to be a relaxed joy.
They also have frequent kava ceremonies, which includes the making of kava and speaking specific phrases before and after drinking it. It is a way of bringing people together and a place where everyone is included.
Be careful with how much you drink. It will make you feel very relaxed and you will have the best sleep of your life. If you have too much you might feel slightly out of control of your actions almost like a drug.
I loved the kava ceremonies and the relaxed Fijian way of life. Everyone greeted me with kindness and I made memories I will never forget.
This post was all about Backpacking the Yasawa Islands