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"I’ve been fortunate to visit many amazing destinations around the globe during my career, including more than 60 weeks in the Fiji Islands. Tui Tai Adventure Cruises is among the most exciting and enlightening voyages I’ve experienced. The unique combination of adventure activities, spectacular and remote locations, cultural experiences, great food, and fantastic staff are a true credit to all involved."
-- Chris McLennan, acclamined travel photographer |
Below is a brief description of each island we visit and a map of our 5-night adventure cruise itinerary. There is a map of Fiji near the bar area and our crew can answer questions about the geography of the Fiji Island archipelago.
Vanua Levu
Vanua Levu is the second largest island in Fiji. The Tui Tai’s home port is Savusavu on the south of the island. The island is divided by a mountain range which runs from the Northeast to the southwest, creating a lush rainforest to the southeast and a dry landscape to the north and northwest. Savusavu is the main tourist center of the island but a relatively quiet, charming town of 5000 inhabitants. The people are a diverse ethnic mix of Fijian, Indo-Fijian, European and Chinese decent. The steam rising from hot springs along the seaside of Savusavu provide a reminder of the island’s volcanic origin.
Kioa
This small island lies between Vanua Levu and Taveuni. The only inhabitants live in the village of Salia and are of Polynesian decent with ancestral ties to the island-nation of Tuvalu. The people of Kioa are very friendly and also take a lot of pride as evidenced by their immaculate village. If you see a villager here, you can say “Talofa” which is the Tuvaluan equivalent of “Bula.” You will often see the people of Kioa paddling out in their traditional outrigger canoes to fish. Their skill in fishing is legendary, as is their artisans and handcrafts.
Taveuni
Known as the “Garden Island of Fiji” Taveuni is Fiji’s third largest island. With an abundance of rainfall and a steep volcanic topography, Taveuni offers hundreds of waterfalls and large tracts of native rainforest. The coastline is mostly rugged, reminiscent of its volcanic origin, but there are some nice white sand beaches along the eastern coast. The town of Somosomo on the West side of the island is home to the Tui Cakau, one of the most prominent high chiefs in all of Fiji. Tui Cakau is the paramount chief for the region known as Cakaudrove, which encompasses Taveuni, most of Vanua Levu, Kioa, Rabi and the Ringold Islands.
Ringgold Island Atolls
The Ringgolds are a group of 6 small volcanic atolls scattered about a barrier reef within the deep sea. The water is especially clear for snorkeling and diving. Pristine white sand beaches are completely deserted. There are several nice hikes. The island of Cobia is a partially sunken volcano that can be explored by kayak. The islands are ideal for sea kayaking and are home to a variety of bird and turtle nesting areas.
Koro
The island of Koro is part of the Lomaiviti Group of islands located in the geographic center of Fiji. There are 14 villages on the island and no towns. The island is relatively cut off from outside visitors and it maintains an especially remote, pristine nature. The island is mountainous and lush, similar to Taveuni. On the northeast side of the island are some of the best beaches in all of Fiji. Inland, Koro Island is famous for most diverse population of birds including parrots, lorikeets, doves and other tropical birds.
MEDIA FEEDBACK:
What the top adventure travel industry press are saying about Tui Tai Adventure Cruises:
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| LONELY PLANET:"The crew is brilliant, providing absolutely stellar service and fantastic food, the gear is tops, the snorkeling and diving sites are some of the world's best, the sailboat itself is gorgeous." |
| NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC : "World Class Escape " |
| CONDE NAST: "World's Sexiest Cruises" |
| MENS JOURNAL: One of the "Greatest Adventures on the Planet" |
| OUTSIDE MAGAZINE: a "Trip of a Lifetime" |
| AWAY.COM: "The Tui Tai is hands down the coolest thing to do in Fiji... Tui Tai has only one purpose: to make sure you go to sleep each night swearing you just spent the best day of your life." |
| LONELY PLANET: "Perfect for
tourists who aren’t all that fond of tours, a voyage with Tui Tai Adventure
Cruises is a fantastic way to see and do a great deal in a short time.
Sailing between Vanua Levu, Taveuni and the more remote islands of Kioa and
Koro, you’ll get to snorkel, kayak, bike, trek, swim, fish, dive or just
lounge on deck to your heart’s content. Dolphins swimming alongside the
boat, star-lit dinners on deck, and the welcoming villagers you meet on the
out-of-the way islands all make it a blissful experience." |
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