Fiji and Beyond: Rites and Relics of the Pacific

Overview

Explore through the heart of Melanesia to the western edge of Polynesia, from the Solomon Islands to Fiji. Receive warm welcomes in the Solomon Islands, Fiji, and Vanuatu. Be greeted with traditional dances when arriving by Zodiac on remote and verdant shores. Search for endemic bird species, snorkel and dive stunning reefs and wrecks, and soak up the tranquil beauty of palm-fringed beaches.

Arrive in Brisbane and transfer to your hotel. Join expedition staff for a welcome briefing this evening to meet your fellow travelers.

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before transferring to the airport for a flight to Honiara, a former U.S. supply depot and strategic World War II battleground. Tour around the outskirts of the city to see sites well known from the Battle of Guadalcanal in 1942–1943. See the shores of Red Beach and the vital airbase at Henderson Field. Visit the hills above Honiara, where some of the fiercest battles took place, before embarking National Geographic Orion.

On the tiny isle of Owaraha (formerly known as Santa Ana), you will be greeted with a traditional dance performed by villagers in elaborate costumes, body paint, and masks. Walk across the small island to Nafinotoga to see Spirit Houses containing the skulls and bones of ancient chiefs of the Snake Clan and the Turtle Clan.

Take advantage of a full day at sea to settle into the relaxed pace of life on board. Watch for marine life from the deck, study your route on the navigational charts, and attend talks by the experts.

Captain James Cook named the islands of Vanuatu the New Hebrides because they reminded him of the rugged isles off Scotland’s coast. On the main island of Espiritu Santo, experience one of the best wreck dives in the world: the S.S. President Coolidge, a luxury cruise liner used as a troop carrier during World War II, experience the Matevulu Blue Hole, a jewel-blue freshwater source surrounded by jungle.

Ambrym is known for its active volcanoes, black-sand beaches, and mystery and magic. Arrive ashore to witness the striking Rom dance, traditionally a secret event. Involving incredible masks and elaborate outfits that represent spirits, this is a cultural experience specific only to this island.

Arrive on Moso Island to experience some of the most incredible marine life in the South Pacific. There is an exceptional range of pristine soft and hard corals, reef fish, and pelagics. The crystal clear waters around Havana Harbor reveal colorful corals and an undersea world that is rich with abundant marine life.

On Tanna Island, visit the friendly community in Port Resolution in the shadow of Mount Yasur. Experience some of the local traditions and dances, as well as locally made handicrafts.

Relax on deck as you make your passage from Vanuatu to Fiji or attend talks by the expert expedition and photo teams.

More than 300 islands make up the remote volcanic archipelago of Fiji, where you will spend three days exploring. After entering the large lagoon of Beqa, come ashore at the lovely Lawaki Beach House, a rustic resort and beautiful place to spend the day. Take a boat ride and hike across the island to a local village. Taste local fruits and snorkel off the beach in the beautiful Beqa Lagoon. Sample the strong, local kava made for special celebrations.

Taveuni, Fiji’s third largest island, is known as “The Garden Island” for its rich vegetation, which includes several species found nowhere else in the world. Head inland to discover the waterfalls of Bouma National Heritage Park and search for species such as orange fruit doves, endemic silktails, fantails, and parrots. Visit the village of Waitabu to meet the local people, taste locally harvested fruits and prepared baked goods, and to see a dance performance by some of the local, talented children.

Join the ship’s naturalists for a beautiful scenic hike to see some of the incredible vistas and the rich variety of birdlife on the islands of Kadavu. Snorkel and dive Fiji’s Great Astrolabe reef, which is rich in marine life. Enjoy a quiet exploration of the sheltered lagoon by diving, snorkeling, stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, or by glass-bottom Zodiac.

Disembark in Lautoka this morning. Take a tour of western Viti Levu Island then transfer to the international airport at Nadi for flights home or choose to extend your stay and check in to a hotel. Breakfast and lunch are included today; dinner is on your own.