Visit The Stunning Yasawa Islands, Fiji on a Budget

A guide to backpacking in Fiji – island-hopping without the price tag!

A common trope of Australians that like to travel is that we often end up in far off destinations and ignore the places on our own doorstep. I’ve visited over 80 countries and have somehow missed most of Australia’s nearest and dearest neighbours in the Pacific.

My goal this year was to remedy this, but now that I’m back working full time and planning a wedding, it is not always easy to find the time. and money. That’s why I thought a little solo trip to backpack in Fiji was the perfect step!

I spent 2 weeks in Fiji in January and tried my best to do it on a budget, but without missing out the sites and activities that make this part of the world so special. I chose the Yasawa Islands, an easily accessible archipelago of islands with rugged mountains, white sand beaches and incredible snorkelling. It offered the perfect mix of beautiful scenery, incredibly warm and friendly people, and a bunch of free activities to enjoy.

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Is Fiji Expensive? The Reality of Budget Travel in the Yasawas

Backpacking in Fiji on a budget is definitely possible. While it is not as cheap as destinations in South East Asia for example, there are a lot of ways that you can keep costs low while not scrimping on the experience.

Looking at accommodation options in the Yasawas, you could be fooled for thinking it will be cheap. There are some great small resorts and homestays scattered around the Yasawas. Not only are these accommodation options generally cheaper, they are usually locally-run which means your money is going back into the community.

The hidden cost that can catch budget travellers out in Fiji is the compulsory meal plan at most hotels, resorts and homestays. The cost of these meal plans can vary wildly and will massively affect the overall cost of your stay. There isn’t really a way around this because most islands are so secluded. There just isn’t an option to go to a restaurant or cook your own food. Luckily though, the food is usually fresh, delicious and abundant.

Transport costs can also add up quickly. If you want to move around to lots of different islands, the Bula Pass might be a good option. In the interest of keeping costs down, I recommend choosing a few islands and spending a bit more time really enjoying each one.

The Yasawa Flyer and the Fiji Bula Pass

The Yasawa Flyer ferry connects most of the islands and all of the major resorts in the Yasawa Islands. It is a convenient and comfortable way to move around the islands. The Yasawa Flyer schedule is the same every day. It leaves Port Denarau at 8:45am and travels as far north as Nanuya Island. It then turns around and comes back to Port Denarau, stopping at all of the resorts on the way back.

If you want to island hop the Yasawas you can consider buying the Bula Pass. The Bula Pass has options for 5 to 15 days with unlimited travel between the islands.

I personally did not take this option as it didn’t seem worth it. It is still recommended to book your ferry in advance, even with the Bula Pass. The longer passes are not cheap so you would have to be moving around a lot and visiting multiple islands to see real value.

Where To Stay When Backpacking the Yasawa Islands

While you really can’t go wrong with any of the Yasawa Islands, a few specific spots stand out for having that perfect mix of incredible scenery and a more relaxed, budget-friendly atmosphere. If you’re trying to narrow down your itinerary, these are the islands I think offer the best experience for the price.

Waya Lailai Ecohaven Resort

Waya Lailai Ecohaven Resort is located on Wayasewa in the south of the Yasawa chain of islands. The southern Waya islands are characterized by dramatic volcanic landscapes, rocky shorelines, and mountainous terrain. Wayasewa has an amazing rock that towers over the island. You can climb it for sunset and get incredible views over neighbouring islands.

Waya Lailai Ecohaven is locally owned, and although called a resort, it feels very much like being welcomed into your own island family. All of the staff are so incredibly warm and cheerful. The meal package is affordable and includes 3 delicious meals a day. Apart from the people, the other real highlight is the snorkelling. Right from the beach is some of the best snorkelling that I saw in my whole trip in the Yasawas. Huge coral, sea turtles, colourful fish, stingrays. So pretty!

Naviti Island

Naviti Island is the biggest and most well-known island in the Yasawas. There are a few bigger resorts around the island but for budget travellers, I would recommend Mai Sunset Beach Resort.

The resort is really secluded and set just off the beach so it feels like you’re on a deserted island paradise. The staff are really friendly and are from the local village. If you are travelling solo you can book into the dorm room which is actually beautiful and a nice way to meet other travellers.

Nanuya LaiLai Island

As you head further north in the Yasawas, the rugged, rocky terrain gives way to palm trees and long white beaches. Nanuya Lailai looks like an old Windows screensaver image. It is absolute perfection if all you want to do is lay in a hammock and read a book.

There are a few homestays around the island and I heard good things about a few of them. I stayed at the Gold Coast Inn and would definitely recommend it. It was the cheapest meal plan that I found in the Yasawas and also happened to be the best food. We had amazing fresh fish, crabs and lobster every night!

Ways to keep Costs Down When Backpacking in Fiji

• BYO Water – Buy a large water bottle before you leave Nadi and keep it in your backpack. It is also worth checking if your accommodation provides water. Some don’t and buying bottled water on the islands is not cheap.
• Visit North Islands: The islands further north (like Tavewa or Nacula) often have slightly cheaper, family-run homestays compared to the more commercialized islands closer to the mainland. You’ll get a more authentic experience for a fraction of the price.
• Skip the Bula Pass for Short Trips: If you only plan on visiting one or two islands, don’t buy the Bula Pass! Calculate the cost of point-to-point tickets instead. Unless you are moving every two days, the pass is often more expensive than individual transfers.
• Free Activities: When backpacking in Fiji, one of the best ways to save money is to look for free activities. Many resorts offer free use of kayaks or snorkelling gear during high tide. Choosing to stay at places like WayaLaiLai Eco Haven where you can walk in and snorkel from the beach saves on taking day trips. I snorkelled every day out the front of the hotel and never got bored with the variety of sea life.

Backpacking in Fiji: Are the Yasawa Islands Worth It?

If you’ve read until now, you probably know what my answer to this question is. Backpacking in Fiji completely exceeded my expectations. Although it wasn’t always the cheapest, you can’t deny the value of what you get.

Staying in homestays and smaller, local-run resorts ensures that the money you spend goes back into the local communities.

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