Discover. Adapt. Empower. Belong.

What if one adventure could shift your entire worldview? What if a few weeks in Fiji could inspire a lifetime of purpose, connection, and impact? If Fiji were a starting point for your Adventure Gap year?

Gen Z Fiji isn’t just about seeing the islands—it’s about becoming part of them. Designed for young travellers ready to dive deep into cultural exchange, sustainability, and personal growth, this backpacking-style expedition offers an unforgettable way to explore, learn, and contribute.

Why is this for you?

We know Gen Z wants more than a typical vacation or GAP experience. You want purpose-driven travel—adventures that are authentic, ethical, and rooted in real connection. Gen Z Fiji delivers:

• Live the Culture
  Stay with the Mataqali Natiliva community of Nanumi Au. Share meals, stories, and daily life while supporting local projects. You’ll learn first-hand how Fijians foster strong community ties and live in harmony with nature.

• Backpack With Purpose
  This is not a resort tour—it’s an immersive, low-impact journey through Fiji’s highlands, villages, and coral coast. You’ll travel mindfully, practicing Leave No Trace principles, and participate in hands-on sustainability work—from eco-building to permaculture.

• Choose Your Adventure
  Explore remote islands, paddle board mangrove forests, hike lush interiors, and dive into vibrant reef ecosystems. You’ll even have the chance to earn your scuba diving certification while learning about marine conservation.

• Grow as You Go
  This expedition is as much about inner discovery as outer adventure. Through leadership training, outdoor skills, and deep self-reflection, you’ll return home with greater confidence, clarity, and a toolkit for life.

• Neuro - Spicy and Progressives Welcomed
  All of our adventures are designed to adapt, support, teach, and coach young adults who are neurodivergent. We also invite young adults who see themselves walking the talk on being progressive in areas of climate change, gender equality and identity, Indigenous rights, people before profits, and others. Neurotypicals are welcome to sign up too!

Gen Z Fiji is for the curious, the courageous, and the community-minded.
It’s for those who want to belong, not just visit, and who believe that travel should change both the traveller and the world for the better. Ready to pack your bag? Want to interview us while we interview you to ensure this is the right experience for you?

Packing List

COURSE DATES: July 27 - August 15 (July 25 departure from Vancouver)
AGES 18- 25 (co-ed)
LOCATIONS: Fiji 

PRICES (CAD)
Regular Price: $8529 + GST (includes return flight with Fiji Airways departing from Vancouver only)
*Minimum 6. Max 12 to run

Includes:
– Return flights between Vancouver and Fiji and coordination
– Pre-course check-in (zoom conference with attendees)
–  Direct contact with our Duke of Edinburgh Award Centre
– 24/7 instruction & support by instructors/mentors
– Most meals
– All accommodation (dorm, glamping,  tenting, homestay)
– Private ground transportation
– Group camping equipment
– Admission into all activities based on itinerary

Does not include: Flights to and from Vancouver, anything not mentioned above.

More info: office@firesideadventures.ca

Photos: our partner Suncoast Adventures. Click to enlarge.

Photo: Cédric Jean-Baptist / ATTA

A three-week plan giving you the best of Fireside and Fiji:

• Team-Building & Orientation

• Daily Cultural Immersion - Live and learn alongside village families:

• Hunting & Gathering Expeditions: Join villagers on reef foraging and remote island trips to understand ocean/paddock-to-plate traditions.

• Traditional Cooking: Help prepare daily meals in the communal kitchen and assist with the weekly lovo feast (earth oven style cooking).

• Language & Storytelling: Learn Fijian language basics through songs, conversation, and storytelling circles.

• Weaving & Medicinal Garden: Create mats from pandanus leaves and discover native healing plants.

• Vuli Meke (Dance Lessons): Learn traditional dance, culminating in a village-wide celebration.

• Chief Udre Udre Tomb Visit: Explore local history through stories of Fiji’s past.

• Eco-Adventures: Paddleboard or kayak through mangrove forests and hike to the sacred peak of Vodovodo.

• LOVO FEAST + MEKE NIGHT—a full cultural celebration with dance, food, music, and community storytelling.

• Hands-On Projects

  • Build eco-friendly infrastructure

  • Practice permaculture and syntropic farming

  • Work on water systems or upcycled design projects guided by local mentors and Fireside/VOS staff

• Learn Through Action

  • Apply knowledge from Week 1 to real-world community challenges.

  • Integrate principles of climate resilience, regenerative design, and social impact.

  • Participate in Gen Z -led reflection circles and journaling.

• Adventure & Connection

  • Optional scuba diving certification + reef education

  • Beach explorations, island hopping, and traditional fishing

  • Deepen friendships and connections with the village

• Final Reflection & Celebration
  Gather one last time around the fire, under the stars, and within the community to celebrate growth, share gratitude, and honour the journey.

Course Itinerary

Gen Z Fiji is uniquely designed to deliver an immersive and skills-oriented experience. Check out the full breakdown of what’s included with tuition, and feel free to compare with others. We believe you’ll find this course to be exceptional in both value and experience.

Why Fiji?

Fiji is quickly becoming one of Oceania’s top destinations for young people seeking purpose-driven travel and meaningful gap year experiences.

It’s a place where culture runs deep, the landscapes are breathtaking, and community connection is everything. Here, you’ll find open-hearted people, immersive traditions, and daily opportunities to engage in real, relevant climate resilience work.

From remote island backpacking to community service projects, every experience in Fiji stretches your comfort zone—and your sense of self.

Thanks to the relationships we've built with Jen, Koli, and the welcoming village of Nanumi Au, Fireside is honoured to offer a rare kind of access: the chance to live, learn, and grow within a community that feels like family.

Why Take a Gap “Kickstarter” Experience?

For generations, young people have ventured into the world to grow through experience—to find themselves, connect with other cultures, and explore new perspectives. But today’s Gen Z isn’t just looking to travel. You’re searching for meaning, authenticity, and belonging—a break from the noise to rediscover what matters.

That’s what Fiji offers. Space to breathe. A chance to unplug. And a raw, real-world classroom where life teaches the lessons.

Why This Matters for Gen Z

This experience is built for Gen Z—young people navigating an era defined by uncertainty, climate change, and the urgent need for global collaboration.

Through experiential learning, cultural immersion, and outdoor adventure, you’ll gain:

• Confidence to lead and adapt in a rapidly changing world

• Practical tools for building sustainable, resilient communities

• A sense of purpose grounded in both personal growth and collective responsibility

This is more than travel. It’s a launchpad for empowered leadership and lifelong impact.

Photos: our partner Suncoast Adventures. Click to enlarge.

Photos: Jeff / Fireside Adventures. Click to enlarge.