Namosi Eco Retreat

What an amazing experience! From the fabulous journey up through the mountains, to the exciting river crossing (aided by the nimble staff and village locals) to the comfortable and peaceful lodge setting. Truly something we will not forget. A play, sleep, eat repeat adventure! Our principal host was in Suva during our visit, but Vita and Kuta were the perfect hostesses, nothing was ever an issue for them, and they put everything in to making sure we had stacks of fun and adventure, combined with full bellies during our stay. We took a trip to the nearby village in the beautiful rain to watch the guys and gals play some exciting footy. So cool to see the girls in amongst the action, we were sad to have missed their training, they sound like a great team, and we look forward to hearing how their season goes! Logistics. We hired a 4 x 4 and we could have done it comfortably in an SUV as well, but appreciated the extra grunt. It was easy to find with google maps route downloaded. The ladies took our electronics to their village for charging overnight as the lodge is not set up for charging appliances. I loved having hiking boots, a sarong, shorts/shirt for swimming and a hand fan for the heat of a small hike. Definitely recommend having two full days (three nights) as an ideal minimum but you can do it with just two nights and one full day also.

Glorious, remote location on edge of a village in the spectacular Namosi Highlands, with delicious local food, a dedicated and helpful local team led by our ebullient and knowledgeable host Danny. It was a real and meaningful break giving us an experience of another way of life, so we relaxed, slept well and felt fully refreshed and inspired.

I didn’t sleep overnight on this trip but I spent the day there on a school trip. Out of all the places and organizations we went to this was my favourite. We got to hike up a beautiful mountain and see the view, they cooked us a wonderful lunch and also got to swim/make rafts in the river. Not only that but we were able to watch and be apart of their traditional kava cerimonies and dances. I highly suggest going here the service and buildings were wonderful and the people were lovely. I highly suggest!

This was our first of three village stays in Fiji and it was such a great experience. Everyone was so friendly and made us feel very welcome. We were the only ones at the lodging and so we had the entire grounds to ourselves (along with the kids who came to play rugby with us every day!) The accommodation was clean and bright and the shared bathrooms were only a short walk from our bure. They had created a dining area for guests with picnic tables, whereas other village stays you ate on the floor, which is a normal Fijian custom. Each night there was live music and the singing was fabulous and harmonized. We were lucky to have a unique experience there, as we stayed when the village school was celebrating Fiji Day before breaking for holiday. We were invited to join the parents of two villages to watch their children sing and dance in celebration. What a treat it was. Everyone was having a great time and we felt very grateful to have experienced it alongside them. We also went swimming in the river with a bunch of kids after school, which was really fun for our kids (6&8), and we hiked up behind the village for some great views. You are 1.5 hours up into the mountains off Queens Rd - we had Danny (shout out to how awesome he is) come pick us up at the bus stop in Navua and drive us in. We then had to wade into the Waidina River to get over to the grounds, which was such a cool experience in itself. You could also take a busy to Namosi Village from Suva and arrange to be picked up there, or rent your own 4 wheel drive and do the drive yourself. There was no cell reception or wifi up there, though we might have been the last guests to have that amazing unplugged experience. They were putting in a cell tower for the village school while we were there. I'd say things are about to change up there, but my hope is that the retreat continues to have an unplugged atmosphere. I highly recommend this type of accommodation for the more adventurous and curious travel, especially with kids. If you're well able for more rustic living, you'll gain so much by immersing yourself in an authentic Fijian experience. The curated resorts are a far cry from what Fiji really looks like, and their touristy day trips into villages don't really give you the same exposure, compared to when you stay overnight. This is a must in my mind, if you are inquisitive and want to learn as you explore.

I went for a school trip and it was a very enjoyable experience. Despite the heat, the hike, building the raft, and embracing the traditional culture of this village made the experience unforgettable.

This was an incredible experience. I came here with school friends and we had a great time. We had the traditional Kava ceremony and danced with the locals. We were welcomed with open arms and had a fun time talking to everyone. They were welcoming and made sure that we had a great time. The views were absolutely beautiful and I will never forget this experience. Thank you! (There was also a amazing river which was super fun to cool down in)

Next favorite place now Awesome hospitality Excellent Food Limited Boundaries to the outside world you are basically on your own and full on concentration during training. Just right for FEMAT TMT. Vinaka vakalevu Namlsi Eco Lodge and lolomas to Navunikabi village and TNK

Really enjoyed our time with the Danny and the staff, plus we spent a lot of time with people from the nearby villages. We came as part of our honeymoon for 3 days and 2 nights. The highlight was our time with the people (from the villages and a few other guests). Kids came and played at the riverside, and we had nightly music and yaqona sessions in the nice community seating area and in front of the bonfire. It helped us learn a lot about Fiji, more than you take away at a beach resort. One of us wasn't feeling well, so we didn't do any of the hiking adventures, but we were happy to just hang out around the site and watch village life. The stars were also a highlight. I saw more there than in remote areas of the Rocky Mountains! The bures are newly decorated and so colorful. They were super clean for an outdoor/camping type experience. The bathrooms were also well maintained (although you should not expect hot water). Sylvia was a great cook and I had some of the top meals of my two weeks there. We got there in a non-4-wheel drive Hyundai Santa Fe, however I think I benefited from my off-road driving experience growing up in the mountains. You may want to get a taxi if you don't want to risk it.

We spent seven wonderful nights at the Eco Retreat. Everything was great - the food was delicious, the welcome was so warm, and the bures were perfect. The staff really made us feel like family. The location is stunning. Highly recommended!