What a Week on a Private Island in Fiji Is Really Like
From the moment your private seaplane touches down on Turtle Island Fiji’s aquamarine waters, you’re greeted with warmth. Not just from the glorious Fijian sunshine, but from the infectious smiles and hugs of the local Fijian staff who call Turtle Island home.
Once you’ve been carried to shore by your Fijian hosts in traditional tribal chief outfits – cat’s cradle style or piggy back – you’re welcomed by all-embracing hugs, singing, guitar playing, smiles and a drink. This heart-warming welcome at Turtle Island Fiji is just one of the examples of personalised service and authenticity of this family-run luxury resort.
Island time,
the way it’s meant to be
So what can you expect from spending a week on Turtle Island Fiji? Read on to discover everything you can experience from spending a week in paradise.
Meet Your Bure Mama
When you arrive at Turtle Island Fiji, each of the 14 bures, or traditional, thatched-roof villas that dot the 500-acre private island’s beachfront – is assigned a dedicated personal concierge or butler, known as your Bure Mama.
To help you get to know the Fijian way of life, your Bure Mama will look after you, making sure you have everything you need. She’ll unpack your bags, tidy your villa, and arrange picnics and evening meals. Your Bure Mama will also guide you on the best island tours, accompany you on snorkeling excursions and point out local marine life. In the evening she’ll join you around the kava bowl for storytelling and songs, ensuring that she has a place in your heart forever.
Home Is A Hand-Built Bure
The thatched bures have a day and night bed, most contain a personal spa pool, and staff will service it twice a day, including a daily laundry service – going the extra mile to make sure it feels like home. Your fridge will be freshly stocked with whatever you request, your drinks will be topped up and your fresh fruit, homemade lemonade and freshly chilled aloe plants for sunburn will be ready when you need them.
The bures are decorated with local-found treasures and Fijian art with furnishings made from trees and driftwood, while vaulted ceilings are woven from palms and knotted with coconut husk cordage known as magi magi. Explore the villas.
Nothing To Plan, Nothing To Carry
How does early morning yoga on the beach sound, followed by a delicious breakfast at your bure and time spent lounging on your outdoor day bed and reading a book? By now you might be thinking about heading to one of Turtle Island Fiji’s 12 private beaches along with your personalised gourmet hamper.
Activities: From The Reef To The Ridge
On Turtle Island Fiji, a typical week might include this easy routine on repeat, or you might want to explore some of the other activities such as the sensational snorkelling – just moments from the beach – and scuba diving, or fishing and windsurfing.
On dry land you can go horseback riding, hiking and explore the island’s extensive gardens and farming areas. You can also take a day trip to the village and shop from local artisans who make handmade shell bracelets, sarongs and woven baskets.
And then there’s the excellent Vonu Spa, nestled along the shores of the famous Blue Lagoon, offering an array of services. Signature treatments include whole body massages influenced by timeless Polynesian traditions where cold-pressed indigenous nut oils are infused by soft island aromas. Soothing and nourishing, massages can be combined with body scrubs or facials for holistic rejuvenation and whole-body relaxation.
The Signature Massage at Turtle Island Resort consists of long, flowing strokes and is based on the traditional restorative Hawaiian healing practice of LomiLomi. The massage is deeply relaxing, nourishing and restorative. See all the experiences.
Dining: Fresh From The Sea And The Garden
Turtle Island produces up to 80% of its own fruit and vegetables, which means fresh-from-the-sea-and-garden cuisine imagined by Fijian head chef Beni Betekoaka.
There are multiple private dining options to choose from, including the 12 deserted beaches, the candlelit pontoon in the middle of the lagoon, or barefoot dining at the long table on the water’s edge where communal meals are served.
Evening meals begin with a beach bonfire where the day’s adventures are shared with fellow guests against the backdrop of a stunning Fijian sunset. Dinner around the long table on the beach will likely consist of freshly caught yellow-fin tuna, crab or lobster, tender chicken kebabs and fresh salad and vegetables grown in the resort’s garden.
Recognized for having the ‘Best Food in Fiji’ by readers of Travel & Leisure magazine, the flavors at Turtle Island transcend the simple, pure and humble ingredients with fresh combinations like lemongrass, slipper lobsters and tropical soursop.
Kava, Meke And Fijian Nights
The languid nights on Turtle Island don’t end with dinner. You’ll join staff later for a singalong on the sand under the branches of an ancient banyan tree, and be offered kava. Served in a coconut shell, kava is an earthy drink traditionally shared during social events and served in a tanoa, a hand-carved turtle shell. Sounds of the Fijian staff playing the guitar will soon fill the air as guests experience the socialising and community so deeply rooted in Fijian culture.
Your week on Turtle Island will also include a meke performance, a traditional dance that recounts Fijian history through song and ends with everyone joining the dancers in a conga line, fuelled of course by kava!
You’ll also have a lasting legacy on the island before you leave – guests are invited to plant a tree, marked by a concrete plaque so you’ll always have a place on the island to revisit when you inevitably return.
Before You Go
Most remote private island resorts are reached by boat or seaplane. At Turtle Island, guests arrive by private seaplane that lands on the island’s aquamarine waters before you’re carried to shore by your Fijian hosts.
A Bure Mama is a uniquely Fijian role: your dedicated personal concierge and butler. She services your villa, arranges picnics and meals, guides tours and snorkelling, and shares Fijian storytelling and songs around the kava bowl.
Kava is an earthy, traditional Fijian drink shared during social events. It’s served in a coconut shell from a hand-carved bowl called a tanoa and is central to Fijian community life.
A meke is a traditional Fijian performance that recounts history through song and dance. Guests are often invited to join in — at Turtle Island it typically ends in a conga line on the beach.
Your Own Week In Paradise
Spend a week on Turtle Island and you’ll be treated to a once-in-a-lifetime experience that you’ll want to repeat on a regular basis. Float in the aquamarine waters of the Blue Lagoon or make new friends under the stars at the communal evening dinners – get in touch today to see how you can spend a perfect week on Turtle Island Fiji.
