Fulaga is a horseshoe-shaped island in Fiji’s remote Southern Lau archipelago, where hundreds of mushroom-shaped limestone islets dot an inner lagoon. Visitors there join a traditional kava ceremony, a custom with deep meaning in Fiji. It’s a side of the country that the usual tourist routes tend to skip.
Heritage Expeditions, a family-owned expedition cruise company, plans to bring guests here in March 2027. Its new 11-day voyage pairs well-known South Pacific stops with islands and atolls that traditional tourists often overlook, including Wallis and Futuna. Aaron Russ, the company’s commercial director and expedition leader, said the trip suits “adventurers of all levels looking to explore off the beaten track.”
Fiji Just Had Its Busiest Month on Record
Fiji’s tourism numbers keep climbing. The country welcomed 105,791 visitors in July 2026, the most ever in a single month and the first time monthly arrivals topped 100,000.
This small-ship cruise starts in Nadi, Fiji’s gateway city. From there, it sails for some of the Pacific’s most remote islands.
A French Outpost With a World War II Past
Wallis and Futuna is a French overseas territory with strong Polynesian traditions. On Futuna, guests visit the Poi Basilica. It stands where Saint Peter Chanel, Oceania’s only canonized martyr, died.
Nearby Alofi is an Important Bird Area, and guests can snorkel its coral gardens. During World War II, 6,000 American troops lived on Wallis, home to a U.S. military and naval base.
Samoa’s National Bird Is a Dodo Relative
Savai’i’s Tafua Rainforest Reserve gives birders a shot at the tooth-billed pigeon. It’s Samoa’s national bird and one of the closest living relatives of the extinct dodo, though it’s hard to spot. Samoan flying foxes roost in the reserve’s trees.
At Palauli village, guests can watch the Taualuga, a revered Samoan dance. In the capital, Apia, snorkelers can explore Palolo Deep Marine Reserve. It has been under protection since 1974.
Tonga’s Sea Cave and a Return to Fiji
Swallows Cave sits on Kapa Island in Vava’u, Tonga, and takes its name from the swallows that nest inside. Only boats can reach it. Guests can snorkel as sunlight pours through the entrance and lights up the water.
Back in Fiji, about 400 people live on Fulaga across three traditional villages. On Taveuni, Bouma National Heritage Park covers 80% of the island’s interior. Its rainforest shelters endangered species such as the Taveuni silktail and the Fijian monkey-faced bat.
Dates, Route and Fares
- Dates: March 14-24, 2027.
- Route: Nadi to Lautoka, Fiji, aboard the 140-guest Heritage Adventurer.
- Fares: from $8,800 per person; travelers who book by Oct. 30, 2026, get 20% off, which brings the starting fare to $7,160 (terms apply).
- Not included: flights, visas, travel insurance, gratuities and kayaking.
Leave some room in your plans at the end of the trip. Heritage advises against booking flights that depart before 1 p.m. on the last day, since the ship docks in Lautoka and passengers still need to get to Nadi’s airport. Weather can also change the route, and the expedition leader will keep guests posted.