10 Best Backpacker Resorts in the Yasawa Islands 2025

Last Updated: 22 July, 2025

Our Recommended Resorts with Dorms in the Yasawa Islands

Authentic Insights from Expert Travel Writers

Get your hop-on hop-off ferry ticket and do some island-hopping in the glorious Yasawa Islands of Fiji. With that, you’ll stay at a different backpacker resort each couple of nights or so, kitted out with affordable dorms and meal plans to make your stay seamless.

Meet fellow world-travellers, as well as casual holidaymakers, as many backpacker resorts in the Yasawa Islands also cater to the more adventurous honeymooners and families. Take a look at some of our favourite backpacker stays in this list of resorts with dorms in the Yasawa Islands!

While you’re here, plan more of your trip using The Budget & Backpacking Guide to the Yasawa Islands. Plus, explore more of Fiji by staying in some of the 10 Best Backpacker Resorts in Fiji and the 10 Best Hostels in Fiji.

1. Mantaray Island Resort

Mantaray Island Resort combines backpacker charm and resort luxury in the Yasawa Islands.

The resort boasts a broad range of accommodations, including private “Treehouse” rooms with shared bathrooms and a spacious 32-bed “Paradise Dorm” with solid bunks. For budget travellers, we recommend requesting a bed near the back of the dorm for a quieter stay.

The resort’s exciting array of activities includes a cultural night with interactive meke, a relaxing sunset tubing tour, and an attractive swimming pool – a rarity in the Yasawas.

Scuba diving enthusiasts can explore nearby sites, including cave and drift dives just five minutes offshore. For relaxation, the hillside Yalo Ni Vai Spa offers therapeutic massages.

Dining is centred around the Main Bure, nestled on a hillside with sweeping water views, while the poolside Manta Shack serves drinks and wood-fired pizzas.

Note that this accommodation may not be suitable for those with low fitness or mobility issues.

Book Mantaray Island Resort:

10 Best Backpacker Resorts in the Yasawa Islands [2025]

2. Octopus Resort

Another more upmarket resort in the Yasawas, yet offering something for backpackers, the Octopus Resort is worth staying for at least a night.

Stay in “Daves Dorm” or one of the affordable private double rooms and enjoy the benefits of the resort’s free and cheap activities (see the 10 Free & Cheap Things to Do in the Yasawa Islands), from yoga to guided walks to crab racing. There’s also the option to scuba dive, visit villages or simply lounge by the pool with a cocktail.

Book Octopus Resort:

3. Barefoot Kuata Island Resort

Barefoot Kuata Island Resort offers a stunning introduction to the Yasawa Islands, providing a range of accommodations to suit various budgets and preferences.

The resort’s standout options are the spacious “Beachfront Rai Ki Waya Bure”, “Beachfront Levu Bure” and “Beachfront Siga Bure”, which sit right on the sand for a premium experience. Budget travellers can opt for dorm-style rooms or simple huts further back from the beach.

New arrivals are greeted by a dancing warrior, setting the tone for the cultural experiences ahead on Kuata, the southernmost island in the Yasawa chain.

The resort is renowned for its exceptional “Awakening Shark Dive”, accessible to both certified and non-certified divers. For non-divers, morning snorkelling tours to reefs like Moyia are available.

Conservation-minded travellers will appreciate activities like reef planting and marine talks, making Barefoot Kuata ideal for those seeking both adventure and eco-conscious relaxation.

Book Barefoot Kuata Island Resort:

4. Long Beach Escape

An intimate resort owned and run by a local village on Matacawalevu Island, Long Beach Escape provides an authentic Fijian experience. Their eight-bed dorm room ensures an affordable stay along the resort’s long stretch of white sand, which runs all the way onto the restaurant floor.

Enjoy village visits, kayaking, snorkelling and hiking on the island, while excursions to the Sawa-i-Lau Caves and Blue Lagoon also come at an affordable rate. See how this one compares to all of the resorts across the island group in the 20 Best Resorts in the Yasawa Islands.

Book Long Beach Escape:

Long Beach Escape on Booking.com

5. Naqalia Lodge

Super affordable dorms, tent sites and garden bures await at Naqalia Lodge on Wayalailai Island. The lodge/backpacker resort specialises in active adventures, such as island hikes, shark feeding, kayak tours, spearfishing, handline fishing, snorkelling, surfing and much more!

In between all of the excitement, traditional Fijian food is on the menu, including a “lovo” feast – check out the 10 Best Foodie Experiences in the Yasawa Islands to find out more.

Book Naqalia Lodge:

10 Best Backpacker Resorts in the Yasawa Islands

6. Blue Lagoon Beach Resort

Experience the perfect combination of relaxation and adventure at the popular Blue Lagoon Beach Resort. Stay in “Charlie’s Dormitory” or one of the budget villas for couples or families, and enjoy a laid-back atmosphere that caters to all tastes.

The resort boasts one of the better food offerings among Yasawa resorts, with well-presented meals and à la carte dinners. If you’re looking for a unique dining experience, be sure to visit the Japanese restaurant on the island.

Fill your days with as much or as little as you like. Visit Fijian villages, a school or a church, join quiz nights and crab racing, or explore the Sawa-i-Lau Caves.

For water enthusiasts, snorkelling and stand-up paddleboarding are readily available. Of course, simply relaxing on the beach is always an option too!

See more resorts suitable for families and groups in the 10 Best Family Resorts in the Yasawa Islands.

Book Blue Lagoon Beach Resort:

7. Safe Landing Lodge

Safe Landing Lodge is an affordable retreat for any type of traveller thanks to their selection of dorms, double rooms and family bures.

See what “Fiji Time” is all about at this relaxing resort with a beach and a bar serving authentic Fijian meals. Safe Landing is located on Nacula Island at the edge of the famous Blue Lagoon, making it a great base to visit sites like the Sawa-i-Lau Caves, Fijian villages and snorkelling in the Blue Lagoon.

This one also features in our 10 Best Budget Accommodations in the Yasawa Islands.

Book Safe Landing Lodge:

8. Coralview Island Resort

Great snorkelling and great prices are just two reasons to stay at the Coralview Island Resort on Tavewa Island. The resort has a nearby marine reserve and giant clams, making the underwater adventures unforgettable – earning this resort a spot on the 10 Best Snorkelling Resorts in Fiji.

The resort also runs regular trips to the Blue Lagoon and the Sawa-i-Lau Caves. Stay in the resort’s spacious dorms or one of their private bures.

Book Blue Lagoon Beach Resort:

9. Boathouse Nanuya

Boathouse Nanuya offers budget-friendly accommodation on the same stunning property as Nanuya Island Resort, making it an excellent choice for travellers seeking full resort amenities without the premium price tag. The rooms are simple and clean, mostly fan-cooled with shared facilities, catering to younger travellers or those happy with a more casual setup.

Guests can join guided trips to the famous Sawa-I-Lau Caves, snorkelling excursions, and village visits – some of the most affordable in the Yasawas. While the surrounding reef is tidal, excursions are the best way to experience snorkelling. Kayaks and paddleboards are available, plus there’s a short trail to a lookout point and remote villages.

Although the beachfront is okay, it’s more of a launch point for adventures than a prime swimming spot. However, there’s a stunning beach within very short walking distance. The resort also offers laundry services and a cash-out option at the store.

You’ll also find this accommodation listed in the all-important 10 Best Resorts in Fiji with Glass-Bottom Boats!

Book Boathouse Nanuya:

10. Nabua Lodge

Finally, unplug and recharge at the backpacker-friendly Nabua Lodge on Nacula Island. The backpacker lodge/resort has no cellphone reception and runs off a generator that is switched off late at night, giving you the opportunity to truly disconnect from the world.

Plus, with only nine bures, some of which contain dorm rooms, it never feels too crowded. Activities are relaxing here too with beach volleyball, coconut husking, cultural lessons, fish feeding, guided walks, kayaking and snorkelling.

For more alternative stays like this, check out the 25 Best Hotels & Places to Stay in the Yasawa Islands.

Book Nabua Lodge:

More About the Best Backpacker Resorts in the Yasawa Islands

That’s it for the best backpacker resorts in the Yasawa Islands. For more tips to help plan the perfect island escape, check out more of our insightful Yasawa guides:

Finally, see how the backpacker resorts in the Yasawa Islands compare to the 10 Best Backpacker Resorts in Fiji. Plus, get even more tips in The Budget & Backpacking Guide to Fiji.

Sources:

The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across Fiji and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:

Tourism Fiji (General travel advice - Updated [2025])
Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association (Tourism trade association - Updated [2025])
SPTO (Pacific tourism advice - Updated [2025])
Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation (Tourism statistics - Updated [2025])
Fiji Immigration (Visa and immigration advice - Updated [2025])
Fiji Revenue & Customs Service (Customs and visitor taxes - Updated [2025])
Biosecurity Authority of Fiji (Biosecurity advice - Updated [2025])
Fiji Meteorological Service (Weather forecast and warnings - Updated [2025])
Fiji Bureau of Statistics (Statistics and travel data - Updated [2025])
Land Transport Authority (Road safety advice - Updated [2025])
Safe Travel (New Zealand travel advisory for Fiji - Updated [2025])
Smart Traveller (Australia travel advisory for Fiji - Updated [2025])
Travel.State.Gov (U.S. travel advisory for Fiji - Updated [2025])

Our editorial standards: At Fiji Pocket Guide, we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure accurate and quality content.

About The Author

Laura (Lora) S.

This article was reviewed and published by Laura, editor in chief and co-founder of Fiji Pocket Guide. Since arriving solo in the South Pacific over 10 years ago with nothing but a backpack and a background in journalism, her mission has been to show the world how easy (and awesome) it is to explore a paradise such as Fiji. She knows the islands inside-out and loves sharing tips on how best to experience Fiji’s must-dos and hidden gems. Laura is also editor of several other South Pacific travel guides.

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