The Guide to Luxury Travel in the Lau Islands
The sixty islands that pepper the deep blue waters of the eastern reaches of Fiji make up the Lau Islands. This is Fiji’s least-visited island group and, in turn, the most pristine with uninhabited islands, coral atolls, limestone caves and remote Fijian villages living a traditional way of life. Even getting to the Lau Islands is a luxury, so it’s no surprise that the only guide we make for the Lau Group, aside from our Complete Guide to the Lau Islands, is a “Luxury Travel Guide to the Lau Islands”. Sure, your luxury options are limited with only one resort and a couple of cruises, but once you experience the Lau Group you’ll be sure to like the tourist scene just the way it is…
Before we begin this luxury guide to the Lau Islands, take a moment to bookmark The Complete Luxury Travel Guide to Fiji. Trust us, there’s a lot of essential tips there.
10 Luxury Activities in the Lau Islands
- Play golf on a private island
- Sail in a luxury yacht around the islands
- Scuba dive among some of Fiji’s untouched reefs
- Work on your wellness with a spa treatment or private yoga tuition
- Indulge in farm-to-table and sea-to-table cuisine
- Island-hop on an all-inclusive cruise
- Visit the Bay of Islands by seaplane
- Treat yourself to some deep-sea game fishing
- Experience true serenity with a private beach picnic
- Take a moment to appreciate where in the world you are…
Find out more about each activity in 10 Luxury Activities in the Lau Islands.
How to Get to the Lau Islands
A widely dispersed group of islands in the eastern reaches of Fiji, the Lau Group are a hard bunch of islands to get to. Luckily, some of the only ways to get to this less-visited part of Fiji is through luxury travel: private flights, sailing charters and cruise that departs only three times a year. Find out more below. Otherwise, see more options for getting to the Lau Group in our 5 Ways to Get to the Lau Islands.
Charter Flights to the Lau Islands
Brilliant views and transport with ease, chartered flights are one of the easiest luxury transport methods to get to the Lau Islands. Guests staying on Vatuvura Private Islands have a private flight to and from the resort in the resort’s private aircraft included in their stay. This option is available from Fiji’s mainland, Viti Levu, either from Nadi or Suva. Alternatively, private charter flights to the Lau Group, including day trips to the Bay of Islands, are available from Nadi International Airport. Get more details on the latter in the Lau Islands Transport Guide.
Cruises to the Lau Islands
Cruise from island to island in the Lau Group on an all-inclusive cruise departing just a few times a year from Port Denarau. Dive deeper into the details in our Lau Islands Transport Guide, as well as The Guide to Cruises Around Fiji.
Sailing Charters to the Lau Islands
Most of the time, the only visitors frequenting the Lau Islands are those with their own yacht. You can get in on the action too with a private sailing tour. Check out our recommendations in the Lau Islands Transport Guide: 5 Ways to Get to the Lau Islands.
Luxury Services at the Lau Islands’ Resorts and Cruises
On a luxury getaway, it’s the little things that matter to make it a truly deluxe experience. In the Lau Islands, you have the luxury of an adult-only resort for paradise without children. Wedding services and kids’ clubs are not provided to tourists in the Lau Islands but can be found in many other island groups around Fiji.
Adult-Only Luxury
If the Lau Islands were not a peaceful-enough destination in Fiji, guests Vatuvara Private Islands have the privilege of staying in an adult-only resort. The luxury private islands have a policy of all guests being 16 years and older, enhancing the tranquil ambience of the resort. On the private sailing charter, Looping with Sailing Fiji, the yacht is all yours to decide who you share this amazing experience with. Guests will be staying across the yacht’s four queen-size staterooms.
Learn more about adult-only luxury in Fiji in The Adult Only Guide to Fiji.
Luxury Activities in the Lau Islands
Match sublime scenery with exclusive experiences for a true luxurious Fiji getaway. Even in the remote reaches of the Lau Islands, it’s possible to play golf and revel in a soothing massage. However, it will come as no surprise that world-class scuba diving at sites that very few people have explored and indulging in private picnics on beaches people couldn’t even imagine are available in the Lau Islands.
Luxury Water Activities
Of course, scuba diving in some of Fiji’s most pristine waters is a must! Vatuvara Private Islands has fringing reefs to explore awash with soft and hard coral. The private island resort offers PADI instruction so you can gain your Open Water certification in just four days, or simply enjoy one of the beginner divers with your scuba guide. There’s also a choice of seven dive sites on the 11-Night Lau Islands Cruise with Captain Cook Cruises, from wreck dives to coral gardens to the famous Bay of Islands. PADI dive courses are also available on the cruise. Find out more about the cruise on Viator and Tripadvisor.
Experienced anglers to fishing newbies alike will be amazed by the exciting fishing on offer in the Lau Group, especially off the islands of Vatuvara. The luxury resort takes guests out in the 11m/36ft Naiad boat for trolling, popping, jigging or deep-sea game fishing, catching some of the world’s most sought-after game fish, such as mahimahi, yellowfin tuna, giant trevally, sailfish and much more! What’s more, the resort promotes sustainable fishing so operates on a catch and release policy.
Indulge in a South Pacific private island picnic, where you’ll be dropped off at one of the many secluded beaches in the Lau Islands. With Vatuvara Private Islands, you and your loved one will be transported to an uninhabited island equipped with water toys, an umbrella, pillows, beach towels, snorkelling gear and a gourmet picnic. As for days on Looping with Sailing Fiji, almost every day on the private yacht you’ll be discovering secluded beaches and indulging in divine meals prepared by your onboard chef.
Luxury Land Activities
What could be more luxurious than putting over the manicured greens of a private island golf course?! That’s right, Vatuvara Private Islands also boasts a four-hole golf course, a practice green and a club pavilion for true golfing in paradise. See more experiences like this in The Most Luxurious Golf Courses in Fiji.
The breathtaking beauty and serenity of the Lau Islands make the perfect setting to work on your wellness. Spa treatments and private yoga classes on your villa’s deck are all included with your stay on Vatuvara Private Islands. On the M.V. Reef Endeavour with Captain Cook Cruises (Viator/Tripadvisor), a day spa and gym are available for passengers to indulge in.
For more inspiration, see our 10 Luxury Activities on the Lau Islands.
Luxury Dining in the Lau Islands
Dining in the Lau Islands is a farm-to-table and sea-to-table affair, creating the freshest of flavours. Here are some of the top gourmet dining experiences available in the Lau Group.
Restaurants in the Lau Islands
In the Lau Islands, the only restaurants you will find is on no other than Vatuvara Private Islands. The luxury resort boasts two restaurants serving fabulous meals made from ingredients grown in their own organic gardens and fished from the surrounding waters. Jim’s Bar & Grill is your casual option for a beachside breakfast or a wood-fired pizza for lunch. Traditional Fijian-style lovos are also prepared here – a dining experience you can’t miss! The Valhalla Restaurant is the evening dining restaurant under a verandah where appetisers are served as the sun sets before you indulge in its Pacific Rim menu.
Dining at Sea
Other gourmet dining experiences can only be sampled at sea when exploring the Lau Islands. A significant aspect of your cruise with Sailing Fiji is the gastronomical experience from your private chef, combining local ingredients to create European specialities.
Luxury Accommodation in the Lau Islands
- Vatuvara Private Islands
- Looping – Sailing Fiji
- M.V. Reef Endeavour – Captain Cook Cruises
Explore More of Our Luxury Travel Guide to the Lau Islands and Fiji
Author
Laura 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.