Privat Mnt Batilamu Heldagsvandring

We had Peni as our guide, and he was AWESOME. He was so personable, kind, patient, knowledgeable and has a great sense of humor. My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our hike with him through his private company. Booking a hike with Peni is a must-do if you are in Fiji!

Peni was an absolutely wonderful human being to have as a guide on this hike! He was extremely kind, considerate (made sure we properly hydrated and took breaks), super knowledgeable about the area and the trail, etc. He was such a fun person to also just talk to in general. My husband and I were on our honeymoon in Fiji, and this was one of our favorite parts of the trip because of Peni and the insane views on this hike! There were multiple amazing lookout points plus a huge one at the end where it felt like you could see all of Fiji - it was absolutely gorgeous. Another wonderful part of the hike was that at the end, we got to visit the mountain village that is right at the start of the trail. The family was so incredibly kind, welcoming and generous. We had a delicious meal of classic Fijian dishes, which really hit the spot after the big hike. We will never forget this amazing hike, or Peni!

If you are looking for a beautiful challenging hike in the Fijian highlands of Viti Levu and a chance to experience the warmth and vibrance of the local culture this is the perfect activity. The/our local guide Peni is a Fijian of the warrior caste who cheerfully and with great insight shares his islands history, culture and struggles to integrate their village culture with the modern world of technology and the pivot to an economy where visitors are the norm. The tropical forest hike with natural waterfalls, high above the crystal blue ocean, is only exceeded by the home cooked meal in the local village of Abaca. After putting on our Sulu dress for the meal we were treated to coconut creamed Taro leaves, fishnoodles, fried pumpkin and root vegtables, fried rice and hot fresh mint tea. Our hostess was the village headmaster's daughter and shared her home for the meal. One word of caution: the hike, while not extremely long, is thru dense forest and the trail gets very wet and slick should the rains come as they did for us. So be prepared. This is not a hike for the physically challenged. However you are in good hands with Peni and you will be delighted and the rewards awaiting you on this adventure.

I did this experience as a solo female traveler & would recommend it to anyone- solo or group. Peni has been a tour guide for a loooong time (>10 years on the Island). Everyone at the hotel was excited to see him and recommended him. The road to the village is rustic & the village quaint. Toilets do not have toilet paper, so ladies, bring your own. The hike, led bt Leps, was challenging and phenomenal. Views excellent & the trek a great mix of through the grass **note it’s a path that is overgrown in some places. While hot, I’d recommend light pants to keep your legs from getting scratches from the brush. The first 45 min-1 hour is out in the sun- bring sunscreen & a hat! Then it transitions into the covered tropical forest - bugs were minimal. I did not need bug spray. The roots of trees and trunk made for natural stairs. No bouldering - just authentic tropical rain forest. It did rain- actually quite heavy rain- Leps had a water proof bag I was able to put my phone and watch in, very helpful!!! The end of the hike we swam in the cold spring water & washed out shoes & clothes that collected mud. Phenomenal hike! Back at the village Leps wife, Oni, prepared a delicious, traditional meal that I devoured. It’s a small village so don’t forget to bring tips- they are most grateful.

I had a wonderful day hiking with Peni to the top of Mt. Batilamu and then to a waterfall, followed by a delicious meal in the local village. Peni is a terrific guide and works to make sure that you have the best possible experience while fulfilling your interests. He knows all the trails and routes incide and out, and can also tell you about the local environment, community, cultural, tradicions and more. I highly recommend the Mt Batilamu hike with Peni.

I organised this as a present for my partner and it was one of the best experiences ever. Peni went at my pace and there was no pressure on timings. He told us about his family history and it was amazing to do the private tour. The views are insanely beautiful and the lunch with the family at the end made it even more special. I would recommend this tour to anyone! Thank you Peni for a wonderful and unforgettable day. Note: It can get very sweaty and bring lots of water! It is a moderately tough hike I’d say but you can take it slowly.

My friend and I spent the day with Peni, who beautifully planned out an amazing day for us. He picked us up from the hotel and gave us some local Fiji tips and history on the drive. He guided us up Mt Batilamu with expertise, knowledge and friendliness. There were such amazing views both at the peak and on the whole journey up and down, definitely worth the climb! Also got to dip in a gorgeous waterfall on the way back. We got a great, authentic meal with his family after the climb with a true village experience. Would highly recommend!

Peni picked me up from the Fiji Marriott Momi Bay and we made our way up to Abaca. We stopped at a fruit vendor on the way where Peni bought us some delicious fresh pineapple. Peni is very knowledgeable on Fijian history and culture. I felt very fortunate that he was able to pass some of that onto myself. The drive through the mountains, once you turn off the highway was scenic but bumpy. Once at Abaca we got ourselves ready before beginning our hike. The hike to the top of Mt Batilamu is steep and slippery in parts. You will need a decent level of fitness to make it to the top. We passed several hikers who were unable to make it to the top. The views over the mountains, out to Lautoka and over the ocean are majestic on the way up. We stopped to eat Rose Apple and Mango that we picked straight from the tree. Great for keeping that energy up. We made it Batilamu Lodge before continuing on a short way to the edge of Mt Batilamu. This was the highlight of the hike. The views from the top were majestic with the atmosphere completely serene and tranquil. The view looks out over the south and west with amazing views of the Coral Coast. I won’t be forgetting that view for a long time. We made our way back down the mountain before veering off to go for a swim at one of the waterfalls. The swim was refreshing in such a beautiful location. We made our way back down to the Abaca before having some afternoon tea with one of the local families. Everyone was so friendly and I felt so blessed to be welcomed into their home. Peni dropped me back right at the front of the resort. You can do this hike in runners but they will get very dirty and it will make some of the slipperier parts more difficult. I would recommend hiking boots for this hike. I wore my hiking boots and was glad I did. I took around 3 litres of fluids (poweraid and an electrolyte drink). I sweated a lot wouldn’t have wanted to have taken any less fluid than I did for this hike. Peni had excellent communication before the hike and even on the morning of. Peni really made this day the fantastic experience that it was. He is such a kind, caring and beautiful human being. I feel like my life has only been enhanced from spending the day together. Peni uses the local community as much as he can with his tours, so know that some of the money you pay will go to supporting the locals in Abaca village. I cannot recommend this tour highly enough. If you staying anywhere from Lautoka to Momi Bay make sure to see Peni and see the Coral Coast in a whole new way.

Driver never showed up after confirming the day before. No explanation was given after we called numerous times and never got a hold of him.

WHAT A HIKE!!! It was absolutely amazing to get up into the mountain and Peni was amazing to walk with. As a solo female traveler it can be intimidating to do some activities alone but Peni was on time to pick me up from my hotel and shared so much about his culture and family and was amazing to talk to! If you know a bit about your culture as well he loved learning about mine!! I felt so comfortable and well taken care of the whole time! The views are like no other, absolutely stunning at the top and Peni makes sure you stop on the way up and get photos in the good spots. The family that made lunch at the base were also lovely (it’s just Fijian culture to be such an awesome person). Fitness wise I didn’t struggle but there are some points that I would say you need a decent level of fitness for imo :) I have absolutely no complaints from my day today. Would do again if I went leaving tomorrow!