Urgent Fiji advice for adventure seeking couple!

My mom offered to watch our son next month so we can do a last minute trip! We are planning a 10 day trip to Fiji next month and have no idea where to begin planning. Were not a fan of resorts, we want a more rustic cultural experience.
Any advice on a suggested itinerary would be helpful..I heard we should fly into Nadi and stay there a night or two and then island hop but I dunno which islands! The yawasa islands sound nice but not sure if its too touristy and too expensive for what were looking for? Were on a budget but still need a safe experience. If anyone has any suggestions on which islands we should check out I would appreciate it! I have to book everything this week!

The Yasawas and Mamanucas are definitely Fiji's most touristy islands.

For something less touristy in 10 days, you could encircle the main island of Viti Levu, with a side trip to the neighboring smaller but historic island of Ovalau.

Or head north to Vanua Levu and Taveuni.

Thank u, would u suggest any days in Nadi?

Not really, nothing interesting there unless you want to make a daytrip to a resort island, or visit the souvenir shops.

It's worth getting a bus or plane to Suva. Bus trips shows you nice part of coast, but if you're time challenged plane flights can be good prices.
From Suva some good choices are:
Namosi Eco Retreat - https://www.facebook.com/namosieco/?hc_ref=ARQGyzsysJ4ciGUot0_kP9m1ERKkNQgKtgp2BuW-3md5ExkZNWNpvJavu_vmrJhjIyI
Leluvia Island resort - http://www.leleuvia.com/
Stay at Levuka the old Fiji capital on Ovalau Island - ask about taking a guided walk with Epi who will describe plants and Ovalua history for you
Talanao Treks have some great adventures - it's worth paying them to take you to a village and give a guided walk. I recommend Nabalesere village and Samulele waterfall https://talanoa-treks-fiji.com/

Island Accommodation is Simple and clean accommodation in Suva is https://www.facebook.com/Island-Accommodation-684405628295201/ or Holiday Inn or Grand Pacific for fancier places to stay

The Yasawa islands are perfect for a beach/snorkel/dive holiday if that's what you are after. I can recommend Octopus Resort on beautiful Waya Island.

Although it is a resort with top end accommodation, they also have cheaper rooms. Their dorms are the best I have ever stayed in and the rooms with (excellent and clean) shared facilities are good too. They tend to have an ecclectic mix of people staying there and it's easy to mingle (or not, if that's what you prefer). The staff is all Fijian, lovely people, most of them from the local village nearby.

They offer all kinds of activities, from village visits to basket weaving, jewellery making, story telling, diving, snorkelling trips etc. The beach is very big and beautiful and you can snorkel from the beach on the lovely house reef.

The meal plan is compulsory as there is nowhere else to eat (the resort is the only one on that beach) and the meals are excellent. Check them out on tripadvisor and see if it appeals to you.

How would u suggest getting to the yawasas islands?

What about the mamanucas? U been there
?

The Mamanucas (no, haven't been) and Yasawas are serviced by a daily ferry, the Yasawa Flyer, a big yellow catamaran. Octopus also has a boat; could be convenient if your flight arrives too late for the Flyer. They can pick you up from the airport.

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The good news is there is a daily boat up there. The bad news is it is relative pricy by Fijian standards.

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