Fanning Island Lodge, Kiribati

Spend a week AT Fanning Island Lodge

NEW LODGING ON FANNING ISLAND

New huts, new mwaneaba (open sided meeting house), new toilet and shower block, new Starlink, fresh water system, beachfront location. There’s a new lodge on Fanning Island and we can take you there.

If you’re looking for world-class flats fly fishing in a truly untouched environment, Fanning Island Lodge is the location. We fly in on Tuesdays or Thursdays and we only need to return back to Cassidy International Airport on CXI when you’re ready to head back to Honolulu or Fiji and onto home.

You can expect to see double-digit bonefish, monstrous giant trevally, aggressive bluefin trevally, treasured bumpies (humphead parrotfish), Napoleon Wrasse and other prized species — all on the fly, all on foot with boats for transport.

Barely three meters above sea level and only 30 square miles in size, Fanning Island (Tabuaeran) is one of the most remote fly fishing destinations on earth, yet now surprisingly accessible. The atoll remains isolated despite twice-weekly flights, and offers only the most basic accommodation — simple thatched huts (with mosquito nets and rechargeable fans to keep you cool at night). There are minimal cooking facilities with freshly caught and prepared seafood topping the menu.

A WEEK ON FANNING ISLAND

You fly into Cassidy International Airport from either Honolulu (or Fiji for our southern hemisphere anglers), where we stay overnight on CXI before transferring to Fanning Island on the weekly Thursday flight. Anglers can choose to stay on Fanning Island for six days of wild exploration, returning to CXI on Tuesday afternoon ahead of Wednesday flights back to Honolulu or Fiji, or stay a second week and enjoy a camp night out on the channel edge, or surf some breaks during your extended visit.

We can take up to a maximum of seven anglers at Fanning Island Lodge but we try to limit groups to six anglers (three boats and guides works well).

There are some weeks during the year where we know the route is not flown due to maintenance, and we’re full some weeks for hosted trips and other groups. So please feel free to call us to find out more about fly fishing and 2026-2027 availability at Fanning Island Lodge.

TRIP OVERVIEW

7 Nights/5 Days Fishing
US$4,995 per angler

Note: This excludes the two possible trip add-on options to either (1) extend your stay on Fanning Island by two days and fish CXI for a further five days, or (2) enjoy a second full week on Christmas Island.

Includes:

Thursday to Tuesday on Fanning Island plus first & last night lodging on CXI
Return charter flights to Tabuaeran (CXI — TNV)
All Christmas Island airport transfers
All meals, water, soft drinks & snacks
1 guide per 2 anglers

Excludes:

International flights to/from CXI via Honolulu (HNL) or Fiji (NAN)
Alcoholic beverages
Fishing licenses (these are paid on arrival)
Tips & gratuities

Extend your trip: Choose to extend your week with two optional add-on options:

Extend your stay on Fanning Island by two days and fish CXI for a further five days,
Enjoy a second full week on Christmas Island.

LOCATION SNAPSHOT

Fly Fiji Airways via Honolulu or Nadi
US anglers: Depart Honolulu on Tuesday, arrive at CXI Wednesday (crossing the International Dateline).
NZ & Australian anglers: Fly via Fiji (Nadi) into CXI early Wednesday morning.
Fanning Island, fly in Thursday morning from CXI to Fanning (TNV), returning Tuesday afternoon.
Flight time: 1 hr 15 mins.

This is true exploration angling. Register your interest now — at Fanning Island Lodge, we like to limit groups to six anglers.

TRIP DETAILS AT A GLANCE

Destination: Fanning Island Lodge, Equator, Pacific Ocean
Target Species: Bonefish, Giant Trevally, Bluefin Trevally, Triggerfish, Bumpies, Wrasse
Difficulty: 8/10 (remote, rugged, and worth it)
Group Size: 6 anglers max
Rate: US$4,995 per angler plus fishing license

TRIP ITINERARY

Travel Day: Tuesday

USA anglers fly from Honolulu (HNL) at 12 noon on the Tuesday Fiji Airways service to Christmas Island (CXI). This flight lands on Wednesday at 3.15pm at due to crossing the International Dateline.
NZ & Australian anglers connect through Nadi, Fiji, arriving CXI early Wednesday morning.

Trip Day 1: Wednesday (same day you depart Honolulu due to the IDL)

Southern Hemisphere anglers land early into Cassidy International Airport and transfer to overnight lodge accommodation. Optional: we can arrange a day on the CXI flats with a local guide to get your eye in.
USA anglers arrive mid-afternoon.

Trip Day 2: Thursday

Early departure for the weekly flight to Fanning Island (Tabuaeran), arriving late morning.
Transfer to rustic hut accommodation, settle in with essential supplies, then we fish for the afternoon.

Trip Day 3–6: Friday – Monday

Four full days fishing Fanning’s untouched flats. Daily boat runs to tide-dependent locations. Packed lunches and simple seafood dinners. Hydration is essential in the equatorial heat. We can design your trip dates for the new/full moon and larger tides, with mornings focused on the incoming tide and feeding bonefish, then moving onto giant trevally later in the afternoon as the tides reach full and the GTs are at their most active.

Trip Day 7: Tuesday

A final morning flats session on those big bones before we pack and depart for the airport for our afternoon flight back to Cassidy International Airport via Air Kiribati.
Overnight lodging on CXI again and some end-of-trip celebrations.

Travel Day: Wednesday (for those returning home)

USA anglers: Early flight to Honolulu, arriving Tuesday due to crossing the Dateline.
Fiji route anglers: Optional final morning on the Paris Flat before afternoon flight to Nadi. Continue to Australia or NZ on Thursday April 16.

For those choosing to stay for a second week on CXI

Transfer to Ikari House for seven days of guided fishing on Christmas Island’s renowned flats.

Early registration secures your week for 2026 or 2027. In return, you’ll receive our full Fanning Island Lodge program by email and we can make a time to discuss any questions you might have about this destination.

YOUR TRIP CONFIRMATION

Upon confirmation of your trip, we provide a secure payment link for your deposit payment. Your spot is secured upon payment of your lodge deposit.

We then provide comprehensive packing lists and fly recommendations for both islands, plus guidance on gratuities, currency (bring AUD for CXI), optional extras, and practical tips.

Read more about guided fly fishing on Fanning Island.

YOUR REMOTE SALTWATER TRIP OF A LIFETIME

A trip is Fanning Island is about as remote an adventure as you can experience saltwater fly fishing. It’s rustic with basic cooking and sleeping facilities – quite the contrast to the fishing lodges back on Christmas Island.

What it does offer in abundance is truly world-class flats fly fishing that’s hard to find on the main atoll of Christmas Island.

You’ll be casting to double-digit Bonefish and monstrous Giant Trevally – all on the fly, all wading with boat transportation, fishing endless flats each day.

It is wild, raw and remote – exploration angling at its finest. Don’t miss this chance to fish Fanning Island in October 2026.

GENERAL INFORMATION

FANNING ISLAND LODGE ENQUIRIES

Please contact us by sending us a message via our Contact Form, or calling us to discuss availability.

We will share more trip information with you via email and make an appointment with you to discuss this adventure, answer your questions and to understand more about your saltwater fly fishing experience and what you’re looking for from this exciting fly fishing adventure to Fanning Island.

Whilst we describe the atoll as rustic, there is fresh water for showers and drinking, flush toilets, solar power to recharge your devices and Starlink connectivity to send photos and messages back home. We prepare for each hosted trip by sending boxed supplied onto the island ahead of our trip, so you can choose from a range of beverages, snacks and a few extra treats we include for all our guests to enjoy at the end of a long day on the flats.

FISHING ABILITY

You do NOT need to be an expert saltwater fly angler to enjoy this trip. We, together with your guide, will assist you throughout the trip. Being able to cast proficiently with a reasonable double haul is a prerequisite though. You should be able to cast heavy flies into wind with an 8-9 weight rod and 10-12 weight single handed rods and saltwater fly lines when targeting giant trevally.

WEATHER

Being close to the equator, it’s warm every day – typically within a couple of degrees of 80 Fahrenheit (27 Celsius). It’s often windy and with rain squalls that can arrive without warning. You’ll need to pack a light rain jacket and it can be breezy travelling by fast boat to our daily destinations, so bring a warm hoody or vest just in case.

Otherwise, sun protection is the order of the day. Pack suncream, quality sun protection apparel, a Buff and gloves, wide-brimmed hat (and a backup), chapstick for your lips and we’ll have plenty of water to stay hydrated in the chilly bin.

FARE PAYMENT

Fanning Island Lodge tariffs (including air transfer CXI/Fanning) are outlined on this page in US Dollars (USD$) and will not change after final confirmation of your booking (confirmed by receipt of your deposit payment to Isolation Outfitters), regardless of any fluctuations in international currency, fuel or travel costs. Individual anglers are invoiced separately or together as you wish.

Payments: Payment are made to Isolation Outfitters in US Dollars (USD$) on receipt of a secure payment link. You can pay via Electronic Funds Transfer (ACH in U.S.) or wire transfer into our U.S. deposit account. For Australian and New Zealand anglers, you can choose to pay in NZD$ at the US–NZ exchange currency rate used by our payment platforms.

Credit Cards: We accept most major international credit cards and provide a secure link for online payments.

Deposit: A deposit of 50% of the fare is payable to confirm your booking. Payment of deposit is deemed acceptance of our Terms and Conditions and confirmation of your booking with us.

Remaining Fare: We require settlement of your full account 90 days before your trip proceeds.

Insurance/Evacuation Cover: All anglers will need to show proof of comprehensive travel insurance and any required medical insurance plus evacuation cover at this time. We recommend Global Rescue.

CONNECTIVITY

There is Starlink available at Fanning Island Lodge.

In the event of a medical emergency, we will have direct contact with Global Rescue (or whomever you are insured with) for urgent evacuation back to Christmas Island and onto the nearest medical centre.