Christmas Island Lodge

Lodging Details
Uniquely situated on the northern coast of Christmas Island, the lodge was renovated with one goal in mind: to provide anglers with both phenomenal angling and a comfortable lodging experience. Due to the remote nature of Christmas Island, traveling anglers often arrived at the Pacific destination knowing that many modern accommodations would not be available. However, Christmas Island Lodge provides ensuite bathrooms, hot showers, air-conditioning, and is the only lodge on Kiritimati to offer private rooms. 

A series of thatched bungalows accommodate a maximum of eight anglers a week, with two private rooms in each bungalow. A stone’s throw from the beach, each of the cabanas ensures guests can sleep next to the soothing call of the rolling waves and the sea breeze. Nearby, a common area makes for a wonderful place to enjoy an afternoon beverage after fishing or take a restorative swim in the Swimming Lagoon nearby. 

Food and Beverages
Some of the best cooks on the island, Christmas Island Lodge utilizes freshly caught seafood and ingredients and produce flown in from Hawaii to blend common fare with island favorites. The people and lodge staff are renowned for their hospitality and welcoming smiles, ensuring guests feel at home in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

Coffee and breakfast awaits anglers each morning around 5:30 AM before they make their way to the flats. Lunches are served shoreside, typically consisting of sandwiches and salads with plenty of cold water, soda, and beer if you prefer. Stellar dinners are served around 7:30 PM each evening after cocktails or a quick dip in the lagoon, with a traditional pig roast capping off each week at the lodge.

Typical Length of Stay
Since flights to Christmas Island’s Cassidy International Airport (CXI) through Honolulu’s International Airport (HNL) are only offered once a week on Fiji Air, the standard package is seven (7) nights / six (6) fishing days.

Non-Angling/Diving Options
Kiritimati is a very rustic and remote location far from modern-day civilization. Most travelers who visit Christmas Island do so to experience world-class angling. However, the island offers other activities such as birdwatching, diving and snorkeling, surfing, Operation Grapple relics tours, various island and cultural tours, and sightseeing opportunities.

Internet / Communications
The lodge utilizes Starlink which operates at 138 Mbps, so the lodge will have power to support various communication devices. With that said, this is a very remote location, and anglers should be prepared to have limited access to outside communication during their stay.

How To Get There
There is only one flight per week to Christmas Island/Kiritimati Island’s Cassidy International Airport (CXI) on Fiji Air that departs from Honolulu International Airport (HNL) every Tuesday morning. This means that you must fly into Honolulu on Monday at the latest in order to make the Tuesday morning Fiji Airlines flight. We suggest arriving on Sunday to allow for any potential delays with your flight over to Hawaii. In the event you miss that Tuesday flight, you will miss your trip to Christmas Island! The Fiji Airlines flight is around three and a half hours to Christmas Island from Honolulu. On arrival, you will pass through immigration/customs where a transfer agent will be there to meet you before a ten-minute ride to the bungalows. 

You will want to book the departure flight from Kiritimati (CXI) back to Honolulu to depart the following Wednesday (arriving back in Honolulu on Tuesday). On this trip, you will be traveling over the ‘International Date Line’! We recommend also planning to overnight in Honolulu again on the way home in case of any delays with your flight from Christmas Island back to Hawaii.

We recommend booking your hotel nights in Hawaii in the Waikiki Beach area there in Honolulu. It is close to that airport, and there are literally dozens of options. There is some quality bonefishing on Oahu and Molokai that you can take advantage of on the front or back of your trip. Yellow Dog does have some referrals we can pass along so please let us know if you are interested!

Documents Required
All U.S. citizens are required to have a valid passport that does not expire within six (6) months of trips dates. Please be sure that your passport has at least two blank, unstamped pages remaining in the back, and that it is not torn, de-laminated, or damaged in any way.

Minors Traveling Without Both Parents
All children 18 years of age or younger accompanied by only one parent or legal guardian must have a NOTARIZED letter of consent from the other parent stating the child/children have his/her permission to travel. Single parents need NOTARIZED documentation of divorce or a spousal death certificate. Unaccompanied Minors require a NOTARIZED letter of consent signed by both parents.

Travel Arrangements
Yellow Dog provides airline reservations ad ticketing assistance through etcTravel Group, and a full-service airline logistics agent that can help book airline tickets, hotels, rental cars, and more. You can click here to request a quote or contact Yellow Dog for more information at 406-585-8667. etcTravel Group offers dedicated support services for all Yellow Dog clients. Service fees may apply when booking or researching tickets, and etcTravel will discuss this with you before sending quotes.

Travel Tools
- Travel Insurance
- Moon Phases
- Airline Ticketing
- Rent This Rod
- Global Rescue Membership

General Information
Recognized as one of the world’s preeminent bonefisheries, Christmas Island is home to hundreds of miles of wadeable flats. Bonefish in between three and five pounds are abundant, though larger fish are common. With the lodge only entertaining eight anglers a week, and the remote nature of Christmas Island, it is likely the bonefish you encounter have never been fished to. The best part? The island’s inner lagoon, where much of the bonefishing is done, is only ten minutes from Christmas Island Lodge.

While scouting for bonefish, anglers can expect to encounter several different species. Triggerfish can be targeted most days on the flats, making for a challenging fight once hooked up due to their massive teeth and propensity to find anything and everything to cut your leader. Both bluefin and golden trevally cruise the flats or along the edges of deeper water and aggressively pounce on well-presented flies. The apex predator of the flats, the giant trevally, is one of the primary draws for traveling to Christmas Island. A powerhouse species, GTs are more tank than fish and can be found cruising the flats when tides will allow it, eager to destroy whatever you cast its way. Targeting GTs can be difficult, demanding anglers remain patient and vigilant, with shots coming fast and furious. Once hooked–hold on, there are few species that demand as much out of your rod and reel! The bonus of Christmas Island is that anglers can simply fish for what swims their way or discuss with their guide which species they would like to target throughout their stay. Depending on fishing conditions, anglers can customize their entire week to ensure they experience new flats and angling scenarios daily.

For anglers hoping to target pelagics on the fly, the lodge is a short drive to the boat launch in London. A forty-five-minute ride offshore and yellowfin tuna, wahoo, sailfish, and giant trevally can all be targeted. In addition, Christmas Island is one of the prime locations to target one of saltwater flyfishing’s most elusive and difficult species to hook and land: the milkfish. Growing upwards of forty pounds, these fish are well known to fight for hours, requiring the most out of the angler and their gear.

Gear and Equipment
Anglers should prepare to bring everything they need for fishing while on Christmas Island, including rods, reels, flies, and terminal tackle. Backup equipment is recommended in the event of breakage, especially when targeting larger species such as giant trevally or milkfish!

Package Rates
Remember that Yellow Dog’s services are completely free! When you book a trip with Yellow Dog, you never pay more than when you book directly with the lodge or outfitter. All prices listed below are per person and quoted in US dollars.

2024 Rates (7 Nights / 6 Days Guided Fishing):

Shared Guide / Double Occupancy = $3,650.00 per person 
Shared Guide / Private Room = $4,250.00 per person 
Solo Guide / Private Room = $4,950.00 per person

What’s Included:

• Lodging
• All meals while at the lodge
• Non-alcoholic beverages and beer/wine
• Daily guided fishing (2 anglers per guide)
• Fishing license
• Laundry services
• Departure tax
• Transportation to/from CXI airport
• 12.5% VAT on your lodge stay
• Limited communication services

What’s Not Included:

• Gratuities for guides and lodge staff (15% recommended)
• Alcohol other than beer/wine (Can be purchased in Honolulu)
• Airfare to/from CXI
• All fishing gear, including rods, flies, and terminal tackle
• Lodging in Hawaii before/after stay at Christmas Island Lodge

 
Christmas Island Lodge (Christmas Island)
TERMS AND CONDITIONS – CANCELLATIONS
A non-refundable deposit of 50% per person is due at the time of booking for all Christmas Island Lodge lodging and fishing packages, and final payment if due 90 days prior to arrival. For cancellations, all deposits and payments are non-refundable. Because of the lodge’s no refund and no credit policy, we highly recommend the purchase of trip cancellation insurance. In no event will Christmas Island Lodge or Yellow Dog be responsible for any cancellation of services or operations due to inclement weather, any event of force majeure, airline delays, flight cancellations, or any other reason beyond the control of the lodge and agent. For this reason, Yellow Dog strongly recommends that anglers and guests purchase travel insurance for your trip. Christmas Island Lodge will not refund payments in the event of poor weather. If your flights to and from Christmas Island are cancelled and connections are missed, Christmas Island Lodge and Yellow Dog are not responsible for alternative travel arrangements including flights, hotels, meals and any other expenses incurred. If a cancelled package is resold by either the lodge or by Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures, then a full refund will be issued minus a $100.00 per person cancellation fee charged by Yellow Dog. Receipt of deposit and/or final payment is acknowledgment that registrant has read and accepts the deposit, cancellation, refund and responsibility clauses for these packages. Once again, Yellow Dog strongly recommends that anglers and guests purchase travel insurance for all Christmas Island packages.

Payment Terms for All Yellow Dog Trip Bookings  
Unless otherwise noted on your invoice, for all trips less than 90 days out, full payment is required after receipt of the confirmation email to secure guides and reservations. For trips outside of 90 days, a 50% deposit is required upon receipt of confirmation email to confirm your reservations.   

Yellow Dog accepts on-line payments via a secure payment portal – a quick and easy way to complete your trip reservation. Please reach out to accounting@yellowdogflyfishing.com to gain access. 

Yellow Dog Flyfishing Standard Forms of Payment 

• Debit card (fee-free) and credit card (3% convenience fee) - to pay via card please utilize the customer payment portal. If you need assistance, reach out to 406-585-8667 ext. #3 
• Wires - please include name and/or invoice number for reference on your wire. Please reach out to accounting@yellowdogflyfishing.com for wiring instructions. (client is responsible for wiring fees) 
• Physical check - please include your invoice number in the memo. Mail checks to 213 S. Willson Ave. Bozeman, MT, 59715

If you have any questions about alternate payment methods, please contact Yellow Dog at (406) 585-8667 ext. #3. We are available Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM MT.