Vanuatu Expedition

Vanuatu Expedition

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8 Days From

$3380

Vanuatu Expedition

8 Days Starting and ending in Port Vila

Visiting: Port Vila, Port Vila – Rentapao River, Tanna, Tanna – Mt Yasur, Tanna – Port Vila, Pele & Nguna Islands, Pele & Nguna Island – Port Vila

Tour operator:

Intrepid Travel

Tour code:

TESV

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

1 - 12

Physical rating:

Medium

Age range:

15-99 years

Tour operated in:

English
From: $3380

NB: Prices correct on 08-Nov-2024 but subject to change.

Tour Overview

On this eight-day expedition, encounter raw beauty and culture on the tiny islands of Vanuatu. Leave the resorts of Port Vila behind and fly to rainforest-rich islands where you can meet locals, immerse yourself in nature and enjoy true adventure travel. Meet communities where kastom – traditional culture and law – still rules, including the legendary John Frum villages. Snorkel among the gorgeous coral reef that's protected by law. Trek through towering greenery and learn about how it is to live among active volcanoes and tropical wilderness. Embrace a side of Vanuatu that few tourists seek, but one that those who do will never forget.

Highlights

  • Encounter the cargo cult communities of Tanna and see for yourself how these indigenous villages have incorporated WWII iconography into their religious traditions.

  • Hike to the rim of Mt Yasur, one of the world’s most active volcanoes, and watch the smoke and lava billowing (from a safe distance, of course).

  • Snorkel in the clear waters around Nguna & Pele and see the remarkable coral reef that is protected as part of a marine reserve.

  • Go beyond the walled-off resorts and discover the beauty and cultures of Vanuatu. Hike, paddle, swim and snorkel in some of the most beautiful places in the tropics.

  • Walk through the towering rainforest to find a banyan tree that is said to be the largest in the world, with hundreds of prop roots that support it.

  • Meet with the traditional communities of Tanna and learn how these Indigenous villages have incorporated WWII iconography into their religious rituals.

  • Hike to the rim of Mt Yasur, one of the world’s most active volcanoes, and in the evening, watch the smoke and lava billowing create a natural fireworks display (from a safe distance, of course).

  • Snorkel in the clear waters around Pele and see the remarkable coral reef that's protected as part of a marine reserve.

Itinerary

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Day 1: Port Vila

Location: Port Vila

Accommodation: Hotel

Halo! Welcome to Port Vila, the capital of Vanuatu. Your adventure begins today with a welcome meeting at 5 pm at your accommodation tonight. If you arrive with time to spare before the welcome meeting, maybe head to the heart of the city for Port Vila's produce market and the waterfront promenade, just a short walk away. There's also the option of hiring a sea kayak from the hotel and taking to the ocean for a true taste of the Pacific.

Optional Activities:
-Port Vila - Produce market - Free
-Port Vila - Handicraft market - Free

Day 2: Port Vila – Rentapao River

Location: Port Vila – Rentapao River

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch

Today, you'll discover some of Efate’s best spots. A 25-minute scenic drive will take you to the exclusive kayak base on the Rentapao River. Experience Vanuatu’s rainforest and village life as you paddle its safe waters for 3 hours. After a French-style lunch at the river’s edge, transfer upstream to the river cascades, a great place to swim, relax and shake off any jet lag. You'll be back at your hotel by mid-afternoon, allowing ample time to discover more of Port Vila and choose a place for your optional dinner tonight.

Included Activities:
-Efate - River Kayaking
-Efate - Rarru Cascades

Day 3: Tanna

Location: Tanna

Accommodation: Beachside Bungalow

Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner

It is an early morning start today for your Air Vanuatu flight to the legendary southern island of Tanna. From there, it's a short transfer to your beachside bungalow, your home for the night. After an included local lunch, begin the first of your amazing Tanna hikes. The world's largest banyan tree is high on a ridge overlooking the coast. Your path there will loop back through scattered villages, food gardens and rainforests – a great opportunity to meet ‘the happiest people in the world’ going about their daily lives. On the way back to your bungalow, stop at a kava bar for some refreshments. Watch the sunset with your group tonight, keeping an eye out for the whales that cruise along the coast (from July). You'll have dinner as a group and a chance to swap stories by the campfire.

Included Activities:
-Tanna - Rainforest hike
-Tanna - World's largest banyan tree
-Tanna - Kava Bar visit
-Tanna - Village & community visits

Day 4: Tanna – Mt Yasur

Location: Tanna – Mt Yasur

Accommodation: Bungalow

Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner

Get ready for a big day today! Start with a drive across the spine of the island to your new accommodation and a John Frum village hidden in the rainforest at the foot of a smouldering volcano. Road conditions permitting, you'll have a short dip in the Sulphur Bay hot springs before travelling to Port Resolution, named after one of Captain Cook’s ships. After lunch, return to the foot of the volcano and hike along a rutted road to the rim of the volcano (a driving option to the crater carpark is also available for those who would prefer). Throughout the hike, you'll feel the ground shaking and hear the volcano rumbling, and finally, as you arrive at the crater rim in the late afternoon, you'll be amazed at the firework show that awaits. Return from the volcano in the evening for a late dinner at your beachside bungalow.

Included Activities:
-Tanna - Mt Yasur volcano crater hike
-Tanna - Sulphur Bay Hot Springs
-Tanna - Port Resolution village visit

Day 5: Tanna – Port Vila

Location: Tanna – Port Vila

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch

This morning, you'll head into the jungle-clad hills to a ‘kastom’ village. The community here has long rejected modern life and conserves many aspects of traditional lifestyle. Learn about traditional rites of passage along with their proud links to Prince Phillip as your leader guides you around the village. While life around them is definitely changing fast, it's an interesting insight into a community at the cusp of making decisions about the future and how tourism can help conserve long-held practices. Have lunch at a local cafe in town and a stop at a coffee shop brewing local beans before returning to the airport for an afternoon flight back to Port Vila.

Included Activities:
-Tanna - Village & community visits

Day 6: Pele & Nguna Islands

Location: Pele & Nguna Islands

Accommodation: Beachside Bungalow

Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner

After Tanna's spectacular culture and rainforests, today you'll head to a pristine tropical island renowned for its marine conservation area. It's a scenic drive to Emua wharf and you'll stop at a coffee roasterery along the way. Take a short boat ride to Pele, where you'll sit down for a local lunch on the beach. Then, go snorkelling in the lagoon (weather permitting) or in the marine conservation area. Expect lots of fish, the occasional turtle and plenty of hard corals and small canyons to explore. This afternoon, you'll have the option to take a boat over to Nguna for a challenging 3-hour volcano walk. Alternatively, you can go for a few easier walks around Pele's villages. Your accommodation for the night is at beachside bungalows on Pele hosted by the village women.

Included Activities:
-Pele - Snorkelling
-Efate - Coffee roaster visit

Optional Activities:
-Nguna Island - Extinct volcano hike - Free

Day 7: Pele & Nguna Island – Port Vila

Location: Pele & Nguna Island – Port Vila

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch

This morning, take an easy walk into Nguna’s main village to visit the historic church and community sites, before heading back to Efate for lunch at a locally-owned restaurant. Here, there are more great snorkelling options available for those missing the water. Take in the lovely views across the islands, then drive back to Port Vila, this time along the east coast road, meaning you also get to do a round-Efate tour. There are lots of roadside markets to explore and plenty of photo opportunities. Stop for a swim at the sublime Blue Lagoon or one of the local coves around Eton village. Make a final stop at a new distillery, for a delicious tasting of local liquers. Arrive back at your Port Vila accommodation for your final night together in the late early evening. Finish the trip with an optional farewell dinner, a fantastic way to finish your Vanuatu adventure.

Included Activities:
-Efate - Rum & gin distillery visit
-Nguna - Village walk

Day 8: Port Vila

Location: Port Vila

Meals Included: breaksfast

Your Vanuatu adventure comes to an end this morning after breakfast. If you are staying longer, ask your tour leader about the optional Discovery Bushwalk tour to visit more villages and communities nearby. If you are travelling from May to June, this trip can be combined with the five-day Vanuatu Expedition: Land Diving Festival (just search code TESLC on our website).



Optional Activities:
-Port Vila - Port Vila Town Tour
-Port Vila - Discovery Bushwalk
-Port Vila - National Museum

What's Included

  • Accommodation
    Hotel (4 nights), Bungalows (3 nights)

  • Efate - River Kayaking

  • Efate - Rarru Cascades

  • Tanna - Rainforest hike

  • Tanna - World's largest banyan tree

  • Tanna - Mt Yasur volcano crater hike

  • Tanna - Village & community visits

  • Tanna - Hot Springs

  • Tanna - Port Resolution village visit

  • Tanna - Kastom village community visit

  • Nguna - Village walk

show more

What's Not Included

  • Tipping and Gratuities

  • International Travel

Transport

  • FLIGHTS
  • Due to frequent flight delays and cancellations on Air Vanuatu, we highly recommend allowing additional days in Port Vila before and after your tour and considering flying Virgin or Fiji Airways.
  • Our trips include scheduled flights between islands. In the case of flight cancellations, we will do our best to reschedule and rebook an alternative option if available, however please be prepared that on occasion due to limited aircraft, a charter flight may need to be booked instead, with the additional cost to be covered by the traveller and paid on ground locally.

Accommodation

  • Hotel (4 nights), Bungalows (3 nights)

Important Information

  • 1. The Group Meeting is at 5 pm on Day 1.
  • 2. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes Day 3 to 6 where you will be in shared accommodation, includes accommodation in Port Vila only, and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
  • 3. You must provide us with a copy of your passport no later than 30 days before your departure in order for us to book the domestic flights included on this trip. We are unable to book your flights without a passport copy.

Mode of Transport

  • Private vehicle , Boat , Plane

Accommodation

  • Hotel (4 nights), Beachside bungalow (3 nights)

Check out our Q&As

  • Is this trip right for you

    Your accommodation on Tanna and Pele is in traditional bamboo bungalows. These have standard beds with mosquito nets and bathroom facilities, but showers are cold water only and in places there is no running water. Electricity intermittent or solar only. Your meals on these islands will be home-cooked with love by the village mamas using fresh, organic produce from the gardens and the sea.

    Part of travelling with Intrepid is respecting local cultures and sensibilities. That way you get the most out of your interactions with local people and environments. In Vanuatu, female travellers can be respectful by wearing clothing that covers from shoulder to knee when outside the hotel pool area. An old t-shirt and a pair of board shorts are a good alternative to bikinis for island snorkelling adventures!

  • What policies are in place for Covid-19?

    Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies

  • How long has the tour company been trading?

    Intrepid Travel has been taking travellers around the world for over 30 years

  • Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?

    Yes

  • What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?

    Since 2002, The Intrepid Foundation has supported over 130 organisations across the world. We’re creating positive impact through the joy of travel, community and connection.

  • Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?

    Over 50% of traveller travel solo with Intrepid. You can choose to share a room with another solo travelle of the same sex for no additional charge, or choose to pay a single supplement if you’d like your own room. Please request this when booking, and we will secure you a single supplement wherever possible. Please note, if you are booking a last-minute trip, it may be harder for us to secure a single room

Reviews of this operator

Maroochy Dazza (Google Reviewer)  

Just leaving a review to...

24-Aug-2023

Just leaving a review to share how much I enjoyed my Central America trip. I thought the guide, Aura was so knowledgeable and organised and clearly a great ambassador for Intrepid. She gave us lots of information on each region, helped us organise anything we needed and dealt with queries from passengers very well and diplomatically. She made the trip run smoothly. She was also keen to explain the Intrepid vision and how the company values making a difference to locals and is a credit to your company. I did Guatemala and beyond and thoroughly enjoyed it - very fast paced, lots to see and do and a great overview of the region. I would definitely recommend 👍

LivvyGrace 4 (Google Reviewer)  

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15-Jul-2024

I just completed my first Intrepid tour which was 33 days travelling around Central America - I had the time of my life! It was great to have the benefit of a guide (Fluffy was amazing!) and be able to ask questions at any point, but I also liked the freedom that you were permitted throughout. The group tour made boarder crossings seamless and the whole process felt easy - there was never one hiccup. As a solo female traveller, I felt safe throughout, and I cannot recommend Central America enough - the people, the food, the sun and the activities were just amazing :) Can't wait to book my next adventure soon!

V Open (Google Reviewer)  

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26-Oct-2022

I have just come back home after doing Intrepid's 10-day Vietnam Express Northbound tour. What a SUPERB tour. We saw lots and did lots, it was jam-packed full of sights and activities. Our tour leader, Tam, was the best ever. Very knowledgeable, organised and lots of fun too. The other 10 people on the group were all lovely. The places we visited were very interesting. We even visited local homes and ate just like the local people do. I highly recommend Intrepid to anyone considering touring a new country. This was my 5th tour with them and they have consistently been fantastic.

Jack Edwards (Google Reviewer)  

I have travelled with Intrepid...

03-Jun-2024

I have travelled with Intrepid a number of times now and can't recommend them enough. The trips are always exciting, full of history and immersive in the culture and environment. The office staff are great too and always happy to help with any questions you might have. Everywhere I have gone with the company has been different but the guides and itinerary have always been excellent and full of knowledge and passion for their country. Add in the social responsibility angle the company has and it top quality ethical practice and you can't go wrong

Jo Clayton (Google Reviewer)  

I recently went on an...

15-Mar-2024

I recently went on an 11 day tour of India with Intrepid and was impressed with every aspect of the tour, the tour leader and the organisation behind the scenes. I always travel alone so it was a big deal to join a tour, I didn't want to feel less independent or ferried about. I loved being part of a group and the things we saw and did on the tour, I would never have known about or seen if I had been by myself. I loved it from start to finish. Yes the overnight trains were not easy to sleep on, but I managed. Meeting locals on board was a high light for me. English is widely spoken in India and its amazing who you strike up a chat with. I had two problems on the tour - one my own fault and one hotel related. The support from Intrepid was amazing. I cannot thank them enough for going the extra mile to support me. I recommend Intrepid 100% and have gone from thinking an organised tour is for people who don't know about Lonely Planet and can't do solo stuff, to realising its a faster, better, more fun way to get to know a country truly and deeply whilst on a bit of a budget. I will book again and again with Intrepid. I loved it that much! Big thanks to tour leader Daddy H. Devender for his help on day one, and Nick in the Oz office for his fab customer care skills. Also the person who staffed the emergency whatsapp in India - you saved my sanity helping me get there a day late! THANK YOU ALL X

Nicole  

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Alice Norton (Google Reviewer)  

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29-Feb-2024

I have just completed a 12 day food tour of Vietnam, and had an amazing time. Our tour leader was great, knowledgeable and kind, who helped throughout the trip with recommendations for places on our free days, and spas. All the food we tried was delicious. It is a very fast paced tour, and Bon tried to maximise our experiences for the best.

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Prices last published on 08-Nov-2024

Book with Confidence

  • Free Date Changes

    Intrepid Travel allows you to make 10 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 56 days before the start of the tour.

  • Transfer as credit to Future Tours

    Intrepid Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform intrepid travel, 56 days before departure.

  • Low Deposit

    Intrepid Travel requires a minimum deposit of 400 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 56 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of intrepid travel charges.

    Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

    At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.

    At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.

    At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.

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