Vanuatu Expedition
Experience 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
- 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.
- 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.
Trip Details
Product Code: 2668
Tour Type: Small Group
Accommodation: Basic
Transport: Private vehicle,Boat,Plane
Guide Language: English
Tour Operator:
Intrepid Travel
Supplier Code: TESV
Starts: Port Vila, Vanuatu
Finishes: Port Vila, Vanuatu
Duration: 8 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Average
Includes
Meals: Breakfasts (7), Lunch (6), Dinner (3)Accommodation: Hotel (4 nights),Bungalows (3 nights)
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $4,190 ($524 /day)
Itinerary
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
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
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
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
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
Accommodation:
- Beachside Bungalow (Number of Nights: 1)
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
Accommodation:
- Bungalow (Number of Nights: 1)
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
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
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
Accommodation:
- Beachside Bungalow (Number of Nights: 1)
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
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
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 (3200 VUV)
- Port Vila - Discovery Bushwalk (5200 VUV)
- Port Vila - National Museum (1000 VUV)
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Tour Operator
Intrepid Travel
Intrepid Travel is a global adventure travel company, dedicated to providing sustainable, experience-rich travel opportunities. They’ve been the leader in ethical, small-group travel since 1989 - taking people around the world for more than 30 years. They’re the world’s largest travel B Corporation - dedicated to being the best travel company for the world. In 2002, they established The Intrepid Foundation so their travellers could make a lasting impact on the communities they had visited. Although Intrepid Travel absorbs all administrative costs of The Intrepid Foundation, they are separate legal entities, allowing The Intrepid Foundation to grow independently. Intrepid Travel is made up of a collection of tour operator brands and 28 destination management companies all united by one vision: To change the way we all see the world.
In Business Since 1989
Reviews
Ruth - Traveled, September 2023
This was a great trip. It’s quite short so I would recommend booking a few extra days to do your own exploring too.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/14/2023
Tara - Traveled, September 2023
Vanuatu is a spectacular destination, with amazing sights, activities and culture. This trip is truly special as we visited places that were personal to our local leaders and explored with a real sense of adventure. The experiences were all so memorable, from village visits, to climbing the volcano, home-cooked meals and island explorations, we did so much in a short time and came away with so many cultural insights. Thank you to the Intrepid team in Vanuatu for such an amazing holiday!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/08/2023
Nadia - Traveled, September 2023
What a fantastic trip! Allan and all of the local guides were fantastic and so generous in sharing their knowledge and passion for Vanuatu. Activities were great and every village made us feel welcome. Accommodation was basic but comfortable - be aware that some places haven’t got running water and only provide buckets for showing. Also ensure you have a small bag to pack for 1-2 nights on the islands, as luggage space on planes/boats is limited! Highly recommend this tour!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/22/2023
Douglas - Traveled, June 2023
The local guide made a good itinerary fantastic. Story time with Alan was one of the days highlights. Accomodation and meals are basic but acceptable. More time on Tanna island would be great.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/26/2023
Haochen - Traveled, December 2022
A good trip with a lot of excellent travel activities (cultural and natural).
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/30/2022
Anonymous - Traveled, November 2024
My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed our tour. The group we were a part of was just exceptional and we loved our time with them. Our guide was knowledgeable, amusing and bent over backward to make our time with him fulfilling, educational and comfortable. Our time wasn't without adversity, as a major road closure altered our itinerary significantly on one day. The alternate agenda turned out to be a fantastic experience. The only downside was that while the overnight accommodations were adequate, a couple were severely cramped for space. This may just be par for the course in New Zealand though and we adjusted accordingly. It was still a 5 of 5 adventure.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/05/2024
Suzanne - Traveled, October 2024
Our guide, Robert with Intrepid Travel was the most outstanding tour guide we’ve ever had. He was so enthusiastic, knowledgeable, caring and informative. He set a very high bar for any future guides.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/31/2024
Heti-Maria - Traveled, October 2024
The Kangaroo Island Short Break Adventure was the most amazing tour I've been on in my time in Australia! The tour guide was from Italy and had been living on the island for a few years, so he knew all the best places to bring us. Since I was part of a smaller group, he allowed us to have all the quality time we needed in each location. Every destination we went to was simply breathtaking! I went in Spring (beginning of Oct) which was the perfect weather for this tour.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/15/2024
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