Vanuatu Expedition

Halo! Welcome to Port Vila, the capital of Vanuatu. Your adventure begins 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.

Today, you'll discover some of Efate’s best spots. A scenic drive will take you to the exclusive kayak base on the Rentapao River. Immerse yourself in Vanuatu’s rainforest and get a glimpse of village life as you paddle. 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, giving you some time to discover more of Port Vila and choose a place for your optional dinner tonight.

It’s an early morning start today for your Air Vanuatu flight to the island of Tanna. When you arrive, take a short transfer to your bungalow for the night. After an included local lunch, set out on the first of your Tanna hikes. Today, you’ll hike to the world's largest banyan tree, perched high on a ridge overlooking the coast. Your path there will loop back through scattered villages, gardens and rainforests – a great opportunity to meet some of the local people 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 to September). You'll have dinner as a group and a chance to swap stories by the campfire.

Start today with a drive across the spine of the island to your new accommodation, then to a John Frum village hidden in the rainforest at the foot of a smouldering volcano – Mt Yasur. Road conditions permitting, you'll have a short dip in the Sulphur Bay hot springs before travelling to Port Resolution. After lunch, return to the foot of the volcano and hike along a rutted road to the rim of the volcano (the option to drive to the crater carpark is also available for those who would prefer it). Throughout the hike, you'll feel the ground shaking and hear the volcano rumbling. Finally, as you arrive at the crater rim in the late afternoon, you'll witness the incredible show of Strombolian eruptions that awaits. Return from the volcano in the evening for a late dinner at your bungalow.

This morning, you have the option to visit the volcano a second time, for sunrise. After breakfast, 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 a traditional lifestyle. Learn about traditional rites of passage and the local Prince Phillip movement as your leader guides you around the village. As you explore, you’ll gain 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, then stop at a coffee shop brewing local beans before returning to the airport for an afternoon flight back to Port Vila.

Today, you’ll travel from Port Vila to Pele, a tropical island renowned for its marine conservation area. Take a scenic drive to Emua Wharf, stopping at a coffee roastery along the way, then it’s a short boat ride to Pele. When you arrive, 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 tropical fish, the occasional turtle (if you’re lucky) 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 volcano walk. Alternatively, you can go for a few easier walks around Pele's villages. Your accommodation for the night is at bungalows on Pele hosted by the village women.

This morning, take an easy walk to 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 opportunities for snorkelling, if you’re eager to get back in 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’ll do a round tour of Efate. 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 one final stop at a distillery, for a delicious tasting of local liqueurs. Arrive back at your Port Vila accommodation in the evening. Celebrate a trip well-travelled with an optional farewell dinner with your group.

Your Vanuatu adventure comes to an end after breakfast this morning.