Words Kate Gazzard
Words Kate Gazzard
Vanuatu
this tropical country isn’t just a bucket-list destination; it’s the once-in-a-lifetime adventure you didn’t know you were craving.
Our friends over at Lonely Planet agree. That’s why they’ve named Vanuatu as one of the top 10 destinations for 2025 in their respected Best in Travel 2025 rankings. And it’s not hard to understand why.
In Vanuatu, you can hike up fiery volcanoes, sleep in treetop houses and discover the island’s underwater world – all before lunch. So pack your sense of adventure (and maybe a spare swimsuit) because these 10 experiences will awaken your inner thrill-seeker.
*Note: Following the recent devastating earthquake in Port Vila (on Efate Island), the town centre is undergoing recovery efforts and can't be visited. However, the rest of the island, and the rest of the country (including Espiritu Santo, Tanna and other outer islands), remain unaffected.
Visitors are both welcome and greatly appreciated to help communities rebuild and recover.
1
Hike
the Nguna Volcano Walk
Get ready to sweat, puff and question your life choices - all in the name of the incredible views waiting for you at the top of Nguna’s dormant volcano. This isn’t your average stroll, but it’s also not the hardest walk you’ll ever take on.
Yes, the 360° views when you reach the summit are incredible, but the climb to get there is just as mind-blowing, with a path that snakes through lush jungle, over rugged lava flows and through several welcoming villages. We’re adding Miley’s, ‘The Climb,’ to our Spotify playlist as we type.
Tours available with Vanuatu Eco Tours.
1
Hike
the Nguna Volcano Walk
Get ready to sweat, puff and question your life choices - all in the name of the incredible views waiting for you at the top of Nguna’s dormant volcano. This isn’t your average stroll, but it’s also not the hardest walk you’ll ever take on.
Yes, the 360° views when you reach the summit are incredible, but the climb to get there is just as mind-blowing, with a path that snakes through lush jungle, over rugged lava flows and through several welcoming villages. We’re adding Miley’s, ‘The Climb,’ to our Spotify playlist as we type.
Tours available with Vanuatu Eco Tours.
2
Stay
AT THE TANNA TREEHOUSEs
It turns out the perfect treehouse isn’t in your childhood backyard; it’s in Vanuatu, sitting six metres off the ground amongst the tangled canopy of a pretty lush jungle.
There are a few to choose from, but each one has a staircase that leads you to a rustic but cosy bungalow with a balcony that’s perfect for admiring the most unique vista on all of Tanna Island.
There’s no WiFi here, and you may have to share your room with the occasional gecko, but who needs an internet connection and room service when you have star-studded skies to fall asleep to?
Book your stay through the Tanna Visitor Information Centre.
3
Relax
BOUTIQUE STAYS FOR YOUR INNER ADVENTURER
After all that Mount Yasur hiking, you’re gonna need to take a load off. Don’t get it twisted, Vanuatu has plenty of resorts to choose from, but White Grass Ocean Resort and Rockwater Resort have a little something extra – they’re both located right near some incredible snorkelling and diving sites.
We know you probably just sat down, but when there’s vibrant coral reefs to explore, colourful, tropical fish to point your underwater camera at and mysterious shipwrecks to pique your curiosity, a day spent by the pool is a day wasted.
So, regardless of the resort you choose, your adventure just got a whole lot more comfortable.
3
Relax
BOUTIQUE STAYS FOR YOUR INNER ADVENTURER
After all that Mount Yasur hiking, you’re gonna need to take a load off. Don’t get it twisted, Vanuatu has plenty of resorts to choose from, but White Grass Ocean Resort and Rockwater Resort have a little something extra – they’re both located right near some incredible snorkelling and diving sites.
We know you probably just sat down, but when there’s vibrant coral reefs to explore, colourful, tropical fish to point your underwater camera at and mysterious shipwrecks to pique your curiosity, a day spent by the pool is a day wasted.
So, regardless of the resort you choose, your adventure just got a whole lot more comfortable.
4
Experience
NI-VANUATU KASTOM
Whether it’s ancient rituals passed down through generations or wild dances that’ll give your goosebumps goosebumps, there’s more than a few ways you can soak up traditional kastom in Vanuatu.
Try your hand at intricate sand drawing taught by elders, sip some mind-blowing kava, or join a village ceremony where everyone’s decked out in traditional wear (think minimal attire but maximum spirit). Spend enough time around this island’s culture and its friendly people and you’ll soon understand that paradise isn’t just a place, it’s a way of life.
4
Experience
NI-VANUATU KASTOM
Whether it’s ancient rituals passed down through generations or wild dances that’ll give your goosebumps goosebumps, there’s more than a few ways you can soak up traditional kastom in Vanuatu.
Try your hand at intricate sand drawing taught by elders, sip some mind-blowing kava, or join a village ceremony where everyone’s decked out in traditional wear (think minimal attire but maximum spirit). Spend enough time around this island’s culture and its friendly people and you’ll soon understand that paradise isn’t just a place, it’s a way of life.
5
Experience
the spectacle of Naghol
A short flight south from Vanuatu’s main island, and a slightly longer boat ride along Pentecost Island’s wild coastline lies an unspoiled beach lined with trees. On it is a nearly 30-metre-high wooden tower, erected in preparation for the Naghol land divers.
Naghol is an ancient local land diving ritual that gave birth to the worldwide bungee craze, and to witness it is truly extraordinary. One by one, each villager wearing nothing more than a penis gourd, climbs to the top.
There he stands and proclaims all his wants and grievances before leaping outwards and down towards the earth. It’s a heart-stopping moment but every time, the supple vines crack and snap, holding the land diver just above the earth, his head only slightly grazing the dirt. With the jump, he brings good luck for the coming yam harvest. Our fingers are crossed.
Tours are available with Vanuatu Eco Tours, Intrepid Travel or Air Taxi.
5
Experience
the spectacle of Naghol
A short flight south from Vanuatu’s main island, and a slightly longer boat ride along Pentecost Island’s wild coastline lies an unspoiled beach lined with trees. On it is a nearly 30-metre-high wooden tower, erected in preparation for the Naghol land divers.
Naghol is an ancient local land diving ritual that gave birth to the worldwide bungee craze, and to witness it is truly extraordinary. One by one, each villager wearing nothing more than a penis gourd, climbs to the top.
There he stands and proclaims all his wants and grievances before leaping outwards and down towards the earth. It’s a heart-stopping moment but every time, the supple vines crack and snap, holding the land diver just above the earth, his head only slightly grazing the dirt. With the jump, he brings good luck for the coming yam harvest. Our fingers are crossed.
Tours are available with Vanuatu Eco Tours, Intrepid Travel or Air Taxi.
6
Stand
atop an active volcano
You might think, ‘oh great, another volcano trek,’ but bear with us - this one’s less about the trek and more about what happens when you reach the summit.
Mainly because Mount Yasur on Tanna Islands is active. That’s right, as you trek up this volcano, you’ll feel like an adventurer straight out of your favourite action movie, and just when you think your legs are gonna give out, the end rewards you with plenty of hot, sputtering lava.
Nothing beats the feeling of standing atop a volcano and peering into its crater to see plenty of the fiery red stuff – it’s equal parts exhilarating and terrifying. The experience is one for the highlight reel and it’s worthy of an Instagram feed post - gotta grab that ‘look I’m standing next to lava,’ shot.
6
Stand
atop an active volcano
You might think, ‘oh great, another volcano trek,’ but bear with us - this one’s less about the trek and more about what happens when you reach the summit.
Mainly because Mount Yasur on Tanna Islands is active. That’s right, as you trek up this volcano, you’ll feel like an adventurer straight out of your favourite action movie, and just when you think your legs are gonna give out, the end rewards you with plenty of hot, sputtering lava.
Nothing beats the feeling of standing atop a volcano and peering into its crater to see plenty of the fiery red stuff – it’s equal parts exhilarating and terrifying. The experience is one for the highlight reel and it’s worthy of an Instagram feed post - gotta grab that ‘look I’m standing next to lava,’ shot.
7
Explore
Millennium Cave in Santo
Millennium Cave isn’t your typical cave experience; it’s more like a jungle boot camp. Your tour guide will act as the instructor, yelling at you to splash through the rocky rivers, hike over gnarled tree roots and navigate your way along dense rainforest trails. Okay, so they won’t actually yell, but you’ll definitely have to do all that stuff if you want to reach the cave’s entrance.
But once you get past the cave’s slippery rocks (in near darkness), it’ll all be worth it when the sunlit gorge out the other side greets you with its sheer cliffs and thundering waterfalls so epic they seem CGI’d.
Join a Millennium Cave Tour.
8
Get lost
on Gaua in Northern Vanuatu
There’s no shortage of stunning islands to explore in Vanuatu, but Gaua may just sit above the rest, and not because of Mount Garet (although the active volcano is pretty high). This island boasts lush landscapes, spectacular waterfalls, and water so blue it’s practically showing off.
Mother Nature really knew what she was doing when she created Siri Waterfall. Getting its watery goodness from nearby Lake Letas, it’s well worth a stop on your way to the top of the active volcano. This hike is about 8 hours long and can be done on its own or as part of a larger hike, but taking a dip in its cool waters is a must-do before continuing your journey.
But back to the volcano. We’re not going to pretend trekking up this bad boy is anything but a lung-busting challenge. It’ll take you anywhere between one to three days to complete, and by the time you reach the summit, you’ll have sweated more than if you’d spent 358 hours in a sauna (just a guesstimation).
Image credit: Joel Johnsson
9
Join
an Intrepid tour in Vanuatu
If you’re up for an adventure but also don’t want the organisational stress that comes with going it alone, why not join an Intrepid tour?
They have plenty of tours to suit everyone, from the never-hiked-before to the just-get-me-on-a-kayak’s. And each guide is a tourism expert; they’ll take care of the nuts and bolts so you can focus on spotting all the dugongs and trying not to burst into flames from your proximity to molten lava.
These are truly off-the-beaten-track experiences designed to get you closer to nature and more involved in Vanuatu’s diverse culture. That’s a big yes from us.
Explore Vanuatu with Intrepid.
Image credit: We Are Explorers
9
Join
an Intrepid tour in Vanuatu
If you’re up for an adventure but also don’t want the organisational stress that comes with going it alone, why not join an Intrepid tour?
They have plenty of tours to suit everyone, from the never-hiked-before to the just-get-me-on-a-kayak’s. And each guide is a tourism expert; they’ll take care of the nuts and bolts so you can focus on spotting all the dugongs and trying not to burst into flames from your proximity to molten lava.
These are truly off-the-beaten-track experiences designed to get you closer to nature and more involved in Vanuatu’s diverse culture. That’s a big yes from us.
Explore Vanuatu with Intrepid.
Image credit: We Are Explorers
10
Tackle
Mount Tabwemasana in Santo
Yes, we do realise half the adventures on this list require you to slap on some lightweight clothing and lace up your hiking boots, but it was all in preparation for the big one: Mount Tabwemasana. This mountainous monster is the highest peak in Vanuatu – also one of the highest in the South Pacific – and making the 2-day trek up it is as tough as it gets.
You’ll need to do some serious gym time to tackle this one, the hike just to get to base camp takes about 10 hours, but we promise it’ll all be worth it when you get to that sweet, sweet summit. The good news is you won’t be alone. The guides at Wrecks to Rainforest will be with you every step of the way. They’ll even don their chef hats for a night and cook you a nutritious dinner, so your body has enough energy to make it to the top. Absolute legends.
Trek it with Wrecks to Rainforest.
10
Tackle
Mount Tabwemasana in Santo
Yes, we do realise half the adventures on this list require you to slap on some lightweight clothing and lace up your hiking boots, but it was all in preparation for the big one: Mount Tabwemasana. This mountainous monster is the highest peak in Vanuatu – also one of the highest in the South Pacific – and making the 2-day trek up it is as tough as it gets.
You’ll need to do some serious gym time to tackle this one, the hike just to get to base camp takes about 10 hours, but we promise it’ll all be worth it when you get to that sweet, sweet summit. The good news is you won’t be alone. The guides at Wrecks to Rainforest will be with you every step of the way. They’ll even don their chef hats for a night and cook you a nutritious dinner, so your body has enough energy to make it to the top. Absolute legends.
Trek it with Wrecks to Rainforest.
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get in the know Cannibalism was practiced in Vanuatu as recently as 1969. That's the same year Apollo 11 landed the first man on the moon. Mind = blown.
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