6 Days • 5 Nights
Efate & Port Vila: Lagoons, Reefs & Island Escape
Tour Includes
About the Trip
Trip Highlights
- Charming Port Vila, Vanuatu's lively capital, with its market, harbour and French-influenced flavour, is a delightful highlight of this journey. Port Vila is one of the most charming capitals in the Pacific, beautifully set around a harbour and lagoon, with a lively waterfront, colourful market, and a distinctive French-influenced flavour of cafes, patisseries and restaurants alongside island culture. You explore the bustling market, a wonderful window into ni-Vanuatu life piled with tropical produce and handicrafts, stroll the pretty harbour and waterfront, visit the fascinating National Museum and Cultural Centre, and enjoy the excellent, French-influenced dining. The charm and lively atmosphere of Port Vila are captivating.
- The stunning Blue Lagoon and the beautiful Mele Cascades are magical natural highlights of this journey. Efate is home to beautiful natural wonders. The stunning Blue Lagoon is a beautiful pool of clear, luminous blue water surrounded by lush greenery, perfect for swimming, with rope swings from the trees for the adventurous, a magical and refreshing spot. The beautiful Mele Cascades are equally magical, a series of turquoise pools and waterfalls tumbling through lush rainforest, which you climb, swimming in the cool, clear pools along the way, to a spectacular main waterfall. These beautiful natural wonders offer magical, refreshing swims amid stunning scenery.
- Snorkelling Efate's vibrant reefs, at Hideaway Island and beyond, reveals a beautiful underwater world, a lovely highlight. Efate is fringed by beautiful coral reefs offering superb, easy snorkelling. At Hideaway Island, a tiny island just offshore, you snorkel over vibrant coral gardens teeming with colourful reef fish, and can even post a card from the world's only underwater post office. You also snorkel other beautiful reefs and lagoons around the island, drifting over vibrant coral and colourful fish in warm, clear water, straight from beautiful beaches. The easy, beautiful snorkelling reveals a stunning underwater world, ideal for all abilities.
- Beautiful beaches, warm lagoons and cruises to offshore islands offer blissful, relaxed island time, a lovely highlight. Efate offers beautiful beaches and warm, clear lagoons for blissful relaxation, and beautiful offshore islands to explore. You relax on beautiful beaches, swim in warm, calm lagoons, and take a cruise to a beautiful offshore island resort, such as those in Havannah Harbour or the outer islands, for snorkelling, swimming and castaway island bliss. The warm, clear, calm waters are perfect for relaxed swimming and gentle water sports. This beautiful beach and lagoon time, and the island cruises, offer blissful, relaxed island living.
- Warm ni-Vanuatu culture, from custom villages to island feasts and dance, enriches this journey with genuine island warmth, a rewarding highlight. Even on a relaxed escape, Efate offers rich, warm culture. You can visit a cultural village or custom village to experience traditional ni-Vanuatu dance, music, crafts and customs, learn about the island's living traditions at the National Museum and Cultural Centre, and enjoy an island feast (a traditional lap-lap cooked in an earth oven) with song and dance. Above all, you experience the genuine, famous warmth and hospitality of the ni-Vanuatu people. This warm culture gives the journey a rewarding depth and authenticity.
- Above all, this journey offers a relaxed, beautiful and easy island escape combining natural wonders, snorkelling, beaches and warm culture, ideal for couples and families. Efate offers a wonderful combination of a charming capital, stunning lagoons and cascades, vibrant snorkelling reefs, beautiful beaches, offshore islands and warm culture, all easily reached on one beautiful island. Over six days you savour the best of it at a relaxed, easy pace, with plenty of beautiful beach and lagoon time woven through gentle exploring. The easy access, natural beauty and genuine warmth make it perfect for couples seeking a relaxed escape and families seeking a safe, beautiful and easy holiday alike.
Day by Day
A detailed day-by-day plan for this 6-day journey.
Your relaxed Efate escape begins as your flight arrives at Bauerfield Airport, where you are met with a warm ni-Vanuatu welcome and transferred to your beachside or Port Vila hotel. Vanuatu is one of the most beautiful and welcoming corners of the Pacific, and beautiful Efate offers an easy, idyllic island escape. Spend the rest of the day settling in and relaxing after your journey, perhaps taking a first swim in the warm lagoon or the pool, strolling the pretty Port Vila waterfront, with its lively market, harbour and French-influenced cafes, or simply relaxing beneath the palms. This evening, a welcome dinner introduces you to the delicious flavours of Vanuatu, fresh reef fish, tropical produce and French-influenced cuisine, and to the relaxed island days ahead. As you settle in, the warmth of ni-Vanuatu hospitality and the easy pace of island life begin to work their magic. Rest well, ready to savour beautiful Efate.
Today you explore charming Port Vila and the warm culture of Efate, easing into island life. You visit the colourful Port Vila market, a wonderful window into ni-Vanuatu life piled high with tropical produce, flowers and handicrafts, and the pretty harbour and waterfront, with its French-influenced cafes and shops. You visit the fascinating National Museum and Cultural Centre, with its collection of kastom artefacts, sand drawings and cultural treasures, learning about the extraordinary living cultures of the islands, and perhaps enjoy the excellent French-influenced dining. In the evening, you might enjoy an island feast, a traditional lap-lap cooked in an earth oven, with ni-Vanuatu song and dance, a wonderful window into the warm culture of the islands. As the day ends, you relax at your hotel, having tasted the charm and warm culture of Port Vila. Rest well, ready to explore Efate's natural wonders tomorrow.
Today you explore beautiful Efate's magical natural wonders. You visit the stunning Blue Lagoon, a beautiful pool of clear, luminous blue water surrounded by lush greenery, perfect for swimming, with rope swings from the trees for the adventurous, a magical and refreshing spot. You then journey to the beautiful Mele Cascades, a series of turquoise pools and waterfalls tumbling through lush rainforest, which you climb, swimming in the cool, clear pools along the way, to a spectacular main waterfall, a magical and refreshing adventure. Along the way you take in the lush beauty of Efate's interior, its rainforest, plantations and traditional villages. The beauty of the Blue Lagoon and cascades is captivating. As the day ends, you return to your hotel, having swum in the magical natural wonders of Efate. Relax this evening, savouring the beauty and warmth of Vanuatu.
Today you discover the beautiful underwater world of Efate at Hideaway Island. You take a short boat to Hideaway Island, a tiny island just offshore ringed by vibrant coral reefs, where you snorkel over beautiful coral gardens teeming with colourful reef fish in warm, clear water, and can even post a waterproof card from the world's only underwater post office, a fun and unique experience. You relax on the beautiful beach, swim in the clear lagoon, and enjoy a delicious lunch by the sea. The easy, beautiful snorkelling, ideal for all abilities, reveals a stunning underwater world of coral and fish. As the day ends, you return to your hotel, deeply relaxed after a beautiful day in the clear waters of Efate. Relax this evening beneath the palms, savouring the beauty and warmth of Vanuatu, and rest ahead of an island cruise tomorrow.
Today you enjoy a beautiful cruise to an offshore island, a taste of castaway island bliss. You cruise across the warm, clear waters to a beautiful offshore island, perhaps in scenic Havannah Harbour or an outer islet, where you snorkel over vibrant coral reefs teeming with colourful fish and turtles, swim in the warm, clear lagoon, laze on a beautiful beach, and enjoy a delicious island lunch. You soak up the beauty, peace and castaway charm of the island, blissfully far from any crowds. The beautiful cruise and idyllic island offer a relaxing and beautiful day on the water. As the sun sets over Efate for the last time, you return to your hotel and enjoy a final island evening, reflecting on the beautiful, relaxed escape you have enjoyed. Rest well, savouring your final night on beautiful Efate.
After a final, relaxed morning on beautiful Efate, perhaps a last swim in the warm lagoon or a stroll along the beach, you are transferred to Bauerfield Airport for your onward international departure. You leave deeply relaxed and enchanted, having savoured the best of Efate, charming Port Vila with its market and French-influenced flavour, the stunning Blue Lagoon and beautiful Mele Cascades, the vibrant snorkelling reefs of Hideaway Island, the beautiful offshore islands, and the warm ni-Vanuatu culture. The images stay vivid long after you land, the luminous Blue Lagoon, the rainforest cascades, the vibrant reefs, and the warm ni-Vanuatu smiles. Efate, a beautiful and easy island escape, offers natural wonders, snorkelling, beaches and warm culture in abundance, and you depart deeply refreshed, already dreaming of a return to beautiful Vanuatu, perhaps to discover its roaring volcanoes, dazzling beaches and ancient cultures beyond.
Where You Will Travel
What's inside the package?
Inclusions
- 5 nights accommodation
- Daily breakfast, a welcome dinner and an island feast with cultural show
- Airport and island transfers
- Touring, cultural visits and activities as per itinerary with expert local guides
- Domestic flights between islands as specified
- Custom village, volcano and site fees as per itinerary
- a Port Vila and cultural tour, a Blue Lagoon and Mele Cascades excursion, a Hideaway Island snorkelling trip, and an offshore-island cruise
Exclusions
- International airfare
- Visa or tourist card fees where applicable
- Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
- Optional water sports and additional cruises
- Optional custom-village photography fees
- Meals not mentioned in the itinerary or inclusions
- Drinks unless specifically stated
- Optional excursions and experiences
- Personal expenses and gratuities
- Anything not specifically mentioned under Package Inclusions
Know when to go.
- Visa & entry: Most nationalities can visit Vanuatu visa-free for stays of up to 30 to 90 days with a passport valid for at least six months, onward travel and proof of accommodation; requirements can change, so we confirm the exact process for your nationality before travel
- Currency: The currency is the Vanuatu Vatu (VUV); cash is essential outside Port Vila and Luganville, as cards are accepted mainly in larger hotels and resorts. Carry Vatu for custom-village fees, markets, guides and rural areas, and change money in the main towns
- Best time to visit: The drier season (roughly May to October) is the most popular and comfortable, with pleasant, less humid weather ideal for touring, volcanoes, beaches and diving; the wetter season (November to April) is hotter and more humid with heavier rain and a cyclone risk, though it is lush and green
- Kastom & etiquette: Vanuatu has an extraordinary living traditional culture (kastom), and many villages maintain ancient customs; always ask before photographing people or ceremonies (a fee may apply), dress modestly, respect custom sites and taboos, and follow your guide's advice. Bislama, English and French are widely spoken
- Mount Yasur volcano: Tanna's Mount Yasur is one of the world's most accessible active volcanoes, and visits (usually at dusk) are arranged with local guides who monitor activity and keep to safe viewing areas; access depends on the volcano's alert level, and we follow official guidance at all times for your safety
- Getting around: Vanuatu's islands are linked by domestic flights (Air Vanuatu) and, in places, boats; touring is by 4x4 on often rough rural roads, especially on Tanna and Santo. All inter-island flights and transfers specified are arranged and included, and schedules can be flexible, part of the island adventure
- Health & malaria: Malaria is present in some lowland areas (notably Santo, Malekula and the northern islands, less so on Efate and Tanna), so anti-malarial prophylaxis and insect repellent are recommended; consult a travel clinic well ahead, ensure vaccinations are current, and take comprehensive travel insurance
- Money & power: Tipping is not traditionally expected but is appreciated for good service; bring cash for custom fees and souvenirs. Power is 220-240V with Australian-style type I plugs, so bring an adapter, and note that power and connectivity can be limited on the outer islands
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this a good trip for families?
Very much so. Efate is easy, safe and beautiful, with warm, calm lagoons ideal for children to swim and snorkel, magical natural wonders like the Blue Lagoon and Mele Cascades, fun snorkelling at Hideaway Island, and warm, welcoming culture. Everything is within easy reach, minimising travel, and the relaxed pace and gentle mix of beach time and easy adventure make it ideal for families as well as couples seeking a relaxed island escape.
Can we add other islands to this Efate trip?
Absolutely. Efate makes a perfect base that can easily be combined with a few days on Tanna to see the Mount Yasur volcano and custom villages, or on Espiritu Santo for its dazzling beaches, blue holes and wrecks, via short domestic flights. We can extend and tailor this journey to include any of Vanuatu's extraordinary islands, building your ideal combination of relaxation, natural wonders, culture and adventure.
What meals are included?
Daily breakfast is included, along with any meals named in the itinerary and, at remote island and volcano stays, often dinner (half or full board where dining options are limited). Vanuatu's food is fresh and delicious, reef fish, tropical produce, island vegetables cooked in the traditional lap-lap, and French-influenced cuisine in Port Vila, and we advise fully on the meal arrangements for each stage of your trip.
Are the domestic flights included?
Yes, the domestic flights between islands specified in your itinerary, on Air Vanuatu, are arranged and included, along with all airport, road and boat transfers. Vanuatu's islands are spread across the ocean, making these flights essential, and schedules can be flexible, which is part of the island adventure; we build in sensible connections and handle every detail.
Do I need a visa for Vanuatu?
Most nationalities can visit visa-free for stays of up to 30 to 90 days, with a passport valid for at least six months, onward travel and proof of accommodation. Requirements can change, so we confirm the exact, current process for your nationality before travel, so there are no surprises on arrival in the islands.
Is it safe to visit Mount Yasur volcano?
Yes, Tanna's Mount Yasur is one of the world's most accessible active volcanoes, and visits are arranged with local guides who monitor its activity and keep to designated safe viewing areas, usually at dusk when the eruptions are most spectacular. Access depends on the official alert level, and we follow official guidance at all times; it is an awesome and unforgettable, well-managed experience.
When is the best time to visit?
The drier season, roughly May to October, is the most popular and comfortable, ideal for volcanoes, beaches, diving and touring. The wetter season is hotter, greener and quieter, with heavier rain and a cyclone risk. The spectacular Pentecost land diving takes place roughly April to June. We advise on the best timing for your interests and any events you wish to see.
Can the itinerary be customised?
Absolutely. We can adjust the balance of volcanoes, culture, beaches, diving and island time across Efate, Tanna, Santo, Pentecost and beyond, time your trip to the land diving, add or extend islands, and tailor the pace, comfort and budget to you. Every itinerary is a flexible starting point for your ideal Vanuatu adventure.
More Beach Journeys
Beach
Customizable
Djerba & the South: Island, Berbers & the Desert Edge
Djerba & the South: Island, Berbers & the Desert Edge
Tunisia
Beach
Customizable
Mediterranean Beach Escape: Hammamet & Sousse
Mediterranean Beach Escape: Hammamet & Sousse
Tunisia
Beach
Customizable
Tanzania Safari & Zanzibar Beach: Plains to White Sands
Tanzania Safari & Zanzibar Beach: Plains to White Sands
Tanzania